New car time, advice sought!

[Nutduster]

Seems like a lot of car enthusiasts hang out here, so let's give this a try. I'm about to replace my very reliable, but very worn out, 16 year old Saturn. When I bought it I just wanted a solid 4-door at a reasonable price, which I got. Now I want something nicer-looking, faster, and slightly less reasonably priced (but only slightly). With my love of muscle and pony cars, I am naturally eyeballing the new or recent Camaro, Mustang and Challenger.

 

Questions and footnotes -

1. Any other options I might consider? I also have been looking at things like the Scion FR-S but I like the American brands' styling (even the modern variation of it) better.

2. Yeah, 30K is about my limit. Probably more like 25. This will be a quasi mid-life crisis car but I still need to have money left after I pay it off.

3. I don't have any particular brand loyalty.

4. I like (love) the styling of the Challenger best, it's just a gorgeous car IMO, but Dodge's low reliability ratings make me nervous. I don't want to be fixing whatever car I get twice a year. My car salesman father-in-law swears that Dodge cars in general are cheaply made.

 

[Flachbau]

If you're nervous about Dodge's ratings, then you should just look towards the Mustang. Beautiful, sleek, and there's a lot of options on the table with it. The rear visibility in both the Challenger and Camaro are pretty sh*t, and it seems to have a lot of blind spots. Scion is being phased out so I think either wait until they settle everything properly, or just go with the Subaru BRZ instead, even though it's a bit more expensive.

 

Have you considered any hot hatchbacks? Focus ST, a used Golf GTI, etc.

[Nutduster]

My only concern with the Mustang was the apparently tiny back seat and small trunk. I don't know how big of a concern this really is (we don't have kids) but I am pretty used to a car with a little more space in it. How are the newer models (2015/16) in that regard?

 

I can't do hatchbacks. Just too many bad memories of my mom's station wagon. That ST is pretty appealing looking nonetheless.

 

Hadn't even thought of Subaru, and that's a slick-looking car. Definitely a consideration, thanks!

Edited February 4, 2016 by Nutduster

[dewtech]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dodge-Viper-Base-Convertible-2-Door-/141892519226?forcerrptr=true&hash=item210974053a:g:oikAAOSwzhVWp7JV&item=141892519226

 

Why anyone in America would be considering Jap or European when stuff that cheap is avaliable is beyond me...

Edited February 4, 2016 by dewtech_2008

[Flachbau]

The upkeep cost of an older Viper, as well as insurance is way off the charts compared to any of the other vehicles mentioned previously in this topic.

 

I hear the 'stang does have a smaller back seat, which could be a major issue for you. I am unaware if Ford has made any changes to the vehicle in that regard. No hatchbacks? You have decent options in that range, just an FYI.. the ST isn't bad at all. You get the fun abilities of a "sports car" as well as practicality. The rear seats are usable, too, so is the back hatch. Ford and Subaru are praised to be just two of the most reliable brands out there, so you should not have a problem.

[dewtech]

They work out at under 20k, the same in the UK sadly doubles in price http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dodge-Viper-8lt-V10-Supercharged-750hp-/121836237383?hash=item1c5e017247:g:ngAAAOSw9r1WCqWB

 

With the car that cheap I'd find a way to run it. Hell I'd live in the damn thing if I had too!

[Nutduster]

I love the Viper, but that's a little too much car for me probably. And upkeep plus insurance costs are definitely an obstacle. The cars i'm considering are on the upper edge of my price range; can't afford to also triple my maintenance and insurance bills. Hell, that's part of the appeal of getting a new car now - my old one is still running, but it's starting to encounter more expensive problems a little too often, as they do.

[SupaDoopa]

Mustang. Roomier than the Camaro, sportier and more reliable than the Challenger.

[sebcreed]

One of my favorite hot hatch backs is the golf mark 4 r32. 240 or so hp, 6 gears, AWD, nice driving experience. Well within your budget. And it seats 4!

 

Edited February 6, 2016 by sebcreed

[TCMike]

With my love of muscle and pony cars, I am naturally eyeballing the new or recent Camaro, Mustang and Challenger.

 

 

4. I like (love) the styling of the Challenger best, it's just a gorgeous car IMO, but Dodge's low reliability ratings make me nervous. I don't want to be fixing whatever car I get twice a year. My car salesman father-in-law swears that Dodge cars in general are cheaply made.

I've also been shopping around for those cars too. Has to be a V8 though and the Camaro definitely has the others beat. But it's hard to get a good deal on the new Camaro SS, since it's the hot new thing. A Mustang GT can be bought much cheaper and is a great car in it's own right. I even think it's the best looking of the 3 muscle cars.

 

But if you cannot afford a V8, there is something to be said about the V6 in the Camaro. It can hit 60mph in 5 seconds and sounds great doing it.

 

 

 

...still have to get the V8 though.

[Carlover325]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dodge-Viper-Base-Convertible-2-Door-/141892519226?forcerrptr=true&hash=item210974053a:g:oikAAOSwzhVWp7JV&item=141892519226

 

Why anyone in America would be considering Jap or European when stuff that cheap is avaliable is beyond me...

 

Dropping $25,000 on a damaged 14 year old sports car is not a smart decision.

[sivispacem]

One of my favorite hot hatch backs is the golf mark 4 r32. 240 or so hp, 6 gears, AWD, nice driving experience. Well within your budget. And it seats 4!

 

 

As cool as the Mk4 R32 is, the biggest issue with it is the fact it's neither very fast nor very good to drive. A well-peddled GTI will run rings around one in all but the wettest conditions. The same is true of the Mk5 though that's a better all-rounder.

[Member's Only]

Have you considered a Cadillac CTS-V?

 

Really f*cking good car.

[Nutduster]

Mustang. Roomier than the Camaro, sportier and more reliable than the Challenger.

 

That's the way I'm leaning right now. I love the Challenger on looks but I think the higher reliability on the Mustang is winning me over. Probably will end up test-driving both when the times comes, just to be sure.

[Dottie]

Some things to consider. You have not given much information on what kind of car you want, so help is not gonna be that good.

 

Dont get base model, especially FCA vehicles. They suck ass in every department; just trust me. base models tend to be clunky, sluggish, and bad at braking

 

The new lineup of muscle cars (I mean the good versions of them) all cost more than 30k, but some are not that much over (maybe 1 or 2 grand) and you can probably talk them down a few.

 

The BRZ (the better version of the scion FRS) and the new Miata are in your budget, but it is significantly lighter than those muscle cars (near 1000lbs lighter or more). Since you owned a saturn, the transition to this car shouldn't be too hard (since saturns are pretty light too). They will out handle those muscle cars for days if you care about turning corners at double the posted speed

 

The Impreza WRX is within your budget if you want another 4 door. The WRX STI is slightly out of your budget at 34k. Also if you want a hatchback, the Ford focus RS and impreza hatch are pretty much all your options in the performance department (america doesnt like hatches and wagons for some reason )

 

 

Id really recommend going for a test drive on the vehicles you want.

 

 

Have you considered a Cadillac CTS-V?

 

Really f*cking good car.

someone didnt read,,,,

 

2. Yeah, 30K is about my limit. Probably more like 25. This will be a quasi mid-life crisis car but I still need to have money left after I pay it off.

thats an 80 grand plus car :|