What is a good commuter for a single guy?

[NAC]

I'm married with two kids, but if I needed a commuter, I'd get a Miata or S2000 Reliable, relatively cheap to buy and operate, and buckets of fun to drive. Miata is cheaper and less "high strung", so I'd probably choose that.

(Un)fortunately, I take the train.

 

[MetalMat]

Get a used Mustang GT bro. They are reliable cars, fast, look good and chicks like em. You can get one 2-3 years old with low mileage for a good deal. Just make sure you get the GT and not the V6, the GT will make you feel more like a man.

A quick look on Autotrader and I found a decked out 08 with 25k miles within your price range. Would be perfect to go pick up the chicks on dates with.

 

[lastig21]

For about $15k or less, I like the Mazdaspeed 3 and Nissan Sentra SE-R (Spec-V if you can find it).

For $18k-$19k, I like the Altima SE-R or Lexus IS300. All should fit the bill reliability wise and have relatively low mileage.

If you are keeping the Windstar, I would look for a higher mileage sports coupe. You might have more concerns about reliability, but if you have a backup car it shouldn't be a big deal. The 350z would probably be tops on my list in this range.

 

[StageLeft]

I would like a miata but I'm already married.

If you are looking for a lady do not get a miata, seriously do not do it. It IS a chick and/or gay car. I would still get one personally, but like I said I'm married. Or maybe my wife is a beard, but in any case it's a on-go. S2k is better in that regard but if you want something reliable and "kind of' sporty, the Mazda3 might work. It sure as hell is better than a corolla. I wouldn't even drive a corolla away from gunmen chasing me on foot. I'd just as soon try my luck with running, the car is banal to a fault, like Toyota wanted to make the most hideous driving experience possible just so that anybody remotely afraid of something sporty would feel at home in it.

 

[amdhunter]

135i.

 

[KIAman]

I would like a miata but I'm already married.

If you are looking for a lady do not get a miata, seriously do not do it. It IS a chick and/or gay car. I would still get one personally, but like I said I'm married. Or maybe my wife is a beard, but in any case it's a on-go. S2k is better in that regard but if you want something reliable and "kind of' sporty, the Mazda3 might work. It sure as hell is better than a corolla. I wouldn't even drive a corolla away from gunmen chasing me on foot. I'd just as soon try my luck with running, the car is banal to a fault, like Toyota wanted to make the most hideous driving experience possible just so that anybody remotely afraid of something sporty would feel at home in it.

Aww come on. It ain't THAT bad The Corolla-S adds some body kit and bigger wheels that add at least 10hp to the wheels.

 

[zerocool84]

Get a used Mustang GT bro. They are reliable cars, fast, look good and chicks like em. You can get one 2-3 years old with low mileage for a good deal. Just make sure you get the GT and not the V6, the GT will make you feel more like a man.

A quick look on Autotrader and I found a decked out 08 with 25k miles within your price range. Would be perfect to go pick up the chicks on dates with.

GT feel like more of a man? I see more women driving them than I do men.

 

[zmatt]

GT feel like more of a man? I see more women driving them than I do men.

Agreed, I see more chicks driving Mustangs than Miatas. I don't think it's very fair to refer to cars as chick cars. If they are good people will buy them, of both sexes. the reason people think miatas are chick cars si because a lot of chicks got them second hand form their dads who bought them at their midlife crisis. Nothing is mroe manly than a midlife crisis sports car.

Get a miata, it looks good, has very forgiving handling for a rwd car, is cheap to maintain and very fun.

 

[Arkaign]

Hmm. 'Single' guy. Do you want to stay single? The Altima coupe is pretty nice, even if it's not RWD. Might be able to find a lightly used one in your price range.

Honestly I'd probably go with something like this :

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.j...=&max_price=16000&cardist=1157&standard=false

'04 TL, $16k, 42k miles, looks great. That gen TL doesn't have the infamous transmission failures of the previous gen, and it looks a lot classier than the '09+ TL IMHO. Plenty of power from the DOHC 3.2L V6, decent fuel economy, good looks, practical, cheap to insure.

Only negatives in my opinion there are that tires and brakes for a TL will be notably more than a Sonata, Mazda3, etc.

 

[SSSnail]

Wait, so you want a CAR, or a COMMUTER? Because a commuter will just take you from point A to point B, with the fuel efficiency being the most important aspect....

 

[MetalMat]

Agreed, I see more chicks driving Mustangs than Miatas. I don't think it's very fair to refer to cars as chick cars. If they are good people will buy them, of both sexes. the reason people think miatas are chick cars si because a lot of chicks got them second hand form their dads who bought them at their midlife crisis. Nothing is mroe manly than a midlife crisis sports car.

Get a miata, it looks good, has very forgiving handling for a rwd car, is cheap to maintain and very fun.

Man but miatas are so small and I just dont think that is what he is looking for. I have no problems with the miata but they do get a bad wrap from most guys about being a chick car. Hell you can make a Miata insanely fast for hardly any money.

And chicks driving GTs? I rarely see girls driving around here.

 

[iGas]

This post sums it up nicely.

I drove an 2009 Sonata SE with options up to the teeth tonight, and a Elantra 2009 GLS.

I love the power, smoothness, quietness, leather, refined interior cabin, and V6 of the Sonata. The Elantra is nowhere as refined as the Sonata, and it had quite a bit more engine & road noise, however the handling is a bit better than the Sonata. What set the Elantra apart from the Sonata is that I like the Elantra exterior better, and the dash lights, gauges, and buttons are absolutely beautiful. (VW, Toyota, and Honda should take a page out of Hyundai book).

