Help me find a car for my mom

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa) 05/23/2014 at 10:02 • Filed to: None

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My mom currently has a 2005 PT Cruiser GT Cabrio that she bought for *way too much money* though it only had 16,000 miles on it. It has since depreciated like a comatose skydiver and its myriad of mechanical issues and a bumper that's falling off as well as awful fuel mileage and the requirement of premium unleaded has made my mom start to want for another car.

Requirements: 4 seats, good gas mileage, convertible, not soul-crushingly boring, relatively inexpensive

If a TDI 4-seat Miata existed that would be perfect, but right now I'm thinking the best choice is a used 2013 convertible Beetle TDI (if such a combination of features even exists, and if it does it's probably too expensive). Anyone else have suggestions?

505Turbeaux > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/23/2014 at 10:06

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you can get a beetle vert with the TDI, but yeah I think they start somewhere around 29K new

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/23/2014 at 10:07

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Any Volvo C70 with the hardtop. I posted an 08 below. They are pretty reasonable, have a great interior, good gas mileage, and can actually fit 4 adults! Even with the top up!

And since its a hardtop, its quite quiet inside. Its a great car to pick up used.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/23/2014 at 10:07

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Beetle convertible was going to be my pick the 2.5 is not a bad engine, and is probably available for a good price. That said, an older Eos could potentially be a good choice too. It requires premium though.

Beyond that, my recommendation is going to be a Camaro convertible. The V6 automatic averages Mid-20s on regular gas.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! 05/23/2014 at 10:09

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I second this mainly because the roof folding operation is mesmerising.

willkinton247 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/23/2014 at 10:12

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What about a VW Eos? It has the 2.0T from a GTI, it has pretty easy access to the rear seats, and they're nice. I think it's the cheapest convertible with actually usable rear seats. They're also kind of cute.

LIKE YOUR MOOOOM.

yamahog > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! 05/23/2014 at 10:15

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My grandmother has one with a soft top, my grandparents did the whole visit to Europe to pick it up back when Ford bought Volvo. Very nice interior.

jkm7680 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/23/2014 at 10:16

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Mustang V6 Vert, Beetle or Eos.

SamJackson > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! 05/23/2014 at 10:17

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The repair costs on the C70 are not, however, pretty reasonable. :)

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > 505Turbeaux 05/23/2014 at 10:18

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Augh fuck, because that was looking perfect. 29mpg city and 40highway? Yes, please. But any gas savings are offset by the way-out-of-our-league price.

willkinton247 > willkinton247 05/23/2014 at 10:18

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Just looked at prices. You can get a used Eos with around 30K miles for less than $20,000.

It's stylish, it's got the nice interior that VW used to be known for. Reasonable gas mileage of 22/29. The more I look into this, the more I realize this is probably the best thing your mom could buy.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! 05/23/2014 at 10:19

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Only 24mpg highway, premium fuel, and Volvo repair costs... probably gonna pass on that one. That hard top is a work of art though.

jariten1781 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/23/2014 at 10:21

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For a mom car I'd go with a V6 Solara. http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/446249…

Other option is Mustang.

The Europeans will be too expensive to run if you're worried about gas mileage and premium fuel.

yamahog > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/23/2014 at 10:27

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Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder?

My mother has the 4cyl and loves it. Cute convertible, pretty good on gas, you can find used ones cheap, the backseat is tolerable, and she hasn't had any major mechanical issues since buying it almost 10 years ago.

PheeNoIVI > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/23/2014 at 10:27

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Mustang/camaro converitble.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > PheeNoIVI 05/23/2014 at 10:29

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I'm leaning towards a Camaro or Firebird, since my mom said T-Tops are fine. I found a 100,000-ish mile '01 Firebird for $4000 on craigslist, with the same indestructible Buick 3800SII that's in my car, so it'll get about 27mpg highway which is definitely adequate, and it has back seats for two legless people. I might have a winner here.

willkinton247 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/23/2014 at 10:31

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There's also the used market. You could carmax-warranty it too.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/23/2014 at 10:37

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4 seats? Check

Good gas mileage? Check (mid 20s)

Not boring? Totally check.

Relatively inexpensive? Definitely check.

oldestyoungn > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/23/2014 at 10:44

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What's the general area you're in? I have time to kill and a Craigslist/CarMax/Autotrader hunt sounds fun.

Jagvar > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/23/2014 at 10:45

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The Beetle TDI is fantastic (not to mention the only diesel convertible on the market in the US). Here's one for just under $23K , about the going price for a pre-owned 2013 model.

