I need a car

[nola mike]

Very specific wants, I don't know if such an animal exists (currently driving a '01 BMW 330 convertible):

1. Convertible
2. STICK SHIFT
3. 4 seater
4. Sporty/ish
5. At least upper 20's mpg on the highway
6. <$20k
7. <100k miles/probably 2010+

Whaddya got?

 

[Scott Danforth]

2014+ VW beetle turbo convert 35mpg
2015+ Mini cooper S 29 mpg
2012+ Audi A4 Cabriolet. 2.0t 24 mpg

 

[Scott Danforth]

If you drop to 2 seats, more options open up

 

[nola mike]

Can't find the a4 in CV/mt...
beetle looks good on paper, but don't know if I can see myself driving it.
Mini is an option, just drove a friend's (non-s) and got 39mpg on the road trip.
2010+ BMW 335/135, don't know what kind of real world mileage, but FAST
2016 mustang Ecoboost 2016 Camaro v6 (don't know if I'm a Camaro/mustang guy)
I was hoping that I missed something. The f30 turbo i4 BMW would be perfect, but no stick.

Would really like a 2 seater but don't know if I could make it work with the kids.
Loved loved loved my boxter s. Wife can drive stick and liked the porsche, and we never both have to transport the kids at the same time. New gen Miata would be awesome.

 

[Scott Danforth]

wife has a beetle convert in bright yellow, however if you loose the plastic wheel covers and run trim rings, they clean up nice. we test drove a red and black turbo. agree, would need proper color to be a guy and own one

the A4 is about 99% DSG, and 1% MT, so that will be rare.

the S5 is available with a rag top, manual transmission and the V8....there goes your budget and fuel economy.

about 10% of the PT cruiser converts were manuals. that is an option. however you would be hard to find one with under 100k. mine had 225k on it when i was involved in an accident and the ins. co. totaled it (over $513 worth of damage)

there is always a jeep.

test ride the new miata, they are small on the inside....really small.

a 2008-2010 Solstice GXP or Sky Redline would be a great 2-seater. I get an average of 28mpg with my solstice, however I am usually in stop and go traffic, or in the boost to get around traffic.

the mustang isnt a bad car, I just cant get over the turbo-pinto motor in them.

camaro isnt a bad car either. some of them have the turbo 2 liter

there is also the 228i convertible, however not sure of the manual transmission.

 

[nola mike]

wife has a beetle convert in bright yellow, however if you loose the plastic wheel covers and run trim rings, they clean up nice. we test drove a red and black turbo. agree, would need proper color to be a guy and own one


the S5 is available with a rag top, manual transmission and the V8....there goes your budget and fuel economy.

there is always a jeep.



a 2008-2010 Solstice GXP or Sky Redline would be a great 2-seater. I get an average of 28mpg with my solstice, however I am usually in stop and go traffic, or in the boost to get around traffic.


there is also the 228i convertible, however not sure of the manual transmission.

1. Might need to drive one
2. Yup. Audi's in s trim, BMWs in m form, might as well have a suburban
3. Love a Jeep, not a daily driver
4. Ha, you're driving the omc of cars. Looked at those when I got the boxster
5. Only the m has a manual.

The mustang pinto motor has 300+ up and torque at like 2k rpm... Pretty impressive

 

[southkogs]

I'm a big fan of the Mustang. On paper it's not gonna' be the winner. And on the road/track it's usually going to lose in one category or another to one of the competitive cars it's up against. But, overall bang for the buck it's a tough car to beat.

I really like the MX5 / Miata, but the size is the killer on that thing. I'm assuming the Boxter is similar. To and from work with a bag, it's not bad. Cruising around running errands, it's pretty awesome. The minute you have to pack for more than three days ... you need a trailer.

Mercedes has an E class convertible too, don't they?

 

[Scott Danforth]

4. Ha, you're driving the omc of cars. Looked at those when I got the boxster

I hear you there.....except for the convertible top and some sheet metal, the rear end is Cadillac CTS, the engine and half the interior is cobalt. and the transmission is used in the ATS.

