anything in the used market for 15-17k

[T2urtle]

I'm wanted to make sure i didn't look over any cars. imports mainly.


1. G35 X or RWD sedan
2. Legacy GT
3. IS300/ GS300

aside from that i know of too many cars.

ideally i wanted a g35x but in the chicago market trying to find them at the right price and features are a little hard! The legacy GT are rare to begin with and i've found plenty in the price but they all manuals, i need an auto for the rest of the family as well.

The lexus well i feel, lexus resale value is insane.

 

[sjwaste]

I think the G35 is overdone. Here in the DC market, people are leasing them right out of college (poser crowd), and it's just cheapening a car that I thought looked really good when it came out.

Can you swing 20k? The TL in the 2004 range is a really nice looking car that goes for just about that. The TSX maybe a little bit less. Otherwise, I do really like the GS, which you've already listed.

Do you want sedan or coupe? Looks, power, or both?

 

[T2urtle]

17k is my max. OTD hence why i stated 15-17k

from my experience is a car that list for 17k, i can talk them somewhat to aleast give me 17k OTD. most cars.

if it was my choice i would of easily gotten a manual legacy GT for 15k which are pretty easily to come by. But thats another story.

i'm mainly looking for a sedan/ hatchback. Style is first, next comes dependability. MPG isn't a big factor. give it upper teens and we are good. i've really like the TSX, this car should be cheaper then what it is but the market for a TSX brings the prices of a TSX 17k+

ideally my parents want to target a car near 50-60k miles. i frankly dont care about the miles as most of these cars i'm looking at don't exactly break down. yea maintence cost might be a little higher but still they have a great record of being cheaper to maintain overall. 2jz, Ej25, and the Vq35 have won plenty of motor awards in the past.

 

[overst33r]

My neighbor recently got a LGT. It's an 05 5spd and he got it for 14k which is a pretty good price IMO. I got to drive it on the way back and I really liked the turbo pull and the AWD handling. 27hwy isn't too shabby either, plus if you plan to mod it has the most potential. You can easily get 280whp for under 2k.

 

[T2urtle]

i've driven both auto and manual forms of LGT. i would agree just as much.

if i can find either a LGT limited with color combo or a g35x with the right color combo and i can get for 17K OTD or less. it would of been done

 

[MiataNC]

Mazda RX-8

You can find off-lease 04/05 GTs (Leather, heated seats, nav, bose, etc) for @14K.

Mazda has extended the powertrain warranty on the engine to 8year/100k if that is something that concerns you.

 

[T2urtle]

RX-8 MPG stink... if i'm not mistaken... i heard numbers of 14 city on average.

I do like the looks and the idea of a 3 door type of car. i'm not 100% if its a hatch.

But the engine scares me, yea so what if i have extended warranty the dang car will be in the shop monthly. I've know 2 people personally on 2nd-3rd motors. And they know aleast 8 people similiar problems.

Nice car but i dont think its worth my time.

 

[MiataNC]

Originally posted by: T2urtle
RX-8 MPG stink... if i'm not mistaken... i heard numbers of 14 city on average.

I do like the looks and the idea of a 3 door type of car. i'm not 100% if its a hatch.

But the engine scares me, yea so what if i have extended warranty the dang car will be in the shop monthly. I've know 2 people personally on 2nd-3rd motors. And they know aleast 8 people similiar problems.

Nice car but i dont think its worth my time.

City driving I average 13mpg with my RX (no matter how easy or how hard I drive it). My brother averages 16 with his IS300, and friends with 350Z and G35s only do slightly better at 18 and if they drive hard at all it drops closer to what I am getting.

If you are in the market for a sportscar, you really shouldn't be worrying about MPG. It totally defeats the purpose of owning one, if you drive like a little old lady all the time trying to squeeze out as many miles per gallon as possible.

The RX-8 isn't a hatch.

Early RX's (especially auto equipped '04s) had engine issues.

I totally understand your reservations about the engine. The RX is definitely not a car for everyone. I just offered it as an option that fit your criteria.

 

[T2urtle]

i'm not looking for a sports car sadly, or the 350z, c5 vettte, s2k would be thrown in.


i agree if i was looking for a sports car hell yea. rx8 is in the mix. i have a slight fondness for hatchies. if money wasn't an issue i would of gone 5 door GTI with DSG for probaly 23-25k and be done with all my needs and family as well.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: MiataNC

Originally posted by: T2urtle
RX-8 MPG stink... if i'm not mistaken... i heard numbers of 14 city on average.

I do like the looks and the idea of a 3 door type of car. i'm not 100% if its a hatch.

But the engine scares me, yea so what if i have extended warranty the dang car will be in the shop monthly. I've know 2 people personally on 2nd-3rd motors. And they know aleast 8 people similiar problems.

