Car Shopping Advice

"Captain of the Enterprise" (justanotherdayinparadise)
01/22/2015 at 13:30 • Filed to: Car shopping, advice

Help me choose some new wheels.

I drive 300 miles per week on roads that would give a veteran PTSD flashbacks of Baghdad, but with less sand and more potholes. Yes that's right I live in Southeast Michigan. I'm a 6'3" man who is "Farah" sized and is looking for a new daily. I am a 20 year old college student who works close to 40 hours a week while going to school part time and participating on a local race team with my spare time. I currently daily a 2005 Crown Vic grandparent special and I want to kick off the training wheels and get something more fun. Also have daily driven an NA Miata for a few weeks and can say that they are definitely out based on size and comfort the only option on that front would be an NC and I wouldn't hold your breath based on the prices.

Requirements

Manual

under $4500

around 19 mpg because it's what I get now and am worried about when gas prices spike again, don't lie to yourself you know its coming too. Keep in mind that is with regular gas their is a penalty for premium and diesel so they would have to be more efficient to offset the fuel cost. I can swing around $50 a week in fuel.

Should be comfortable for me (again tall bigger guy) as I am in it for 2-3 hours most days during the week

Durable and Reliable (doesn't need to be perfect but I work for minimum wage and don't have a lot of cash, that said I am no stranger to working on cars and am willing to work on my own ride just not every weekend)

Seat should be comfortable with some form of support (no bench basically) and should be able to recline in vehicle

I live in the rust belt so a vehicle that isn't prone to horrible rust issues but am willing to travel within reason to buy said vehicle.

Prefer:

RWD (have always had it or 4wd and I'm not worried about winter) but bonus points for being better in terrible weather so AWD or 4WD good as well and if I like it enough will do FWD.

Electric windows and locks but not a deal-breaker

Not to have to do bodywork

Easier to work on the better as I will be doing most of the repairs in my garage

Don't cares:

Number of seats (as long as there is 2 I should be fine)

leather vs cloth seating

Doesn't have to be a car as I like trucks and SUVs but keep in mind the mpgs

Random X factors

I like quirky cars

I'm more of a muscle car guy but am open to options

I like the car to be fun to drive and enjoy cornering

I love a car I can beat on, where I can hit rough and bumpy roads at full steam and barely feel it, floor it from every light and corner hard when I want to have fun.

I would like to autocross or rallycross it but that is not a disqualifier for vehicles as a good daily is more important than just that.

I'm more than happy to answer questions and appreciate your responses.

What say you OPPO?

DISCUSSION (30)

For Sweden > Captain of the Enterprise
01/22/2015 at 13:36

Put a T56 in the Crown Vic

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Captain of the Enterprise
01/22/2015 at 13:38

Jeep XJ, Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, Volvo 240/850/etc., Pontiac Bonneville/Buick Park Avenue (supercharged), Toyota RAV4/Honda CRV or similar, Subaru Outback/Impreza.

Captain of the Enterprise > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
01/22/2015 at 13:41

I would love an XJ but they get closer to 15 mpg based on guys on the forums.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Captain of the Enterprise
01/22/2015 at 13:42

Sounds like you need another Crown vic.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Captain of the Enterprise
01/22/2015 at 13:42

True. Perhaps a Subaru Forrester instead?

Captain of the Enterprise > For Sweden
01/22/2015 at 13:44

I have looked into it but for the price to modify I don't think it would be worth it, they are pretty sweet though and talk about a Unicorn. Bondurant had Roush make some for them with a manual and some other upgrades.

Kinja'd!!!

Captain of the Enterprise > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
01/22/2015 at 13:45

It is a solid option but they are hard to find around me in my price range without over 300,000 miles

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Captain of the Enterprise
01/22/2015 at 13:48

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/…

EDIT: What's around you?

Captain of the Enterprise > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
01/22/2015 at 13:50

Southeastern Michigan Detroit metro area

Captain of the Enterprise > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
01/22/2015 at 13:51

Kinja'd!!!

The second one is close and the 4th is calling my name, what a great shade of blue

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Captain of the Enterprise
01/22/2015 at 13:55

http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/ctd/484976…

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Captain of the Enterprise
01/22/2015 at 13:56

where I can hit potholes at full steam

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

I would like to autocross or rallycross it

These are kind of contradicting terms. Generally speaking, the smoother the ride, the more trouble you're going to have in autocross, especially with cheapish cars. You can get a mighty fine AW11 for $4500 that will get great gas mileage, handle well, fit you (people don't believe me, but they're far roomier than you'd expect unless you get a T-Top model), be easy/cheap to fix, killer at autoX, and ride good enough. Nothing really hangs down on these things, so I wouldn't worry about potholes too much. I'd just keep an extra few front lower control arms and strut rods around since those are the parts most likely to be hit if you get into a deep hole.

