top used cars for ~ $20k??
I'm looking to buy a used car with relatively low miles on it (less than 20K miles).. preferably something with a good amount of power 250-350hp and has to be an overall good looking car
any suggestions? I think for someone being about 2 years out of college $20k would be a good amount to spend.. been searching auto trader n ebay motors for ages but cant freakin make up my mind. appreciate ur input
cheers
get a new ford mustang. :D
What type of car are you looking for? Luxury sedan, sports coupe, American, foreign? There are so many choices you need to narrow your search down a little
This sort of fits into your criteria. Trust me when I say it's more fun to drive than most of the sports car rubbish built today and it may be something you want to keep for the rest of your life. Also, with a correct setup you could be on the track in no time.
The picture didn't show up..
Everyone will say 3 series. I'd go with a corvette based on your criteria. 20k cash will get you the keys
A bit juvenile but an Evo or STI is pretty much best bang for your buck in all out performance. A bit more classy would be an E46 M3.
You can get a 2006 bmw 330i or 330xi sedan, 255hp, same exact car as the current 3series, handles great, plenty fast and looks great, great gas mileage and won't break down if maintain it either.
the 335 issues you refer to were regarding oil cooling. If you opt for a newer model or get one that has the sport package, this is not a problem.
I have a 335 coupe with JB4 and let me tell you, it is RIDICULOUSLY fast. I have out-draged a 2010 911 GT3 RS and can spin the wheels in third. The car is pushing around 430bhp with only $600 of mods. I've had in since new and have put 40,000 miles on the car and never had a single problem. BMW warranty's are bulletproof even if you do have a problem.
The G37 doesn't hold a candle to the 335 imo, especially when it comes to handling.
330 not 335. 335 is going to cost a lot more, and because it is turbo charged it is less reliable then the 330. Trade off is yes the 335 is faster, but the 330 is still a seriously fast car and handles exactly the same as 335. For 20k or under your best option is 330i or 330xi sedans (both very reliable, you can find one with options for 18-20 with 50-60k miles or so) or a 2007 328i or 328xi sedan with basically the same milage as 330. 2006 330 is faster and a better car than a 2007-2008 328 (bigger tires, bigger breaks, bigger engine, better sound system).
nevermind didn't see the less than 20k miles. Why do you need less than 20k miles? If that's your criteria and you want 250hp your going to get a shitty mustang which you will crash and then fix and then it will break on you after you fix it because that's simply the agenda of american car manufacturers.
older tahoe
250-350hp +
I really like the Golf V GTI, for 20K or less you can get a nice one with full option.
If you wouldn't mind having loads of miles I would recommend a porsche 964 cabriolet
I'm selling my BMW 335i coupe (black with brown leather interior) w/ 32K miles for $25,5...if you're interested.
I'd also like to add that BHP isn't entirely indicative of performance or speed. There are many other variables in a chassis that could alter the performance (weight, suspension geometry, steering, displacement, layout, wheelbase, etc.) so I wouldn't use a BHP figure as a reference point when purchasing a car. Sports Car A and Sports Car B could have the exact same BHP but accelerate, handle and reach top speeds differently. From my experience, I've found many cases where something with a 200BHP +/- figure would be much more fun to drive than something with a 600BHP + figure. Contrary to what many automotive publications would have the general public believe, BHP and torque don't tell the whole story in performance. It really comes down to what feel your looking for in the car, so make sure you do a lot of testing before you make a purchase.
Absolutely True. Although many consider it to be a "girl's car" I have to say the mazda miata is probably one of the most fun cars I have ever driven. The older ones are kind of gutless but once you get them up to speed they turn so well. Data also shows the miata is one of the most reliable cars ever built too.
its over your 20k mile limit, but i think this would be the way to go
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1999-PORSCHE-911-CARRERA-CABRIOLET-6-SPE…
once you dance in the 30 35ish mile range you start to get good deals.. i saw an 07 19k miles x5 4.4 black asking 19, not on a salvage or anything either
thanks for all the great responses.. yea i realized i was pushing it with the 20k miles limit. 30-35k would be more realistic. dont wanna have to settle for a lower end car just cause of a slight mileage difference
Mini Cooper S - some people might laugh about this suggestion, but if they do, they have never driven one. I strongly recommend going out and test driving one. It's like a go-kart on steroids. They are also comfortable to drive for taller guys and get decent gas mileage. We have a Mini S and a German performance sedan (think M3/S4), and the Mini is honestly more fun to drive, despite not being as fast.
You can find plenty of low mileage examples for Mini
dude get a subaru wrx
its easiest to base cars based on HP alone rather than other factors? what kind of car retard are you lol
TORQUE
GAS MILEAGE
SPACE
ALL WHEEL VS RWD VS FWD
you can have a giant heavy car with 300 HP and a lotus elise with an uber lightweight frame and which will win
i think im gonna go with the infiniti g37s... thoughts? since ur the pro here apparently...
Where are you going to find a G37s with less than 20K miles for $20k?
