yet another another what car thread. and it isnt going to be miata.....

ok so this is very hypothetical at this point as i have enough to do, but i cant help myself.....sorry its kinda long......

i currently have: a 1st gen durnago, a third gen camaro, an e30 bmw,

in true grassroots style, only the suv is registered, and only one of the other cars currently runs.

i want to get something to drive on a dd basis that gets good gas milage (upper 20's lower 30's without being all highway), has 4 real seats (no one has to get out from behind a seat) is presentable for work if i have to drive a client somewhere, can tolerate my dog without getting completely trashed, is rwd, and something the average 30 something woman would be happy to be seen in. (i am dating after all). it also should be procured/ built for less than $3500. i would also like to keep my total at only 3 cars. i would also like for it to be built prior to 1986 for emissins law reasons. (not that i want to pollute more, i just dont like inspections!)

so far my thoughts are that the E30 is race only. it would take way too much work to ever be a dd. it is also an eseries so it would take a lot of investment to make it good fr anything more than for fun autocrossing and HPDE 2.

while the camaro doesnt run yet, it is close and it is my first car so it has too much sentimental value to sell, it fits some of the dd requirements except the milage, 4 seats, and client presentability needs, (and some dating issues) so it cant really be the dd. ideally it could eventually replace the E30 on track and allow me to part with that car.

the durango is in good shape with low miles. but sucks down gas like crazy. while i need to be able to haul a utility trailer, boat and occasional car trailer/ dolly,and it fits most of the other dd requirements pretty well, i would prefer not to drive this truck every day. i cant afford it. i could sell it and get another truck that more closely resembles the gas milage goals but i am not sure i can find one that satisfies all of the other needs in my budget.

my current thoughts are that the best option would be to find an early 80's BMW 5 series with a great interior and good body (paint color/condition irrelevant as i am now in love with the lexus grey) i could repaint it put in some good front seats, cleaned up wheels and tires, new wearable items, and get it dressed up pretty nice. if i could only find an autotrajic or one with a detonated engine i could swap over my e30 motor if needed to keep it in budget.

are there any other options out there you can think of for these requirements?

Old school Saab 900 Turbo. They made em in 4 doors, got decent mileage, and any woman cool enough to get down with that design is a keeper.

EDIT- Crap. These aren't RWD. How about a Mid 80's Toyota Cressida? I've seen clean ones all over for next to nothin', and it's a design that's aged well.

A Saturn? Just a thought, if it needs to be bigger then maybe it won't work for you.

my buddy has a E28 5er for sale. Its a 528E, real clean! Has a set of E46 M3 wheels as well as a set of Gotti Corvette wheels with brand new tires on em, plus the stock wheels too! It has a gremlin somewhere in the wiring, has spark but to fuel. Im thinkin its the CPS, but we dont know yet. I can find out what he wants for it... and if i could find some better pics...

E28 BMW 5 Series
Volvo 740 or 740 wagon

Both cars are a good timeless look. A well maintained version of either will not show their age as much as some others may.
The wagon could bring the "utility" eliment into play and maybe replace the Durango

EricM wrote: A Saturn? Just a thought, if it needs to be bigger then maybe it won't work for you.

Am I correct that the car needs to be 1986 or older?
[Saturn 1991]

i cant believe yo even read the post that fast!... much less edited your response!

i like the look of the 85-8 better than the 84 versions is this what you were talking about? also, what kind of milage numbers do they have. the only cressida i could find with these numbers was a 92 and it was closer to 19 mpg.

yep, saturns are out. too new and i am not crazy about the body style. they look too much like dwarfed 4th gen camaros (or vice versa!)

4-cyl e36 four door? Probably at the top of your budget and then there's the cooling system to rebuild and other things...

Volvo 240?

I know it's not RWD but there are Audi 4000 Quattro sedans in my area that are at least presentable in pictures on Craigslist going for a grand or less. Don't know what it'd be like to actually "restore" them to good usable every day condition though. Interesting powertrain options if you fancy a swap.

