Thinking about my next daily...

I'm probably 6-9 months out, so I'm thinking about my next daily.  My initial requirements were:

1. domestic
2. RWD
3. V8
4. manual
5. not a truck
6. used but no older than 2010
7. under $30k

so that's pretty much Mustang, Camaro, Challenger, maybe 2nd-gen CTS-V.  The SS sedan isn't quite there yet: Cheapest SS manual I've seen is currently listed at $31,500.

if I drop "domestic", that opens up maybe E90/E92 M3, Infiniti G37 (or is that a V6?).

if I also drop "V8", that opens up other E90/E92, but what else?

then I started thinking E36 M3/4/5.  Seems like there are some decent ones out there in the $7-10k range.  Now I need someone to tell me why that's a bad idea?

In reply to AngryCorvair :

G37 is a V6.  A reasonably nice V6, but not a V8...

E36 is considerably older than 2010. If you can find a nice one and have the maintenance up to speed it should be reasonably reliable, but finding one that good will be the trick.

No thought of an E46 variant?

You can get a new Mustang GT for that!

https://www.koonsfordbaltimore.com/new-inventory/index.htm?search=&accountId=&model=Mustang&trim=GT&normalBodyStyle=&normalTransmission=Manual&normalDriveLine=&make=Ford&sortBy=internetPrice+asc&saveFacetState=true&lastFacetInteracted=inventory-listing1-facet-anchor-normalTransmission-2

Tons of them starting at $29k + freight and fees which puts you at a hair over $30k.

I think you have to decide how much you care about torque, and that will tell you whether an m3 should be on your radar or not. 

In reply to dculberson :

Dang! $29k seems like a pretty good deal. What does "Available in extended inventory" mean?  At one of their other locations?

09-10 2nd gen cts-v.....you wont be disappointed....

In reply to secretariata :

Yes. I haven’t bought a car from this dealership but at least one GRMer has. They charge a large “freight” fee ($1k or so) but otherwise just standard dealership stuff and the total price is quite good. Before baby 2 I was going to do a fly and drive with a new v6 mustang but changed my mind once it could no longer be baby backup capable. 

Bang for buck new, that $29k Mustang wins, but it's a bare bones car and I'm a spoiled old man.  On the list for sure though.

2nd-gen CTS-V seems like a no-brainer but in my price range they've got 100k on the odo already.  Any issues with supercharger longevity?

the SS sedan is far and away my favorite but I really struggle with the idea of paying $35k for a car.

i need to drive a Challenger.  I've heard good things.

dculberson said:

In reply to secretariata :

Yes. I haven’t bought a car from this dealership but at least one GRMer has. They charge a large “freight” fee ($1k or so) but otherwise just standard dealership stuff and the total price is quite good. Before baby 2 I was going to do a fly and drive with a new v6 mustang but changed my mind once it could no longer be baby backup capable. 

That didn't happen to me when the dealership brought in a new Frontier I wanted from a different dealer. I even got a few options extra because I said I wouldn't pay for those options on the truck because I specifically told them I didn't want them.

If you're waiting 6-9 months, I'll be picking up my '13 135i tomorrow. 300/300, a tune adds 60hp/80tq and you can find clean low mileage ones all day under $25k........but stick to the 11-13 as the earlier models with the N54 had many more problems (even though by this point they have probably been solved.

AngryCorvair said:

Bang for buck new, that $29k Mustang wins, but it's a bare bones car and I'm a spoiled old man.  On the list for sure though.

2nd-gen CTS-V seems like a no-brainer but in my price range they've got 100k on the odo already.  Any issues with supercharger longevity?

the SS sedan is far and away my favorite but I really struggle with the idea of paying $35k for a car.

i need to drive a Challenger.  I've heard good things.

Over 100k on mine, & no issues so far. Don’t discount the idea of a V1. It’d at least be worth driving back-to-back. The interior/electronics are a little “dated” but there are plenty out there for 10–15k...which leaves a lot of coin for upgrades. I’m seriously considering going back to a V1.

In reply to poopshovel again :

I can't get past the dash in the Gen 1.  It really ruins that car for me, and I *want* to love it.  

Gen2 Sedan with three pedals?  Dude, that touches me like it gets paid to touch me.

and I don't mod my DD.  A better stereo is where I draw the line.  [/vag]

Keep in mind that the V2 cars came out in 2009 and although nice, they had a lot of GM in them which makes them feel more like a "nice" car from 2005. This has plusses and minuses. I basically don't use anything on the infotainment system other than the radio because trying to get the GPS to work makes me Hulk levels of angry. However, the cars actually have buttons which means you're not stuck in the touch surface hell of the later cars. New Camaros with just a couple of boxes ticked feel nicer than my 2014 Cadillac does. 

Of course that's an issue with just about everything. Cars from the mid 2000's feel very dated to me, and not in any way that makes me pine for the past. I think you need to go sit in and drive these cars. Pretty much all of them have more motor than tire so they're going to be a good time, but they have much different levels of finish quality and how they fit the driver. V2 sport seats are going to be worlds different than regular Challenger seats for example and that might make a difference. 

Brand new Mustang GT. Do it. Or Camaro.

My friends E92 M3 with an exhaust sounds ridiculously amazing as well, check youtube.

