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424 Posts
Hey guys, I'm going to be getting a new/slightly used car in about 6 months and I'm not sure what to get. :shrug: There are alot of good cars out there, so finding a fun to drive car that's not a gas hog is getting really easy but there are so many choices. What I want is primarily something that's fun to drive, gets decent/good gas mileage(no V8's), decent on insurance and keeps it's value somewhat decent. My price range is going to be anywhere up to $25k and I want nothing older than '03 and not out of warranty(if I go used I want to get an extended warranty if I can get a factory backed one). So, in that price range you have the following:
Entry level luxury cars:
Sports cars:
Cheaper sporty-econo cars:
If you want a little info on me to get a perspective of where I am and what I want, here you go. I'm 24, working for the local public school system repairing technology stuff(PC's, laptops, Mac's, printers, A/V equipment, overheads, projectors, laminators, etc), make a little over $30k, have very little debt(most of which will be gone in the next 6 months anyway) and am about to get married. I've never owned a new car, in fact besides the bike I've never owned anything made after 1994. I'm finally in a place financially(and physically for those of you that remember all my health problems) that I can afford to get something nice for myself. My fiance and I will be starting out pretty well since neither of us has any large amount of debt and we're pretty good at budgeting. The few grand of debt I have won't take long to get rid of now that I'm making a decent salary, and I'm planning on saving at least $3-5k to put down on the car, maybe more if I decide to sell the bike(I want a 636, so I won't have this bike too long anyway). So that's kinda where I am.
Anyway, give me your opinions guys. I am not brand loyal in any way, and I always love trying new cars. I doubt I'll ever own two of the same thing ever, just because there are so many cool cars I want to try them all. Anyone that owns one of the cars listed, or has any experience with them, let me know. If there's a car you think I should consider that's not listed, post it up!
And feel free to let me know if I should get a sporty luxury car, pure sports car or an econo-sports car! So far I've had a sports car('94 Z28) and a bunch of crappy econo cars('87 Civic, '93 Cutlass Ciera, '93 Honda Accord) so I would kinda like to try a luxury car. But I'm still very undecided.
Oh yeah, it has to be a manual or at the very least a tiptronic type tranny, if I can't shift it myself I don't want it!

Entry level luxury cars:
- Audi A4
- BMW 3xx
- Acura RSX/TSX/TL
- etc
Sports cars:
- Mini Cooper S
- Subaru Imprezza WRX STI
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8
- Mazda RX8
- etc
Cheaper sporty-econo cars:
- Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec-V(almost bought a new 03, liked it alot)
- Hundai Tiberon(new ones, not the older ugly ones)
- Mitsubishi Eclipse('06)
- Scion TC
- Dodge Neon SRT-4(though I would never buy one new, depreciation is too bad)
- etc.
If you want a little info on me to get a perspective of where I am and what I want, here you go. I'm 24, working for the local public school system repairing technology stuff(PC's, laptops, Mac's, printers, A/V equipment, overheads, projectors, laminators, etc), make a little over $30k, have very little debt(most of which will be gone in the next 6 months anyway) and am about to get married. I've never owned a new car, in fact besides the bike I've never owned anything made after 1994. I'm finally in a place financially(and physically for those of you that remember all my health problems) that I can afford to get something nice for myself. My fiance and I will be starting out pretty well since neither of us has any large amount of debt and we're pretty good at budgeting. The few grand of debt I have won't take long to get rid of now that I'm making a decent salary, and I'm planning on saving at least $3-5k to put down on the car, maybe more if I decide to sell the bike(I want a 636, so I won't have this bike too long anyway). So that's kinda where I am.
Anyway, give me your opinions guys. I am not brand loyal in any way, and I always love trying new cars. I doubt I'll ever own two of the same thing ever, just because there are so many cool cars I want to try them all. Anyone that owns one of the cars listed, or has any experience with them, let me know. If there's a car you think I should consider that's not listed, post it up!
And feel free to let me know if I should get a sporty luxury car, pure sports car or an econo-sports car! So far I've had a sports car('94 Z28) and a bunch of crappy econo cars('87 Civic, '93 Cutlass Ciera, '93 Honda Accord) so I would kinda like to try a luxury car. But I'm still very undecided.
Oh yeah, it has to be a manual or at the very least a tiptronic type tranny, if I can't shift it myself I don't want it!