the name of the game was find a god 4 door car for a dd that gets at least 22mpg consistently, is available with a manual transmission, wont scare away most 30 something women, can be used to carry clients and coworkers, and doesnt bore me to death. i was originally looking in the $2k range, but have decided that up to $4k for a specimen with a super clean interior would be worth it. i'd like to have rwd but it isnt a drop dead requirement if i like the car enough.
we have just killed off the sentra ser spec option and i have found little in the way of candidates in the maxima and 4 door E30 options that fit all the criteria.
what does the group think of mid nineties bmw 318's and 328's?
any other candidates i am missing?
I think almost any $2k car will scare coworkers and clients. Unless you work here.
That said, buy what you like and tell 'em to harden the berkeley up.
coworkers probably could take it. they have certainly ridden with me in worse, clients.... not while i still have mortgage to pay off!
30 something women... well, looking at the back yard full of projects is hard enough to explain to a date. i'd like to have them fooled for at least an hour or two before i have to go there.....
2 Miaters have 4 doors 
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What about an E36 325 or 323?
e36's are interesting if i can find one in my price range. what is the consensus on reliability and milage?
anything i should look out for maintenance wise?
My CL search told me:
- Focus ZX5
- Mazda Protege
- Nissan Maxima
- Early 90's BMW 5-Series
- Dodge Neon
And the clear winner, a 63 Rambler 770 with a 3-speed manual! 
Cheap E36s and E34s are littered all of over the ATL . . .
Cooling system is a MUST . . .
Everything else can be found on bimmerfourms.com and here . . .
Happy hunting 
My vote is Accord or Volvo 850 turbo. I guess a BMW 325i works too.
Mercedes 280 sedan either an w126 Sel or w116se. You should be able to find one for between 3-4000, but it might need a bit of work. Properly tuned the car will get 20mpg freeway and 15highway. I think technically a euro spec w126 280sel or se is available with a manual, doubt you'd find one though. I just took my car for a nice drive and a euro m110 engine has a nice punch to it when in tune. They suck when they are out of tune though. If you put the transmission into "S" it feels like the car is on some controlled substance. It locks out 4th gear and the car will start in 1st if you mash it, who needs a stinkin manual transmission right?
I think the ZX5 is another good choice if a manual is really that important.
Infiniti G20. G20T if you can find one, the T has nicer trim +LSD. I like the first gen (aka P10) up to 1996 because they had a nicer suspension, but gen2 (p11, 1999-200?) are not bad either. And its a Nissan like the Sentra!
The 2000-2001 Sentra Se's are nice and have the SR20DE engine. They look somewhat nice and would be fun and reliable. I'm actually looking for a 1998-1999 model or like the next model in the pic.
Mazda Protege 5. Good stuff, and hatchbacks don't scare most "normal" people, since most people consider hatchbacks boring, solid cars.
Edit: Here is your car. http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/2178207626.html
itsarebuild wrote:
e36's are interesting if i can find one in my price range. what is the consensus on reliability and milage?
anything i should look out for maintenance wise?
I've got one, bought it about a year and a half ago and have put 20,000 miles on it without too much trouble other than a bad wheel bearing (which was on its way out when I got it). Other than the general looking for a well maintained specimen, look out for the rear upper shock mounts failing early, and leaky plastic parts in the cooling system (radiator end tanks, thermostat housing, and on earlier ones, water pump). They're fairly dependable otherwise. Mine - a 328 convertible, heaviest one with the biggest engine short of an M3 - gets around 24-25 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. They do take premium gas though.
+1 either the G20 or the E36...
the mpg requirement will depend on where and how you drive.
An altima was available in stick (all trim levels but GLE). I currently have 1 with 192k on it that is a beater and A/T. There were 3 on CL up here that were sticks in the sub -1k range. which means finding a decent one for 2k should be no issue. I find the altima (1st gen) to be a good looker, comfortable and very tossable. Biggest issue is the timing chain clack that happens around 122-150k or so. Mine had it taken care of already by the PO @ 150k. The other 2 altys in the fleet clack, so does the S13. One day they may all get fixed, but not likely.
