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  Aug. 16, 2010 6:52 p.m. Salanis SuperDork

  So, my girlfriend is tired of her '96 Accord that she's had for years. She's about to get a bit of windfall money (her G'ma passed away recently), and looking at getting a new car.

  She'd been thinking a new Fiesta, but after seeing one with a price tag not much lower than the Mustangs on the lot, she's opening her search a bit more.

  I'm not totally sure on her price point, but judging by what she's looked at, I think we're looking <$20k, and happier around $15k She's thinking she'll finance.

  It must be: manual, reasonably fun (she wants to auto-x it, at least), relatively new (say, '04+), have at least something resembling a back seat. She doesn't need to hold people, but she wants to be able to put the dog in the back. She also puts so few miles on her car that gas mileage isn't a huge worry. I do believe she will want a low-ish mileage car. I'm pretty sure she will want a car with an interior that feels new. Even a decently maintained car shows its age at 100k.

  She is partial to hatch backs and/or cars that are 'different'.

  Strong candidates:

  • RX-8
  • Mustang
  • Mazda3/Speed3
  • Ford Fiesta
  • Pontiac GTO

  Other cars she's liked the thought of but that we're nervous about the lack of dog seating:

  • S2000
  • '06+ Miata
  • Corvette
  • Z3/Z4

  She does not like the new Mini.

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  Aug. 16, 2010 7:03 p.m. Bababooey New Reader

  SVT Focus. You can find them at stupid low prices for what the car is. I paid $7k for mine with low 20k for miles. Plenty of room, decent MPG (I get 30 with mine) and can hit a road course stock. I've toyed with the new Fiesta I can't bring myself to spend double on a lesser car. I was ready to spend $30k on a Mini and bought a 7 year older car I was that impressed with it. A few weeks ago I put in a Multimatic suspension and it now feels like a FWD M3. Just think of what you can do with the $7k you save over the $15k you were planning on spending.

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  Aug. 16, 2010 7:15 p.m. itsatrap New Reader

  Can't beat a hatchback if you have a dog.

  But on your "Strong Candidates" list, the only one I can comment on is the GTO and I say go for a test drive and bring your financing hat with you. I have had mine for about 4 weeks now and have put almost 2k miles on it, it's just that much fun to drive. It gives me a fizzy sensation behind my man vegetables.. and thats a very good thing. Mine was right at $13k with 40K miles on it.

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  Aug. 16, 2010 7:19 p.m. Datsun1500 Dork

  SVT Focus was the first thing that popped into my head as well, and I have never owned one...

  I completely missed the fact that I am now a dork and no one told me.

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  Aug. 16, 2010 7:25 p.m. Salanis SuperDork

  I agree about saving money. If it were me, that's what I'd do. But it's not me, and I will not tell her what to do about her finances.

  If it were me, I'd be looking for an '04 Focus with the 2.3 CA engine (since we live there). I wasn't suggesting the Focus, because I'm concerned older ones will be a bit worn for her, and the later once just seemed to fall flat for me. I don't know if the SVTs tended to be treated nicer.

  Anyone able to comment on GTO vs. '05+ Mustang GT? She's a bit sentimental about Mustangs, but got very interested when I said "Corvette Engine".

  She also really likes the styling on the RX-8.

  Watching videos of sportscar racing does not fully convey the experience. It's more like playing a three-way game of Speed-Chess while strapped to a chair... inside a giant beehive.

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  Aug. 16, 2010 7:31 p.m. mw HalfDork

  A new 2.0t genesis coupe base is pretty close to her price point. That or a c5 Z06 would be my picks.

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  Aug. 16, 2010 7:41 p.m. Salanis SuperDork

  mw wrote: A new 2.0t genesis coupe base is pretty close to her price point. That or a c5 Z06 would be my picks.

  I don't think we can get a Z06 out here for those prices. I think a "base" C5 Coupe/Hatch would be doable in nice shape. She's also timid enough of a driver, that I don't think she'll really feel the difference between the "basic" C5 and the Z06.

  Watching videos of sportscar racing does not fully convey the experience. It's more like playing a three-way game of Speed-Chess while strapped to a chair... inside a giant beehive.

