what 2010 car would you buy in eight years?

i've been thinking about retirement lately (i'm 43), and have put together a pretty comprehensive cash-only budget plan for the next 22 years. house will be paid off, kids will be out of college, and i'll have about $1.5M in retirement savings.

a big part of the plan is buying used cars and running them into the ground. i've got a 2003 Mazda6 that I'm confident will be with me for another seven years, at which time I get to spend five grand on a new used car. sedan or wagon, prefer a stick and perhaps RWD.

so, seven or eight years from now, what 2009 - 2010 car will fit my description and my budget, assuming the depreciation patterns of the last several years continue for the next several years?

did the G8 GT come with a stick, or is it only in the GXP? is the current malibu available with a stick? i know the fusion is available with a stick but 4-cyl only, which is probably OK. perhaps a pre-smile MS3?

I think painting the grille of the MS3 the body color would do tremendous things toward making that car less ugly. I don't know what it would be like in eight years, though.

You can't go wrong with a Corvette. I also think a G8 would be good, especially with a six speed.

I also think a GMC truck (I like the 4-door version) would still be a great truck in eight (or eighteen) years. Not quite sporty, though, but as good as an investment as you can get with a vehicle.

Genesis seems like your only option if you want RWD.

'07-'08 MINI Cooper S (or maybe a Clubman S).

I'd give up a year or two for a bit more fun, but that's just me.

Great fuel economy (nearly 50% better than your 6), excellent fun factor, a little more mature (for those of us tired of rustbuckets with no AC and a hole in the dash where the radio should be). Plus, they are not holding their value (so they are a bargain to buy when they get a little older).

RX8 R3 or some wagon with a turbo (RS6 or what have you)

Never thought I'd say this, but pre-face/butt-lift Mustang GT's have been getting my juices flowing lately. Maybe I'm getting to be "that age." Maybe I just yearn for some black on black V8 grumble, and a vinyl cut silhoutte of Leary's face with the words, "Enjoy your bailout mobile, faggot." on the back window.

Speaking of, berkeleyabuncha buyin' a GM...for me anyway. New, used, whatever. Never forget.

I'll be 50....so I'm going to keep my options open for whatever Ford Police Interceptors can be had at that price.

the 2011 V6 Mustang... but only owned by someone mature. 30+ mpg and 300hp, rwd and stick shift

Miata.

Seriously, my '06 was a great car. Who needs a 4 door when the kids are out of the house and the 6 is paid for? Plus you'll be right at the age that everyone expects it.

Edit: Yay I'm a dork!

Cayman S or Lotus Esprit S260

In reply to JFX001:

+1 to this for the police interceptors since now they are making them with the ecotec twin turbo and AWD, can't wait to pick one of those up cheap.

Chris Rummel

Maybe my reading comprehension is off due to years of huffing paint, but the OP seems to have a $5,000 budget in mind. Do any of you really think a C6 vette, Cayman S, etc falls into that price range?

calteg wrote: Maybe my reading comprehension is off due to years of huffing paint, but the OP seems to have a $5,000 budget in mind. Do any of you really think a C6 vette, Cayman S, etc falls into that price range?

winnah! that's right, in eight years i'm going to buy an eight-year-old car and i'll have about $5k to spend. in eight years, my youngest will be 13, so perhaps an S197 would work.

^Not even that, the original post CLEARLY states sedan or wagon.

I can't really think of any current car that I'm remotely interested in that I think will depreciate down to $5000 in 8 years. Hell, some of the first MINI's (which are now about 8 years old) are tough to find at that price, and usually have issues.

AngryCorvair wrote: i'll have about $1.5M in retirement savings.

You will be splurging on something awesome as well, right? Dream car from your youth or whatever .

The G8 GT did indeed come with an M6, although it's hard to find (IIRC it was a last-year only option). I imagine since depreciation on GTO's has been abysmal that the G8 will be the same. A nice G8 GT M6 should be right at that $5K sweet spot then. All the "collectors" will be after the GXP anyways.

I'd go straight for the GTO anyways. No car seats to deal with and the back is plenty roomy (I'm 5'10" 215 and rode in the back of one from No GA to Miami).

Ian F wrote: I can't really think of any current car that I'm remotely interested in that I think will depreciate down to $5000 in 8 years. Hell, some of the first MINI's (which are now about 8 years old) are tough to find at that price, and usually have issues.

That's why I suggested a MINI two years older than he was looking for. It CAN be done.

Price may be hard to keep in budget but I will bet the hardest thing will be to find a manual transmission version of the car you want. Sure, many cars currently "could" be bought today with manual trans but it amazes me how few vehicles are actually sold with manual trans.

Fantasy? New Boss Mustang in Orange/Mustard Yellow.

Reality? Subaru Outback.

Uh, obvious answer... whatever STi 5 grand can get you!

Hmmmmmm-for some reason I keep thinking: whatever STi 5 grand can get you!

2011 Regal GS
EDIT: didnt see P71s post, so I vote G8 GT M6
2011 Lexus ISF
2010 Cobalt SS sedan
toybaru86 thingy
Genesis Coupe

honestly, the only 2010 sedan or wagon i would consider is - nothing?

go back a year and i'll take a G8

i long for a wrx, but not the new ones. i think they are ugly, and in 8 years you wont be able to get one for 5k.