Help me pick a car V2.0

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Ah, these threads are so fun. This one's going to be a little different. It's a competition:

1. If you suggest the make and model of the car that I actually end up buying, I'll buy you a beer!
2. If you actually post the craigslist ad for a car that I buy, I'll buy you a 6-pack!

Now that the S55 is running nicely, and I am prepping my 2001 330i for sale, I need a beater.

Requirements:

- Hatchback or wagon
- Manual transmission
- Not dog slow
- Fun to drive
- Good bang for the buck (think "unloved" or "overly complicated" or "failure prone")
- Reliability, don't care
- Can have problems as-purchased
- No Volkswagens (unless you have a REALLY good case for one)
- Prefer something 2003 or newer
- Resellable
- I AM still anal retentive, so I need to be able to make it look and drive nice
- Creature comforts are good (AC, PS, PW, etc)
- Prefer as close to stock as possible
- Price range $1000-4000

Patrice Bousquet · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2015 7:40 am

Since you have some experience working on Benz. Not checking all the box’s.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/4966600193.html

Honda Civic?

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/4978246553.html

http://winstonsalem.craigslist.org/cto/4968681098.html

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2015 7:51 am

Check Facebook

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2015 7:54 am

Does your 330 have a sunroof?

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Jason Mauldin wrote:

Check Facebook

Ok, I did, what am I looking for?

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

RodneyWright wrote:

Does your 330 have a sunroof?

Yes

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2015 9:09 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

RodneyWright wrote:

Does your 330 have a sunroof?

Yes

Thanks, moving on....

Jordan Normark · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2015 9:39 am

I would like to hear more about the 330i.

Dog slow? http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/4979395210.html

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2015 10:10 am

Jordan Normark wrote:

Dog slow? http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/4979395210.html

Great quotes from the CL ad...

"If you are concerned about cost or how to work on this vehicle, this is not the vehicle for you. "

"Price is firm, but I am sure ignorance will prevail with silly questions and ridiculous offers."

I think I like this person!

I am not sure why, but I have this odd feeling it would be interesting to do something crazy with an Insight.

Richard

Jordan Normark · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2015 10:25 am

Richard Casto wrote:

I am not sure why, but I have this odd feeling it would be interesting to do something crazy with an Insight.

Richard

It might be fun to play with for a while as long as you don't have to replace batterie$

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2015 10:41 am

Ok, as to playing the game, you didn't say we have to limit our suggestions!

Mini Cooper - Slightly out of your price range, but fun.
Toyota Matrix (Pontiac Vibe?) - Potentially unloved, especially the Pontiac version. Any upgrade potential?
Suzuki Reno - Oddball pick. Is this a Daewoo with GM motor? It is a hatch.
Volvo V70 (V70R?) - Bigger car, but maybe interesting if you get a fixer upper V70R?
Ford Focus - Safe pick?
Scion xB - Odd pick, but Toyota reliability? Something different.
Honda Fit - I think you can find some fixer upper 1st gen in your price range. I think they can be fun to drive.

I didn't check on which have manuals. And I suspect a few are outside of your price range unless they have issues you would need to fix.

I am not going to suggest Subaru as I suspect you are looking to do something different. Same goes for PT Cruiser (you have already done this before right?). I also like Patrice's Civic hatch suggestion (I never liked the styling of that dash shifter however).

Richard

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Jordan Normark wrote:

I would like to hear more about the 330i.

Dog slow? http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/4979395210.html

I'm hoping to have the ad up this weekend... 01 330i sport 5-speed silver sedan, 135k mi, excellent mechanically, nice looking but has an accident on history. Drives great, very few issues. Price, not sure yet, probably somewhere in the high 5's. Higher mileage or basket-case cars can be had significantly cheaper elsewhere!

I saw the insight earlier this week and immediately started investigating swaps, then stopped myself and repeated "only one swap car at a time"...

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

I know nothing about Minis. Can anyone tell me why I would not want to get one, or which one(s) to look for?

Scott Johnson · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2015 11:55 am

Sounds like you need an old Volvo. What about a Chevy HHR SS?

http://fayetteville.craigslist.org/cto/4955004726.html

faster than Art's old Mustang.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDZgoSN8Gk0

Scott Johnson · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2015 12:01 pm

was it Kurt? Peterson that used to tow an RX7 behind a 60's Buick Regal GS wagon clone?

That sounds unique and fun.

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