what to replace the Armada with

[clyde]

What should I replace the Armada with?

The ideal would be something that I don't have to dig into my pocket at all. I'm not sure what the Armada is worth right now, but edmunds says about $15 on trade, and what carmax is asking for similar model/mileage/options ($22ish) makes me think that's quite possible.

There aren't really that many requirements except that I want it to be a car that doesn't make me cry out of sadness. I dont care how many doors or seats. I don't care whether it's FWD, RWD, or AWD. Newer and lower miles would be better than older or higher miles, and I'd rather it be something that I can beat up for a long time and stay running, than something fickle that needs a lot of attention. But everything is on a sliding scale and nothing is likely to be a dealbreaker on its own.

Cars that come to mind are
TSX (2005-2008)
MINIs (any)
RX-8
Mazda 3
E46 330i
G35
350Z
Mustang GT

They all seem so meh. What am I missing?

[JST]

Well, the E46 330 is the best of that lot by a fair margin; given how much car you get for the money, it's hard to look past.

[John V]

Used Shelby.

/thread

[JST]

Used Shelby.

/thread

Can you get one of those for 15?

[Rob]

I agree with JST. Form that list, the 330 is the best choice - except I don't know how much rx8s cost used and you mentioned you were thinking about another one.

Are you finished towing?

[ff]

Used Buick Lucerne

[John V]

Can you get one of those for 15?

Details, details... :eeps:

[equ]

I "happen" to have a wholesale subscription. Pm me with details if you are curious on your trade-in value...

[clyde]

Can you get one of those for 15?
If it could, I would...but...

[Nick M3]

Used E46 M3. :(

[Nick M3]

Like a 2001 with 80K miles?:eek:
Yep.

[clyde]

Yep.

why not a crate of hand grenades instead?

[JST]

why not a crate of hand grenades instead?

Crate of grenades is less trendy.

[clyde]

Well, the E46 330 is the best of that lot by a fair margin; given how much car you get for the money, it's hard to look past.

I agree with JST. Form that list, the 330 is the best choice - except I don't know how much rx8s cost used and you mentioned you were thinking about another one.

Are you finished towing?

The point of that list was mostly to ask, "what's not on here that should be?" more than, "which of these is best?"

Good RX-8s can be had into the low teens. Finished towing? Not sure, but I won't be towing with the Armada this year for sure, so there's no real reason to keep it.

[JST]

The point of that list was mostly to ask, "what's not on here that should be?" more than, "which of these is best?"



Oh.

Miata.

Boxster.

S52 M coupe? Dunno about that one.

E36 M3.

968 (think outside the box).

GTI

911

Some of the questionable cars on this list:

http://jalopnik.com/5147091/twelve-near+classic-cars-under-10000

[clyde]

Oh.

Miata.

Would probably be at the top of my list if it weren't for the fact that they kill my knees. Now that I have back issues...

Boxster.

There's a yellow 986 S I'd buy in a heartbeat if it wasn't worth a few more $k than I'm willing to spend.

S52 M coupe? Dunno about that one.

E36 M3.

Too much effort to find a clean, straight, and sound one at that price point. And I don't really like E36 M3s either.

968 (think outside the box).

944 Turbo is a car that has always been on my list, but any of them at this point is questionable for a daily driver, even if I could find the right one.

GTI

hmm...

911

See 968/944, but even more so.
Some of the questionable cars on this list:

http://jalopnik.com/5147091/twelve-near+classic-cars-under-10000

Maybe I should just overpay for a running C4

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4s-for-sale-wanted/2167819-1993-6-speed-coupe-blk-blk.html
$5500 (current ask price)
I have a 1993 black 6 speed coupe for sale. The car is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and has been in storage for the better part of a year. I have started it and driven it occasionally, and the registration is up to date. I was recalled by the Marines over a year ago, and now I am in the Illinois State Police Academy and have to move to Chicago in December. So, instead of moving the car, I want to let it go.

The Good:
Black Grand sport wheels with decent rubber 285 front/315 rear
4.11 rear gear
MSD Opti-spark
MSD coil
Doug Rippie Coilover Suspension
Muffler Eliminators

Video of the exhaust...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55mQC5JEVI8

The Bad:
Cracked Targa top
paint (the car was keyed on the back before I bought it)
one head light motor is getting slow, but still works

If you are interested please call or email me. I am available on the weekends.

jfgodwin@hotmail.com
847-769-8893

I am asking $9700 obo.

