The time has come to look for a car. Here are my criteria: it must be fun to drive

It should probably be a used car. It is unlikely that I will be putting more than 3-4K miles on the car per year and probably not for more than ten years. It should be an automatic although I hate to have to do that. I am willing to spend about 15 to 18K.

Any thoughts?

 

How about a Miata?

 

Lots of great cars to pick from:

Used Cars For Around 15,000:

2005-2007 Ford Mustang GT (RWD 0-60 5.8 sec)
2005-2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe (RWD 0-60 5.5 sec) (#2 Best Buy for Used Car)
2000-2001 BMW M3 (RWD 0-60 4.6 sec)
2000-2001 BMW M5 (RWD 0-60 4.6 sec)
2005-2007 Nissan 350z (RWD 0-60 4.9 sec)
1997-2004 Porsche Boxster (RWD 0-60 7.9 sec)
2000-2004 Ford Mustang Cobra SVT (RWD 0-60 4.7 sec)
2004-2005 Acura TL (FWD 0-60 6.7 sec)
2006-2009 Chevrolet Cobalt SS SuperCharged (FWD 0-60 5.7 sec)
2000-2005 Audi S4 Quattro (AWD 0-60 5.5 sec)
1994-1998 Ford Mustang Cobra SVT (RWD 0-60 5.1 sec)
2003-2007 Honda Accord Coupe/Sedan (RWD 0-60 7.5 sec)
1995-1999 BMW M3 (RWD 0-60 5.4 sec)
2000-2005 BMW 3 Series (RWD 0-60 7.0 sec)
1995-2001 BMW 7 Seres (RWD 0-60 7.9 sec)
2001-2003 BMW Z3 (RWD 0-60 6.9 sec)
2005-2008 Dodge Magnum (RWD 0-60 7.8 sec)
2001-2004 Chevrolet Corvette (RWD 0-60 45.0 sec)
2004-2006 Subaru Impreza WRX/STi (AWD 0-60 4.9-5.9 sec)
2000-2005 Lexus IS 300 (RWD 0-60 7.4 sec)
2004-2005 Dodge SRT-4 (FWD 0-60 5.8 sec)
2000-2007 Mercedes C-Class (RWD 0-60 6.8-8.9 sec)
2005-2007 Ford Mustang V6 (RWD 0-60 8.6 sec)
1998-2000 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 (RWD 0-60 5.6 sec)
2003-2008 Toyota Corolla Type S (FWD 0-60 8.9 sec)
2003-2005 Infiniti G35 Sedan (RWD 0-60 6.7 sec)
1989-1996 Acura Legend (FWD 0-60 8.3 sec)
2001-2004 Volvo S60 (FWD 0-60 7.3 sec)
1996-1998 Audi A4 (FWD 0-60 8.4 sec)
2006-2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse (FWD 0-60 8.3 sec)
1998-2007 Ford Crown Victoria (RWD 0-60 8.7 sec)
1997-2003 BMW 5 Series (RWD 0-60 6.7 sec)
1994-2001 Volkswagen Golf (FWD 0-60 8.2 sec)
2000-2004 Honda S2000 (RWD 0-60 6.5 sec)
2004-2005 Pontiac GTO 5.7/6.0 (RWD 0-60 4.8-5.3 sec)
1999-2004 Ford Mustang GT/Mach 1/Bullitt (RWD 0-60 5.8-6.3 sec)
1992-2000 Lexus SC 300/400 (RWD 0-60 5.9-8 sec)
2003-2006 Hyundai Tiburon (FWD 0-60 9 sec)
1998-2002 Honda Accord Coupe (FWD 0-60 6.9-7.6 sec)
1997-2002 Honda Prelude (FWD 0-60 7.6 sec)
2000-2006 Mercedes-Benz CL Class (RWD 0-60 5.6 sec)
1998-2002 Chevrolet Camaro SS (RWD 0-60 6.3 sec)
2006 Dodge Charger 2.7L V6 (RWD 0-60 9 sec)
1991-1999 Mitsubishi 3000GT Base/VR4 (RWD/AWD 0-60 5.8 sec-7 sec)
2002-Up Jaguar X-Type (RWD 0-60 ?)
2000-2004 Jaguar S-Type (RWD 0-60 ?)
2004-2006 Scion xB (FWD 0-60 8.5 sec)
2006-2008 Chrysler 300 (RWD 0-60 7.6 sec)
2001-2002 Audi TT 225 hp ALMS Coupe Quattro (AWD 0-60 5.6 sec(
1994-1997 Chevrolet Impala SS (RWD 0-60 6.5 sec)
1992-1996 Jaguar XJS (RWD 0-60 6.7 sec)
1995-1998 Nissan 240sx (RWD 0-60 8.1 sec)
1984-1996 Chevrolet Corvette (RWD 0-60 4.7 sec)
1993-1994 Infiniti J30 Base/Touring (RWD 0-60 8.7 sec)
2000-2008 Mercury Grand Marquis (RWD 0-60 9 sec)
1990-1996 Nissan 300zx Twin Turbo (RWD 0-60 5.5 sec)
2005-2007 Cadillac STS V6/V8 (RWD 0-60 5.4-6.3 sec)
1999-2002 BMW M Coupe (RWD 0-60 5.2 sec) (#3 Best Buy for Used Car)
2002-2004 Ford SVT Focus (FWD 0-60 7.4 sec) (#1 Best Buy for Used Car)
1999-2005 Mazda Miata (RWD 0-60 6.5 sec) (#6 Best Buy for Used Car)
1999-2005 BMW 3 Series (RWD 0-60 6.3-10 sec) (#5 Best Buy for Used Car)
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source:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...7140957AAWFgQR

