What Car? Fun Daily/Highway Bomber

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote: While I appreciate the suggestions of Accords and 850s, I think we have different definitions of the word "fun" If I want to go non-fun, and get something that isn't all that enjoyable on my 30 mile twisty backroad commute, then I can probably cut the budget way down and get a Roadmaster that just sits when it isn't roadtripping.

Have you driven the Accord? I wouldn't dismiss it until you do. Not going to keep pace with an Elise on a twisty road, but won't bore you for sure...suspension upgrades are cheap and easy. Much more fun on a twisty road than an MK3 Supra or really old 280/300ZX will be.

This is an Accord Coupe that Jeremy currently has in Jax.

In another thread he was pretty quick to offer a GRMer discount.

2005 Honda Accord LX Coupe - $3600 http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/ctd/6037520967.html

Link

I could sell you a decent integra for challenge money...

I've revised the suspension, added boost and you would have plenty left over for an easy manual swap!

What about the first-generation Fusion Sport? They had a 3.5L V6, if I recall.

For highway use, knocking down silly good MPGs, I'd have a hard time coming up with something better than a turbo Saab. On a round trip to Florida a few years ago I got an honest 35 MPG and it was a legitimately comfortable place to spend time. Plenty fast enough for American highways and stable at triple digit speed if you desired. Most American iron gets twitchy when pushed in my experience.

Edit: Same brother currently commutes 100 miles each way into Cincinnati 3 days a week and consequently is racking up ridiculous miles on a 2007 Passat turbo. It gets 30 mpg, is comfortable and at 150,000 miles fires right up every day as hard as he neglects it. I can't in good conscience "recommend" anything VAG anymore but it is a darn good car so far for him.

Nicest G35/37 sedan you can find

I don't the "demand" for a manual transmission if it's going to spend most of the time on the highway.

Why manual? Because the roads where I live are twisty and full of elevation changes, and a heel-toe downshift or two on the way home from work brightens my day.

Accord- I'll keep it in mind, I've never driven a FWD car that heavy and enjoyed it other than a couple of notable turbocharged examples with more power than they were designed for.

Saab- Had one, liked it once the boost was unleashed a bit (see above). Maybe I'd do it again.

G35/37- These interest me, I need to go drive one.

P71- This would be an option for a highway only vehicle but not something I have to use every day.

tb's Integra- I think I've had plenty of that car for one lifetime

If you can find it in your price range, I would definitely agree with G35...they're fantastic.

dculberson's diesel truck drivetrain + Dodge Diplomat.

More seriously (sorta) would be an 80's GM G-body + 4.8 or 5.3 LS truck motor + an overdrive transmission.

My Legend suggestion was so sleeper, no one even noticed it. Longitudinal 230hp/206lb-ft 3.2L V6, 6-speed manual, double-wishbones all the way around

In reply to NickD:

I've driven one, nothing about it really stuck with me. Seems like a great drivetrain to stick in the back of an 80s Civic hatch though

In reply to ¯_(ツ)_/¯:

Like this one with the 1st-gen Legend transverse 2.5L?

R53 MINI Cooper S. Stick to 16" wheels and tires and some Koni dampers and it rides decently, handles well, would be a hoot in the mountains of Pennsylvania and will pull down low 30s for highway use (but 93 octane). I take mine from Michigan to the Challenge annually and it's comfortable, capable of cruising all day at 85. I do the return trip in one day and my back isn't killing me at the end of the drive. I like it.

In reply to DeadSkunk:

Is there a less reliable car to pick from?

In reply to ¯_(ツ)_/¯:

Understood! I wish I could spend more time with it now that I have it well sorted but I need to make room.

I also have an e30 for sale. Very smooth on the highway and pulls down mid 20's mpg. It needs nothing other than typical old car maintenance and scores very highly on the smiles-per-mile scale. It is also an automatic but also could be had cheaply enough to convert it over a weekend...

FWIW, I am also a pretty big SAAB fan for quirky fun and highway cruising. My 9k was awesome for long trips and with minor mods / minimal weight savings it topped 40mpg more than once.

ebonyandivory wrote: P71 hasn't been mentioned yet? You can add Anime stickers to get that Japanese-look!

Thanks for that, now I'm struggling to get an Initial D inspired Crown Vic livery out of my head!

E28 535i. Eats up the miles in relaxed comfort the way am 80's executive sport sedan should. We regularly take mine on 500 mile weekend trips because our "sensible" car (2012 Kia Soul) is a fatiguing, buzzy penalty box that we can't wait to escape after two hours.

pres589 wrote: In reply to DeadSkunk: Is there a less reliable car to pick from?

Mine hasn't been unreliable. The MINI specialist shop I use will tell you it's the most reliable generation. The shop owner and mechanic both drive the late 1st generation cars.

How bout an Integra or RSX?

Or, a longer rear end for the Ti....

dculberson wrote: My auto 850 Turbo got well over 20mpg on long trips. Short mixed city/highway like my 7 mile commute it was more like 19mpg, but on highway trips like OP is describing it was around 25-27mpg.

My ex's wagon barely made it into the 20's. Ever. Her 10 mile back-roads drive to work netted low teens. That and its horrific reliability were reasons she got rid of the car.

Having been Chris's house, I can confirm the roads around his house are fun to drive on and a manual is definitely preferred.

In reply to irish44j:

A six cylinder and the accompanying transmission with an overdrive 5th gear would be the ticket I think, the 1:1 5th in our car is the most annoying part. I've thought about getting a wrecked 3 or 5 series and "using the whole buffalo" from engine to rear end and maybe even seats and sound deadening.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote: In reply to irish44j: A six cylinder and the accompanying transmission with an overdrive 5th gear would be the ticket I think, the 1:1 5th in our car is the most annoying part. I've thought about getting a wrecked 3 or 5 series and "using the whole buffalo" from engine to rear end and maybe even seats and sound deadening.

Seeing as you already have the Ti, and it has positive aspects to it and you've worked on it already, that sounds like a pretty good plan to me. Then if you get tired of it, it'll be super-easy to sell to the rally scene since they all seem to love Tis lol...

My brain goes straight to W210 E300TD. 30 mpg, 170 hp and lots of torque when that turbo kicks in. Better handling that you'd expect for the quiet soft ride.

I know its not Japanese, but its a nice luxo highway ride. I never found a Japanese ride (in that price range/year) that excelled at anything but econoboxing. I can't say that anything Japanese that I've owned or ridden in of that genre has been anything but buzzy and noisy.

Ian F wrote:

dculberson wrote: My auto 850 Turbo got well over 20mpg on long trips. Short mixed city/highway like my 7 mile commute it was more like 19mpg, but on highway trips like OP is describing it was around 25-27mpg.

My ex's wagon barely made it into the 20's. Ever. Her 10 mile back-roads drive to work netted low teens. That and its horrific reliability were reasons she got rid of the car. Having been Chris's house, I can confirm the roads around his house are fun to drive on and a manual is definitely preferred.

I got ~24-25 mpg on the highway in my 850 turbo driving like an ass, though mid teens around town wasn't unheard of either if I was really abusing it. My n/a 5 speed would knock down 29 no problem. Both were phenomenal highway cars and weren't bad drivers, but you would really need the 5 speed AND the turbo to even remotely interest me in an 850 again.

My 4th gen Camaro could cover some serious ground, just felt effortless cruising at 90 running like 2200 rpm or something. Will pull high 20s mpg cruising well above the limit. Seats suck though and they absolutely need dampers to handle even close to decently, plus the general 4th gen Camaro-ness

How about an E46? Surprised no one has mentioned these yet.