Well I need mental help too, but, I don't think you can help me there.

I am in the market for a newer vehicle, give me some ideas, couple of req's and a few preferred things.

Requirements

MT
Newer no older than 2000
Some sort of ICE no need for a system though
No honda's just not my style
Less than 20K price tag
No german cars - they are a major pain in the *** to work on particularily VW's and BMW's don't know a whole lot about MB's may consider them if they aren't as nightmarish

Preferred

4 doors will settle for two if the seats are accesible
Boost or decent power if not boosted around 250
Low to mid 20's for mpg
Not econobox interior
15k price tag

Admittedly I've been concentrating on japanese imports, some vehicles i've been looking at are:

WRX/STI
IS300
2.5 RS old body style
Legacy 2.5 GT's
Evo's
RX8
Cobalt SS

So throw up some ideas, or if you've owned any of the vehicles tell me some pro's v con's.

I will use the vehicle as a daily driver with a month to bimonthly auto x and occasional track day. Basically, I am looking for a suitable all-around vehicle. I am not a big drag racer, but, will probably make a pass or two.

 

Old RX8's are fun, but the old gearing isn't that great. Ours has been extremely reliable though.

 

I've owned an STi and Evo. Both are great cars but the STi is probably the better DD. They both have econobox interiors. I hated the cheap *** blue bottom bin carpet in the STi. I can't imagine carpet being any cheaper. The stock radio is *** too.

The STi at least has cruise and an automatic climate control. The tranny is bullet-proof as is the driveline. The engines seem very durable but the 04's had some problems with cracks in the turbo housing. It does great in rain and snow especially with Blizzaks.

I thought my Evo IX MR had a nicer interior than the STi. At least the carpet was black so it didn't look as cheap as the STi. The seats in the Evo are lightyears ahead of the STi. They look better and they are way more comfortable. In my experience the Evo was very reliable and in stock form it got better gas mileage than the STi. 20+ mpg on the highway was normal for my MR. I would guess a IX MR is out of the $15k price range.

The Evo's sound system was far better than the STi too. Especially when the HU was swapped out for an aftermarket unit. I owned both at the same time and I put the exact same Alpine HU in both. The STi had a big improvement over stock but the sound quality was still poor at best. The Evo on the other hand sounded pretty darn good by just changing the HU.

Hope that helps.

 

That was one of the reasons i didn't pick one up the same day I test drove. The thing was spinning 4k rpms in 6th @65mph a lil rediculous if you ask me. Do the newer models have better gearing? As far as I am concerned 6th gear doesn't even need to be able to accelerate it should be 15-1800 rpm @ 80. I don't understand why companies don't do that.

I see you own a SC'd CTS-V, did you ever drive it stock? I've owned an Evo 8 before, and a 06 GTO(I hear the CTS-V is basically a 4 door GTO, the goat actually handled decently), but, most of my performance cars have been MR. (Mid Rear Engine)

 

g35 coupe.

 

for 15k?

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-...1%7C240%3A1308

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-...1%7C240%3A1308

just a couple i found. i didn't look specifically for manual cars, but i know they're out there for the same money.

 

Well that's pretty high mileage too...
I know my dad picked up his 06 fully loaded 6spd mt coupe in April for like 26,000 with about 24,000 miles.

 

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...00&cardist=125

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...0&cardist=1203


Really, they're out there for that money with less miles too.

 

not to rain on your dad's parade, but the bottom has dropped out of cars like this due to the new model and the previously high fuel prices.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...00&cardist=991

 

I figured lol

 

lol, I was actually referring to the gearing being too LONG.

The first few ratios are too far apart to make full use of the powerband, while I agree 6th might be too short. The newer models have a shorter final drive for better acceleration but I'm not sure if they changed 5th and 6th to increase the fuel economy. In any case it is a really good car, and the interior is excellent. AND you can find used ones for pennies on the dollar these days.

 

LOL, rest assured IF I get a RX8, it won't be a drag car at all but they do really good at auto x.

 

Just remember that the fuel mileage on an rx8 SUCKS. Probably the same as my highly modded evo. Plus, they have been known to loose coolant seals quite often which equals new motor. Make sure you research them and the rotary lump that powers them.

 

my commute to and from work is less than 5 miles only mileage I am concerned with is HWY which most people who drive like I do pull 22-24mpg