[yellowstang6r]

I'm tossing around the idea of selling my car and getting something different. Mine currently has almost 90k on it and has been having this unexplained and unknown cause sporadic misfire. Its been pissing me off and makes me worry about the reliability. I'm looking for some opinions of what I have listed, or recommendations. Keep in mind that I want something for a DD and under $15k (<$12-13k ideally)

3 basic things I would want in a new car are as follows:

• Appearance
• Fun to drive
• Low mileage (<50k preferably for more reliability and long life of the car *theoretically*)

Now there are 2 different types of cars that I've narrowed it down to:

• Better gas mileage (mine currently only gets 21ish)
• OR a muscle car (if I'm already getting semi-crappy mpgs, then I might as well have a badass car)

Cars on my list are:
Better Gas Mileage

• Civic Si
• Cobalt SS
• WRX

More Power

• GTO
• Modded GT
• Mach 1 or Cobra
• Lightning

[prowatt!]

Well, I know a guy who is selling a a '96? Cobra with an '04 Cobra engine, in Harrisburg. He is asking a little more. Car is very well taken care. PM me for his e-mail.

Off his FB page:

I am selling my Rally Appalachia stage winning 1996 Mustang Cobra. Obviously ver...y streetable 500rwhp car. A/C blows ice cold, stereo works perfectly. Control arm bushing that got motor mile'd is fixed. Car is very fast yet can be easily driven anywhere in the country. Basic details - 04 Cobra engine, T-56 6 speed, full built 8.8 rear Cobra brakes with upgraded lines, BBK/Magnaflow exhaust, FRPP/MM suspension, Rhodes 8 point roll bar, Cobra Daytona seats. Front bumper has many chips from being driven, paint is still in excellent condition. Multiple magazine feature car, multiple show winner. $17,500. This car is an 04 Cobra in a 96 Cobra body, all work professionally done.

[yellowstang6r]

Thanks man, but I hate that body style

[prowatt!]

NP. Here is a link to an article about the car before it had the engine swap. Just for shits and giggles.

http://www.mustang50magazine.com/fea...ag_racing.html

[BML99]

If not another Mustang, I'd say WRX.

[whyxitx]

agreed, WRX they're fun ass cars, and can be a family vehicle too

[methos]

go for the 03 cobra, DOOO NOOOOTTT get the civic... haha

[BML99]

+1 on no Civic. My buddy has an 06 Si and even with quite a few bolt-ons it still loses to my barely modded 04 by buses.

[Silver2000GT]

Newer Civic Si's are cool. Cobalt SS needs to be the newer turbocharged one to go fast, the supercharged ones are very underwhelming. Hate WRX's, I prefer Evo's. For your price range you could find a nice Evo 8. Why buy another Mustang? GTO's are BA, Lightnings are also awesome, but I haven't seen any nice ones in my area for your price range. Maybe look at a 98-02 Trans Am ws6?

[RDY4WAR]

'05 Ford Focus 2.0L Duratec - $7,000
FSWerks Stage 2 turbo kit - $4,000
Exedy stage 1 clutch - $600
H&R Coilovers - $1,200
SVT 17x7 wheels + Dunlop star spec 215/45/17 tires - $1,200
Cosworth Intake manifold - $700

260whp, 2600lbs with driver, still gets 35mpg, and will outrun and outhandle most things on the road for the same value FTW! - Priceless!





Better Gas Mileage:
'02-'04 SVT Focus - Can shred twisty roads in stock form, 170hp, ~2700lbs, and for around $6k - $8k depending on year and miles. Bolt on a top speed street turbo kit for $4k and you're at 350hp and still getting 30+mpg. Not to mention the factory 6speed Getrag.

Muscle car:
or a '98-'02 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 (LS1 with T56) for ~$10k - $12k.

[yellowstang6r]

Originally Posted by whyxitx agreed, WRX they're fun ass cars, and can be a family vehicle too

I like WRX's, but the problem is that I have difficulty finding them with low mileage

Originally Posted by methos go for the 03 cobra, DOOO NOOOOTTT get the civic... haha

Originally Posted by BML99 +1 on no Civic. My buddy has an 06 Si and even with quite a few bolt-ons it still loses to my barely modded 04 by buses.