I have an appointment to test drive a 2008 Altima, 2009 Mazda 3, and 2008 Civic Si in the coming up weekend, but at this point the Hyundais are far a head in the lead.

 

[iGas]

Man but miatas are so small and I just dont think that is what he is looking for. I have no problems with the miata but they do get a bad wrap from most guys about being a chick car. Hell you can make a Miata insanely fast for hardly any money.

And chicks driving GTs? I rarely see girls driving around here.

I have grown out of the small sport car faze, and small car sux for long distant traveling.

 

[fleabag]

I care quite a bit about efficiency and improving everybody's MPG but even I can see that the only solution is to drive that windstar into the ground. They have absolutely horrible resale value and a broken one is not worth much less than a working one. Why not keep driving that van until the transmission or engine finally goes? It's not going to be long anyway and you're going to save some money if you can just buy what you'd buy now, just a year later or so.

 

[A5]

135i.

He said $15k-$18k, not $35k+.

 

[HannibalX]

Depends on how far you commute. If you have something in the 15-20 mile range with mostly city driving a fuel sipping econoturd is probably best. If you do something like 25+ miles on the highway a midsized or large sedan would be appropriate. If you're like me and commute 1 mile each way you can pick anything you want.

 

[iGas]

Depends on how far you commute. If you have something in the 15-20 mile range with mostly city driving a fuel sipping econoturd is probably best. If you do something like 25+ miles on the highway a midsized or large sedan would be appropriate. If you're like me and commute 1 mile each way you can pick anything you want.

65 miles round trip daily, 55 miles highway at 55-85 MPH, and 10 miles city.

 

[HannibalX]

65 miles round trip daily, 55 miles highway at 55-85 MPH, and 10 miles city.

In that case I would go with a mid-size 4-banger like the Ford Fusion 2.5L. Good highway ride, comfortable but also good city handling and good city fuel economy.

 

[MetalMat]

Lets put it this way brother. I have no idea or how old you are or your exact budget but you obviously said you are single so you want to impress the girls. People may disagree with me but oh well. I would not get something like a corolla or fusion, they are good cars but I really don't think that is what you are looking for. Get a nice used sports car, spend the extra money and I promise you will be much happier. There are many many reliable cars in your price range that would fit the bill and you will be much happier

At least thats my 2 cents lol

 

[iGas]

I can't decide what to do. I was going to get a Sonata, but now there is a monkey wrench in the work.

A friend/work associate told me that he have a good friend who is a mechanic/body repair guy that have a 2007 Camry V6 SE/heated seats/17000 miles, that he rebuilt (fender bender) and willing to give it to me for a good price. There is also a local 2008 Sonata V6 GLS with moon roof at 27000 miles that I can get for $1000 less that the previous Camry.

I know the mechanic, and the car that he offered me would be in perfect working condition. I still like the look of the Sonata better than the Camry, however the Camry is priced really low.

What would be a better deal?

 

[Fenixgoon]

drive both and figure out which one is better.

 

[KIAman]

I can't decide what to do. I was going to get a Sonata, but now there is a monkey wrench in the work.

A friend/work associate told me that he have a good friend who is a mechanic/body repair guy that have a 2007 Camry V6 SE/heated seats/17000 miles, that he rebuilt (fender bender) and willing to give it to me for a good price. There is also a local 2008 Sonata V6 GLS with moon roof at 27000 miles that I can get for $1000 less that the previous Camry.

I know the mechanic, and the car that he offered me would be in perfect working condition. I still like the look of the Sonata better than the Camry, however the Camry is priced really low.

What would be a better deal?

If the Camry comes with a salvaged title or shown as accident in Carfax, I'd stay away. If, it isn't salvaged and the title shows no accident, then go Camry. I guarantee that even with a clean title, if carfax shows accident, you will never sell that car for what its worth.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I can't decide what to do. I was going to get a Sonata, but now there is a monkey wrench in the work.

A friend/work associate told me that he have a good friend who is a mechanic/body repair guy that have a 2007 Camry V6 SE/heated seats/17000 miles, that he rebuilt (fender bender) and willing to give it to me for a good price. There is also a local 2008 Sonata V6 GLS with moon roof at 27000 miles that I can get for $1000 less that the previous Camry.

I know the mechanic, and the car that he offered me would be in perfect working condition. I still like the look of the Sonata better than the Camry, however the Camry is priced really low.

What would be a better deal?

Rebuilt = salvage repaired. If you EVER plan on reselling the car then stay away. I would want to know exactly what was done to it and 'before' pictures before even considering anything. A fender bender would not total a 2007 Camry. It would take a good $10,000++ worth of damage to total out a new Camry.

 

[iGas]

Rebuilt = salvage repaired. If you EVER plan on reselling the car then stay away. I would want to know exactly what was done to it and 'before' pictures before even considering anything. A fender bender would not total a 2007 Camry. It would take a good $10,000++ worth of damage to total out a new Camry.

I'm not going to resell the car. I would use it to commute for the next 5-6 years then give it to my niece/nephew if they want it.

1 passenger door, front bumper, and a head light was replaced.

 

[iGas]

I called the bank today and pulled the trigger on the Camry. Will be driving it in a day or 2.

Estimate cost of financing and fuel for the Camry will be $68/mo more than the fuel cost on my van.