Help me choose a new (old) car
May 30, 2017 8:26 PM Subscribe
I am in need of a new car. I don't drive much, and so the only purpose for the car is shopping trips and weekend adventures.
It MUST be a convertible.
It must be under 10,000.
More details after the jump...
Honestly, the only reason for me to have a car is that I like driving with the top down into the mountains on the weekends. This means that
1) I don't put a lot of miles on, and
2) I get irritated with lots of maintenance fees, since I don't actually NEED a car anyway.
I have found a couple of options locally, and they are an Audi a4 1.8 Cabriolet with 77,000 miles and a 2006 Toyota Solara with 113,000 miles.
I am a sucker for brand names, and I like driving, so I am partial to the Audi, but I know that the Toyota is the more practical choice of the two. The Toyota is about $2K less than the Audi, too.
So...all that said, I guess I am asking for realistic cost-to-own estimates for these two (consider them both in very good condition), and any non-superficial reasons to choose the Audi over the Toyota (I've got the superficial ones well covered).
Honestly, the only reason for me to have a car is that I like driving with the top down into the mountains on the weekends. This means that
1) I don't put a lot of miles on, and
2) I get irritated with lots of maintenance fees, since I don't actually NEED a car anyway.
I have found a couple of options locally, and they are an Audi a4 1.8 Cabriolet with 77,000 miles and a 2006 Toyota Solara with 113,000 miles.
I am a sucker for brand names, and I like driving, so I am partial to the Audi, but I know that the Toyota is the more practical choice of the two. The Toyota is about $2K less than the Audi, too.
So...all that said, I guess I am asking for realistic cost-to-own estimates for these two (consider them both in very good condition), and any non-superficial reasons to choose the Audi over the Toyota (I've got the superficial ones well covered).
in terms of driving fun, the MINI will beat out both the Audi and the Toyota. The Toyota will be cheaper to maintain and will be more reliable than the mini or the Audi. The Audi will be more comfortable and "flashier" than the Mini or the Toyota.
So, prioritize which is most important: driving fun, reliability and cheap maintenance, or luxury/ prestige.
Cost of ownership after initial purchase price should be relatively similar if you're not driving much. Barring catastrophic failures, you'll mostly be buying tires and oil changes, which won't vary much in cost between those cars.
posted by cosmicbandito at 9:45 PM on May 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
So, prioritize which is most important: driving fun, reliability and cheap maintenance, or luxury/ prestige.
Cost of ownership after initial purchase price should be relatively similar if you're not driving much. Barring catastrophic failures, you'll mostly be buying tires and oil changes, which won't vary much in cost between those cars.
posted by cosmicbandito at 9:45 PM on May 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
If maintenance costs annoy you, don't get an Audi or Mini.
posted by LoveHam at 4:24 AM on May 31, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by LoveHam at 4:24 AM on May 31, 2017 [7 favorites]
From a reliability standpoint, I wouldn't touch a Mini or an Audi unless you have a good mechanic and maintenance costs aren't an issue for you. Are you limited to those three, or can you search more broadly? There have been other convertibles sold, some of which, like the Miata, are both fun and reliable.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:30 AM on May 31, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Dip Flash at 5:30 AM on May 31, 2017 [4 favorites]
yeah, seconding Dip Flash. If you want a fun convertible that will be reliable and relatively inexpensive, a Miata is hard to beat.
posted by cosmicbandito at 6:57 AM on May 31, 2017
posted by cosmicbandito at 6:57 AM on May 31, 2017
I have a 2000 Solara convertible and it is still going strong with around 175k on it. Granted, my mom owned it for the first 15 years of its life and took great care of it. I've had to do the timing belt (of course) and I've had multiple issues with a leaky oil pan, but that's about it. Oh, the switch to put the top down broke a couple years ago, but that was a cheap and easy fix.