[lemming]

Mustang

[bren]

Maybe I should just overpay for a running C4

I can help with that if you'd like. I'll even settle for $15k just to make it easy.

[Sharp11]

Just for fun, plug your requirements into autotrader and see what comes up - sometimes there are interesting little surprises you might never have considered.

Ed

[FC]

FYI: My 330i ZHP will be up for sale (for real this time) in a few weeks.

[JST]

FYI: My 330i ZHP will be up for sale (for real this time) in a few weeks.

For 15K?

[FC]

For 15K?

Nope.

But I doubt the market puts it any higher than 17K. I haven't checked since I last put it up for sale in late summer.

[clyde]

FYI: My 330i ZHP will be up for sale (for real this time) in a few weeks.

I could buy it for $15 if you buy John's Boxster for whatever he's currently asking for it. :eeps:

[JST]

A few more random thoughts:

Honda Fit -- a new "Fit Sport" goes for 16 and change.

The Saturn Astra goes for 18ish, but rebates and incentives might drive that price down.

A Genesis Coupe R Spec is half again as much as you want to spend, but is certainly intriguing.

Same with the Cobalt SS.

[Biggins]

I'd pick the Acura TSX after the slight front-end restyle ('06-08 I think), but before the atrosity of the current model.

What about a Mazdaspeed6? I always liked that car on paper, but I have never driven one.

[ff]

What about a Mazdaspeed6? I always liked that car on paper, but I have never driven one.

Lots-o-turbo lag, but comes on pretty strong for a good kick in the pants (compared to what I'm used to, anyhow). The manual trans is pretty bad, though. Very imprecise gates and sloppy overall feel.

[lemming]

i vote for cobalt SS (turbo, not super).

[clyde]

A few more random thoughts:

Honda Fit -- a new "Fit Sport" goes for 16 and change.

The Saturn Astra goes for 18ish, but rebates and incentives might drive that price down.

A Genesis Coupe R Spec is half again as much as you want to spend, but is certainly intriguing.

Same with the Cobalt SS.

$15 is pretty much a hard limit. :/

[Plaz]

Motorcycle

[equ]

FYI: My 330i ZHP will be up for sale (for real this time) in a few weeks.

Do you have any non-flickr pics? I want to recommend it to a friend at work but there is a firewall. Say on b-fest...

[lupinsea]

Looking over that link that JST posted from jalopnik:

This looks cool. (http://jalopnik.com/5147413/1981-am-general-m35+a2c)


$10k asking
4100 miles
465 ci 6 cyl, turbo engine runs on diesel, kerosene, gasoline, or JP-8
5 spd manual
10WD for good grip in the corners
convertible!
nice painted matte black wheels


And that leaves you with $5k for play money to repaint it a fun color or add some bling. Maybe some pin striping for some flair.

Plus, consider, the interior doesn't have any of the distracting gimiky doo-dads found in modern cars, no iDrive BS to deal with. Just straight forward, driver oriented analog gages in easy to read white-on-black gage faces.



.

[rautox]

This looks cool. (http://jalopnik.com/5147413/1981-am-general-m35+a2c)

Yup, I want that. No reason. I just want it.

[FC]

Do you have any non-flickr pics? I want to recommend it to a friend at work but there is a firewall. Say on b-fest...

I can email them to you. I haven't posted on the fest gallery section ever (if that's what you mean). I susppose it's not too hard.

[clyde]

dont forget you can create albums here, too...

[zach]

Yup, I want that. No reason. I just want it.

Yeah, me too. We've been looking for a winter vehicle, but this might be a bit difficult to park in the city. Probably not great for long highway trips, either.

[FC]

dont forget you can create albums here, too...

Oh, I should do that instead. Thanks.

[equ]

Emailing me is not the best way, much better to provide a link for people.

[Rob]

Yeah, me too. We've been looking for a winter vehicle, but this might be a bit difficult to park in the city. Probably not great for long highway trips, either.

I don't know about highway trips, but I bet it's easy to park in the city. Just pull over and roll over anything that's in the way.

