Car purchase suggestions ...

Ford Fusion Beats all of those in alot of tests and reviews

 

I think something in Imola Yellow would be nice

 

Honda Accord all the way! Gotta love 'em!

 

I don't know what blue book runs for these, but the newer body-style Maxima and the Acura RL would both be at the top of my list for a sedan.

 

Thanks ... the only yellow I really like is the Dakar Yellow (BMW). I wouldn't mind having an Nogaro Blue S4 with the black/blue interior though ... lol

 

I'm leaning towards an Acura TSX. I have one concern ... they are known for their soft paint. I really don't wanna deal with another car with soft paint again.

 

Volvo S60 R? I believe they are the top end of the budget you gave us, but Volvos are absolutely bullet-proof. S60 R is luxurious, super sporty, and super rare....definitely should look into this beast.

 

I had a TSX rental for a few days last year, that was a nice car!

 

i like them, but i want something more reliable. I have heard horror stories regarding awd failures. i wouldn't mind driving a s60r wagon though

 

That's a great choice. It won't be the fastest thing on the planet, but plenty quick, good looking, reliable as the universe, and not too many around.

As you know, I've got an S2000, another Honda with soft paint. I don't find it to be too much trouble. Sure, it gets marred every now and then, but anyone here on DB is going to keep that at an absolute minimum. And since it's soft, it's also easy to correct when the time comes.

 

fusion does look nice, I like how american cars look now, i wouldnt mind getting one at all.

 

Interesting. I'd be more concerned aboutt he trick suspension the S60 R has, than the AWD. I guess if a previous owner really beats on the car, just like with most AWD sports cars, you can really damage the diff(s) and transmission.

 

Depends on what you want for MPG. Ideally, I'd suggest a LS400 circa 1999. That Lexus V8 is one of the best designed engine ever. For it's size it's one of the most aerodynamic cars available. I think they're rated at 18/25 MPG. Most examples are well maintained and I see a lot with under 100K. Properly maintained, they're good for 300K.

The GS300 with the inline six (3.0L) is better around town, but not great. You won't get great MPG unless you go to a four cylinder. I went with a 318 (1.9). I drive in the city almost exclusively and get 25 mpg. Go to Fuel Economy to see every model sold in the US since 1985. You can use the "old", more optimistic MPG ratings. The new numbers are policy driven and don't reflect reality as much as the older ratings.

If you want a MPG champ you might want to look at the 2003+ Corolla or the Nissan Versa.

 

of the cars already suggested or of the cars you like.. I agree with:

Accord .. 4dr v6 would be sweet!. hard to find though
Legacy GT
TSX
S60 .. The R will put it out of price range i think.


other cars I'd consider:


03ish VW Jetta or Passaat
01ish BMW 325Ci
05ish Mazda 6i
00ish Jaguar S-type .. v6
02ish Acura TL .. you might even be able to get a TypeS

 

Thanks for all the suggestions, but I have decided to keep my car for 1 more year.

 

Well this plan went to sh*t last week. I'm looking for a vehicle, but my budget is not a large one (6-6.5k). A lot of thinking went on about how I don't need a newer car, but a older reliable car I can work on. I haven't been able to work on my own vehicle since I purchased this aurora.

I'll be checking out a 2000 Nissan Maxima SE 5-speed tomorrow. Only 82k and looks pretty clean from the pics. The owner mentioned that the door have some scratches and stuff. Let's see how bad the paint is ... I'm not looking for perfection either. It's really hard for me not to have a spotless car, but times are rough and I need to be practical.

 

Well, I test drove the maxima today and it's a pretty nice car. It has some dings and scratches (70% of them removable), but mechanically it's solid with all service records. This is the first time that I meet an owner that never throws a single receipt away. I asked him for service proof and he brought me a huge binder. The interior is clean, but there are some plastics on the center console that are stained/worn, but they are not terrible.

I really should be looking at other vehicles, but I doubt I'll find a car with so much service history from a one owner and wreck free. I took my paint meter and the panels were around 110-120. I can see some wash marring, but i couldn't detect buffer trails. The color hides scratches really really well. Always garaged and you can clearly see how the headlights are barely discolored.

Here's a pic ...

 

It's official ... the Max is my new ride.

 

sweet G. glad to hear. did this replace the olds? still got the toyota?

 

Still got the Highlander. The Olds is for sale. One of my MI buddies might be picking it up next week.

It's a sweet ride. My dad used to own one similar to this one (same color but automatic and leather). This one is cloth and 5-speed. I haven't driven stick in a while, but this v6 with a 5-speed is a sweet combo. Really peppy car. Can't complain. I got it for a steal ... one owner with ALL service records since it was new. Lady driven and the clutch feels new.