DukeOfUndersteer wrote: my buddy has a E28 5er for sale. Its a 528E, real clean! Has a set of E46 M3 wheels as well as a set of Gotti Corvette wheels with brand new tires on em, plus the stock wheels too! It has a gremlin somewhere in the wiring, has spark but to fuel. Im thinkin its the CPS, but we dont know yet. I can find out what he wants for it... and if i could find some better pics...

that is exactly the body style i was thinking about. go figure! a bmw with electrical issues! that part i can live with as i just gutted and replaced most of the wiring in the E30. but this is way more hypothetical than buying something now. i am not planning to do this until the camaro is track ready and the e-30 is then replaceable. i also have to get the 2010 challenge car running and into someone else's driveway first! too many projects... not enough vacation days to stay home from work!

what kind of milage would be typical for a volvo of that vintage? 240 or 7 series?

jrw1621 wrote:

EricM wrote: A Saturn? Just a thought, if it needs to be bigger then maybe it won't work for you.

Am I correct that the car needs to be 1986 or older? [Saturn 1991]

And RWD, and a usable rear seat.

This will give you the EPA fuel economy of every car sold in the US since 1984.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm

jrw1621 wrote: This will give you the EPA fuel economy of every car sold in the US since 1984. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm

interesting link. according to the sit the oldest car listed that even gets at least 26mpg on average is the 1994 mazda 626 4 banger. maybe i am shooting too high!

The search function only goes back to 1994.
If you want to find cars older than 1994 you have to hit the tab titled "Find a Car" to search them manually.
Also note that the EPA changed their standards over the years. When you do find an old car there will be a tab titled "compare to window sticker." This will show the rating given to the car when new by the standards of that time.

Sure 1986 is your minimum but what about older? Aside from the part about attracting woman, a 4 door Chevy Corvair might be the ticket.
It also may attract the right kind of woman.

Corvair: Every one wants the coupes and converts. Sedans seem to go cheap.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-Corvair-1961-CHEVY-CORVAIR-4-DOOR-700-/170501089244?cmd=ViewItem&pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item27b2a827dc
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-Corvair-Monza-65-Corvair-4-door-Hardtop-Blue-Metallic-/260621225517?cmd=ViewItem&pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item3cae3c4e2d
Nicely done '65
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-Corvair-Corvair-Sedan-1965-/200484175004?cmd=ViewItem&pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item2eadc9bc9c

Mercedes 190E. A 2.3 16V just went for $2k on ebay, and it actually looked pretty good. The 2.3 will give the best fuel economy, but the 2.6 I6 definitely adds some smooth grunt. Meets all of your criteria. I am thinking about one for my wife.

Man...some tough criteria there. Especially the RWD w/good gas mileage part.

Maybe an old Benz diesel?

S12 200SX 81-84 maxima

my mom used to have an old 74 or so 240, i think a straight 6 (sold before i could legally drive so i dint get much experience wit it). that was pretty nice but i havent seen on around lately that wasnt a rust bucket. didnt the old 190's have some pretty significant maintenance issues? i dont recall anything in particular. just general moaning.

BMW E28, get a 535 or 535is if you can find one.

A mid 80s Cressida is not a fun car to drive without a bunch of mods. (I had a 87, good car, but sort of a Japanese Benz-- solid, comfy, slow to respond to steering/ throttle, super softly suspended)

A 300 series Benz may not be a bad choice. W124 Chassis. Almost all were automatic, but seriously stout cars.

If you can live with something post-86, an E36 sedan immediately came to mind.

Futura/Fairmont...maybe even the wagon. EFI 302 and 5 speed/'93 Cobra rims.Paint Nimbus grey.

Or maybe a bitchin' '81 Camaro.

If you can stretch your budget a little, here's a NICE e28 5 series: http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=77533

Mercedes 300sd or 350sdl. Big w126 sedan, looks better than the BMW's of the era. I don't think you'd be getting much over 20mpg running diesel though. If you look past the guy wrenching on the 528 you'll see a gold 300sd or sel. If gas price wasn't an issue I'd say get either a big 560sel or a w123 280e.

I hate to say it but a crown vic might also take the cake. Big 4 door, RWD, decent MPG, domestic, and plentifully made so parts should be easy to find. Just think of it as a mustang that needs a diet and you'll be fine. The only thing about the Vic is they handle like a pig and if you think a mercedes steering in numb, the vic makes it feel downright tight.

In reply to itsarebuild:

The W201 (190 series) is pretty stout... Maintenance wise, they are no worse off than any other car of that vintage. Better than most, I would say.