Captain of the Enterprise > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
01/22/2015 at 13:58

Good but it's an auto and I really want a manual

Captain of the Enterprise > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
01/22/2015 at 14:02

True I'm not nailing pot holes left and right. Potholes in Michigan get filled and then the filler gets compacted so it's more hitting really bumpy and rough roads than full out potholes

Captain of the Enterprise > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
01/22/2015 at 14:04

AW11 or SW20?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Captain of the Enterprise
01/22/2015 at 14:09

You can usually get a better AW11 than SW20 for the money. SW20s are more likely to have been modded to hell and back, whereas the 4AGE in the AW11 requires more than simple bolt-ons to make power, so mods are usually pretty much restricted to CAI and exhaust if anything. I really fell in love with my A-Dub. It will never leave you bored, and is surprisingly competitive at autocross.

Captain of the Enterprise > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
01/22/2015 at 14:11

How much do you think you spend per year in maintenance?

911e46z06 > Captain of the Enterprise
01/22/2015 at 14:12

Sounds like you're looking for an e39. I daily drove one for close to 10 years. I go about 6'2'' 260, and I didn't even have to scoot the seat all the way back.

I took good care of mine (I've owned 4, all straight-sixes), and never had reliability issues with under 200k on the clock. The main issues for you are that they're tough and expensive to work on, and they take premium. Other than that, I think it's about perfect. 27 mpg all day, super comfy, lots of late-90s gadgetry, plenty of power even from the straight-six, rwd, handles better than any sedan should. Oh, and they look like this:

Kinja'd!!!

Shoop > Captain of the Enterprise
01/22/2015 at 14:14

Maybe a chevy S10?

Kinja'd!!!

http://www.fuelly.com/car/chevrolet/…

http://www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/s-10…

Captain of the Enterprise > 911e46z06
01/22/2015 at 14:17

They do look great, how much do you think you spent per year on upkeep?

Captain of the Enterprise > Shoop
01/22/2015 at 14:17

I would lean more towards Nissan Frontier if I went the small truck route.

911e46z06 > Captain of the Enterprise
01/22/2015 at 14:29

It was pretty reasonable. The one in the picture developed a head gasket leak at like 230,000 miles, so I sold it instead of getting it fixed. Other than that I really only had minor problems. The radiator necks like to crack, and the window regulators go out way more than they should. Then just random stuff. I had the choke stick open once. Had to do control arm bushings on one. One of them had a couple power steering issues after I (stupidly) put on a smaller pulley to improve the feedback. Nothing too expensive. Can't really give you a number, because I have BMW mechanic buddies who would help me fix stuff as long as I supplied the beer. But in owning as many as 3 at a time over 10 years, I didn't have any issues that would have broken the bank.

MysticStick > Captain of the Enterprise
01/22/2015 at 14:37

Others have said it but: Mustang (SN95 or SN197). Get the best one you can with a V8 and a manual. Cheap and easy to work on. If you like the crown vic, you'll probably like a Mustang too.

Kinja'd!!!

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Captain of the Enterprise
01/22/2015 at 14:39

Things that need to be done? Zeroish. The engines in these things are really good, but they do have a tendency to leak oil once they're old. Pretty much if it starts and pulls to redline, the engine's good. Don't worry if it seems like it's taking too long to start. The starters on these tend to get a bit tired as they age. If you want to fix the oil leaks, the primary spots I've seen these leaking from are the distributor and the oil cooler line. There are kits to replace the old lines, o rings, and gaskets on these parts on twosrus.com for pretty cheap. Oil lines were easy, but the dizzy was a bitch. I had my mechanic do that part, but I think he only charged me for a couple of hours worth of work. As far as work that I've actually done to it? Well, it depends on what you're doing, what shape the car's in, and what your goals are. I bought mine for practically nothing with a ton of rust and a very tired suspension, so I've been slowly rebuilding the thing since then. If I just wanted a cheap beater to get to work and back (as the previous owner did), it would have been fine. It wouldn't have handled as well as it could have and leaked oil like a sieve, but it would definitely get me there without complaining. I'm building a race-car, and for that it can get kind of pricey since the aftermarket support for this isn't like it would be for a Civic, but it's still not too bad. At autocross, it's shockingly competitive with just suspension work, good tires, and weight reduction.

Captain of the Enterprise > MysticStick
01/22/2015 at 14:49

I would get to keep the fantastic exhaust note of the 4.6