Recommendations in the $5,000-7500 range?

"Dunnik" (dunnik) 04/04/2014 at 18:32 • Filed to: None

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I need a backup plan in case I can't lowball a low mileage well-kept W124.

The budget is relatively broad: $5000-7500.

I need a highway DD, to get me to and from work reliably, a commute of about 25 km one way (15.5 miles). As such, the most desirable characteristics are:

- reliability

- highway manners

- fuel efficient at highway speeds

For many drivers, this is easy: Toyota Camry. Or something. But I am not most drivers, and neither are you. So you know what I want. But can you have that, and have the above too? Not to put to fine a point on it, but can one haz ones cake and nomnomnom it too?

I've given this much thought and while the W124 might have fit the bill perfectly its getting on 20-25 years. There's the 1st gen IS, but all I see is a now is an Aletezza with leather and handling, like some super Corolla.

But still a Corolla. The E39 or E46 are low-hanging fruit, as is the A4, but I could run into the similar cost per mile and reliability issues as the mint and sorted W124 of my dreams. New VW's are too unreliable, and oldskool veedubs are too old. The Japanese either rust or its FWD. The 'muricans are either too thirsty, too sofa, or both.

Ugh. Help me Oppo!

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 18:33

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E36

Leadbull > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 18:35

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Why the crap would you blow your cash on a car?

Buy 5-7,000 bags of skittles. That would be way more fun.

jkm7680 > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 18:35

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In times of doubt. A4.

Dunnik > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 04/04/2014 at 18:36

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Yep, but same issues as the W124. A nearly 20-25 year old bonafide classic that would need serious sorting. And I'd almost rather the W124 as a highway DD. When sorted it should also be more reliable, and was more robustly built (don't get me wrong, love the E36).

Can't run two cars for long, and don't have the garage or serious tools that would make all of this oh so much easier :/

Dunnik > Leadbull 04/04/2014 at 18:37

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Yes, until the Skittles ran out or became unrecoverable.

And I while I can Taste the Rainbow, I can't ride it to work.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 18:38

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5000-7500 will get you a really nice E36

Leadbull > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 18:39

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I mean, you can throw some packs of gum in there too, I guess.

Dunnik > jkm7680 04/04/2014 at 18:42

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Low-mileage B5 or higher mileage B6? Or a worn out B7...?

But everybody has Audis around here. Even the Saudis are in Audis . Never liked the looks of the B6 and 7, other than the Avant, and the wagon love seems very hard to find.

Love classic Audis like the Ur-Quattro, had fun driving my friend's dad's 90 up to cottage country up down and around hills. And they do seem, do they not? to be more reliable than the BMWs and certainly the Mercs of their era. And Quattro would be ubersauce in the Canadian winter.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 18:43

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Have you looked at Acuras? The TL, TSX, RSX, CL, Integra, and RL might be based on hondas but they do drive quite nice and have a good combo of driving manners and fuel economy. Plus most of them are tuner darlings so finding parts of any sort won't be an issue.

jkm7680 > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 18:44

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I've got a B7 2.0T. Sorta worn out.

I'd suggest a B5 or early B6 for the price range, and avoid the 1.8

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > jkm7680 04/04/2014 at 18:47

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He said reliable...

Saracen > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 18:50

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Mazda3.

/thread

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 18:50

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Might I suggest the Volvo 960 ? Cheap to buy, very reliable, V6 economy, rear-wheel drive, great long-distance cruiser, and not all that common.

jkm7680 > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 04/04/2014 at 18:51

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They can be reliable, minus the 1.8T.

Oh, and mine of course.

Dunnik > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 04/04/2014 at 18:53

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I have, sorta, but I thought the TL or TSX to be out of this price range unless they have stupidly high mileage or budding rust.

Dunnik > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/04/2014 at 18:56

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Rare these days, no? And aren't they known for electrical seizures? Hasn't aged well, either, in the looks dept.

Do like tho, and may fit the bill: my dad was in the market for a Volvo, and I test drove the V90. I told him to please for the love of the car gods buy that (he once had an Austin Healey 3000, so he knew what I was talking about) but he ended up with the V70 :(

Dunnik > Saracen 04/04/2014 at 19:00

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Rust. Buzzy at speed. Too much of a feeling of a tin can on the highway. Great handling for FWD, and pretty fast, though.

The only Mazda I'd ever buy is not, in this case, the Answer.

The new Six is nice, and I drive 2's, 3's and even 5's at work, but no.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 19:06

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Also, if you don't mind driving a posh Honda, there's always the similarly reliable albeit FWD Acura 3.5RL . Those aren't exactly rare, but they aren't common either.

6cyl > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 19:10

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e30 318is. Good on gas. Light and fun.

Dunnik > 6cyl 04/04/2014 at 19:12

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Alas, I'd put the E30 - and the E24, my favorite Bimmer ever - in the same category as the W124 and E36. Modern classics that require possibly too much TLC to be effective highway DD's.

Anyone have a time machine?