AngryCorvair said:

 

then I started thinking E36 M3/4/5.  Seems like there are some decent ones out there in the $7-10k range.  Now I need someone to tell me why that's a bad idea?

They're a bit tricky to find with the interior in good shape, may need a suspension bushing refresh, and the factory radiators tend to shatter and lose all the coolant at around 100,000 miles.

That said, the price difference could buy a lot of upholstery. I had been using an E36 328 convertible as a daily driver and put about 150,000 miles on a car that I'd already picked up well past the 100K mark, and only replaced it because I wanted a larger back seat for the kids.

mazdeuce - Seth said:

Keep in mind that the V2 cars came out in 2009 and although nice, they had a lot of GM in them which makes them feel more like a "nice" car from 2005. This has plusses and minuses. I basically don't use anything on the infotainment system other than the radio because trying to get the GPS to work makes me Hulk levels of angry. However, the cars actually have buttons which means you're not stuck in the touch surface hell of the later cars. New Camaros with just a couple of boxes ticked feel nicer than my 2014 Cadillac does. 

Of course that's an issue with just about everything. Cars from the mid 2000's feel very dated to me, and not in any way that makes me pine for the past. I think you need to go sit in and drive these cars. Pretty much all of them have more motor than tire so they're going to be a good time, but they have much different levels of finish quality and how they fit the driver. V2 sport seats are going to be worlds different than regular Challenger seats for example and that might make a difference. 

My 2010 V is not  plagued with the screen from hell that Seth has. Yes the sport seats do rock just ask me....other than currently dealing with a balky shifter (getting into reverse is a PITA )  @122000+ the V still brings a smile when the violence gauge denotes activity

Everything Mazdeuce said.

Also: I *thought* I couldn’t get over the “cheesy” bits in the V1, but man, aside from the visual stuff, and obvious bump in power, I really miss my V1. It didn’t FEEL heavy, where you REALLY feel the weight of the V2. Mine is a non-recaro, but the seats in the 180k V1 hugged me better than the squishy couches in the V2. 

Also: While you may hate the dash (and by dash, I’m assuming you mean instruments/nav,) just wait till the car is constantly screaming at you that “Ice is possible, please drive carefully,” or that you’ve “disabled automatic headlights,” or that your tire pressures are too low/high, or you’ve put the suspension/trans in “sport” mode, instead of SHOWING WHAT YOUR GODDAMNED SPEED IS.

My $.02 YMMV

If you can live with two pedals, I’d consider selling you mine & buying a nice V1. Just sayin.

Also: I hated literally everything about the Challenger I rented, aside from how it looked from the outside. Granted, it was a V6, but I can’t see the extra power of a V8 outweighing the fact that I felt like I was riding in an enormous, heavy, parts-bin coffin with horrible visibility, and jokes for back seats.

Again, my $.02 YMMV

I think C7s are getting close to the $30k range. That could also be an option, depending on if you're ok with being in a coupe. Also C6s for days at that price range (I've seen some C6 Z06 go as low as 30k even).

The new Mustang GT does look pretty nice, but I think that's going to be a $40k+ car. 

In reply to poopshovel again :

i can definitely live with two pedals, as long as there's a third one to the left of the other two.  ;-)

re. my hatred of the V1 dash, i'm talking mostly about the center stack and A/C vents that appear to have been added late in the game.

also, while i hate not paying cash, i also hate not having the cash to pay cash.  rather than save for 12-18 months, i'm going to take a 48-month note and (maybe) pay it off early.  my CU will only loan on 2009 and newer.  the "maybe" on early payoff is due to the 2.75% APR they're giving on car loans to members with mortgages through them.

not having cash eliminates E36 M3/4/5.  Not wanting to feed 556 hp probably eliminates the V2.  my cousin sells new Fords, so maybe a Mustang is in my future.   FWIW, my favorite of the bunch is the SS Manual.   My buddy's got a 2016, and I kinda wish i hadn't driven it, because now i know what i'm missing.

In reply to Sonolin :

C6 on black steelies with Blizzaks kinda makes me happy.   i should look into that.   whatever i get, it's going to be my 4-season car here in MI.

IMHO the SS looks like some kind of malibu/cobalt bastard-child...a fat bastard that’s not much faster than a V1, and 3 times the price. But if sexy A/C vents are your thing...wait...if sexy A/C vents are your thing, you probably should eliminate any GM product from your list.

In reply to AngryCorvair :

I bought my '07 Prius w/ 79k miles last year and paid cash.  Then I learned here on GRM that PenFed was doing 1.99% used car loans (now 2.49%).  

I paid $5,800 in cash but realized it would be nice to have all that cash back and just send back $200 per month for 3 yrs.  Even easier, I borrowed $7k for the car and that put me at a $200 per month.  All was done by phone or mail.  I have never set a foot into PenFed and they have no branches here in Ohio.  

It seemed that they were not sticklers about the year of the car.  At the time, the PRius was 10 years old and I took out a 3 yr loan.  Website says no vehicle age restriction on loans of 60 months or less.  

Highly recommended!  

Lightstream doesn't care what you finance and has 2.99 interest rates.  You could finance a e36 if you really wanted and you even hold the title.

Speaking of e36 m3 4 doors I just bought a 1998 with 150k and all the service records.  I paid $5,100.00.  I could daily it if I chose but it is a 20 year old car.

In reply to pimpm3 :

Did you buy the red one in Raleigh NC?