It's been said before, but Ford Mustang is not a bad choice.
http://www.carmax.com/enus/view-car/default.html?AVi=8&id=7197925&N=429…
I would get an e46 zhp. Less than $20K. Pocket off the rest and drive off with a bigger smile.
e46 m3's are maintenance nightmares with constant valve adjustments and things that pop up here and there. i would advise against an m3.
A lot of 09+ WRX for around 20k now, under 20k. 265 bhp, 244 ft*lbs
^ yea i meant there is no way that you get 430hp with only $600 of mods, which you confirmed...and obviously no one's going to run race gas on a daily basis. Realistically and practically you can expect a safe ~360whp out of the setup, which is not shabby at all and like you said ridiculously fast
And since you brought up e90post...you'll find on the site the limitations of the stock turbos in one of the forum sticky's...400+hp for street use is REALLY pushing it. 500hp is in fantasyland
But totally agree with what you are trying to say though...chipped 335i deserves a serious look by anyone looking for a car
Seeing how you don't have money to blow, buying used is rolling the dice. To be realistic you should really consider how much you plan to spend on basic maintenance because you never know if the car was push to the limits. Plus I don't know your driving style, you may want to red line it.I pray you can at least change your own brakes and do an oil change. Low profiles, oil changes every 2k,, tranny flush, new gaskets, spark plugs, just basically regular tune ups ad up at the mechanic. You can buy the manual and do it yourself if you have any sort of mechanical aptitude. Think about that before you buy.
You and my dad think alike, he hates used cars for all these reasons.
What cars would you recommend in the UK? I'm looking for something under £25k with less than 30/40k miles on the clock. I just want something fast, loud, good looking and ideally under 5 years old.
So far I'm thinking about Jaguar XK or a BMW 650i. A decent XKR or M6 would probably be outside my budget, but if it's not too far off then I'd be open to stretching a bit.
Grand Cherokee is a solid ride if gas efficiency is not a priority. You can get a limited with 30-50K miles for less than 20,000.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jeep-Grand-Cherokee-LIMITED-4X4-08-GRAND…
@Lak08er
100% synthetic oil actually will not go bad, shitty filters cause your oil to get dirty. 100% synthetic can last 25k miles. People mainly buy blends that's only good for 7,500-10k and that is even false. BMW told me change mines every 5 but I still do it every 2-3k on my own due to my driving conditions.
Although you've heard it a lot here already, the right answer is the BMW 3.
You could go for the 2006 330i (same engine as the X3 I believe) in the new body, that guy on here selling his 335, or even a very lightly used 328i. I enjoy the power of the 335, but driving both around a lot the 328 is MUCH smoother.
a 1986 toyota corolla hatchback would get you top bucket at Nomura.
G37s is a pretty sweet ride but when you're dropping that much money on a car you'd expect the engine to spin up smoother...the engine doesn't seem as refined and as silky smooth as the bmw 6's imo.
My buddy has a hyundai genesis v6 and it's a pretty decent car...if you don't mind the hyundai name
Agree with everyone who's pointed to the 3 series if you have some mechanical aptitude or you know a shade tree mechanic that you can trust that will keep maintenance costs low.
If you can wait. the toyobaru ft-86 is supposed to be one bad ass car. 200+hp rwd, light, and ~$25k and not too shabby looking.
It would be idiotic to get a 3 series for less than 20k.
You're going to end up spending 30k once you're done maintaining it. Might as well spend that upfront.
E46 M3 hands down.
Drive the Abarth. http://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-2012-FIAT-500-Abarth-t43471
e46 m3 e39 m5 porsche boxster audi s4 e55 amg sl500 335i wrx sti evo 8
Used cars under $15K (Originally Posted: 07/31/2015)
If you had $15K to spend on any used car/truck of your choice, what would you get?
Note: this is for a college graduation present
I would buy a car that could get me to a better paying job.
offer IlliniProgrammer $350 (aka tree fiddy) for his rusty honda, and put the remainder on black.
Depends on what you need it for (commuting 100 miles roundtrip/day by yourself, throwing a bunch of crap in the bed of a truck and making local trips, something to occasionally use on the weekends for fun, etc?), where you live and the weather, and how long you want to keep it.
This would be for a daily driver, most likely in Houston
Get a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. If they are too expensive, get a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla. You can always get a luxury car later on when you earn more.
Then this, (what Sil said). There may also be a Subaru you could get with 4wd if you want to be able to take it light offroad for camping and things like that. Or there may be other makes and models but I'd keep it to something like these-low cost, low maintenance, good mileage. Cars are the worst thing to spend on until you have some coin to throw around and just don't care, and even then they're pretty much a waste of money. I was going to say try to grab a used Wrangler if you don't have a long commute and want a little more fun but I just looked and they got really expensive.
If I had $18,000 I'd go for a used Audi A4 if you want more luxury. If you want sporty, I'd go for a used 370Z or Scion FRS. If you want econo-class, black Mazda3's or Corolla S are good cars.
