Looking for new CAR that is under 30K 2 door etc....

[Vette73]

OK my girl wants a new car. It has to be 2 door/seater sports type, automatic, and cost less then $30K.

So far I have come up with 2 but even they are now failing.

1. The Pontiac solstice
Pro. very low cost (MSRP), looks great, and great engine.
Con. Don;t know when they will be here, cost (dealers will mark up at first), only manual at first, and its not a hard top.

2. chrysler crossfire
Pro. Looks good, hard top, has automatic, and last year of the 7/70K warrenty.
Con. They raised the price for 2005, german reliability, and automatic cost more.

I thought I could get a crossfire for around $27K at the end of the year. But that was based on last years price/deals and not sure there will be a large enough cash back to offset this years price.

So what cars are 2 door/seater, sporty, really nice, and cost less then 30K? She only wants 2 seats so this is not easy. Also she is 5foot 90pounds, so nothing to big as she needs to be able to see out the thing. Oh and no used cars. Already tried. cough Corvette cough

 

[PoPPeR]

isn't a S2000 around that price?

 

[fs5]

automatic? you could get a 350Z enthusiast Automatic for around ~32k out the door. (base model does not come in auto)

 

[Lizardman]

Originally posted by: fs5
automatic? you could get a 350Z enthusiast Automatic for around ~32k out the door. (base model does not come in auto)

i vote for 350Z, better than the pontiac and the crossfire by far

 

[DingDingDao]

What about the MB C230 Coupe?

...I can't believe I actually just suggested that.

EDIT: I vote for the 350Z over my suggestion. Which you really shouldn't consider. MB build quality has gone to sh!t.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: PoPPeR
isn't a S2000 around that price?

jk right? MSRP starts at 33k+

Originally posted by: fs5
automatic? you could get a 350Z enthusiast Automatic for around ~32k out the door. (base model does not come in auto)

Well 32K is just the car there is also the tax and rest. So anything over 30K for the car is out of the price range. She wnats to keep it at 28K or less for JUST the car, then have some left over for tax and insurance, etc...

 

[mchammer187]

why not teach her how to drive manual

she may like it, especially if you are looking into a 2 seater coupe

 

[DingDingDao]

What about a Mini Cooper (non-S)?

 

[MikeMike]

2 seater or can it be a larger car?

you have:
Mustang
miata
Solstice
Sky

those would be the ones i would look at.

Solstice being the cheapest, then miata, then Sky then mustang (v8 of course)

in terms of quality? mustang is ok, solstice/sky unknown, miata supposed to be good.

i hate the look of the miata though. despise it.

 

[Kelemvor]

Pontiac G6

If you haven't driven, take one for a test drive. But heck, for $30k you can get a suped up Grand Prix Comp G as well.

 

[fs5]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Well 32K is just the car there is also the tax and rest. So anything over 30K for the car is out of the price range. She wnats to keep it at 28K or less for JUST the car, then have some left over for tax and insurance, etc...

I said 32k out the door. I got mine for 32k out the door (manual) but I got $1,000 in extra options.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Pontiac G6

If you haven't driven, take one for a test drive. But heck, for $30k you can get a suped up Grand Prix Comp G as well.

you missed the 2 seater part didnt you.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: mchammer187
why not teach her how to drive manual

she may like it, especially if you are looking into a 2 seater coupe

I am trying but I don;t know anyone with a Stick to let me teach her. Also she is a asian female driver, I don't think we need anything else to distract her. She also did back up into a parked car once. But if she did drive stick, and was good at it, it would help.

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Pontiac G6

If you haven't driven, take one for a test drive. But heck, for $30k you can get a suped up Grand Prix Comp G as well.

you missed the 2 seater part didnt you.

and 2 door

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: mchammer187
why not teach her how to drive manual

she may like it, especially if you are looking into a 2 seater coupe

I am trying but I don;t know anyone with a Stick to let me teach her. Also she is a asian female driver, I don't think we need anything else to distract her. She also did back up into a parked car once. But if she did drive stick, and was good at it, it would help.

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Pontiac G6

If you haven't driven, take one for a test drive. But heck, for $30k you can get a suped up Grand Prix Comp G as well.

you missed the 2 seater part didnt you.

and 2 door

you can teach her how to drive stick on a test drive. trust me, it can be done. most dealers dont mind doing it that much, they will.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: mchammer187
why not teach her how to drive manual

she may like it, especially if you are looking into a 2 seater coupe

I am trying but I don;t know anyone with a Stick to let me teach her. Also she is a asian female driver, I don't think we need anything else to distract her. She also did back up into a parked car once. But if she did drive stick, and was good at it, it would help.

