Dream Car Garage: $20K Edition

[ykX]

So Frisky did displacement and horsepower threads.  As much as it is fun to put a dream car garage worth millions, few if any of the members here can afford any of these cars.  So lets do a series of budget restricted garages that most of us could actually afford.

Rules:

1. Production cars only.

2. These are you only vehicles.

3. Maximum of 5 choices.

4. Any era and market is allowed.

5. At least ONE NEW car/truck.

6.  Maximum price is $20k.

(MSRP for the new one, for the used one should be a reasonable used price with reasonable mileage and condition - no cars without engine, or Ferrari with 300k miles for $5K  )

[A Horse With No Name]

#1. Used BRZ, easily attainable with 20-30K and a manual for under 20K.

#2. NC Miata, set up for autocross, but also street legal for weekend fun.

#3. Beater jeep Wrangler with a small lift and slightly oversized tires, weekend and snow vehicle.

#4. Low Mile Acura TSX, family car. 

#5. New Chevrolet Cruz, negotiate like heck on a hatch, cheapo sedan if that is not allowed.

This is what I actually would buy given those parameters.  The only other vehicles I could see buying myself at the moment would be a WRX, GTI, IS250/350 Lexus, or a low mile base TLX Acura.

...and this really is why maybe I have not been as invested in the higher dollar car threads.  If I was wealthy enough to afford a 150K car, i would spend the money traveling rather than buying a car.

I also fantasize about being the guy that shows up at the brokerage in a ten year old sedan, with a healthy account....I like the idea of living simply.

Edited December 1, 2016 by A Horse With No Name

[ccap41]

I want to clarify, they are 20k each, right? So 5 $20k vehicles?

[ykX]

2 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

I want to clarify, they are 20k each, right? So 5 $20k vehicles?

Yep

[A Horse With No Name]

16 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

I want to clarify, they are 20k each, right? So 5 $20k vehicles?

It would be interesting in a top gear sort of way to ave to buy 5 vehicles for twenty grand....

[Frisky Dingo]

Fun thread. Although under 20k MSRP on the new car is tough.  I'll do mine tomorrow. 

[Suaviloquent]

$20k.

Well, derp.

1. Mitsu Mirage

2. Mitsu Lancer

3. Used Mitsu Galant

4. Haggled down Mitsu Outlander

[A Horse With No Name]

30 minutes ago, Suaviloquent said:

$20k.

Well, derp.

1. Mitsu Mirage

2. Mitsu Lancer

3. Used Mitsu Galant

4. Haggled down Mitsu Outlander

Automotive Nirvana for sure....

[oldshurst442]

In 2009, my wife drove around in a 2.0 liter 4 cylinder Mazda 3 sedan.

Flimsy body panels, cheap plasticky interior. Too bloody small for my tastes. Especially for my daily driven tastes.

But...fun to drive the little bugger was...so... my first choice would be:

They say the 3Speed has too much torque steer making it not fun to drive. OK...ill just take the 2.3 liter sedan one instead. 3speed pictured. Only because I like the way the 3Speed looks.

 

Second choice:

We would still own that Mazda 3, but I decided that I have a heart so when my deadbeat (he aint a deadbeat anymore) brother-n-law decided to get a job, he needed a car, so I, without the consent of my wife, his sister, I gave him the car. My mother-n-law gave me some cash for it and that is when I bought the wife the 2013 1.6liter ecoboost Fusion.

I love driving that car too. So...

But it be the 2.0 ecoboost

 

The other day, a good customer of mine bought a used Super Epsilon Impala. He had a W-Body Impala SS. The V8 one. Actually, he still has it. 300 000 kilometers(180 000 miles or so), doors in the back wont open. A few dents. Muffler needs replacing but the motor and transmission are in good shape. He is selling it for $1000 CDN.

So, For this thread, Im buying it. I did own an Impala SS myself for real. A 2005 3.8liter supercharged one...

Im sure I could find a 2015 Ford Mustang ecoboost for about 20 000...

And for the new car.

I believe  a Chevy Cruze starts below 20 grand.

So that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ykX]

2012-2013 Mustang GT performance 

2016/2017 Honda Civic LX (with manual MSRP under $20k) (DD)

2012 Lexus RX350 (wife)

2014 Miata Club

2008 4Runner 

 

 

 

[A Horse With No Name]

2 minutes ago, ykX said:

2012-2013 Mustang GT performance 

2016/2017 Honda Civic LX (with manual MSRP under $20k) (DD)

2012 Lexus RX350 (wife)

2014 Miata Club

2008 4Runner 

 

 

 

This is an excellent list.

The Miata and 4 runner are excellent products at the top fo their respective categories.  Both should outlive humanity properly cared for....

[Stew]

New 2017 Mazda 3 5 door sport

2009 Colorado Z71 5.3

08 to 11 Dakota TRX4

11-14 Charger R/T AWD

2015 Chrysler 200C AWD V6

 

[A Horse With No Name]

32 minutes ago, Stew said:

New 2017 Mazda 3 5 door sport

2009 Colorado Z71 5.3

08 to 11 Dakota TRX4

11-14 Charger R/T AWD

2015 Chrysler 200C AWD V6

 

Fantastic list!

[ccap41]

OoOoOo that Mazda 3 might have to be on my list as well.

[ykX]

33 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

OoOoOo that Mazda 3 might have to be on my list as well.

I missed the fact that 5 door Mazda 3 with manual squicks just under $20k.

Would be my pick as well over the Civic.  

