Need car advice - make that "Volvo"

[Super Blue 72]

   Gotta agree with you on the engines.  I used to have a 1990 Integra and used to redline that car ALL the time and it kept coming back for more.  Other cars after you get on them for a bit felt a little tired after but this engine just kept coming back for more punishment.

I like the WRX deal but I hear they have cylinder head leaks at about 100k?

[Cuda416]

I had an E46 while living in England for a few years because I got a good deal on it. It was an M-Sport Coupe (not an M3) with a 3.0L and a 5 speed. Had the M3 suspenstion package etc. A total blast to drive on the narrow curvey roads and in fact has convinced me that straight is not the only direction a car should be able to go.

HOWEVER, every time I had to have work done to it, it was expensive. I had no time and no shop to work on it myself. I had a steering sensor go out and it was over two hundred dollars just for the part (non bmw). The BMW part number (same darn part/mfg) was almost twice that.

I agree with the others, in only buy one if you know how to work on it yourself and don't mind the expence of the consumables, or it's under warranty.

I loved my car, it was great, had a lot of fun but wouldn't do it again.

-C

What's the difference between a BMW and a porcupine? A: the BMW has the pricks on the inside   

[ragtopdodge]

WRX.

Try not to find one that's been modded by teenagers. 

German cars...$$$.  Stay away from them unless they're under warranty.

[ViperMan]

What's the difference between a BMW and a porcupine? A: the BMW has the pricks on the inside   

LOL!!

I like the WRX's but they're SMALL - I'm worried about cargo space for taking trips and such.

I did find one about 8 hours from here - 87K miles, and I talked the seller down to 11.5, but - as someone said above - it's been "modded."  Not heavily, but upgraded Turbo and a chip.  I didn't really want that many miles on it, so I ultimately passed.

[ViperMan]

Hey - quick toss-out idea.  I might get laughed outta the park on this one, but besides the fact that they were owned by Ford and made some UGLY cars in the past few years, does anyone know about Jaguar?

I'm not considering this one in particular, but it's an AWD, Manual tranny car that's CHEEEEEEEAAAAAP.  I know these things aren't very popular, which could lend itself to the low price.  But I realize there could be other reasons why they're so cheap.  Literally at the bottom of my price point, as entered into Cars.com, there are like, SIX Jaguar X-Type 2.5's...

[MizzouRT]

If you are putting more than a few miles on the car, a 2009 (or later) Charger with the 5.7 VVT hemi will do a lot better on gas than the 6.1.  The 3.5 V6 didn't save much if any gas over the VVT 5.7.  Just a thought, not sure what they are bringing.

[ragtopdodge]

What about a pre-2010 CTS-V manual?

How much do those go for?

[Super Blue 72]

Ok, another idea for the solution to not too expensive, RWD, 4 door, V8= Pontiac G8.  Some even came with 6 speed trannies.

The CTs-V cars are great.  I drove an older one with 400hp and the brakes were fantastic! 

Either car is a cool ride IMO.

[Chryco Psycho]

if the Jag still has Lucas wiring run !!
 Why would you name the electrics after the god of darkness & expect light etc to work

[ViperMan]

LOL, well, I have no idea how to find out who did the wiring in a Jaguar.  I know they were owned by Ford by the late 90's and quality was pretty bad, though according to some surveys and reports, quality improved vastly by 2004...  That being said, I've found this little gem just up the road from me:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p5197.m7&item=280886631497&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D4%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D9072764959492053788&cmd=ViewItem

Low miles, 5-speed, AWD, 4-doors, and LESS than 10-grand.  I'm gonna try and go look at it tomorrow (as the auction ends tomorrow) and maybe see if I can get it down to 9K or even less.

[ViperMan]

Well never mind that one sold already...  Now a buddy has me looking at Volvo S60 R's - pretty sweet cars.  A few thousand more than the Jaguars, but they come in AWD with 6-speed manuals, very well equipped and have 300 horsepower from the factory.  Still manage mid 20's per gallon too.  And I know as most that Volvo's will last until our Sun decides to Super Nova... 

[Chryco Psycho]

the C series coupe volvos are cool , none in Canada though .
 Maybe you should be looking at Starion Turbos !

[ragtopdodge]

How about Lincoln LS?  They make a V-6 with a 5-speed.  I think it's built on the same platform as the Jaguar S-type???  X-type way too small IMHO.

[Super Blue 72]

Ok, 4 door, V8, RWD and cheap:  Impala SS?    Sorry, no stick shift...

[loco340cuda]

I love the bmw feel, but after working on my daughters 2008 many times, I cant stand working on it. Seems like everything is not only expensive, but difficult to get to or work on.

   It seems like more things break on my BMW X5 then on any of the other cars that I have ever owned.  I love BMW's, but the quality of the components used on these cars is really poor.