Fun 4-door daily on a budget?

[bottlerocket]

Its time to sell the 2 seat Ranger daily that has served me so faithfully and look for something more child-friendly.

I've always had a crush on E39 M5s and started to price them out since its spacious with 4 doors and a large trunk, but it seems you either get something over 100k miles or something over $20k for the most part. I had initially started looking at selections for $15k, but an M5 with 160k miles on it isn't too appealing for a daily.

I've looked around at other options like Speed6, Legacy spec.b,and IS250, but beyond that I'm having trouble with more ideas. I was even looking at the W211 E55 and the 5th gen S6, but again the maintenance worries me on a daily.

So for around $15k, is there anything I'm missing for a fun (relatively fast, fun to drive) 4 door that can fit a car seat in the back?

[Mach1]

Fiesta st, mazdaspeed 3

[slow99]

Close to g37 sedan territory.

[blandnuts]

Evo or a f150 Harley Davidson (4 door)!

[ram57ta]

Back in 2009 when I was seriously looking at used M3's I talked to a friend that was a mechanic at Park Place Motors and he told me to not even consider ANY of the German luxury performance cars if they had over 50k miles or were out of warranty...thats where they make their money...parts are stupid expensive and dealer service will break your bank. Yes they are pretty...and most of them are fast...but do you really want to spend half your income keeping them running? Mazdaspeed 6 is no joke. Used SHO Taurus, if you want something fun to tinker with thats cheap as shit...supercharged Buick GS or GTP, or one of the V8 Grand Prix. You MIGHT could find a G8 GT...basically a Chevy SS in Pontiac trim. Don't discount the Mopar brothers....you can find an early Hemi Charger for not too much coin.

[JC316]

WRX, 1st gen CTS-V, pontiac G8, G35, or E46 BMW.

Personally I would aim for the CTS-V.

[bottlerocket]

Fiesta st, mazdaspeed 3

I'm 6'4 so the fiesta is out. No way a car seat goes in the back middle and still have room to sit. Speed3 had crossed my mind but was hesitant about FWD

Close to g37 sedan territory.

G37 and M45 both. Might have to check those out

Evo or a f150 Harley Davidson (4 door)!

Never been a big mitsu fan. And I've test driven some of the late 2000s F150s and not been very impressed. Like the build quality on the 2003 and earlier was better and after that Ford was trying too hard and ended up making a truck with a crappy plastic wrapper. Im probably the minority here but if I were to buy a Ford truck it would be a 96 or 97 F250 crew cab.

Back in 2009 when I was seriously looking at used M3's I talked to a friend that was a mechanic at Park Place Motors and he told me to not even consider ANY of the German luxury performance cars if they had over 50k miles or were out of warranty...thats where they make their money...parts are stupid expensive and dealer service will break your bank. Yes they are pretty...and most of them are fast...but do you really want to spend half your income keeping them running? Mazdaspeed 6 is no joke. Used SHO Taurus, if you want something fun to tinker with thats cheap as shit...supercharged Buick GS or GTP, or one of the V8 Grand Prix. You MIGHT could find a G8 GT...basically a Chevy SS in Pontiac trim. Don't discount the Mopar brothers....you can find an early Hemi Charger for not too much coin.

That's a damn shame. New SHO Taurus? I don't think I've ever felt a smaller interior in a car that ch it before! I drove one and that damn center console is a bit much.

But ooooooh yes the G8. I just wish they came in a manual but I don't have the cash for a GXP. Might have to go find a hemi magnum or charger. I drove one of the new scat packs and I'm worried it ruined me for older chargers. That transmission is amazing!

[bottlerocket]

WRX, 1st gen CTS-V, pontiac G8, G35, or E46 BMW.

Personally I would aim for the CTS-V.

Agree with all but the first 2. Well, unless I can find an unmodified WRX. Anything that's modded gets me worried with those cars.

Didn't the first gen V have problems grenading rear ends?

[JC316]

Agree with all but the first 2. Well, unless I can find an unmodified WRX. Anything that's missed gets me worried with those cars.

Didn't the first gen V have problems grenading rear ends?

I drove a WRX for several days and that was just a fun little SOB. Unfuckedwith is a must on them though.

The rear end was a problem with idiots trying to launch the piss out of the car and then wheel hop. If it was driven decently, it shouldn't have a problem.

[2011GT]

One of my wife's friends had a newer WRX. Under warranty the 1st and 2nd gears in the trans had to be replaced and around 30k miles the engine shit itself. They traded it in on a Toyota lol.

I had a 2010 (I think) NA Impreza. Good looking car but it was a gutless turd. After driving at highway speeds for any length of time the car would smell like burning oil. Didn't have any oil leaks either.

[codsack]

I'll probably get slammed for this but :

used Accord 13/14/15 EX-L V6 6sp manual. 278hp, fun to drive and has great back seat.

[bonnie&clyde]

How much for the ranger?

[Z06killinsbf]

S60-R. 300hp, 6 speed Awd 4 door

[bottlerocket]

I'll probably get slammed for this but :

used Accord 13/14/15 EX-L V6 6sp manual. 278hp, fun to drive and has great back seat.

Did they make a v6 6sp in a 4 door? I had an 03 that I thoroughly enjoyed but it was a coupe

S60-R. 300hp, 6 speed Awd 4 door

That's a good lookin car. I'll have to look into how maintenance is on them

[bottlerocket]

How much for the ranger?

Haven't put much thought into it since I have to get a car first, but probably 1750. It's a 92 single cab 5sp 2.3.