[A Horse With No Name]

12 minutes ago, ykX said:

I missed the fact that 5 door Mazda 3 with manual squicks just under $20k.

Would be my pick as well over the Civic.  

Mazda three is much nicer than Civic, IMHO.

[ykX]

4 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

Mazda three is much nicer than Civic, IMHO.

I actually recently had a chance to test drive both. The new Civic is nicer and more spacious inside,  However, Mazda handles as Mazda plus I always loved the hatch.

[A Horse With No Name]

Just now, ykX said:

I actually recently had a chance to test drive both. The new Civic is nicer and more spacious inside,  However, Mazda handles as Mazda plus I always loved the hatch.

I find certain things such as the styling and the awkward finish of the wheels kind of off putting on the Civic....

[ykX]

I prefer exterior styling of Mazda hands down.

[A Horse With No Name]

Just now, ykX said:

I prefer exterior styling of Mazda hands down.

All of the styling cues of Alfa that work with none of the downsides....

[Frisky Dingo]

@ykX  Does destination have to be figured in??

[ykX]

15 minutes ago, Frisky Dingo said:

@ykX  Does destination have to be figured in??

No, lets not over-complicate things

Edited December 2, 2016 by ykX

[ccap41]

..Could the brand new vehicle be a motorcycle..?

In my little research for the new vehicle I noticed the CX-3 and CX-5 are less than 2k apart from each other in starting price.. seems oddly close if you ask me.

Edited December 2, 2016 by ccap41

[A Horse With No Name]

6 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

..Could the brand new vehicle be a motorcycle..?

In my little research for the new vehicle I noticed the CX-3 and CX-5 are less than 2k apart from each other in starting price.. seems oddly close if you ask me.

Motorcycle would be an awesome addition...Ducati for me please...

[ykX]

@ccap41 motorcycle will be cheating at this price point

[A Horse With No Name]

43 minutes ago, ykX said:

@ccap41 motorcycle will be cheating at this price point

Great, so I get five cars and five motorcycles from another thread...cool...I like this game!

[Frisky Dingo]

2006 Pontiac GTO 6MT

 

 

987 Porsche Cayman (S if I could find one w/ decent miles)

 

 

BMW 135i

 

 

Toyota FJ Cruiser

 

 

Base Golf 5MT (sneaks in under 20K w/out destination)

[A Horse With No Name]

1 minute ago, Frisky Dingo said:

2006 Pontiac GTO 6MT

 

 

987 Porsche Cayman (S if I could find one w/ decent miles)

 

 

BMW 135i

 

 

Toyota FJ Cruiser

 

 

Base Golf 5MT (sneaks in under 20K w/out destination)

Actually this is one of the better lists you have done.

The 987 is an incredible amount of car for the money....

[ccap41]

38 minutes ago, ykX said:

@ccap41 motorcycle will be cheating at this price point

..well.. yeah.. haha I'd have 4 cars and 1 bike!

Okay well I think I have the new car sorted out finally. I'd take a Cruze manual. I went a little over($400) but There are always deals on them for probably $1000 off, so this seems fair..right?  I only even spent that much because I added wheels and fog lights. Those two things will make it not look like the base car that it is.

2016 Cruze LS Manual

C5Z (65-100k miles)

2003-2004 Cobra ( won't be perfect at under 20k either but a little TLC would bring her back to looking pristine)

2009ish CLS550 ( Found some for sale under 20k - maintenance would be hell but we will deal with that when it comes up lol. I would be content with this exact one.

CLS550 Autotrader

E46 M3 (There are some E90's but they have ridiculous miles).

 

[Frisky Dingo]

@ccap41

Love me some E46 M3's but for the quality of cars you get for 20K, I'd have to pass.

[ccap41]

1 minute ago, Frisky Dingo said:

@ccap41

Love me some E46 M3's but for the quality of cars you get for 20K, I'd have to pass.

I thought about putting that into consideration because they are used with miles but I just decided to pass.. This is after all a dream garage so I'm just hoping and praying that they are all in at least decent condition because it is nobody's dream to own a POS M3 lol.

[Frisky Dingo]

Just now, ccap41 said:

I thought about putting that into consideration because they are used with miles but I just decided to pass.. This is after all a dream garage so I'm just hoping and praying that they are all in at least decent condition because it is nobody's dream to own a POS M3 lol.

I'd rather buy an E46 330i ZHP with lower miles and better condition than a rough M3 by a landslide.

[ccap41]

Well yeah, a rough BMW is asking for tens of thousands of repair bills waiting for it, let alone an M Series. I'm just saying.. for the sake of a "Dream Garage" that none of the cars I would get would be in rough shape.

1 hour ago, ccap41 said:

..well.. yeah.. haha I'd have 4 cars and 1 bike!

Okay well I think I have the new car sorted out finally. I'd take a Cruze manual. I went a little over($400) but There are always deals on them for probably $1000 off, so this seems fair..right?  I only even spent that much because I added wheels and fog lights. Those two things will make it not look like the base car that it is.

2016 Cruze LS Manual

C5Z (65-100k miles)

2003-2004 Cobra ( won't be perfect at under 20k either but a little TLC would bring her back to looking pristine)

2009ish CLS550 ( Found some for sale under 20k - maintenance would be hell but we will deal with that when it comes up lol. I would be content with this exact one.

CLS550 Autotrader

E46 M3 (There are some E90's but they have ridiculous miles).

 

 

Edited December 2, 2016 by ccap41

[Frisky Dingo]

The Cruze is a terrible sub-20K car, imo.