 

ummmm, I've narrowed it down to a couple that I would love in Herman's situation.

if I wanted a newer car, i would to for the G35.

a week ago in Florida, I drove my friend's '95 SC400 and loved it...have always liked the looks of that car and would have had an SC300 in '93 except for greedy lease rates (ended up with a 325is instead....not a bad runner-up ) my friend had to decide to give it a major mechanical restoration or buy a new '10 Toyota Corolla, or whatever. to his credit, he spent big bucks on the SC....over $10k and maybe a lot more btw, i'm betting that the 5.9 is the SC400 V8 time...although the order in the parentheses is misleading.

 

That a Miata would be a good choice given your criteria. One should be relatively easy to find. Maintenance and replacement parts are readily available at reasonable prices, etc. Besides you are use to a fun to drive "rag top".

 

Had to chuckle at the 01-04 Vettes 0 to 60 time of 45 sec. Typo I'm sure. I may also be looking down the road at a roadster in that price range maybe slightly higher. The problem I have is that the previous S2000 I owned just fit on the left side of the garage due to the stair configuration which I modified. The right side is larger but the X3 goes there. I may be able to squeeze in another 8 in. but that is it. That limits my options and after owning 2 S2000's I may be looking for a different roadster. The Boxster is questionable as far as fit goes. I detail a clients Boxster and he told me to try it next time I detail it. The Miata is an option and my brother in law is coming to vist next week with his 2011 with retractable hardtop. I am detailing it for him so I will get a chance to drive it (automatic, ugh) but I will see how it fits. The new Mini roadster (John Cooper) edition is cool and would fit but it is out of my price range. I detailed a Z3 today and it is not bad if you could find a M version. The Z4 would be a concern for fit.

 

If I could have a Miata then I would have considered another S2000. I am not as limber as I used to be I am looking for a car that is easier to get in and out of.

A rag top would be nice but they tend to be rarer and more expensive. Another criterion that I should have mentioned is that I don't want the car to be more that 4-5 years old.

 

^Herman, I only mentioned the Miata because you said you wanted something fun to drive and an automatic. The S doesn't have an automatic, so the Miata came to mind. If you want something fun and more comfortable, hand's down, IMO is the Infiniti G35 or G37 (coupe/convertible). I have been looking at the G37 for the past two year's, but I just don't want to lay out the money. The fuel economy is somewhere around 28 on the highway and the automatic 7 speed is fun to play with. The one criteria that it won't meet is the price. Typically, 2008's are around $28K.

 

So what does this vehicle have to do, how will it be used???
Other than price and auto tranny there is not much to work with here to give a good suggestion.
Auto + price + age - I could suggest anything from a pickup to a sedan.
You must be able to define the vehicles objectives more completely.