Ideas for a new car.

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mc2lizard

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Well, I dont post much but lurk alot, And figured I'd ask everyones opinion.

I need a new car.
The catch:
Needs to ride smooth and easy to work on and low maintance unlike my VWs because I now have 3 bulging discs in my back.
I commute 60 miles a day so it needs to be reasonably efficient, Being 22, and having owned sports cars prior- I'd like it to be reasonably fast (getting tired of the TDIs lack. and under 12k.

I have been thinking about a C5 corvette. but am concerned about the ride quality, Im told they are smooth- smoother than a mustang gt (of which I've owned several) Is this true? - And during the winter I'd buy a cheap beater buick or something.

Thoughts?, Alternatives?
 
I thought about that actually. Im just concerned on the fuel milage. Ive heard corvettes can get 30+mpg highway thats what I like and all ive heard about the marauders is like, 20. With a tailwind. but man are they mean looking, Curiously enough every girl I know doesn't like them and every guy does. Guys car i guess
smile.gif
Also I've found its hard to find one reasonably priced. They are all over the map in pricing. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong areas?
 
They were a fairly rare car, and those that like them, keep them!

Mainly highway driving, you should be able to get well more than 20mpg on a Marauder - maybe not quite as much as a 6-speed 'Vette on the highway, but a lot closer than you think.
 
Quote:
easy to work on

That's going to be a trick right there.
I haven't seen anything built in the last decade that has any sort of power that i would consider "easy" to work on.
They are all a huge PITA in one way or another.

I got rid of a Corvette because of the horrific ride on these miserable NE roads.
Vettes are more comfortable than years ago but still not a comfortable ride by any stretch of the imagination.

The new Buick Regal turbo looks like it may be a winner.
At least there is enough room to work under the hood,and the
engine/drivetrain has been tried and proven in their Euro offerings.
 
Well. Easy to work on for my back. before the injury I would do timing belts (even on the tdi 0.o), hop ups, engine swaps, head work, etc. So actual technical difficulty not a problem. I just cant work on them too much anymore or be contorting myself due to my back and the regal would be nice but out of my range and I dont even want to THINK about the depreciation hit they are gonna take lol. As for the vette, I've heard if you get rid of the run flats and get the active suspension they werent bad at all.. Are they really bad? Total bummer if they are, I would just like it to be smoother on the highway than my jetta. I'm well aware with the grand canyon sized potholes in CT I'm not getting a truly smooth ride in anything short of a hovercraft lol.
 
Originally Posted By: mc2lizard
I need a new car.
[snip...] and under 12k.


If new means new, and 12k means $12,000, those two criteria would seem to limit your choices significantly.
 
You're on the right track looking at something like LSx powered GM cars as far as reliability, serviceability, performance, and reasonable economy, but don't get your expectations too high. The people I know with LSx-powered cars (I know one with a last-year F-body, another with both a C6 vette and a CTS-V) can eke out high-20s MPG with them when they are REALLY careful. But if you drive it like you realistically won't be able to resist driving it, low to mid 20s are more reasonable.

Same goes for the Chrysler LX and LC cars with a 5.7 Hemi. You can actually get above the mid 20s if you have one with MDS and drive like a little old man, but the way the car begs to be driven will put you in the low/mid 20s more often than not. Don't even bother with an SRT-8 6.1, you won't be breaking 20 mpg very often unless your willpower is superb. ;-)

As for ride comfort- the C5/C6 is sure a lot better than older Corvettes, but I wouldn't want it regularly on a bad back. You say under $12K, so that rules out a v8 Challenger, leaving maybe a Charger or Magnum (about the best you can do on an early Magnum R/T these days is $15k, so they're getting down there, but you're talking no MDS and low 20s mileage at best. Great ride, though.)


If a bad back were a prime consideration for me, then as others have said a Marauder really becomes a consideration. The downside is that they're collectible and were low production to start with, one in really good shape is going to command premium $$. Or I'd see if I could stretch the budget and fuel economy requirements to allow for a Charger, Magnum, or 300 new enough to have an MDS equipped Hemi for a little better economy (though I don't like the looks of the first-gen 300 at all personally).

