New Or Used?: Saving Silvia Edition

Sajeev Mehta and Steve Lang
by Sajeev Mehta and Steve Lang
Maeve writes:Hi Sajeev and Steve, I’m looking to buy a new car in the next year or two. I have a 2006 Toyota Corolla CE with 35k on the clock. It’s a manual transmission, which is the only thing that’s kept me from going insane. When I bought it, I didn’t have much choice in the matter (time crunch) and the price and gas mileage (something like 41 mpg hwy, though I regularly get 35 mpg in stop and go traffic). It has been servicable, reliable (mostly), cheapish, and gas efficient. There is nothing wrong with it, other than it’s just kind of boring.

I’m looking for something a little more fun. I want something that is fun to drive, not just a machine to get from point A to point B. I used to have a fabulous 1991 Nissan 240SX SE Fastback (again, manual) that I loved. However, I moved to Phoenix and didn’t have the funds (because of the move) to take care of the things that it needed. I still regret selling it. So now I’m looking for:



Manual transmission


RWD


Coupe (preferably, or a small sedan)


2 + 2 seating, Hatchback would be nice


At least an average of 25 mpg


Zipppy enough to be competitive on the freeway (not like my old ’76 VW Bug that had to get a running start to pass someone on the freeway… unless it was downhill)


Stable enough to take turns fast


Under $30,000

Should not be horribly expensive to fix

I seem to think that there are some potential gems coming out soon, maybe in 2010. I’m keeping an eye on the FT-86. I know there is more out there, but past looking at all the existing cars (of which there are a dearth of good coupes, especially RWD), I don’t quite know where to start. I’ve got a bunch of car blogs on my RSS, so I try to keep up with the latest, but I’m sure you’ve got most of what I’m looking for in your head. Or at least readily accessible.

I won’t have much for a downpayment, but would be trading in my Corolla (which is in pretty damned good shape – regular maintenance, everything still runs fine) but I can wait as long as I need to to get the Right Car. And yes, I plan on being picky.The car doesn’t have to be new, but as I live in Phoenix, I don’t want to have to constantly worry about the car breaking down (okay, at least until I learn how to fix it) in 110+ degree temperatures. I’m flexible on most of those things to a degree, but it absolutely must be a manual transmission.Sajeev Mehta: Oh yeah, who isn’t foaming at the mouth to get the keys to Toyota’s FT-86? Since your needs are specific (kudos on that, btw) and the market doesn’t cater to your style, wait for the Toyota’s next hot compact. Or get a V6 Mustang. The EPA says it gets 21MPG in mixed use, which isn’t half bad. The motor is crude but ballsy and the suspension and brakes don’t totally suck, but a few hundred dollars in the (disturbingly cheap and plentiful) Mustang aftermarket for a spring/shock/swaybar package and better brake pads fixes that quickly. If you don’t like the Mustang as-is on a test drive, that is. Coming from a Toyota Corolla, the V6 ‘stang might as well be a Corvette.And V6 Mustangs are cheap. Which, even though I’m the New Car proponent in this series, makes a great case for used Mustangs as the best bang for the buck in the efficient RWD coupe market. Then again, the 2011 model with a 300+hp Duratec six-shooter under the hood sounds like a serious threat to the FT-86: if they get the suspension sorted, sans aftermarket help. So wait another 12 months. Your Corolla is just peachy until then.Steve Lang: There is an absolutely insane number of used sports cars out there with a depreciation curve that is far more worthy of your wallet. Start with a BMW M3 or even a low mileage and older M5 model. As much as folks gripe about Car & Driver always granting BMW’s the #1 slot in their comparos, there’s a reason for it. They are the absolute gold standard when it comes to fun, sporty and luxurious vehicles.If you must stay in the Japanese fold, a very low mileage 2008 Infiniti G37 Sport would definitely hit both sides of the fun and luxury equation. These models have performance levels that are neck and neck with many of the Germans for about two-thirds of the price. However if you must go for the nasty and brutish cars I do have one interesting alternative that is off the beaten path… and still a Toyota. Kinda. Sorta. A low mileage Lotus Elise. These models offer a Toyota engine along with a ride that simply blows the doors off of 99+% of the vehicles out there. Chances are you would be far better off with the Infiniti and BMW if most of your driving is commuting related. But with smooth roads and a frequent jaunt down a long and winding road may make the Lotus a real consideration.
Sajeev Mehta and Steve Lang
Sajeev Mehta and Steve Lang

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  • Maeve Maeve on Jan 07, 2010