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Pontiac G6

If you haven't driven, take one for a test drive. But heck, for $30k you can get a suped up Grand Prix Comp G as well.

you missed the 2 seater part didnt you.

and 2 door

you can teach her how to drive stick on a test drive. trust me, it can be done. most dealers dont mind doing it that much, they will.

Well I don;t want to see NFS, or anyone else living in the Raleigh/Cary area, posting about a news story where a girl testdriving a stick in Raleigh wrecks the car on the test drive.
She even asked me what happens if you wreck a car on a test drive. So I don;t want to push it to much.

That and she is a engineer. So she can design soemthing, but when it comes time to use it, she can;t do it. I have to tell her how the most basic things work. Sure she can design chips for IBM, but knowing how to use a weedwacker, thats a whole different ball game

 

[TomKazansky]

just teach her how to drive a manual and get her a s2000.

 

[phreakah]

Originally posted by: Lizardman

Originally posted by: fs5
automatic? you could get a 350Z enthusiast Automatic for around ~32k out the door. (base model does not come in auto)

i vote for 350Z, better than the pontiac and the crossfire by far

i think sticker on the enthusiast is ~28,500; invoice is closer to 27,500

great car.. i have one

 

[dirtboy]

You shouldn't have a problem getting a Crossfire for under 30k. Visibility isn't the best, but it's a fun car to drive. If you have any questions, I own a 2004 6sp.

 

[chowmein]

girl? mx-5

what car do you drive? do you really want your girl's car to be > than yours?

 

[iversonyin]

Mustang?

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: mchammer187
why not teach her how to drive manual

she may like it, especially if you are looking into a 2 seater coupe

I am trying but I don;t know anyone with a Stick to let me teach her. Also she is a asian female driver, I don't think we need anything else to distract her. She also did back up into a parked car once. But if she did drive stick, and was good at it, it would help.

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Pontiac G6

If you haven't driven, take one for a test drive. But heck, for $30k you can get a suped up Grand Prix Comp G as well.

you missed the 2 seater part didnt you.

and 2 door

Saw the 2 door, not the 2 seater. I didn't realize there isn't a 2-door version of the G6. There was a 2-door Grand Am.... Oh well.

 

[PricklyPete]

Why not the new Miata?

RX8? One of my friend's girlfriend has a red one and she LOVES it. I'm pretty sure she got it for under 27K.

 

[Cal166]

Infiniti G35c

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: dirtboy
You shouldn't have a problem getting a Crossfire for under 30k. Visibility isn't the best, but it's a fun car to drive. If you have any questions, I own a 2004 6sp.

The base Crossfire is 30K so yea I could probable get that for her. BUT it only comes in black with a stick, no auto. The cheapest auto comes in the mid 30's. I know LAST year a auto Crossfire could be had in the 20k range pretty easy at years end. But with the price increase and auto only in the limited or soft top, I am not so sure. That and they only have $1500 off right now. Let alone the % rate?

The RX8 I thought about, but in the auto trans version I don;t think that would be much. The wankle motor, like the s2000, needs to be reved up to really work.

I showed her the miata. but the new one is coming and the current one is pretty weak IMO. She also is not a fan of how it looks. She is kinda iffy on the mustang, its to big in her words. Remeber she is 5foot tall and only 90 pounds. So most cars seem huge to her.

Thanks again for the ideas and keep them coming.

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

I'd take an RX-8 over a Crossfire any day of the week. Then again, I may be a bit biased (note the sig ).

Seriously though, consumer reviews of the Crossfire range from "not great" to "awful", usually criticizing stiff handing, a general "disconnected" feeling in the car, poor visibility, and a horrendous automatic transmission. I'd definitely take a test-drive before I entertained that thought any further.

Although the HP number isn't impressive in the Miata, keep in mind it is a very small and light car - almost 500 lbs lighter than the Crossfire Coupe. The 2006 Miata automatic is also a 6-speed tiptronic, which (if she is insisting on an automatic) is a huge selling point. I think it might be a good fit.

Best advice is always to go for a test drive and figure out what you can live with.