I'm a former S2k owner of 7 years and ever since I regrettably got rid of my S2000 a little over a year ago I've wanted to buy another. Now I'm ready to buy and I've been trying to find one locally (~100 miles) for the last 2-3 months but nothing appealing has surfaced so I thought maybe I should consider other cars.

I drive about 100 miles per day (50 each way) to work and I'm in NJ so I have to deal with snow on occasion.

I've narrowed my choices down to these three:

1. 08/09 S2000 - Fun, fast, reliable, DIY maintenance, doesn't need to be modded, and all around great car. Negatives: not practical, soft-top, and living in the northeast I can have a problem when snow is on the ground (this will be my DD). Though, my main route to work is a heavily traffic'd road that I'm sure will be clear, so as long as blizzaks get me to the highway I'm good. May be able to buy a cheap beater to take to work each day, still up in the air with this.

2. 09 Audi A4 2.0T Quattro 6spd - Great looking car inside and out, can be made decently fast, comfortable ride, and AWD. Negatives: Nearly impossible to find it in my price range optioned as I want it in my color combo, could be boring to drive, expensive to maintain, and expensive to maintain..oh yea, and its expensive to maintain. Makes me especially nervous since I will be putting on ~2k miles\month.

3. New 12/13 Subaru WRX hatch - Fun, fast, reliable, DIY maintenance, all around great car, and AWD & Turbo to play with. Negatives: not as nice looking as an S2000, fuel economy could be bad, clear tail-lights, and cheap interior.

 

I'd probably go with the Audi... maybe one a couple years older to get it down into your price range though.

 

The WRX would probably kill you in gas mileage. With that much driving it will really hurt your wallet. Id either get the s2000 or the a4. If you know anyone with manheim access they can def find you an 09 a4 in that price range

 

Subaru. Most fun, and best in bad weather. The gas savings over the Audi isn't substantial.

 

From that list, it should be either the S2000 or the WRX. Why pay more for the Audi and also want to pay more for repairs? The intrinsic value of a car is that it works, works well, and doesn't cost TOO much. Just imho.

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Buy a prelude
But back on point. Get a subi

 

If I go w\ an A4 I only want the 09+ (B8) since it is the new body style (and nice LED DRL's). The Subaru will prob be OK on gas being I am driving on a straight highway at cruising speed for 43 of the 46 miles w\ no traffic lights. Benefit of subaru is it will be brand new, 0 miles & 0 abuse. I baby my cars and can keep it for the long haul and maintain it myself. Audi\german cars I have never touched and I'm sure is complicated to do anything beyond a oil\brake pad change.

The S2000 will remain #1 on my list but finding one is tough. Everything out there is black\black, silver\black, silverstone\black, yellow, or blue. Hoping to find a black\red, silverstone\red, or gpw\red. I would do either of those w\ black interior if the deal was right. Hoping now that the spring is officially here there will be more popping up for sale.

Do car brokers exist where they will hunt down a car for you? I would be willing to pay a few hundred for that service.

 

With 2k a month in miles, my primary needs would be reliability, low running costs between gas and maintenance , and commuting comfort.
To me, the Audi really only satisfies one of those criteria. The s2k and wrx seem somewhat comparable. Wrx has and but that equals additional complexity, maintenance, and drag.
I dd'd an s2k for 3 years in Minnesota with Dunlop winter sport M3s and it was a tank in the snow.

 

Agreed, I'm leaning towards the S2k more than anything because I too DD'd one for 7 years through all types of weather and never had a problem. Just makes me nervous having such a long haul back and forth to work; I recently transferred offices (not by choice) and my commute to work doubled. I only like the thought of a WRX because its turbo, AWD will be nice in those 1-5 days per year there is snow on the roads, and I could buy new.

What kills me is S2000's are still so damn expensive, it's nuts. Back in 2004 I bought my 2000 w\ 18k miles for $22k. A 4-year old S2000 these days (2008) w\ similar mileage is about 28-30k. Locally there's a black\red 08 w\ 70k miles for about 22k. Trying to decide if I should just buy a higher mileage one since miles are going to get loaded up anyway or pay extra for low miles.

 

Shop around for a while and you will find a s2000. You may have to pass on a few to get the color and years you want.