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If you had $30K -- mini or Audi A4 or... eom(nt)


Guest Anonymous

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Guest Anonymous

24k hets you 173hp in a car that weighs something on the order of 1500 lbs. . . .but I'm a vintage car freak.

If you want to go new - toss a couple extra k in and get a 350Z

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Guest Anonymous

We've been a die hard BMW family. We test drove the E36s and then an Audi A4. The A4 seemed to be more for the money. The E36 had a lot of plastic for the interior and had 40hp less. It was the wife's car, she chose the A4.

We have 100k miles on it now. It is due(overdue) for the major service. We went and test drove the Cooper S. Lots of fun. However, for a family car, no. Less storage, and again my wife felt the amount of plastic on the interior looked cheap.

So, we will keep the A4. I will do the major service one of these weekends. As for reliability, the A4 has been VERY GOOD needing only a couple of trips to the dealer. One for a Check light- warranty fix for an air tube that was ultimately a recall. And another for a noisy sunroof. I replaced the front CV boots at 60k or so. Real messy job. And some brake pads and rotors in there to.

The A4 is not a BLAST to drive like my E30 M3 or like a MINI Cooper S Works car would be, but it is a good, safe family car with decent road manners and power.

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Guest Anonymous

I have about $30K in resale value split between an '88 M3 and a restored '74 tii. But, I'll work with your premise of a single new vehicle that's fun to drive, reasonably reliable, somewhat practical, and maybe a little unique.

If you are talking about something besides the Mini then it does make sense to consider used vehicles that are two or three years old. I'm also assuming you are avoiding the Mitsu Evo/Subara WRX as too "rice-y". Some possibilities both used and new:

* Audi TT Quattro (coupe over roadster, 225 hp preferred)

* BMW M Coupe

* Saab 9-3 Viggen (again, coupe over convertible)

* VW Golf R32 (240 HP V6, AWD, December availability, under $30K but demand/supply may push that up at dealers)

* Audi S4 (used for $30K of course)

* Infiniti G35 Coupe (better styled 350Z)

A well cared for late year E36 M3 would also be nice, but I wouldn't put them in the unique category.

Gary

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Guest Anonymous

New Mini Cooper S is a wonderful car for the $. I've owned one for one year and just installed the JCW kit and a Quaife lsd. Quick, great handling.... not bad for a $30K NEW car. Mine cost exactly $30K with these mods.

Audi A4. My girl has a 2000 Avant quattro. Nice car. Very competent on the track (especially in the rain!). Not super quick but has a sold feel and has been very realiable (80K only replace waterpump under warranty). I'd get an S4 if I wanted MORE. The new S4 shouuld be a wicked car but $30K won't get close to that one.

Other options for fun car:

1) Caterham or Lotus super 7 (can't have more fun for the $) nice examples can be had for $15-$20K.

2) Lotus Elan. For $15K you get a nice 120hp twincam... great handling... but you'll pay for maintaince and upkeep.

3) BMW 3.0 CSL. Find a good unrusty one (is that possible?) and keep it. They seem to be going up yearly right now.

4) E30 M3, euro E28 m5 or E24 M6 are all good values right now.... find a good one for under $15K and pocket the other $15K

WH

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Guest Anonymous

Unfortunately that car has turned out to be a big disappointment from everything I have read--never driven one though. Basically a more expensive Ford Mondeo (Contour in the U.S.) without any of the expected Jaguar qualities. I'd leave it off the short list as far as fun to drive and only go there if having the Jaguar nameplate was the number one criteria.

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