Nice car but i dont think its worth my time.

City driving I average 13mpg with my RX (no matter how easy or how hard I drive it). My brother averages 16 with his IS300, and friends with 350Z and G35s only do slightly better at 18 and if they drive hard at all it drops closer to what I am getting.

If you are in the market for a sportscar, you really shouldn't be worrying about MPG. It totally defeats the purpose of owning one, if you drive like a little old lady all the time trying to squeeze out as many miles per gallon as possible.

The RX-8 isn't a hatch.

Early RX's (especially auto equipped '04s) had engine issues.

I totally understand your reservations about the engine. The RX is definitely not a car for everyone. I just offered it as an option that fit your criteria.

13 MPG in a 3000 lb car that has zilch for torque is bad. I got 16 MPG in my 3800 lb 400HP GTO. That's just a poor engine design IMO - unreliable, poor fuel efficiency, and down on power.

OP - check legacygt.com for private sellers. There are some automatics on there.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Lincoln Town Car. Can't really get much more luxury for the price. Value drops dead as fast as their average owners

 

[MiataNC]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak13 MPG in a 3000 lb car that has zilch for torque is bad. I got 16 MPG in my 3800 lb 400HP GTO. That's just a poor engine design IMO - unreliable, poor fuel efficiency, and down on power.

OP - check legacygt.com for private sellers. There are some automatics on there.

Apples and Oranges...

The Wankel Rotary isn't a poor engine design, it is a completely different design that cannot be directly compared to piston engine specs when it comes to MPG. or volumetric efficiency. The RX-8 has a 1.3L Rotary engine with 3 moving parts and no pistons or valves.

GTO LS2 = @450lbs "dressed"
Renesis 13B = @255lbs "dressed"

Playing with the numbers....
RX-8 = 0.18HP per CC of displacement
GTO = 0.067Hp per CC of displacement

RX-8 = 0.123 FtLbs per CC of displacement
GTO = 0.067 FtLbs per CC of displacement

Yes, the RX-8 is down on total HP and Torque compared to your conventional engine, but it does a lot more with less (at the cost of higher fuel consumption). The RX's rotary also sits lower and farther back in the car which is the key to the RX-8s stellar handling and 50/50 weight distribution. What you give up in HP/Torque you gain back in handling and agility.

Every car makes compromises, and every car should be judged by what it offers as a complete package. The RX-8 isn't for everyone, but there is nothing "poor" about the design.

 

[Arkaign]

Miata, unnecessary to use italics through every post.

As for the RX, yeah I don't really 'get' it. It sucks fuel like mad, and is underpowered. If it was going to be a thirsty demon anyway, why couldn't they put a 1.6L or 1.8L rotary and give a 300+hp setup?

 

[MiataNC]

Originally posted by: Arkaign
Miata, unnecessary to use italics through every post.

As for the RX, yeah I don't really 'get' it. It sucks fuel like mad, and is underpowered. If it was going to be a thirsty demon anyway, why couldn't they put a 1.6L or 1.8L rotary and give a 300+hp setup?

(Italics fixed)

All rotaries suck fuel like mad. Ask anyone who has owned an RX-7. It is just the nature of the engine and something you accept as an owner. Most sports cars will get terrible mileage if you drive them like they were meant to be driven. I always get a kick out of people who buy a sports car then granny drive it trying to get high MPG. I don't see the point.

Underpowered compared to what? No matter what a person drives, they will always want more power, because once you get used to what you have it feels slow.

I can break the tires loose with a little more than half-throttle, if I shut off DSC and TCS. With 3/4 throttle I can over-drive DSC/TCS and get the same effect. I won't ever win a "spec sheet race", but that doesn't prevent me from enjoying the hell out of my car every time I drive it.

I hope everyone in this thread has as much fun driving what they have, because that is what it is really about.

Cheers

 

[SketchMaster]

Edit: Whoops, wrong thread.

 

[RayH]

e39 540iA

 

[mitaiwan82]

What about a 2003+ 3-series? You can find some 325/330s for that price. Granted, the maintenance will be higher than the Japanese cars you've mentioned. You can even try to find a 325xi or 330xi if you want to the AWD capability.

Other entry level luxury cars (some import, some not): Acura TL or TSX, Audi A4, Cadillac CTS, MB C-class

 

[mc866]

Originally posted by: mitaiwan82
What about a 2003+ 3-series? You can find some 325/330s for that price. Granted, the maintenance will be higher than the Japanese cars you've mentioned. You can even try to find a 325xi or 330xi if you want to the AWD capability.

Other entry level luxury cars (some import, some not): Acura TL or TSX, Audi A4, Cadillac CTS, MB C-class

+1, selling my 03 330XI cause I need something bigger but I hope I don't regret it , it's a great car.