[FC]

Emailing me is not the best way, much better to provide a link for people.

http://forums.carmudgeons.com/album.php?albumid=7

I had to reduce the size. I have crazy-resolution versions of all these photos if he wants them.

Photos are from 8/8/08 but nothing has happened to the car to alter its condition. I've added ~3K miles. I'm at 57.X.


...sorry for the hijack.

[lupinsea]

I don't know about highway trips, but I bet it's easy to park in the city. Just pull over and roll over anything that's in the way.

:+1 :cool:

[bren]

FYI: My 330i ZHP will be up for sale (for real this time) in a few weeks.

For 15K?

Nope.

But I doubt the market puts it any higher than 17K. I haven't checked since I last put it up for sale in late summer.


:dunno:


http://file.kbb.com/kbb/images/wsr/ucpath/getbluebookvaluesp.gif http://file.kbb.com/kbb/images/wsr/nchub/whatsthis.gif

http://file.kbb.com/kbb/vehicleimage/152x105/2003/msbm330i031.jpg (http://www.kbb.com/KBB/UsedCars/Photos/2003_BMW_3%20Series_1813_Private%20Party_Excellent .aspx?SelectionHistory=1813%7C30039%7C21204%7C0%7C 0%7C69674%7Ctrue%7C69700%7Ctrue%7C2634941%7Ctrue%7 C2634939%7Ctrue%7C69797%7Cfalse&Mileage=58000)
More Photos (http://www.kbb.com/KBB/UsedCars/Photos/2003_BMW_3%20Series_1813_Private%20Party_Excellent .aspx?SelectionHistory=1813%7C30039%7C21204%7C0%7C 0%7C69674%7Ctrue%7C69700%7Ctrue%7C2634941%7Ctrue%7 C2634939%7Ctrue%7C69797%7Cfalse&Mileage=58000)

Condition http://file.kbb.com/kbb/images/wsr/nchub/whatsthis.gif Value
Excellent
$15,995


Good
$15,095


Fair
$13,945

[IndyMike]

Ouch.

I just looked at my '04 for comparison.

Excellent
$19,490

Good
$18,490

Fair
$17,190

If it tanks like the '03 did I'm probably looking at 15 - 16K a year from now. Maybe now's the time to sell.

I'd do it in a heartbeat if I had more details on the purported lighter 1 series model, and I knew it was for sure coming here within the next 18 months.

But I don't. So what's a body to do? Perseveration Rumination. :willy:

Before I forget I'd add the A3 to the Clydesdale's list.

FC, the ZHP looks pretty good. The paint looks like it still has a lot of snap to it. That's another reason why I love the flat red of Imola. I don't know about yours, but I have virtually no swirl marks at all. Oh, I have a couple of faint scratches that I need to polish out this spring and a couple or rock chips that need to be dealt with as well, But after a nice wash, clay bar, paint cleaner and wax job it's literally blinding in the sun.

No oxidation at all, which was a big problem towards the end of the '91 318is Hellrots tenure with me.

No more red cars for me after the ZHP. Not that I don't like them, but once you've had Imola nothing compares to it IMHO.

[FC]

:dunno:

Seems low to me. I don't trust KBB to accurately reflect the private sale value of a niche-ish car? I've never done a search within 200 miles and found more than 1 ZHP. Often times zero. Around here, my car is a slightly hotter commodity and I'm in no rush to sell it.

That said, if the market for ZHP's really says my car is worth 15K, so be it. I recall doing a quick search at the fest and fanatics not too long ago and it seemed 16.5K to 17.5K was the range (for the very few that were for sale). I have to discount a bit for minor cosmetic damage to the front bumper.

I need to have a discussion with my wife too because she really doesn't like the CTS wagon and if you go by that ugly BMW as a guide for the future 5er, that won't work either. That leaves me with zero potential replacements for the V70R, at which point I'm better off running the V70R and the 330i into the ground. Especially if the 330i is worth so little now, and if the V70R will be worth so little in 3 years (I still have 5 years of warranty left onthe V70R).

Can an admin please move the FC ZHP/waffling-related posts out of here into a new thread? I feel bad about the massive hijack.:o

[FC]

...

I love Imola. Everytime I wash the car I realize how beautiful it is.