Got a nice 2007 Ram 1500 in Jersey you can buy ;)
Range Rover with 400,000 miles
The Euro cars cost too much in maintenance for you.
The Japanese make the best cars for economical daily drivers.
American made is good if you're addicted to chewing tobacco
Get a Honda with new technology, aka a relatively new model. Cheap and virtually bulletproof. With the new tech, it will be a good daily user.
3 series - if you're a car guy, it's arguably the best all around car in terms of cost/performance/practicality/reliability.
You can find a solid 4Runner for that price
@EazyMuthafuckinE" I just had to say that I am currently listening to NWA on shuffle while reading the comments.......yours caught my eye, I had to do a double take, and basically said fuck yeah upon confirmation that I read it right.
With this on my mind, this is my suggestion (https://www.carsforsale.com/vehicle/details/8745836). Throw another grand or so in for the mint paint job (http://www.layitlow.com/forums/16-post-your-rides/340326-recent-pics-ea…), and you've still got another 7k or so to blow on some blow and/or honies....
Mazda3 2.5L with the 6-Speed, or a first-gen CTS-V to pull the girls
.
When buying a used car INSPECT the shit out of it BEFORE you negotiate a price. I had a "car-guy" buddy of mine come with me for this, he spent about 20 mins under the car, in the car, searching for blemishes in the paint around the keyholes ect . It was a four year old 2004 CTS looked impeccable, by the time my guy was done we found a laundry list of tiny flaws for which I was able to leverage a couple extra thou of the sticker. :)
autotrader.com / carmax / Autonation / craigslist
Go with a private seller and have a mechanic take a look at before buying it, if it's still under warranty the local dealer may do it for free (depending on the make).
You can get a used VW Jetta for around $15k with 40-60k miles. If you can find a TDI, get it.
Cars.com and autotrader.com have a lot of search criteria options in the advanced section. Best 2 internet sources, probably in that order.
There should be a few quality 350Zs and RX-8s within your criteria ($15-$16K, under 60k miles). Those models will be the stronger cars within your range, unless you're willing to go older than 2004. Every now and then, a quality 2004+ A4 will sneak into that range, too.
To the OP your post is a joke. How can one possibly classify your view of a "used car" you are comparing two extreme ends of the sprectum. You obviously have no market insight at all or you would know that used car prices are being driven up by the economy. If you are going to ask for help at least narrow it down a little and let people know what you are looking for.
.
If you're in the Midwest, you're going to want AWD. There are 2 decent A4 Quattros in the Chicago area ('04, '05) under $15K with under 60k miles. Check cars.com.
Maiores rerum rerum corrupti. Rem quis qui ad amet voluptatem sed et repudiandae.
Ipsum perspiciatis non recusandae omnis consectetur sed et vitae. Veritatis quia et laboriosam exercitationem expedita et et quos. Et aliquid provident cupiditate consectetur et.
Repellendus nesciunt aut suscipit quos libero debitis laborum. Pariatur eos at maxime qui est veritatis expedita. Eaque dolorum maiores eius.
Facilis omnis quia unde voluptate voluptate aut velit. Officia non id rerum dolorem reiciendis beatae voluptate. Quaerat et officia quia odio ut mollitia. Doloribus et deleniti non consequuntur architecto.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Et ducimus ut aut consequatur dolor vel. Maiores consequatur dolor minus quo. Odio nihil libero consequuntur. Voluptatibus facilis eveniet eaque corporis occaecati harum qui. Et voluptatem aperiam ea quae quia quis. Sit dolor dicta fuga dolore suscipit ab rerum. Consequatur sed vel alias.
Ut velit minima modi totam cumque dolores. Voluptas ad adipisci consequatur quo. Voluptas dignissimos fuga velit incidunt.
Nulla sint eligendi nemo suscipit ad provident incidunt. Sed praesentium sit consequatur et. Et voluptatem placeat ut ab quia dignissimos. Placeat soluta voluptatum quae animi aperiam in vero.
Fuga quo vel recusandae praesentium dignissimos saepe modi autem. Eaque quos libero iusto maxime quo eaque. Sed quia voluptas voluptatibus. Fugit quas animi incidunt distinctio. Esse dolor qui illo et itaque reiciendis libero. Suscipit et perferendis harum voluptatem ut et tempora ipsum.
Quaerat nihil labore iste debitis voluptate molestiae nobis. Molestias sint minus quia.
Ut et at sit facere qui omnis vel. Et eum hic autem molestiae corrupti quod. Quibusdam totam aut dolor. Odit voluptas nihil sit beatae neque harum. Sit quod debitis laborum. Quia voluptatem mollitia sint qui doloremque repudiandae sint. Rerum aut recusandae itaque sit.
Exercitationem illum perferendis quo enim sit consequatur. Rerum quisquam quam deserunt aperiam vel dolor esse. Et enim fugit ratione fuga. Molestias dolores culpa animi et quasi et iste id.