new sports cars under $30K

[Fenixgoon]

miata, genesis coupe

 

[Kirby]

El Camino. Let the kids ride in the bed.

 

[KentState]

not true. A 6'1 person can fit in the back seat no problem in a stang convertible. There is plenty of room in a stang.

Bullshit. Unless the convertible has a lot more room for the backseats, that is completely false. I have personally folded myself up to fit just behind the passenger and I'm only 5'10". The only way possible is to sit Indian style.

 

[HAL9000]

M3 Coupe has a back seat so you could fit 2 kids in the back of one. Elise does not. I would consider the M3 a sports car.

I've actually driven a Lotus Elise, lived with one as my daily driver for 4 days in fact, and practical it is not...it is about as practical as a motorcycle. Still, I'd love to have one!

Both great cars, but I don't think a current gen M3 is in the guys price range, second hand or not. Maybe the generation before.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

If you're looking for functional, you're looking at the complete wrong type of car, as the american muscle car is far from that.

American muscle cars are a status symbol. There is no usefulness to be had in them other than to show it off and drive fast. If you're looking for a functional car, you'd be look for a camry or something similar.

Practical cars are an option. But I am also considering sports cars. This thread is about sports cars ... muscle cars. I'm also 35, so please let me have my mid life crisis.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Maybe I should clarify. I have a full size extended cab Silverado. Even adults can get in the back of that thing for shorter trips. My wife has a van.

This is all about a 3rd car where the primary purpose is to move me around to and from work. However, I also want to be able to take my kids out for ice cream in it and make little special trips with them in it. Nothing more than an hour away. Even 30 minutes is a stretch.

Maybe I should be targeting a removable hard top (don't like convertibles). Any thoughts on this front?

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Holy cow .... Camaro convertible for just about $30K!

http://www.chevrolet.com/camaro-convertible/

 

[exdeath]

Does it have to be new? You can get 3x the car for half the money if you go with 1-2 yrs old.

Sounds like you want too much car for the money you want to spend and are trying to make compromises (v6, settling for something not quite right for you, etc). $30k used will get you a 2010 something crazy.

 

[ballmode]

GTI Mazdaspeed 3, WRX would be the best solution for you.

There is no true 4 seat sportscar unless you get into a 911 in my humble opinion...

Stang/Camaro/Challenger = Muscle
M3 = GT
EVO/STI = rally racer a tad hardcore but its got 4 seats/4 doors

 

[bvalpati]

Sounds like you really have your heart set on the Camaro. For the ages of your children I don't think back seat space is going to be an issue for many years and taking them to DQ on a nice summer night after dinner with the top down would be awesome. In my opinion the styling of the American muscle cars really speaks to kids a lot more than Japanese or German styling which tend to be a bit more subtle.

As for performance since you're looking at 6 cylinder engines you could certainly do worse than any of those. Those each have north of 300HP which even in a heavier car is going to put smiles on the kids faces when you stomp on it. And when your buddies give you a hard time for getting the 6 instead of the 8 just remind em you're driving it to work everyday which at $4+/gallon you might not be able to do in an 8 for very long.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

GTI Mazdaspeed 3, WRX would be the best solution for you.

There is no true 4 seat sportscar unless you get into a 911 in my humble opinion...

Stang/Camaro/Challenger = Muscle
M3 = GT
EVO/STI = rally racer a tad hardcore but its got 4 seats/4 doors

I agree. The Evo and STI probably have the sportiest feel of the cars you've mentioned, with four doors to boot. The M3 and G35/G37 have many of the capabilities of a pure sports car, with rear seats, but ultimately they are GT cars rather than pure sports cars.

 

[zerocool84]

not true. A 6'1 person can fit in the back seat no problem in a stang convertible. There is plenty of room in a stang.

Exactly, if the top is down. Mustangs have HORRIBLE back seat leg and headroom. I'm only 5'10 and I hate riding in the back of any Stang.

Also I always laugh at the auto haters. If he wants auto then more power to him. It's his car so he will get auto if he likes it.

 

[exdeath]

Exactly, if the top is down. Mustangs have HORRIBLE back seat leg and headroom. I'm only 5'10 and I hate riding in the back of any Stang.