I will say that it's roughly as fun to drive as a Camry (since that's what it's built on), but to me, it being a convertible is fun enough. YMMV.
posted by fiercecupcake at 7:49 AM on May 31, 2017
I will say that it's roughly as fun to drive as a Camry (since that's what it's built on), but to me, it being a convertible is fun enough. YMMV.
posted by fiercecupcake at 7:49 AM on May 31, 2017
It's hard to give a realistic cost-to-own estimate for cars that are more than 10 years old. You are in the world of failure probabilities. The MINI will fail with probability=1 and cost=Infinity, so you can throw that one right out. The others are a toss up in my opinion. Things will go wrong, and they will cost money, but it's hard to say how often things will fail and how much they will cost.
But - why set out to buy a fun car and bring home a Camry? A Solara is not fun. It's a Camry without a roof (literally it is a Camry without a roof). They took the most boring car ever made and then they cut the roof off and created a boring windy car. If you want a Camry, get one with a roof. If you want a fun car, don't get a Camry!
(Seriously, why no Miata? It's the real thing.)
posted by everythings_interrelated at 7:56 AM on May 31, 2017
But - why set out to buy a fun car and bring home a Camry? A Solara is not fun. It's a Camry without a roof (literally it is a Camry without a roof). They took the most boring car ever made and then they cut the roof off and created a boring windy car. If you want a Camry, get one with a roof. If you want a fun car, don't get a Camry!
(Seriously, why no Miata? It's the real thing.)
posted by everythings_interrelated at 7:56 AM on May 31, 2017
Response by poster: Thanks for all the responses so far. Just to explain why a Miata is not on the list: I need a four-seater.
posted by Dr_Janeway at 7:59 AM on May 31, 2017
posted by Dr_Janeway at 7:59 AM on May 31, 2017
What about a Mustang? Depending on the model/year, the back seats are usable. (The most recent version has pretty tight back seats, but you can still put a human into them.) A Camaro could be another option (although I have no first-hand knowledge of the backseat situation in them).
posted by sardonyx at 8:03 AM on May 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by sardonyx at 8:03 AM on May 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
Since 4-seater is on your list of requirements, I will also note that the Solara has a full-sized back seat that can fit adults comfortably. Still not a "fun driver" though.
posted by fiercecupcake at 8:31 AM on May 31, 2017
posted by fiercecupcake at 8:31 AM on May 31, 2017
4 seater for 4 adults, or for 2 kids...? Lots of sports cars have small rear seats with limited leg room, which could be great options, or might be eliminated based on how you anser that q.
Hang out on BringATrailer for a few weeks. Most of the cars there will be out of your price range, but many will not.
posted by cyclicker at 2:43 PM on May 31, 2017
Hang out on BringATrailer for a few weeks. Most of the cars there will be out of your price range, but many will not.
posted by cyclicker at 2:43 PM on May 31, 2017
Tagging on to cyclicker's comment, and his link to a Saab 900 convertible, I was going to suggest looking at Saabs if there are any around. I had a 1992 900 convertible and it was super comfortable, handled great and was great fun to drive. Model years 1995 and after have built-in tonneau covers to hide the top when its down, and lose a lot of the distinctive Saab "quirky" look. (I prefer the older, quirky look.)
Good luck. Convertibles are so much fun on scenic drives.
posted by The Deej at 5:33 AM on June 1, 2017
Good luck. Convertibles are so much fun on scenic drives.
posted by The Deej at 5:33 AM on June 1, 2017
<>
reliable
convertible
pick two.
the audi will be a potential moneypit - the solara, a boat.
if you don't want things to cost money, you need large volume, non-luxury cars. 4 seaters that are well supported and 'cheap' would be medium mileage mid'00 mustangs.
whatever you buy, save $150 to take the car to a real, trusted mechanic (not the seller's mechanic) and have a real inspection done. anyone who won't let you do this with a car they want to sell you - WALK AWAY.
posted by lalochezia at 9:09 PM on June 3, 2017
convertible
pick two.
the audi will be a potential moneypit - the solara, a boat.
if you don't want things to cost money, you need large volume, non-luxury cars. 4 seaters that are well supported and 'cheap' would be medium mileage mid'00 mustangs.
whatever you buy, save $150 to take the car to a real, trusted mechanic (not the seller's mechanic) and have a real inspection done. anyone who won't let you do this with a car they want to sell you - WALK AWAY.
posted by lalochezia at 9:09 PM on June 3, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Dr_Janeway at 8:49 PM on May 30, 2017