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What are a few cars that fit this?

C

Craig234

Lifer
Leaning used, for value, nicer car for less, price tag beginning with a "1" probably.

More important attributes:

Comfortable, feel good driving it, spacy for driver

Next most:

Considering a convertible, looks nice

Next most:

Better fuel efficiency is better than worse, reliability, easy maintenance

2 door or 4 door is ok

Cars that 'grab me' a bit but are not likely practical for this list are all over the map from Bentley to Lexus SC400 to decent Jag and Corvette convertibles to nice Acuras

If the used car that's really 'the one to get' is priced in the 20's, post away.
 
You're kind of all over the map with your criteria, but if you like a stick shift and are a driving enthusiast you won't do better than a 2003-2005 E46 BMW 330i with the Performance Package in this price range.
 
I think the Solara hits most of your requirements:
Convertible, practical, Toyota reliability and efficiency, relatively cheap.
solara_convertible_splash2.jpg


Unfortunately, it's the Solara. 😛
 
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You seem like a Prius kind of guy. Joking aside, you should think more about the how you will be using the car and the attributes it needs. Do you need the rear seats to fold down to carry stuff? Do you plan on driving it in the snow? Is most of your driving chewing up miles on the interstate or on back mountain roads? Are the road surfaces smooth or broken up where you live. Do you know how to, or want to drive stick. What kind of fuel millage do you consider acceptable?

As you answer these questions you'll naturally narrow the choices.

edit: Be careful looking at older used luxury European cars. If you aren't planning on working on them yourself they will end up costing you a fortune to own.
 
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Have to agree your requirements seem vague if not conflicted. You say less than 20k then name a bunch of 60k+ cars and I'm asuming the Bentley was a joke 😕

For convertible maybe a late model S2000 or Mustang?
 
Thanks for the suggestions so far. I'll take more of a look at each.

I should have said I prefer automatic.

Do you need the rear seats to fold down to carry stuff? Do you plan on driving it in the snow? Is most of your driving chewing up miles on the interstate or on back mountain roads? Are the road surfaces smooth or broken up where you live. Do you know how to, or want to drive stick. What kind of fuel millage do you consider acceptable?

As you answer these questions you'll naturally narrow the choices.

edit: Be careful looking at older used luxury European cars. If you aren't planning on working on them yourself they will end up costing you a fortune to own
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No; no; no, city; smooth mostly; know how, prefer not to; I don't have a fixed MPG, just the more the better as one factor.

The 'expensive maintenance' thing if a European car has that violates one of the factors.

You say less than 20k then name a bunch of 60k+ cars and I'm asuming the Bentley was a joke
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Not choices mainly, just examples of the type of car I like🙂

Do you need rear seats?
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No, either way is ok.
 
1997-2001 Mazda Miata for @$5-$10k

Then get a second car/truck to cover whatever the Miata can't handle.
 
Prefer auto? That means you'll want good low-end torque to give you that extra push without needing to downshift hardcore.

I'm gonna buck the grain here and suggest C5 Corvette Vert Auto. TONS of positives :

(1)- Very reliable and easy to work on.
(2)- Cheap to upgrade if you wish to, heaps and heaps of options for the LS motors.
(3)- Very good performance for the $.
(4)- Will never truly crash in value, Vettes historically even get decent $ when totally trashed, really well-kept examples even from the bad old days (C4) are still somewhat pricey. Kept long enough will probably increase in value.
(5)- Comfortable, decent space for storage, if you want different seats/etc, you can always swap em out.

Some negatives :

(1)- Interior is dated, some complain stock seats aren't sporty enough.
(2)- Common, though anything uncommon in this price range would probably be a maintenance nightmare (eg; early '00s RS6 can be had for $20k or less, but is one of the most unreliable vehicles ever made)
(3)- Auto is slushbox, not gonna see lightning-fast shifts, it is pretty stout though.

That's my 2 cents anyway. $1k or less in mods will see a C5 Vette Auto running about 400hp from the stock 345, which is good enough for some reasonably quick fun, and the high torque level means being a slushbox penalizes it much less than many other vehicles.
 
Arkaign said:
Prefer auto? That means you'll want good low-end torque to give you that extra push without needing to downshift hardcore.

I'm gonna buck the grain here and suggest C5 Corvette Vert Auto. TONS of positives :

(1)- Very reliable and easy to work on.
(2)- Cheap to upgrade if you wish to, heaps and heaps of options for the LS motors.
(3)- Very good performance for the $.
(4)- Will never truly crash in value, Vettes historically even get decent $ when totally trashed, really well-kept examples even from the bad old days (C4) are still somewhat pricey. Kept long enough will probably increase in value.
(5)- Comfortable, decent space for storage, if you want different seats/etc, you can always swap em out.

Some negatives :

(1)- Interior is dated, some complain stock seats aren't sporty enough.
(2)- Common, though anything uncommon in this price range would probably be a maintenance nightmare (eg; early '00s RS6 can be had for $20k or less, but is one of the most unreliable vehicles ever made)
(3)- Auto is slushbox, not gonna see lightning-fast shifts, it is pretty stout though.

That's my 2 cents anyway. $1k or less in mods will see a C5 Vette Auto running about 400hp from the stock 345, which is good enough for some reasonably quick fun, and the high torque level means being a slushbox penalizes it much less than many other vehicles.
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That's a solid option. My concern would be the age and it will probably over 20k. Since the OP wants an auto I think that would exclude the Miata because it's probably a dog with an auto trans. The Saturn Sky might be a better choice for the OP because of the flat torque curve. Other options would be 350Z convertible or the S2000 and Mustang as suggested.
 
More on the luxury side, 2005-2007 Acura TLs and Infiniti G35s can be had for upper-teens/low 20s. Neither are convertibles, but they drive well and are comfortable. I also think both of them look great.
 
A5 said:
More on the luxury side, 2005-2007 Acura TLs and Infiniti G35s can be had for upper-teens/low 20s. Neither are convertibles, but they drive well and are comfortable. I also think both of them look great.
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I own both. An '06 TL, and '06 G35. If you're interested in these and have any questions. Feel free to ask.
 
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