The top down just keeps your head off the rear glass. The driver/passenger still need to be 3 feet tall to move the front seats forward enough to keep your knees out of their kidneys :awe:

It's ok for going around the block or picking up/dropping off friends or going down the street for a bite, which can come in handy over a pure 2 seater, but it's still a 2+2 not a true 4 seater.

 

[7window]

Bullshit. Unless the convertible has a lot more room for the backseats, that is completely false. I have personally folded myself up to fit just behind the passenger and I'm only 5'10". The only way possible is to sit Indian style.

I have one and my son is 6'1. He sits in the back all the time. Unless you guys move the front seat all the way to the back there is plenty of room. Even have 3 middle school sitting in the back with the top up or down. Its cramp but not what you describe sitting cross leg. This is the reason I got the stang instead of a vette so I can share it with my 2 kids.

 

[Doppel]

Threads like this are a dime a dozen and 99% of the time the OP doesn't buy. Are you actually serious about any of these? You went from hybrid cars to these cars?

 

[sdifox]

Practical cars are an option. But I am also considering sports cars. This thread is about sports cars ... muscle cars. I'm also 35, so please let me have my mid life crisis.

lulz 35 and you are looking at midlife crisis?

I don't think there is a 4 passenger sports car new under 30k.


used, there are plenty of choices. This is just a random example, I am not recommending the dealer or car.

http://www.finishlineford.net/used/Audi/2007-Audi-A4-Peoria-IL-0ae9179a0a0a006400317dc909982777.htm

2011 Mustang GT convertible 32.5k with 11.5k mi
http://www.finishlineford.net/used/...eoria-IL-35ab670c0a0a0064010fbe75bb4be20f.htm

 

[Throckmorton]

How tall is your family? I'm 5'8" and I can fit fine in the back seat of my niece's 2006 Mustang. She's short though so the seatback doesn't intrude much

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Does it have to be new? You can get 3x the car for half the money if you go with 1-2 yrs old.

Sounds like you want too much car for the money you want to spend and are trying to make compromises (v6, settling for something not quite right for you, etc). $30k used will get you a 2010 something crazy.

I prefer new but am not opposed to used. Whenver I lok for 1-2 year old cars with about 25K miles on them though they tend to be about 10% under new prices though. If one of these cars can be had used with 25K miles on it for half price ($30K new, and used is $20K), let me know.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Threads like this are a dime a dozen and 99% of the time the OP doesn't buy. Are you actually serious about any of these? You went from hybrid cars to these cars?

50% chance of muscle car, 50% chance of hybrid.

This will happen, probably this summer.

 

[tvdang7]

Just get what YOU want.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Just get what YOU want.

In the end. yes.

Curious about used car options mentioned above. Do any of the cars I ahve mentioend have a big price drop once they are 1-2 years old and have at most 25K miles on it?

 

[sdifox]

In the end. yes.

Curious about used car options mentioned above. Do any of the cars I ahve mentioend have a big price drop once they are 1-2 years old and have at most 25K miles on it?

I don't know how much a stang gt convertible is new but here is a used one

2011 GT Convertible
http://www.finishlineford.net/used/...eoria-IL-35ab670c0a0a0064010fbe75bb4be20f.htm

2010 Convertible
http://www.finishlineford.net/used/...eoria-IL-4cdf21510a0a00de001385ce14717729.htm


Again, not an endorsement for the place or car. Just an idea.

I did buy a car from them in Dec 2008 and it was an ok experience.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I prefer new but am not opposed to used. Whenver I lok for 1-2 year old cars with about 25K miles on them though they tend to be about 10% under new prices though. If one of these cars can be had used with 25K miles on it for half price ($30K new, and used is $20K), let me know.

It depends. I bought my Certified Pre-Owned 3-series in 2008. It was two years old and had only 13,000 miles, and I bought it for roughly 2/3 of its new price. Because it was a Certified car, it still had four years of warranty coverage, and two years of free maintenance. Some cars hold their value better than others, but almost any car will lose 15% or more in value per year.

Just for laughs I looked at my local listings and was able to find 2009 G37s for less than $30K. Personally I'd prefer one of these to a new V-6 American muscle car, but obviously it's your money. I would definitely take some test drives before you decide for keeps.

 

[Spicedaddy]

50% chance of muscle car, 50% chance of hybrid.

This will happen, probably this summer.

Wait a bit, maybe they'll release a Camaro Hybrid.

 

[Spicedaddy]

Maybe a used 350Z convertible?