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You might want to settle for something that is not fast, but that is solid. Hold on to it for a year or so until you've saved up some more money (another $3000+). Then trade the car in on your dreamy fast car.
Try a good used VW, or Honda.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
You might want to settle for something that is not fast, but that is solid. Hold on to it for a year or so until you've saved up some more money (another $3000+). Then trade the car in on your dreamy fast car.
Try a good used VW, or Honda.
Good advice, Mike. Maybe get something that's sporty yet reliable. 8 9? year old Civic, perhaps. They are notoirous for lasting well past 150,000 miles. Sweet motors and great manual transmissions.....sporty suspensions....buit well. Might be able to find one in the $7K range.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I recommend against an old VW. A GTI is great when it works, but imho they are unreliable and expensive to fix.
I think the suggestion by oldfarmer an older Eclipse makes sense. Those cars look great, are fast, relatively cheap, and are probably more reliable than a VW.
Can you drive a manual?
Anyway, here's a radical and probably annoying suggestion: what if you save money for another year or so in order to get a better car?
gbrozen: how do you like your LX 6-speed Honda Fit? That's almost like a budget version Honda GTI—but with probably great reliability. A base Honda Fit lists for $16,500.
If you can wait c. 8 months and keep saving, Honda is apparently putting an amazing 1.5 liter turbo as standard on the next generation all-new 2016 Civic. It'll probably have 160 hp or so, and should be class-leading in terms of acceleration and power. The styling is also taking a radical direction away from the current cautious Civic and toward a more swooping and sporty style. Probably out of your price range, but the base model there will probably be a surprisingly serious performer for the price.
Or, back to used, how about an older Hyundai. They are pretty reliable and usually have pretty good power. A V-6 Sonata from c. 2008 might be affordable, as well as have significant pick up.
https://www.hyundaiusa.com/financial-tools/special-offers.aspx
2015 ELANTRA GT - FROM $18,800
Lease starting at $179/month for 36 months. $1,399 due at lease signing. Excludes registration, tax, title and license. (3/3/2015 - 3/31/2015)
Low APR 0.0% financing for up to 60 months, 1.9% for 72 months PLUS $500 Bonus Cash (3/3/2015 - 3/31/2015)
$1,000 Event Cash (3/3/2015 - 3/31/2015)
$2,000 Retail Bonus Cash (3/3/2015 - 3/31/2015)
90 Day Deferred Payment option on terms up to 60 months. (3/3/2015 - 3/31/2015)
For instance, for a c. 12 year old VW you might need to figure an average of c. $200 a month in repairs and maintenance. Many months it might be close to nothing, but then on average every 4-6 months you might get stuck with a c. $600-$1200 bill for something. And, to state the obvious, if the engine or transmission need major work it's time for the junkyard.
Used might be your only choice, but sometimes it's a false economy in the long run. For instance, if you buy a c. 12 year old car for c. 5k now, it'll not only keep a lot of $ to keep it going, but in another c. 5 years it'll probably be ready for the scrap heap and have little or no resale value and you'll have to start all over again.
If, on the other hand, you save another year, and then (as much as I'm a Honda guy) buy, say, a new Hyundai Elantra GT (powerful for the price, roomy, safe) for c. $17k with a 0% loan and a 10 year warranty, you are going to have a car that's faster, more fuel efficient, safer, and much more reliable. If you can afford another car in 5 years this one will be worth something in trade-in, rather than ready for the scrap heap. But if you need to keep it, you should be able to have as much as 10 years of mostly trouble-free ownership, and at least the engine and transmission will be protected by a warranty.
My 2 cents. In the long run (5-10 years), old used cars are often a false economy over an decent new car at a discount and with low financing.
-Acura RSX - front wheel drive, fun to drive, and easy to drive, fairly reliable
-VW GTi -yes, can get pricey with repairs but fairly quick
-Honda Accord coupe, both the V6 and 4 cylinders are responsive and fun to drive and reliable. 4 cylinder manual would be your best bet as the engines use a timing chain and not a belt, so you don't have to worry about replacement, and V6 automatics may have tranny issues.
-Acura TSX or TL although in your price range they will have high mileage
-Pontiac Gran Prix - good power out of the V6 but not as refined or agile as imports I mentioned
-Mitsubishi Eclipse - sporty looking and fun to drive, although not my personal favorites
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S