Help a Friend find a Car

"Dunnik" (dunnik) 02/16/2014 at 16:49 • Filed to: CAR ADVICE

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A good friend from work is in the market for a worthy used car. I therefore call upon the Wisdom of Oppo to guide him in his epic quest.

He's had an interesting car history but has owned one too many beaters: he's looking to get something a little nicer this time around. Has a solid knowledge of basic mechanics, but doesn't have the space or tools to do his own wrenching (luckily, he has excellent connections for repair shops and parts).

Like most of us he likes a broad array of cars both new and old, but does like one or two or three brands in particular. Having owned a Mk 3 GTI and a Mk 3 Jetta GLX, if he's a #1 fan of anything its vee-dub. Also, Honda. But don't worry, he's not that kind of Honda fan. He also likes Bimmers and the racier Toyotas. Has a thing for Lexus, but can't afford a good IS300. Likes diesels, too. So he has generally good taste, in other words.

The budget is in the $2,000-3,000 ballpark. A good price point in the market with decent value to be had, in my opinion: nicer cars than the sub 1k beater territory, and almost as good as those in the $5,000 range. Age wise he's really not interested in anything earlier than the 2000 model year.

His requirements are tricky, because naturally he wants it all. But knows he can't have it all, or can't have it for the price he's able to pay. In descending order of importance, then:

1. manual transmission!

2. relatively reliable (this is a DD)

3. decent fuel economy (again, DD)

4. handling/control (if next winter is as bad as this one, AWD is on the table)

5. comfort/luxury (this being Canada, heated seats sure are nice)

He already has several models in mind. Some ideas are his, some have been planted in his head by me. In no particular order:

- 5th gen Prelude

- late 3rd/early 4th gen Integra

- Mk 4/Mk 5 GTI

- E39

- E46

- 3rd gen Lexus ES

- 1st gen Lexus LS

- Lincoln LS

- 8th gen Impala LS

- 4th gen Buick Regal GS

Opinions, additions welcome! Thanks in advance, Opponauts.

P.S. In before the answer to everything [EDIT: too late] he appreciates it but notes its hard to find in this range and doesn't have to point out that this would be a winter DD and that a canvas roof and small engine on a RWD car with a light chassis does not make it the most optimal choice. Aww, it has a sad, sorry Miata :(

 > Dunnik 02/16/2014 at 16:54

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The answer is always a Miata.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Dunnik 02/16/2014 at 16:58

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He does not want a W-body GM product. He *thinks* he does, but he doesn't. Not if he wants more than straight line stability. He also *thinks* he wants a BMW but at that low of a budget he is playing a very dangerous game. Ditto the lincoln LS a.k.a. the jaguar S-type. Integras get stolen all the time so that's out. Mk5 GTIs for that price are basket cases so that's gone. The lexus ES is a pile of wank. The LS is old and doesn't have a manual. Here are my suggestions

-Mazda protege
-Mk4 GTI/GLI 1.8t (stay far away from the VR6)
-Honda accord coupe/Prelude
-Ford Focus ZX4/SVT/ST if possible
-Second gen Neon R/T
-Saab 9-3

That would be my short list for your friend. 3k is far too low for most luxury cars. He is a fool if he thinks they will be any good at that price point without needing work and maintenance.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles >  02/16/2014 at 16:59

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If he lived in the southern US, I couldn't agree more. But he lives in Canada so I couldn't agree less.

Dunnik >  02/16/2014 at 16:59

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I had just hit Publish when I realized oh no, I forgot to mention the Answer to Everything.

So I added the P.S., but naturally, I was too late, haha.

YoungPadwan > Dunnik 02/16/2014 at 17:15

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How do I publish on Oppo?

AM3R > Dunnik 02/16/2014 at 17:16

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I'd go for an E46 330i or 330xi. Can be had within budget pretty easily, has all the goodies like heated seats, and pretty fuel efficient.

jkm7680 > Dunnik 02/16/2014 at 17:16

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1995 325i, not awd, but they have about everything else, except supreme reliability, 2002 Jetta 1.8T, more in your year range, you can find them with about everything, again no Awd, that's all I can think up. Ford Contour Svt would be cool also. Good luck on your search!

YoungPadwan > Dunnik 02/16/2014 at 17:18

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Try a diesel pickup with 4x4. If you can find one in price range.

RW53104 > Dunnik 02/16/2014 at 17:25

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Sounds like he needs a Subaru. It's going to have high miles, but literally every Subaru under $10k has high miles. Plenty with a manual, though.

Other than that, I would suggest a Civic or something similar. Anything with a manual in that price range is probably going to either be basic but reliable, or luxurious but unreliable.