And much as it pains me to say it, an older Lexus, Acura, or Infinity might fill your needs.
 
i was looking at the 300c's i can wiggle in my budget a little. because im probably going to sell the motorcycles too seeing as how I cant ride them much anymore and should probably give them up anyways for safety lol. I just hate thinking about it lol. And Also i dont mean NEW new, just new to me. And yea, Im trying to avoid alot of japanese makes. they just dont have much personality IMHO. and as much praise as they get- some of them are a royal pain to work on because of all of the corrosion they seem to get. and they command such a price premium its silly around here. but, another idea crossed my mind. Audi S8. or a8. I'm not in any rush to buy, seeing as how i have to sell my tdi first. just.. Pondering
smile.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Carbon
Originally Posted By: mc2lizard
I need a new car.
[snip...] and under 12k.


If new means new, and 12k means $12,000, those two criteria would seem to limit your choices significantly.
I got a feeling he means a new USED car-probably couldn't even get a Kia for $12K new now! If you've got a bad back & a long commute, I'd stay away from sporty anything, the NE potholes will just make it worse!
 
If you know what you're getting into, $12,000 can buy a heckuva used Cadillac with the Northstar engine. There'd be a lot of things on one to check before you buy. But comfort is high, efficiency is rather good, and they're fast enough as well.
 
It's a thought. I think id want to find one of the newer sportier caddies though. Im very headstrong and refuse to get stuck in a grannymobile. The better ride stipulation is a want/might be nice although I find most cars that ride nice handle like poop. one exception being my old thunderbird and those are impossible to find in good condition now. At the least I NEED really comfortable supportive seats for the lower back that wont feel like im being punched in the back like my VWs do -no lumbar adjustments,nothing... (Just kinda realized this seat thing as I was driving on my lunch break a minute ago.)
 
A highish mileage V8 Dodge Charger must be around $12k now. No idea what the mileage is like though.
A V6 Maxima/Altima with a manual would be very fun and not beat you up too much. I guess even a V6 plain jane Accord or Camry would be a rocket compared to your TDI too.
 
Originally Posted By: mc2lizard
It's a thought. I think id want to find one of the newer sportier caddies though. Im very headstrong and refuse to get stuck in a grannymobile. The better ride stipulation is a want/might be nice although I find most cars that ride nice handle like poop. one exception being my old thunderbird and those are impossible to find in good condition now. At the least I NEED really comfortable supportive seats for the lower back that wont feel like im being punched in the back like my VWs do -no lumbar adjustments,nothing... (Just kinda realized this seat thing as I was driving on my lunch break a minute ago.)


Weeeeellll, don't write something like a Seville STS off as a "grannymobile" TOO quickly ;-) But a) they're getting old, b) the Northstar doesn't always age well, and c) they're front drive, which is a huge turn-off for me.

Once again I'll stand up for Chrysler and say that the LX cars have just about the best combination of ride without giving up too much handling that I've ever seen. The Cadillac CTS is great too, and you might be able to find a v6 that suits you. A v8 will be well out of your price range though.
 
If you want fuel efficient and fast, and smooth, and affordable, you kind of have to get a light weight car with 4 cylinder or V6.

I'd imagine something that has a big engine relative to weight. Something like an V6 sport compact. If you are lucky you might find a V8 Miata or V8 RX7, but other than those, most likely Nissan Sentra SER or similar type of vehicle.
 
Originally Posted By: mc2lizard
It's a thought. I think id want to find one of the newer sportier caddies though. Im very headstrong and refuse to get stuck in a grannymobile. The better ride stipulation is a want/might be nice although I find most cars that ride nice handle like poop. one exception being my old thunderbird and those are impossible to find in good condition now. At the least I NEED really comfortable supportive seats for the lower back that wont feel like im being punched in the back like my VWs do -no lumbar adjustments,nothing... (Just kinda realized this seat thing as I was driving on my lunch break a minute ago.)


I had a 2001 STS, and they made that body style through 2003/4 (SLS only for 2004 as I recall). One of the reasons I traded it was the ride comfort: it was too sporty for my tastes. I came into that from a '97 SLS, and that was Comfort with a capital C! The STS was much firmer, and actually didn't feel like a Cadillac to me. The shorter final drive of the 300hp version of the Northstar also aided performance. 0-60 was in the low-to-mid 6 second range with quarter miles in the low 14 second range. It'd get mid 20s on the road for MPG.
 
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