It's interesting. The Beetle sells pretty slowly overall. But the TDI Beetles fly off the lots. People want the diesel, it seems.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 05/23/2014 at 10:56

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i love watching any folding metal roof fold! Its just beautifully over complicated

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > yamahog 05/23/2014 at 10:58

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i almost got one as a first car. Still wishbi did.

And the Overseas Delivery is awesome. My dad almost did it with his S60. When he gets the next Volvo,most likely a V60, he said he will do it

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > oldestyoungn 05/23/2014 at 10:58

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Wichita KS area. The Craigslist around here is surprisingly good :D

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/23/2014 at 11:02

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the gas mileage isn't great, I'll give it that. But all Volvos can and are meant to run on regular! The dealer even told us to not to run them on premium!

And fun fact, ANY certified pre owned Volvo you get at the dealer comes with a 6 year, 100,000 mile warranty. It "takes the fear out of ownership" as the salesman told me.

oldestyoungn > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/23/2014 at 11:19

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Does year matter?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > oldestyoungn 05/23/2014 at 11:20

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Newer than 2000 would be preferred unless the interior is in immaculate condition.

oldestyoungn > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/23/2014 at 11:33

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First: DUDE I'M SO JEALOUS OF ALL THE AWESOME CARS. How do you not die of lust after so many different cars?

Anyways.

There's two Subaru WRX's. Wagon and sedan . Neither of them look bro'd but never know. I also don't know if your mom cares for power and manual transmissions.

The 2010 Mazda 3 I found is good, but really just go for a new/lightly used 2013. In my area they're clearing them out. I until last week was driving a 6 speed manual i Sport with the SkyActiv engine. I'm not the best at fuel economy but got 35 on good days. (I never tried much) However someone who works at a dealer said the automatic got 36+ at least and when he flogged it 30+. I'll keep looking on other places for these if you want.

Oh and yes you can have quite the bit of fun in it when you really decide to.

Anyways... only gone through 600 of 6365...

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > SamJackson 05/23/2014 at 11:36

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But heres a good bit of info: if you get a CPO (certified pre-owned) they give you a free 6 year 100,000 miles warranty! So, it "takes the fear out of ownership" as the dealer told me

oldestyoungn > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/23/2014 at 11:54

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There's a 2009 Pontiac G8 , but it's not the sport model but still isn't dead. If your mom doesn't care for cornering (which I don't think this car well) it'd work. Nevermind it gets 17/25 MPG and that's the inflated number.

A small fun-side econobox I saw was a Honda Fit Sport .

This little '82 Rabbit could be the unique little car, and is the one 4 seater convertible I've found. It looks like it needs love to stay going, or at least one big burst to make it nice.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > oldestyoungn 05/23/2014 at 11:58

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YUP! The Craigslist here is incredible, which is why I was so confused when one of my friends paid $4000 for a '99 Camry with 120,000 miles on it.

Those Subies gave me a raging chub but my mom thought the bug-eyes looked "weird", so I guess that's out.

That 3 looks like an amazing deal but my mom has her heart set on something without a top, or even better without doors (but sadly Wranglers aren't the best on fuel, nor are they cheap)

oldestyoungn > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/23/2014 at 12:10

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I just realized but does the 4 seats have to be a 4 door? Does a convertible 2 door work since technically there's the 2 seats in the "back"?

oldestyoungn > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/23/2014 at 12:27

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Anyways... here's a '68 convertible Bug in seemingly good condition but can't see the interior. There's a Crossfire which gets decent mileage, and finally a 2008 Volkswagen EOS convertible . It's hard top at least, but I know nothing else about the car and the description is quite short.

I've killed all my time so I gotta go... but this was fun getting myself jealous over Craigslist listings.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > oldestyoungn 05/23/2014 at 12:32

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It's even worse when you live right down the street from some of these cars but don't have a job ;)

I was looking at the EOS, but that crossfire is news. I didn't realize they were badge-engineered Mercedes, I'll probably look into those more.

oldestyoungn > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/23/2014 at 13:19

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I once saw a Crossfire at a car show (it wasn't actually being shown) and it actually isn't half bad, but that's from a just looking at it perspective. I read/watched reviews once and it didn't get too much crap.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/23/2014 at 13:33

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What about a Camaro Convertible V6?

Not boring, has 4 seats, and be found used, and should be reliable.