My top has all the cables snapping due to age and use. GM wants $200 for the cables (whole top is only $850) I will make new inner cables with a trip to the RC store.

there is also the VW EOS (hard top convertible). came with a 6-speed manual. last year was 2015

the Fiat 500 Abarth had a convertible like top (not sure I can call it a convertible)


then there are the conversions http://www.droptopcustoms.com/showroom/cadillac-ats-convertible/

if you drop the requirement for manual transmission, there are the toyota camary, mercedes, etc. in the slushomatic only category.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Very specific wants, I don't know if such an animal exists (currently driving a '01 BMW 330 convertible):

1. Convertible
2. STICK SHIFT
3. 4 seater
4. Sporty/ish
5. At least upper 20's mpg on the highway
6. <$20k
7. <100k miles/probably 2010+

Whaddya got?

You are describing a BMW 330. That's the car I have been looking for actually. No serious shopping, one of those if I see one I might buy it. 3 vehicles have to go before I add another to the fleet says my fleet Manager, no more room, she's actually right, this time.

The insurance company gave us a Fiat 500 to drive when the Nissan Altima was in an accident. It was not safe to drive here in Ontario with the winds we get off the Great Lakes winter or summer. I parked it until the Nissan was ready.

 

[nola mike]

You are describing a BMW 330. That's the car I have been looking for actually.

Read the first line of my OP


southkogs

Haven't driven the new miata yet, but somehow at 6'2 I fit into the first 2 gens. Boxter wasn't huge either, no. If I get a 2 seater it would be strictly for fun. I'll be driving for work more solo, so that might be a possibility though. I've loved the previous miatas I've driven, total driver's cars. E cab is auto only.

Eos looked boring when I first saw looked into it a while ago...but might be entertaining enough to drive. Generally good reviews. I think I'd take it over a beetle though. I have a soft spot for VW's (looking at a golf sportwagen for my wife).

Fiat is cool, kinda. The convertible unique. Seems like a step down from the mini though in most respects.

I just can't get a camaro. Too much of my youth was spent making fun of the drivers (a bit less so for the stang I guess).

I think 335/135 would still be my choice for a 4 seater.

Disappointing seeing that I'll have to compromise somewhere.

 

[southkogs]

I'm not sure what the Nissan Z is really like. I've heard good things about them, and I know they do have some convertibles. My neighbor had the coupe for a while and it was pretty slick. I think the 300, 350 and 370 had convertible options.

I'm still back on Mustang ... totally spitballing the other stuff now.

 

[Scott Danforth]

If you have time, build one

1951-53 Chevrolet delux convertible, LS3/supercharger/T56 swap, graft in corvette IRS/IFS, spend $2k on gauges and momo seats

1967 Ford Falcon convertible, 348 small block, T56 swap, spend $2k on gauges and momo seats.

early 70's super beetle convert, carbon fiber body, Porsche boxter driveline with a custom pan.

 

[David Young]

I'm on my 5th Mustang . Buy you another BMW, you'll never be happy with anything else. Manual transmissions are on their way out. Automatics are faster anyway .

 

[southkogs]

I think Scott may be on to something ...

 

[nola mike]

I think I've settled on the mini. I test drove a John cooper works and loved it. Had the older apparently unreliable engine though, so I passed. Although they keep dropping the price. ..
​​​​​​But where do people find cars now? Doesn't seem like there are any private parties, only dealers. Looking at Craigslist, autotrader, CarGurus, CarMax, carvana, eBay, facebook

 

[redneck joe]

funny I was going to start a thread for a new car since I know i have my new job sewn up, but i'll just throw in on this one. I'm needing a commuter car for the new job.

Since the issue with VW cheating on emissions does anyone have real world mpg on the TDI's like in a jetta?

 

[nola mike]

Supposed to be around 40 mpg on the highway. Actually looking at a golf sportwagen for my wife (after being tempted by her bosses Tesla). But after accounting for the difference in diesel prices it isn't worth it. And the tdis aren't much/any cheaper.

 

[southkogs]

LOL ... so, I had occasion to drive one of the early 90s Ford Escorts. 1.6L / 5 speed. You could pick the car up in decent shape for under $1k.

38 to the gallon on the little sucker. I couldn't believe it did it. I'm not buying a new car anytime soon, but now I'm wondering about just screwing around with the older ones.

 

[nola mike]

Believe me, I love older stuff. See my sig about the boat. My DD is 19 years old with 230k. I commute 90 miles each way atm, maybe more soon. I mean, at some point you need to have a car built in the same decade that you're driving it in. But seriously, any other car buying sites that I don't know about? Or do people not sell cars on their own anymore?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Since the issue with VW cheating on emissions does anyone have real world mpg on the TDI's like in a jetta?

my neighbor has two of them , let me ask. I believe that he was getting about 38 mpg in mixed driving