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  Aug. 16, 2010 8:06 p.m. 92dxman HalfDork

  A 5 door Yaris should be doable in the $15k range. You can pick up the trd suspension goodies for cheap also. A set of springs and a rear bar should run no more than a few hundred bucks. You could pick up a low mileage used Accent SE (nicer wheels, short throw shifter and stiffer suspension) in that price ranger also..

  09 Yaris hatch & a flock of bikes..

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  Aug. 16, 2010 8:13 p.m. grimmelshanks Reader

  ms3 fasho!!!

  pinion shaft? uh-oh

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  Aug. 16, 2010 8:15 p.m. P71 SuperDork

  WRX wagon

  /thread

  The GTO will flat out embarrass any 05-10 Mustang, be it GT, Shelby GT, whatever. They need a blower to equal the goat's ultimate output and still won't have the power curve (or anywhere near the interior). The Shelby GT500 is the only thing that comes close, until there's a corner. The brandy-new 2011 Boss 302 will probably equal a GTO's performance. It'll still have a crappy plastic interior though.

  (I hear the GTO's leather seats are made from kangaroo by Crocodile Dundee himself)

  Michael Pinto - GoKart / 93 Miata STS / 01 P71 Interceptor

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  Aug. 16, 2010 9:13 p.m. pedretti New Reader

  ----^ subaru impreza 2.5 rs, WRX or STI. depending where you live depends how much it will cost you.

  Spectra5 rally

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  Aug. 16, 2010 9:20 p.m. fastmiata Reader

  A mustang will have intimate knowledge of the GTO's tail end design. I have had mine for 18months and I cannot find many downsides of the car. I did rebuild the front end bushings as suggested by most of the experts. About the only real issue is the smallish trunk. Back seat access is not the greatest for the size of the car either. AC works great(which is why I drove the miata for the first time in almost 2 weeks on Sat) and if GM had built more cars this solid, bankruptcy wouldnt have been necessary. $15000 will buy a really nice low mileage car.

  Wayne Henry

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  Aug. 16, 2010 9:31 p.m. Osterkraut Dork

  Forester XT. Different, loads of space, horsepower is there and STi power is $500 away.

  I'm Jeremy Clarkson with better hair.

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  Aug. 16, 2010 9:45 p.m. Appleseed SuperDork

  Plus 1.

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  Aug. 16, 2010 10:03 p.m. Salanis SuperDork

  pedretti wrote: ----^ subaru impreza 2.5 rs, WRX or STI. depending where you live depends how much it will cost you.

  Live in Sacramento, CA. AWD not too necessary. I don't know what she thinks of the WRX.

  Right now, I think she's favoring the RX-8. She liked the idea of the SVT Focus and the lower price.

  Watching videos of sportscar racing does not fully convey the experience. It's more like playing a three-way game of Speed-Chess while strapped to a chair... inside a giant beehive.

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  Aug. 16, 2010 10:14 p.m. HiTempguy HalfDork

  Did you guys get the G8 GXP? A family orientated version of the goat.

  Rallying; It's like skydiving, except you have to dodge trees on your way down!

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  Aug. 17, 2010 12:12 a.m. mtn SuperDork

  At least suggest to her what you would do with her money. If it were me, I'd say Corvette. Fido can ride in the passenger's lap

  there’s a lot of debate on this subject—about what kind of car handles best. Some say a front-engined car; some say a rear-engined car. I say a rented car.

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  Aug. 17, 2010 12:19 a.m. Salanis SuperDork

  mtn wrote: At least suggest to her what you would do with her money. If it were me, I'd say Corvette. Fido can ride in the passenger's lap

  Well, I am making suggestions. If I weren't, I wouldn't be on an info gathering session here.

  As much as I love her dog, I don't really feel like having it sit in my lap after a long hike. Nor do I want to hold a cat carrier in my lap either. I've tried to suggest that the dog would be fine in the cargo area of a hatchback. For some reason, she doesn't like that idea.

  But yeah, I'm definitely trying to steer her towards: C5, RX-8, or GTO, rather than Ford Fiesta. I want to get a chance to drive it too.

  Watching videos of sportscar racing does not fully convey the experience. It's more like playing a three-way game of Speed-Chess while strapped to a chair... inside a giant beehive.

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