Ask the Best and Brightest: What to Buy That's Not Hum-Drum?

by Robert Farago

Published: March 14th, 2009

ask the best and brightest what to buy that s not hum drum

Robert, I am a musician living in New York City since 1997. I have owned a car here since day one, and need one to move my drums around. Since I was a boy I’ve been pretty well obsessed with all kinds of cars, starting with my older brother’s ’68 Mustang, and it seems to just be getting worse with time. Of course I visit TTAC every day, as well as other blogs and forums, and have stacks of car magazines and books at home. My private shame is that the car I own is the beige ’99 Camry LE I bought from, ahem, my mom six years ago. In fact every car I have owned in NYC the last twelve years has been some kind of boring, base model 4-door sedan that blends into the NYC scenery like a dirty paper coffee cup on the sidewalk. With the exception of a too-short ownership of a ’71 Dodge Dart a couple years ago, my own Truth About Cars has been about as fun as getting a parking ticket. At this point, time is passing too quickly and I need to get a car to drive that doesn’t feel like putting on a wet pair of socks every day. I am asking for some advice for what you think (and maybe your colleagues) I should look for that would meet the following criteria:

1. Manual Transmission—this alone would introduce a whole new world of fun to me. (I’ve never owned one, and I know in NYC it could suck, but I’m not a commuter)

2. Under 10K—I don’t have the money to garage a car, can’t afford a new one, and don’t want to go through the torture of watching a beautiful expensive car go through the NYC Super Depreciation on the sidewalk. Some cosmetic challenges are OK. They will happen anyway. Fast.

3. If it is to replace my beater Camry, it needs to hold a drumkit. Which isn’t really THAT difficult. Should I sell the Camry and replace it with an all-purpose car? Or keep the Camry (parking two cars on the streets here is NO picnic) and buy an additional, completely impractical, “fun” ride? This issue would be a no-brainer if I lived out in the ’burbs and could just park an old project car in the driveway like everyone else. But it’s New York and it has its own set of challenges. Any thoughts?

Sincerely, Dave XXXXX

Robert Farago

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Puppyknuckles on May 16, 2009

Just to put a period on this thread for anyone who somehow comes across it in the next couple hundred years: I saved some extra cash, took a little money out, and bought a 2005 MINI Cooper S with a 6-speed manual, with 20500 miles for around 15K. Thanks again to all the posters - was great hearing everyone's advice. The fun-to-drive in the city factor was just too much for me to resist, and I figured here will be many more chances in life to buy something "practical". But honestly it has proven even more practical in the city than I had anticipated. I was thrilled when I discovered that late at night, once I had staked out the perfect parking spot on the correct side of the street, I can often drive off and come back and have it waiting for me because only another MINI could fit into it. Joy. I rented one from Zipcar first to make sure that my drumset would fit in one. Barely, with a passenger. 35 mpg on the highway isn't too shabby either. Although the way I have been driving it around town (like a jackass, usually) my mileage has been nothing to brag about. Overall, I really like it, and the only thing I would change is that it rides pretty rough and rattles over bumps. But, it's a MINI and they do that.

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Puppyknuckles on May 16, 2009

btw, boosterseat - it's black with a black roof, black interior. about as non-college chick as they come :)

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