Pick a car for my woman

[rumatt]

Here are her constraints, in order of importance:

1) Under $15K

2) "Fun to drive". Part of her definition of fun is having a sufficient level of low end torque (I don't think S2K is for her),

3) Fits a bike, either inside, or on a rack

4) Fuel efficient

Suggestions?

She's all over the map... BMW's, boxsters, VW GTI, Mini's. The boxster doesn't meet #3 bike requirement but seems willing to compromise if the fun factor is high enough. She loves my car (e46 330i) and it's on her list, but it seems silly to have two identical cars.

I'm giving her the obvious advice: Go drive them all before deciding...

But suggestions/thoughts are always welcome.

[equ]

How about a gf arbitrage strategy? Sell her your car, shop for sth fun for yourself... E.g. JV's boxy.

[misterlance]

Mini.

[equ]

I'd much rather have a e46 330i + boxster than a e46 + mini... But then again, what are some other constraints? Expect how many miles per year each of you? If both are doing mucho miles, ru's e46 + jv's boxster may not be the best high miler suggesion.

[bren]

:cool:

<-----------------------------

[rumatt]

How about a gf arbitrage strategy? Sell her your car, shop for sth fun for yourself... E.g. JV's boxy.

Thought about this plan.... It makes sense... but I have an irrational attachment to my car (working on it... racing it... crashing it...) Not sure I'll be OK with the swap. :toetap: :rolleyes:

[rumatt]

I'd much rather have a e46 330i + boxster than a e46 + mini... But then again, what are some other constraints? Expect how many miles per year each of you? If both are doing mucho miles, ru's e46 + jv's boxster may not be the best high miler suggesion.

No, definitely NOT a lot of miles.

I work from home, and she's 6 miles from work.

[rumatt]

Mini.

She drove the mini. She liked it but didn't love it. And based on the mini mileage weirdness (http://forums.carmudgeons.com/showthread.php?t=20656) she's leaning toward the newer ones which stress her budget.

[rumatt]

:cool:

<-----------------------------

You selling something? :toetap:

[bren]

You selling something? :toetap:
Just suggesting. You can probably find a C5 for that price. FYI, I can fit a bike in the hatch with the front tire removed (I don't know how the C5 luggage area compares though.)

Although, if she wants to give me $15k for it we could talk. I might even deliver it.

[Josh (PA)]

Seems the standard options apply:
E46 330
WRX wagon
Mini

or for something a little bit different
http://images.autotrader.com/images/2008/8/20/250/042/8297195253.250042256.IM1.MAIN.565x421_A.561x421.jp g

[bren]

or for something a little bit different

Ooh, those can be had for under $15k now?

[Josh (PA)]

Ooh, those can be had for under $15k now?

a quick ebay and autotrader search showed a number of them for between $15 and $20

non Ms for under $15, with either the bulletproof 2.8 or newer 3.0 they still meet the fun to drive requirement and get better gas mileage

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=255789681&dealer_id=63624733&car_year=2001&rdm=1233348668063&model=Z3&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=2&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=n&make=BMW&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&body_style=COUPE&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=2&sort_type=priceDESC&address=19335&advanced=&end_year=2010&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=115&standard=false

[dan]

give her your car and you go get whatever you want.

[John V]

My car is just slightly on the wrong side of the country for you. Not that I'd be opposed to selling it to you. I'm sure you could find something nice that's closer. Anyway, my car isn't for sale for $15k.

Nobody wants an S54 powered MFoot. The S52 powered cars would be ideal. Really great mileage, they sound nice, and they're pretty torquey.

I think a non-Z06 C5 could be had for that kind of money, and they're fun, but pretty crude. I don't know where you live in SF, but given the roads/parking situation that I've encountered in that city, I wouldn't want a Corvette.

[bren]

I've heard this is a good car for SF.

http://modculture.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/05/17/bullitt_mustang.jpg

[rumatt]

My car is just slightly on the wrong side of the country for you.

Yeah, too late now... but while we were in NY the shipping here would have been free... (paid by company!!!).

[Josh (PA)]

The hamster powered version, not the S54 version.

AKA the one that doesn't throw bearings and explode?

[clyde]

3) Fits a bike, either inside, or on a rack

The boxster doesn't meet #3 bike requirement but seems willing to compromise if the fun factor is high enough.

:?

http://www.birdautomotive.com/XrackRear-2.jpg

http://www.birdautomotive.com/Bike%20Rack%20Boxster.htm

Maybe John knows something about this.

[Sharp11]

I'd suggest a nice late-model Miata with a bike rack.

Perfect.

Ed

[John V]

Miata is a good suggestion.

[Sharp11]

Miata is a good suggestion.

It's the best no muss, no fuss option - I get the feeling she's looking for something cheap and cheerful :)

Ed

[John V]

No torque, though.

[BahnBaum]

No torque, though.

That's as much Matt's responsibility as his girlfriend's, you'd think.

Alex

[lupinsea]

It's the best no muss, no fuss option - I get the feeling she's looking for something cheap and cheerful :)

Ed

I didn't want to be the first to suggest it as I'm probably starting to sound like a broken record on the Miatas. But I really liked my ownership experience. They aren't expensive cars to start with, they're pretty reliable, and reasonably inexpensive to fix when its needed.

And '06 prices range from $13-15k unless your looking at the special editions(~$17k). They are available with 5spd, 6spd and automatic tramsmissions and some have an honest to goodness mechanical LSD.



No torque, though.

True. Didn't realize how much I liked torque until I got into the ZHP. But there are other characteristics to the Miata's engine that I like just as much. When I consider stepping back into one in the future I think I'll miss the torque . . . a little bit. But the rest of the care is more than enough fun and enjoyment to make up for it.

FWIW, the NCs have a larger (2.0L) engine than the NA and NBs and it produces a bit more HP and torque. . . about 25-30 more ft-lb. than the NBs. It won't launch the car down the road but it's enough to give the NC Miata a 0-60 time of 6.5 sec (about the same as an automatic E46 330i).

When I drove the NC it seemed fine. . . not as torque as the BMW, obviously, but it seemed to have more scoot than my old NB. And that was with an ultra big salesman in the car with me (and me being not so light weight, either).

[Rob]

True. Didn't realize how much I liked torque until I got into the ZHP.

No torque in the ZHP either. :D

[lupinsea]

About 100+ more than in my old Miata. :DX2

[rumatt]

UPDATE:

She drove these cars, and was not impressed: Mazda 3, VW GTI, Mini, RSX. She liked them in that order from most to worst.

Then she drove a 2005 Miata (NB) and loved it! She's now reading all about miatas. It's a stripped down 2005 with a 5-speed transmission and essentially no options, at a dealer asking $11.9.

The question at this point is: do I encourage her to go for NC. I'm googling now on NB vs NC. I personally wouldn't buy one without the LSD, but I am guessing that's an easy swap later. I'm also searching for any known issues on these when buying used.

[rumatt]

I'm googling now on NB vs NC.

Sounds to me like there's no right answer... I'll tell her to buy whatever she likes to get this search over with. :speechle:

[bren]

Sounds to me like there's no right answer...
Wrong. I think we both know the right thing to do. :p

http://sccaforums.com/forums/thread/329123.aspx

[rumatt]

Wrong. I think we both know the right thing to do. :p

http://sccaforums.com/forums/thread/329123.aspx

OMG, that looks great. :lol: :banghead:

No!

[John V]

For $18.5k she could buy a very nice 986 Boxster S, and it's a lot more car than an NB or NC Miata. She should at least drive one and see if she likes it.