Sporty Commuter for Friend - URGENT!

I find the MS6 and Legacy GT to be pretty comparable. I have raced the first and own the latter.

Both are heavy pigs on an AutoX course but monsters at red lights and on the highway.

The MS6 is fast in a straight line, I'll give you that.

I didn't think the MS6 handled badly.... it handled about as well as i'd expect a fat heavy Japanese cruiser to handle, maybe even a bit better.

Kia Koup?

Right now I think that he's leaning towards the Mazda6 and the Acura TSX. I like the TSX because it's basically a rebodied European Accord (right?) so reliability is sure to be high. Plus from the research I've done on it it's quite fun to drive. I feel that the MS6 might be too much car for him, sure it would be really fun as a commuter but does he actually need all that power? Probably not. What do you guys think?

^You can almost never have too much HP.

280hp in a 3500lb (?????) car, really isn't that much.

But I'm also jaded from tens of thousands of miles on sportbikes. Very few cars feel FAST to me. 110rwhp for 600lbs, not THAT'S quick.

BattlePope wrote: He also just changed his mind about the ATX only, he's willing to learn stick. WAAA-HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! This just got a lot more fun.

He's just taken his first step into a wider world.

Tell him that most amateur car thieves ignore manual-equipped cars. Save the Manuals!

This one's an auto, but it seems an E60 can be had for $20K.

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/2512045820.html

The TSX IS the European Accord, it isn't a re-bodied car. Some markets get the "skinnier" Accord (whatever the name) and the North American market gets the "bigger/wider" Accord for our bigger/wider bodies.

I wasn't going to weigh in on this, but I found the criteria at the beginning to be laughable. Would consider an SUV but NO wagons? With the exception of the X6, there aren't any SUVs I can think of that don't at least look like wagons.

Later critieria "might consider a manual transmission" is also kind of laughable. Going out and buying a $20K+ vehicle .....and THEN learning to drive a stick shift.

I will agree with the statement that MOST thieves will ignore a manual transmissioned car....but it depends on the car. A Camry with a manual? They will ignore, a TSX with a manual? Maybe steal, just not stolen by kids looking to joy-ride.

I don't really care, but I would recommend the Mazda6 at this point because almost no one buys them.....and yet they are good cars.

SAAB anything as long as you get it in aero trim sounds like it would fit the bill for him.

If you can find it they make a Ford fusion AWD with the 3.0(5?) and it does not drive bad at all.

In reply to integraguy:

I am extremely happy with my 04 X3 3.0i 6 speed. The thing flies (for an SUV or even family car for that matter) People have been know to AutoX them

But I agree, all SUVs look like tall wagons with lift kits.

Got it for $15K plus tax in ATL so a newer one should be easy to find in his budget

28.3 mpg coming home from picking it up.

I still vote speed6 though

AWD:

S60 R

S80 V8

S80 T6

V50 T5

S40 T5

FWD:

S40 T5

S60 T5

C30 T5 or T5 R-design

C70 T5

All Sporty/Sporty-ish 2007+ models that can all be had for under $20K. Reliable, fairly economical (dependent on your right foot), cheap to insure, and unassuming (no one expects a Volvo to be quick). S60 R is my favorite of the list.

• Lee

bigdaddylee82 wrote: AWD: S60 R S80 V8 S80 T6 V50 T5 S40 T5 FWD: S40 T5 S60 T5 C30 T5 or T5 R-design C70 T5 All Sporty/Sporty-ish 2007+ models that can all be had for under $20K. Reliable, fairly economical (dependent on your right foot), cheap to insure, and unassuming (no one expects a Volvo to be quick). S60 R is my favorite of the list. - Lee

Volvo fanboi much?

In reply to mndsm:

Maybe a little, someone needed to lobby for the Swedes, other than the one guy mentioning Saab. All good cars on that list, but personally S60R, S40T5 AWD, and maybe the newer S80T6 would make my short list.

If you want my "fanboi" list we'll have to go MUCH older than 2007. Think "Boxy."

• Lee

280hp in a 3500lb (?????) car, really isn't that much.

I second that thought. It's a quick car but it's also the kind of car that won't get out of shape if you floor it (unless you're doing something really dumb) so i wouldnt worry about putting anyone in it unless they were a teenager with a suicidal need for speed.

22k will buy a lot of new compact or subcompact car. It will get you a 3 with every. Single. Box. Checked. Especially in sedan dorm. I do like the first gen tsx but it really needs the stick to be any fun. Also look at the TL before the buck tooth, 260hp and could be had with a stick but the auto is one of the best.

bigdaddylee82 wrote: In reply to mndsm: Maybe a little, someone needed to lobby for the Swedes, other than the one guy mentioning Saab. All good cars on that list, but personally S60R, S40T5 AWD, and maybe the newer S80T6 would make my short list. If you want my "fanboi" list we'll have to go MUCH older than 2007. Think "Boxy." - Lee

S60R is in the same boat as the MS6 and LGT. Fast in straight lines and not great handlers. But the Volvo depreciated twice as fast.

In reply to DaveEstey:

because it starts twice as high

FlightService wrote: In reply to DaveEstey: because it starts twice as high

Well yeah, but if the Volvo sold for a couple grand more than those two when it was new, don't you think they'd have sold a whole lot more of them? Now that it's in the same ballpark, it kind of outclasses them.

Really? No one has suggested Miata?

The new Focus is nice.

JtspellS wrote: SAAB anything as long as you get it in aero trim sounds like it would fit the bill for him. If you can find it they make a Ford fusion AWD with the 3.0(5?) and it does not drive bad at all.

I will second the SAAB Aero, mine has @ 145K on it and has not needed anything other than regular maint stuff.

I wonder if the "URGET!" title resulted in any shopping/buying?
Could be a good time for an update from the OP.

pinchvalve wrote: Really? No one has suggested Miata?

Tough to fit 5 in a Miata unless you work at a circus.

• Lee

Josh wrote:

FlightService wrote: In reply to DaveEstey: because it starts twice as high

Well yeah, but if the Volvo sold for a couple grand more than those two when it was new, don't you think they'd have sold a whole lot more of them? Now that it's in the same ballpark, it kind of outclasses them.

Oh absolutely.

Between a S60R and a speed6, Volvo wins.

I like the speed6 and I have found them cheaper than a speed3, which I don't have to go into why that is odd.

S60Rs tend to be higher by about $4K when I was looking.

Equal year and miles, I would go +20% for the Volvo.