Dunnik > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/04/2014 at 19:14

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Good suggestion, but a posh Accord is still an Accord, just like a posh Lexus is just a Camry with better soundproofing and leather :/

DailyTurismo > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 19:17

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Mercedes Benz CL500 ?

6cyl > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 19:20

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e36 can be temperamental. and unfortunately you won't find a well sorted e24 in that price range. But that is the sweet spot for a nice well sorted e30. they are more reliable than people give them credit and dead simple to work on .

Dunnik > 6cyl 04/04/2014 at 19:22

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It's that last part, I think, that keeps them on the road today, and I don't have a garage or tools or really much experience beyond ducktape and screwdrivers.

My aunt had an E30, an 1986 318i, and I don't know if I'd want what is, in the end, an 80's compact car on today's highways.

If I lived in some mountain village in Italy, though...

Dunnik > DailyTurismo 04/04/2014 at 19:28

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Boss.

But I don't earn the salary of one. I've heard that they're probably the most reliable modern S-Class, but I'd still run into the same kinda problems as the W124, which is better sized for urban traffic.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 19:36

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You're in a tough place. I can't blame you for wanting a car that is cheap and interesting and comfortable and RWD and sporty and rare and reliable. But for under about $7500, you may not be able to have it all. The Germans are all expensive to work on. The Japanese are all based on lower-model cars. The Americans are all boats. Finding a car that is all the things you want, plus rare, for under $7500 may not be possible. I'm also currently shopping for a car in that price range, and the one thing I've learned is: $75,000 buys you a car without compromises. $7500 does not.

The only other thing I can think to suggest is the Infiniti Q45 . Not based on a Maxima, average reliability, ok-ish MPG, V8 RWD fun, comfy, and nice ones are rare. Otherwise, I think a nice Volvo, while not sporty, may be your best bet. Only you can pick the right car for you at the end of the day, though.

bob and john > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 19:39

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something diesel.

GeorgeyBoy > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 19:40

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Saab 9-3, hear me out, actually just look at this example I found near me. It will do all the talking.

2006, 57,000 miles, 5 speed manual. What more can you ask at $7,300?

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 19:44

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Go for a CL. They're still good at 75k + miles and can be had for between 4 and 6 grand for a well sorted example. A lovely blue one was sold locally about a year ago and I saw it by the end of summer rolling on some very nice wheels and a good detailing looking like a 10k$ car or more. List price? 5500. Oh, and the CL-type S can be had with a manual to go with your 3.2L V6 and upgraded suspension or you just get the 5-speed auto and have a highway star. Definitely a good car to consider.

Dunnik > GeorgeyBoy 04/04/2014 at 19:44

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I want to rescue a Swedish orphan but then I remember she's related to this dude:

Dunnik > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 04/04/2014 at 19:46

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Meh. Good suggestion: the CL is solid in many ways, but I could never bring myself to like its looks, unless it was all JDM'd up, and that's not my cup of tea.

Dunnik > bob and john 04/04/2014 at 19:47

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and brown?

GeorgeyBoy > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 19:48

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I mean you want efficiency, reliability, and highway manners? I think it fits that perfectly.

It's a distant relation, completely different engine and it has a 5 speed. Sure it's fwd but that doesn't make it a bad platform.

MountainCommand > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 19:51

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I could have sworn i mentioned this to you before, or was it you who had a friend looking at these? get a luuuuude.

Dunnik > GeorgeyBoy 04/04/2014 at 19:55

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Problem is I've never decided which side of the Saab fence I'm on these days. The hell yes you should buy it, its a cheap, relatively uncommon mint Euro sports saloon from a company with a long and distinguished history, or the GM poisoned the well camp. This debate has occupied Oppo for quite some time.

GeorgeyBoy > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 19:59

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I look at it as a POW. There is still quirky Saab there, just imprisoned.

samssun > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 20:11

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Everyone will moan because they're neither unique/quirky nor super nice, but that's how you get reliable + affordable in a fun package: 350Z, or G35.

6cyl > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 20:11

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Yeah no one really wants the early 318. That motor basically an update of the motor fromthe 2002. What youwant us the later (89?-91) 318. Dual overhead cams. A very modern motor but with none of the variable valve timing nonsense

Dunnik > MountainCommand 04/04/2014 at 20:13

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My friend, yes, he's back on the hunt in fact. He's picky, and knows what he wants: white, little to no rust, low mileage, 2001, SE trim so he can do a swap.

I like the last of the 'ludes too. A FWD sports coupe is often a joke, but this one isn't. And I don't need a racecar. I'd prefer RWD or AWD, but I won't rule out a well-handling FWD. Good looking.

Hard to find unmolested, unrusted and low mileage up here though. My friend's been searching for a while. Have to admit it could be a contender, though.

Dunnik > samssun 04/04/2014 at 20:19

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I loved Nissan in the 90's - my dad had a Maxima SE with the motor from the 300Z - but I don't feel the same way about them today. I've always thought the G35 coupe is beautiful, if derivative, but I don't have much faith in Nissan (and Infinity's) reliability and build quality anymore.

MountainCommand > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 20:25

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Have you honestly looked into buying one stateside and bringing it back? A few guys on the prelude forums from canada have done that.