    I am loving all of this input. Thank you. I owe about $10k on my current Corolla and already have a decent payment out to that every month (about $400, due to refinancing and pulling out a couple thousand to pay off my husband's car). When I get a new (to me) car, I basically need it to be at $400/mo or less. I figure that $30k is the top of what I can look at right now, but will happily take something less expensive. Handling is definitely more important to me, rather than straightaway speed. I pegged out my Nissan once, but damn I was completely nervewracked, between potential law enforcement and hoping my car would hold together. It did, everything was fine, but I'd rather have superior cornering than top speed. Admittedly, I do want the ability to get up to speed at a decent rate, but with a stick, half of that is my own coordination, which is up to par. Usually. ;) To be clear, I don't _need_ a new (as opposed to used) car. I just need something reliable. I had been thinking about just keeping what we've got and getting something like another 240SX as a project/fun car, but we don't really have anywhere to keep it right now, unless we keep it in the garage and keep our daily cars in the driveway. Only gets to really be a problem in summer, when a garage is far preferable to 120+ temps in the car. I'll keep my mind open, as far as Mustangs go. So many of you say fab things about them, might as well drive one and see. Hopefully my feet reach the pedals this time (seriously, I'm 5'3"). I honestly don't give a crap about cup holders, heated seats, or rear view mirrors with little wipers on them. As far as that stuff goes, at best, all I'd really like are power windows (did I mention I've got the base model Corolla with manual windows?), comfy bucket seats (I swear, my 240SX had the best seats), and a stereo that plays MP3s. GPS, iPod interaction, sixteen cupholders and self-defrosting moonroofs are useless to me. The car needs to be tight - well put together, doesn't rattle, feels like everything's moving together the right way. I don't know how better to put it. The 350Z I rented felt like it had been rattled over too many speed bumps and didn't feel cohesive... it didn't feel tight. My Corolla, for all its boring-ness, is tight and has pretty good steering and cornering (okay, compared to my husband's sad '04 Neon). Basically, we're at a point where I can choose a car I like, rather than only have a car because that's what I could afford, between a rock and a hard place. Anyway. Damn, but my test drive list keeps getting longer.

  • Gimmeamanual Gimmeamanual on Jan 08, 2010

    $30,000 at 5.9% for 60 months is $580/month. $30,000 at 1.9% for 60 months is $525/month. You're going to need a significant down payment, like $7000+, to get those down to ~$400. So really your limit is like $25,000 or less with a moderate down payment if you want to stay around $400/month and not have something outrageous like a 72-month term. Right now your focus should be paying off credit cards and not being underwater on the Corolla. Sorry to sound like Debbie Downer.

    • Maeve Maeve on Jan 08, 2010

      I won't be getting a car that is over $400 a month. I picked $30k as the top of my range, because I figured I might be able to find something that is normally a $30k car for $25k. Also, I'm not burning to get a new car, I'm mainly trying to collate my research so I can figure out what I want _before_ I get into the meat of buying a new car. We have been paying off credit cards... for a long time, sadly. We've been making good progress on them, too. If I can manage to keep my car payments the same, without a ton of out of pocket cost for a down payment, my money in and out for the month remains the same, which is the only reason I've been thinking about getting a car sooner rather that later. All that being said, my Corolla is a decent car with many years left on it. I don't need a new car. Doesn't stop me from wanting one, though, or doing proper and thorough research. :) I appreciate your input, but I'm well aware of how much I can spend. Also, to boot, I realized after I'd sent this query into to TTAC (sometime in October) that I can't actually afford $30k and mostly revised my research accordingly. But hell, money might be better in a year or two and I will be able to afford a $30k car. :)

  • SCE to AUX The fix sounds like a bandaid. Kia's not going to address the defective shaft assemblies because it's hard and expensive - not cool.
  • Analoggrotto I am sick and tired of every little Hyundai Kia Genesis flaw being blown out of proportion. Why doesn't TTAC talk about the Tundra iForce Max problems, Toyota V35A engine problems or the Lexus 500H Hybrid problems? Here's why: education. Most of America is illiterate, as are the people who bash Hyundai Kia Genesis. Surveys conducted by credible sources have observed a high concentration of Hyundai Kia Genesis models at elite ivy league universities, you know those places where students earn degrees which earn more than $100K per year? Get with the program TTAC.
  • Analoggrotto NoooooooO!
  • Ted “the model is going to be almost 4 inches longer and 2 inches wider than its predecessor”Size matters. In this case there is 6” too much.
  • JMII Despite our past experience with Volvo my wife wants an EX30 badly. Small, upscale, minimalist EV hatch is basically her perfect vehicle.
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