What car to buy for under $20,000?

[03ZX3drew]

Good news and bad news. Bad news is I will soon no longer be owning my Focus. The good news is it will be staying in my driveway. I'm giving my Focus to my dad. He drives a big POS 92 Plymouth Sundance. It's a great reliable car that has never given us any problems, it's just a heap and he wants something nicer. So I offered him my car, which is perfect. He drives ALL HIGHWAY to get to work. Anyways, on to myself. This leaves me open to get a new car. I'm looking at spending no more than $20,000. Some cars I am considering so far are:
Mini Cooper S
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII
Subaru Imprezza WRX STi
Honda S2000
BMW X5
BMW M3
Scion tC
Ford Focus SVT
Mazdaspeed 3
Ford Mustang GT

Things I have to consider are: This car will be daily driven in all kinds of weather. It must be reliable, and must be a manual transmission. I'm looking for a good blend of practicality and sport. Something I wont get bored of in a year.

Currently in the lead is the Evo8. I found a really nice blue on down in FL that is simply amazing looking.

But I want FocalJet's opinion. What would you guys get and why? Or what would you suggest? The majority of the cars listed will be used, but I'm also open to new cars like the Scion tC.

[Ray]

cross the x5 off your list, and substitute a used 325i

[03ZX3drew]

Originally Posted by Ray

cross the x5 off your list, and substitute a used 325i

Good Idea

[Jared]

I dunno but I'm not exactly sure where you can get a decent WRX STi for under $20k

[03ZX3drew]

Honestly, I'm having a hard time finding them. I can find Evos all day for under $20k, usually 03s. But trying to find an STi is hard.

[panchocito]

Nice list.
Personally I'll look at the mini, evo, m3 or save yourself lots of cash with the svt.

[03ZX3drew]

Originally Posted by panchocito

Nice list.
Personally I'll look at the mini, evo, m3 or save yourself lots of cash with the svt.

The SVT is the "alamo." If I absolutely can't find anything, I'll get myself an SVT.

[fubar]

I"d say evo or sti (if you can find one) good luck.

[Z63R]

This car will be daily driven in all kinds of weather.

Subaru WRX.

Forget about the WRX STi for a sec and consider a clean, low-mile, WRX that you can "enhance" in your own way, subtly. It'd be a better all-weather car and cost you perhaps less in the long run.

[03ZX3drew]

This is the Evo I'm looking at right now:

[fubar]

how far away are you willing to look?? I've seen a few sti's in that price range

[03ZX3drew]

Well, I'm in Kentucky, so I don't want to go too far. I'd like to stay on this side of the Mississippi.

[fubar]

check out autotrader.com I saw one in PA (an sti)

[01yellazx3]

That Evo is hot. What kind of mileage etc?

I'm with Z63R as well, you could get a REAL nice regular WRX for that kind of money.

I dunno Drew, the Evo or the rex definitely are the most all around useful imo. Great performance, strong aftermarket, fine for the daily drive, 4 doors for hauling people and AWD for when we get the freak snow storms we get every year.

I absolutely love Mustang's so that gets a bias vote. Strong aftermarket, they aren't omg terrible on gas with a manual trans, but they still aren't great. All depends on how you drive it. Might as well forget about it on those freak snow storm days, but that happens like a whole 2 days a year.

I pass on the BMWs. They're awesome, but maintence costs on them aren't.

S2000 is a drivers car but not very practical.

Mazdaspeed3 is great budget speed. I love these cars.

A Mini Cooper would be fun as hell, but would you have as much fun in it as you would one of the cars with raw power?

The Scion TC is nice but it's definitely the oddball on your list performance wise. Even with the 2.4l, if you drive one of those other cars the Scion will leave A LOT to be desired.

SVTF is old faithful as you said

[Ray]

AWD, while being "good in the snow for the freak storms you get" will be not used 99.5% of the time and only consume fuel for every other event. Yes, you can launch like a MOFO, but trust me, i've driven FWD, AWD, and RWD in the snow and except for initial accel, AWD doesn't have much on FWD.

Good tires on ANY car is the make or brake. I can dance circles in the snow around AWD cars in my old focus with snow shoes on, provided the AWDs were on all seasons.

[kipp]

i have an RX8 i'll sell ya for under 20

[guitarseth]

Originally Posted by kipp

i have an RX8 i'll sell ya for under 20

He said reliable. Seriously, though, I'd consider an RX-8. There are bunches of them with really low miles for less than $20K. Heck, low mileage RX-8s are going for less than higher mileage, older MINIs around here. From what I gather, they're a bit more finicky than most cars, but certainly worth the price of admission.

[panchocito]

Originally Posted by 03ZX3drew

One thing about evos. Never been a fan of their over the top body kits. No wing and a simpler hood, bumper, I'll rock that blue evo straight up. That's the best color.

[Reza]

s2000 ftw

[2focusd]

I'm in a similar boat, though I'm waiting until the Fiesta is released. At that time if Ford NA screws it up and doesn't bring the US a three-door ST/SVT/whatever-ish hatch, I'm buying a used, low-mileage Honda S2000. I love those cars wayyyyyy too much to be stopped by the fact that my level of utility would go down the crapper

-Brian

[focuspl99]

Originally Posted by 03ZX3drew

This is the Evo I'm looking at right now:

my $.02

stay away from "prefabricated tuners" for obvious reasons

[02_smurf]

Originally Posted by 2focusd

I'm in a similar boat, though I'm waiting until the Fiesta is released. At that time if Ford NA screws it up and doesn't bring the US a three-door ST/SVT/whatever-ish hatch, I'm buying a used, low-mileage Honda S2000. I love those cars wayyyyyy too much to be stopped by the fact that my level of utility would go down the crapper

-Brian

I'm waiting for the fiesta/focus to come out, but I'm not holding my breath. I'll get something small and nice though.

[MattZTS]

your list is crazy for 20k. some can be had others cant and if they can i would be wary of why they are so cheap.

i personally would go svt and save the 10k for mods. like a super or turbocharger, suspension, and LSD.

[ZedX31485]

I would never in my life buy a used STi or EVO

Even if it looks good, it's guaranteed to have been beat on by the previous owner.

But, most of the cars in your list have probably lived rough lives as well.

[MattZTS]

^the m3 might be the safest as far as beat on factor goes. i see more older men that take care of their cars driving them.

your right about the evo and sti tho. i see jerk off kids driving around all the time like there at a race track.