Also, i dont quite remember if the SE trim has 4 or 5 lugs. Because he would have to do little things like that to make it more user friendly in terms of aftermarket stuff.

White is my 2nd favorite color. I would have taken any color honestly though.

Preludes are no joke. They handle their weight handsomely with suave. They are a perfectly comfortable,usable, 2 door daily. And great on gas, 28-32 hwy (thats what i will average).

chilango > MountainCommand 04/04/2014 at 20:30

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What he said. So far I havent broken anything on mine. That's saying something.

samssun > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 20:34

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I think it's silly to worry about Nissan/Infiniti quality. They're in a weird spot because they're Japanese without the reputation of Toyota/Honda, but unlike those two they make things worth driving. The 350Z/G35 have a pretty solid track record at this point, and are more reliable than similar "jalop" choices.

bob and john > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 20:38

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brown is optional. but yes, preferably brown

bob and john > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 20:42

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also, the IS300 is anything BUT a corolla.

for starters, its RWD. second, it comes with a 2JZ. granted, its the non turbo 2JZ, but still.

KS > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 21:51

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Acura Integra GS-R.
I know you don't want FWD, but give it a chance.

Fuel-efficient I4; old-school, direct, mechanical communication through steering/pedals/shifter; very practical cargo space through hatchback and folding rear seats; absolutely bulletproof reliability.

And spontaneous blasts to 8k rpm never fail to brighten up a dull commute.

Got myself a beautifully maintained '01 w/ ~110k miles for $5750. Small price, high smile-factor.

KS > KS 04/04/2014 at 21:58

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Identical to mine

Somethingwittyer likes noisy > Dunnik 04/04/2014 at 22:39

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Corolla isn't RWD. Corolla doesn't have a 2JZ. Corolla doesn't have chrome taillights (that unlike the aftermarket kits they inspired look great). The IS300/Aletezza is nothing like a Corolla. It is like an E46, but one that doesn't out of the blue penetrate your wallet (while dry). Bottom line, it's going to be your DD so having an auto can't be that bad.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Dunnik 04/05/2014 at 00:48

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If it were my money, I'd go for a Jetta/Passat/Golf TDi. They're really efficient, they're decently quick, and the tend to be reliable. Yeah, it's FWD, and yeah it goes 0-60 in about 14.3 weeks, but it's not a bad car at all!

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Somethingwittyer likes noisy 04/05/2014 at 02:39

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They can be had with a manual, which is how I've been recommending them.

I don't understand his dislike of the IS300, either. It's got it all, including RWD. Maybe he wants consistent 30+ mpg? Maybe he wants a more mainstream gauge cluster (Corolla has that)? Maybe he doesn't realize it fits his bill? He should drive one. It's the only Toyota I will consistently recommend.

Somethingwittyer likes noisy > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 04/05/2014 at 10:10

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I've heard the manual is utter garbage. Just a really bad to use box in general.

Dunnik > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/05/2014 at 16:43

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Thanks sm70, you hit the nail on the head. One has to make certain compromises.

So it has to be the Germans, then. I just have to suck up the extra costs, and choose a relatively reliable model and find one in good condition. I don't know the answer to that, but I'm leaning towards B5 or B6 A4.

Friend had an old Q Boat. Very nice. But - there is always a but! - it's a bit too big for downtown Toronto and kinda thirsty. Derivative looks too, like an old-school version of the Hyundai Genesis.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Dunnik 04/05/2014 at 17:22

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If you can find the right A4, they are excellent vehicles. Like you said, the cost may be a little higher, but having had four A6s of the same era in the family, I can attest to the fact that they are great cars. Also, even in Canada winters, the quattro system will never leave you stranded. Best of luck to you!

Slave2anMG > Dunnik 04/05/2014 at 18:21

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You've managed to poke holes in every single recommendation...so I won't make one :|

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Somethingwittyer likes noisy 04/05/2014 at 23:08

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I've never driven one in anger or in a race, but I have driven one casually with a short shifter installed, and I can say that it felt as nice in those conditions as any T56 with a short shifter that I've owned. What is the typical problem with the transmission? Is it not a common transmission?

Somethingwittyer likes noisy > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 04/05/2014 at 23:19

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I've just heard they're overall unpleasant to use and can't handle any power at all (fairly irrelevant given it's going to be a DD)

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Somethingwittyer likes noisy 04/06/2014 at 00:15

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Yeah, I was gonna say as a DD it only needs to put up with 220bhp occasionally. Being behind a 2JZ, I can see how it could be easily pushed past its abilities though.

Orson > jkm7680 04/27/2014 at 14:57

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I had a 2001 B5 1.8T manual sport with only a K&N and Neuspeed tune...very reliable, economical, and fun.

Orson > jkm7680 04/27/2014 at 14:58

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sorry...was researching w124 stories, didn't realize this is a few weeks old

jkm7680 > Orson 04/27/2014 at 15:00

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Oh, that's fine. I'm getting some Unitronic goodies for my A4, hoping that it will keep it's un-sort of reliability.