Originally Posted by Silver2000GT Newer Civic Si's are cool. Cobalt SS needs to be the newer turbocharged one to go fast, the supercharged ones are very underwhelming. Hate WRX's, I prefer Evo's. For your price range you could find a nice Evo 8. Why buy another Mustang? GTO's are BA, Lightnings are also awesome, but I haven't seen any nice ones in my area for your price range. Maybe look at a 98-02 Trans Am ws6?

I like the Si and SS. I test drove a 2 door Si and liked it. Smooth 6 speed, handled nicely, and accelerated pretty good. Even with the SC'd SS, just a pulley swap and re-tune for a little more fun. My cousin has one and its a fun little car so I could see being satisfied with a pullied one for a little while. An Evo would be nice, but I kinda excluded them because I thought they were more expensive..but thanks I'll have to look into them more now.

There's a few reasons for another mustang. A.) I'm already familiar with them. B.) Most of my external modifications will transfer directly to the new one (if I'd get a new edge again) C.) A good condition modded one can be had for a pretty good price. D.) Tradition E.) Large selection to choose from.

I'm on SVTp and see a lot of Lightnings up for sale. Most are out of my price range but several are in it.

I looked at Camaros and TAs, and they have good potential for performance and stuff, but the interior is just a turn off for me. It just looks old and kinda tacky.

Originally Posted by RDY4WAR '05 Ford Focus 2.0L Duratec - $7,000 FSWerks Stage 2 turbo kit - $4,000 Exedy stage 1 clutch - $600 H&R Coilovers - $1,200 SVT 17x7 wheels + Dunlop star spec 215/45/17 tires - $1,200 Cosworth Intake manifold - $700 260whp, 2600lbs with driver, still gets 35mpg, and will outrun and outhandle most things on the road for the same value FTW! - Priceless! Better Gas Mileage: '02-'04 SVT Focus - Can shred twisty roads in stock form, 170hp, ~2700lbs, and for around $6k - $8k depending on year and miles. Bolt on a top speed street turbo kit for $4k and you're at 350hp and still getting 30+mpg. Not to mention the factory 6speed Getrag. Muscle car: or a '98-'02 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 (LS1 with T56) for ~$10k - $12k.

That would be a badass setup, but I'm just not a fan of the appearance of the Focus (except for the new ones). Its one of those "to each his own" situations. As for the TA, I love the powerplant and external appearance, but the interior/features just seem so old to me. I've thought about them a lot, but after looking at them multiple times the interior just turned me off.

[RDY4WAR]

When looking at a muscle car, interior and comfort make up less than 5% of my decision.

[V8ornothing]

eclipse gst/gsx

[xavier7]

Audi s4

[Silver2000GT]

Yeah Evo 8's can be expensive, and I've seen my fair share of "That dude will never sell that car for that price" listings... but aside from dumb craigslist ads I would look on actual Evo forums, prices will be much more reasonable on classifieds there and you will know every little detail of the car. Have you looked at Srt4's? Nice ones can be had for 8500-9500 and with the money you saved... go big turbo

[tommy93]

Originally Posted by xavier7 Audi s4

those are a bitch to maintain

[gragra73]

I would say either a MACH 1 or 04-06 GTO. I had 06 Mustang GT with bolt ons including cams and gears but I totaled it at the track. Like the OP, I wanted to keep the price around 15K (I still owed 5K on my mustang). I looked at both the MACH 1 and 04 GTO. Exterior looks is subjective but the interior of the GTO is much more comfortable. It's even much more comfortable than my 06 Mustang was. The GTO responds to mods very well the negative things some parts like gears and the install can be expensive. The rear end is also a week point but that can be taken car of. My GTO is my D/D and so far no problems-but only had it for 4 mths. This car is faster than my mustang was.

[kentuckyyeti]

Probably not what you want but the car in my signature is for sale. Details are in my garage. Full warranty until April 2014 so you have no worries about mechanical, electrical, paint, etc... In your price range and in perfect condition. I bought it new for my wife- just got her a 2012 so we don't really need this one.

[sikedsyko]

My brother just got a CPO 09 Fusion SEL with the V6 for like 13999 with 30k miles. It's got some balls to it, gets good gas mileage, and is comfortable as hell.

[BA Mustang]

350z