Squid > Dunnik 02/16/2014 at 17:43

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The LS you need to watch out for window regulators, the COP's (when you feel a misfire just replace them all. . .), then there is the heater control valve in the cooling system that is crucial to have ZERO air in. If the tranny is fucking up it will generally be the valve body. That being said he should find the best car he can for the price he's willing to pay. . .

cluelessk > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 02/16/2014 at 18:14

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What? The double body is a great car on a budget. Especially a Regal GS.

Cheap to buy, cheap parts, one of the most rock solid engines ever, good on fuel, comfortable and a sleeper.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > cluelessk 02/16/2014 at 18:38

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It is a great budget car when maintained but it is abysmally boring to drive. Source - I owned one as my first car for 4 years and my mom has had one for 12 that she bought new. From what I read, this guy wants some excitement in the drive.

thereisnospork > Dunnik 02/16/2014 at 18:57

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Go for a nicer saab 93 or cheaper 9-3SS. Solid cars that are cheap because their parent company doesn't exist anymore. Have to check for sludge on a few years, but otherwise they are mostly free of big problems. FWD unfortunately :(

Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez > Dunnik 02/16/2014 at 19:14

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Here's the problem: He can't realistically get what he's asking without some sort of huge compromise. Yes, he can have those cars driving reliably, but only if he learns how to work on them and diagnose them properly. Otherwise everything on that list gets more expensive than his budget. I would say a '00 BMW 528i would be a good start. It's plenty of power, not bad in the snow with the right tires, and great fun to drive. If you get one that's sorted and doesn't have major oil leaks and just has minor electrical bugs, you'll be set. You could also get a 540, but it will likely need a lot. I have an M5, so I speak from experience (sort of). A subaru would be a good bet but anything year 2000 and newer will either have high miles, a salvage title or a blown headgasket for that budget, so you could either get an awesome project or a straight up lemon. A 2.5RS would fit the bill nicely.

Makoyouidiot > Dunnik 02/16/2014 at 19:55

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B5 or B5.5 Passat. Can be had with V6 or I4 turbo, AWD, manual, and either sedan or wagon. He loves Veedubs, you say. I owned one, and it was awesome. The gear change especially sticks in my head, so crisp, and the V6 sounded great. I found several in that range on Autotrader, and they also inundate CL.

MountainCommand > Dunnik 02/16/2014 at 20:27

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My vote 5th gen prelude. All canadian models came with heated seats. And thats something i want in my lude very badly. Also, my lude has been awesome in the snow this year. When driving normally, and not in hoon mode, he will have no problems.

A bit more practical over the integra and is a bit more comforting for DD imo. obviously those two are the best fwd handlers out of most of the 2000 years.

But if hes putting rwd cars on the table, id go for something rwd. Because as great as the ludes and tegs are, they arent rwd, and are limited in that respect.

cluelessk > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 02/16/2014 at 20:29

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Regal GS has the supercharged 3.8. With minimal mods it wakes up a lot and is actually a quick car.

So with a small budget like OP has it'd be a good to go with something super reliable.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > cluelessk 02/16/2014 at 20:49

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Okay but if you want a good driving experience, you do NOT want a W-body. If you just want power and cruising, you can get one. And when you mod those cars, you grenade the 4T65 transmission since most of them are on 150k and that's when the transmissions say "enough" and explode.

cluelessk > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 02/16/2014 at 20:56

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It's all on how you maintain and drive them. My car was rough when I bought it and has high miles and it's holding up pretty good. No slipping just a couple hard shifts here and there after sitting in traffic.

If you drive a lot of highway the W body is a great car. Cruises at low rpms, comfortable ride, quiet and tons of passing power. Also OP lives in Canada and needs something great for Winter. Which my 04 Grand Prix has been. Still have it but upgraded to a turbo Cobalt.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > cluelessk 02/16/2014 at 21:08

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I can assure you the number of bad ones far, far, far, FAR outweigh the number of decent examples. They're tough cars, but, and stay with me here, THEY. ARE. SHIT. TO. DRIVE. I have not denied anything else and yes the supercharged 3800 makes power (good luck finding one that hasn't been molested or neglected in a place with snow) but they are absolutely awful, wretched cars to drive in anger. And I'm not talking out of my ass here because lord knows I tried. I succeeded, but it was only enjoyable in a sadistic sense.

I only did that because it was the hand I had been dealt. If I had the freedom to choose how to spend my money, I would have bought a million other cars. But my parents literally sold my first car, bought that with some of the money, and kept the rest. I autocrossed it and beat it like it owed me money so it could die and I could get something different. If what this guy wants is a car that is enjoyable to drive around turns, he wants that GTI or a mazda protege, or a sentra SE-R, or something along those lines. The W-bodies all weigh a good 300-500 or more pounds while having a craptacular suspension setup.