Grimnebulin

My MINI JCW is a great commuter. The inside is super roomy - you have to sit in one to believe it as it feels far more open than my S. It also gets great gas mileage even though mine is the JCW version and running the ALTA Accessport ECU tool. I average about 25mpg in 90% city driving. On the freeway, I usually get 32-35 if I don't push it too hard. Super fun car to drive.

As for mods - I got the ALTA Accessport ECU tuner - added a nice 20hp/40tq to the car with just Stage 1 and no other physical changes. Very cheap mod and reliable as I've had no problems with it after running it for almost 2 years now. Here's the ECU tuner for the MINI Cooper S - ALTA AccessPort ECU Tuner.

If you can pick one up for $15K, I'd do it.

mosesbotbol

Previous Generation XK8 Jaguar

CosmosMpower

Should be easily able to pick up an 07-08 MCS for less than 15K these days. We sold our 09 with 60K miles on it at the begining of this year for 17.5 I think.

s.hasan546

I would never want to own a cooper s or jcw out of warranty.... Even my sisters base 09 cooper is starting to give me issues.

RC 94

The general consensus around the Mini world is that the first generation had a decent amount of problems, but the second generation is pretty solid.

Adionik

All attainable under $15k....although you WILL have to shop around for the Mercedes and IS350.

CosmosMpower

I owned a second gen, it had it's share of problems so much so that I ditched it after it went out of warranty. Besides these things it was a good car, great MPG, fun to drive, good torque, good carrying capacity for a small car.

2 leaky water pumps
1 stuck open Tstat
1 axle seal leak
1 slack timing chain (make sure this gets addressed if it doesn't kaboom)

hirev

I have a 2004 Acura TL, 6 speed, it goes for that price range, maybe even a 2005 or 06? I recommend, in the years since I have owned it, 2nd owner, since 12/05: 86,000 miles on it, one set front brakes, one crank pully, one third brake light...that's it and maybe some bulbs burned out on the steering wheel. It gives me 22-24 mpg every day, on trips i have seen 32, but 29 is usual, 260 hp, 0-60 in 5.7 seconds (with the 6 speed), limited slip diff, brembo front brakes...all standard.

The 6 speed is hard to find, one in 40 that year, but these cars are bullet proof, great looking, have every featured known to man like bluetooth, voice activation, sunroof, leather, fogs, lots of airbags, heated front seats, room for 4-5 with a large trunk, one touch windows, great entertainment and nav....all state of the art at that time and work just fine now...

Nice place to be even with an automatic trans....my cousin has one and I have driven two with autos.

Bullwings

I owned a second gen, it had it's share of problems so much so that I ditched it after it went out of warranty. Besides these things it was a good car, great MPG, fun to drive, good torque, good carrying capacity for a small car.

2 leaky water pumps
1 stuck open Tstat
1 axle seal leak
1 slack timing chain (make sure this gets addressed if it doesn't kaboom)
[/quote]
Yeah, my sister in-law had a few problems with her '07 JCW right after it fell out of warranty. My bro got stuck with a $2300 bill to fix whatever it was... this was the repair bill from a dealership in Miami, they moved out there temporarily so they have no contacts for third party repair shops for options.

As far as the first gen - definitely avoid that one. It has a Dodge Neon motor in it. I believe the second gen motor is supplied by either Pugeot or Renault.

liquid_helix136

Im surprised only one person has mentioned either of the rally cars. fun, reliable, good torque, 4 seats and aftermarket support screams WRX / STI to me. You could get an Evo, but I've always been iffy about Mitsubishi.

I like the Mini option. The GTO seems too heavy to really be fun if he's coming from an S2k. Mazdaspeed3 is an awesome choice as well.