You need a car and have 16K on hand. What do you get?

[z28luvr01]

Title says it all.

[olds442]

An LS2 GTO would be nice, and can be had at that price.

[Robert Hall]

I'd get this. 2 yrs old, 10k miles. Would be a great daily driver.

on ebay

[Camino LS6]

So many choices....

But, as of this moment, I'd hunt down the cleanest 2500/2500 HD 4x4 with a plow that I could find.

Need exceeds want at the moment.

But that LS2 GTO is sounding mighty good...

[Nick]

BMW 540, then pocket the difference for future maintenance.

[Northstar]

I would take an additional $4K on a loan and find a 2004 CTS-V for $19-20K.

For $16K though, I would go with a GTO.

[Intrepidation]

2002 300M Special, SRT Design wheels, repaint for my Intrepid, cat back dual exhaust for both, refinish my wheels, pocket the rest.

Although I do really like both the Focus and new Fiesta.

[FAPTurbo]

An Avalanche from 2004/5'ish.

[Intrepidation]

I have always had a soft spot for the last gen Dakotas...just the right size for me.

I'd love a beater Jeep to take off roading and use in the winter to keep my car away from evil salt.

[Z-06]

2000-2001 Corvette or this.

[Intrepidation]

You make a persuasive argument.

[Z-06]

My premises are solid.

[FAPTurbo]

She looks like she charges more than 16K a ride. :/

[mustang84]

A low mileage 1993 Mustang Cobra in teal. They can usually be had for $14-18K in nice shape. It would be a garage queen though.

[siegen]

Prius, definitely a Prius.

[daves87rs]

An LS2 GTO would be nice, and can be had at that price.

This.

I saw a real nice one done up a few days ago..looked great.

[bobo]

A new Honda Fit

[SAmadei]

Assuming I can't buy 16 $1K cars or 8 2K cars (hey, you need spares), I'd have to say the late model GTO is the only way to go.

[pow]

If I had $16K to buy my mother a car, I'd get her a ~2008 Camry Hybrid with ~30K miles. Good visibility, solid structure, 3600 lbs, economical, and easy to drive. Being so cheap, it's hard to imagine spending twice as much for a brand new Fusion Hybrid.

But if I were buying a car for myself, a used European sports sedan will do - E39 5-series, B5 or B6 Audi A4 or S4 (preferably Avant) - and the rest will go toward maintenance. A CPO MINI (Cooper S, if possible) or new Fiesta, if I wanted to be practical.

[Drew Dowdell]

An Avalanche from 2004/5'ish.

This.

I'm still trying to figure out how to make something like this happen for me.

[2QuickZ's]

I'd do what I just did and buy a 2007 Saab 9-5 Aero. It's fully loaded, performs pretty well though the suspension is a little harsh, gets very good gas mileage and still has 1.5 years of factory warranty on it (2.5 yrs of powertrain) assuming Saab survives that long. So far I'm very happy with my purchase. Of course, I wanted a practical, fun to drive family car that will work well during Michigan winters. Without those requirements, I would have bought something else. I would have preferred a G8 but prices on those (even the 6 cyl models) are actually higher than what I could have bought a brand new one for a year ago.

[A Horse With No Name]

Congrats on the new car, 2 quick...

In answer to the question....hmmm....

If I could find a decent BMW Clownshoe Coupe or E30 M3, that might be nice...

Or a GTI, manual, clean, couple of years old...

Or a used Cooper S....

Or a Cobalt SS TC used....

Or a nice clean SVTR Focus and 8k to take a trip to New Zealand or someplace interesting.

But probably the Cooper S....

Although the grage queen 93 Cobra in teal sounds like a winner also...as does a GTO..

Chris

[Drew Dowdell]

I'd do what I just did and buy a 2007 Saab 9-5 Aero. It's fully loaded, performs pretty well though the suspension is a little harsh, gets very good gas mileage and still has 1.5 years of factory warranty on it (2.5 yrs of powertrain) assuming Saab survives that long. So far I'm very happy with my purchase. Of course, I wanted a practical, fun to drive family car that will work well during Michigan winters. Without those requirements, I would have bought something else. I would have preferred a G8 but prices on those (even the 6 cyl models) are actually higher than what I could have bought a brand new one for a year ago.

I think the warranty claim reverts to GM should anything happen to Spyker. That's why the sale took so long because GM wanted to be sure that Saab was staying gone and that they wouldn't have to take old warranty claims if Spyker failed.

[CanadianBacon94]

This.

I'm still trying to figure out how to make something like this happen for me.

my 04 just went for 18

[Camino LS6]

Lots of great choices in this thread!

[Cory Wolfe]

I was just looking at this general price range... Quite a few different choices for me, mostly 2004 or 2005 models.

• VW R32
• Subaru Legacy 2.5GT B-spec
• Mazdaspeed6
• Mazda Rx8
• Pontiac GTO
• BMW 3er
• Etc...

[2QuickZ's]

Congrats on the new car, 2 quick...

In answer to the question....hmmm....

If I could find a decent BMW Clownshoe Coupe or E30 M3, that might be nice...

Or a GTI, manual, clean, couple of years old...

Or a used Cooper S....

Or a Cobalt SS TC used....

Or a nice clean SVTR Focus and 8k to take a trip to New Zealand or someplace interesting.

But probably the Cooper S....

Although the grage queen 93 Cobra in teal sounds like a winner also...as does a GTO..

Chris

Thanks! I actually came super, super close to buying a a certified '09 Cobalt SS TC sedan w/ 5k miles on it instead of the Saab. I was on my way to the dealership to buy it that night (Asking $17,900, guessing I could have had it for $16,500) and I made the mistake of calling the insurance company to check the rates. It was going to be significantly more to insure than even my Z28!!!! In fact, IIRC, it was almost double what my Saab is per year. If it had even been close, that would be in my driveway instead of the Saab.

I was just looking at this general price range... Quite a few different choices for me, mostly 2004 or 2005 models.

• VW R32
• Subaru Legacy 2.5GT B-spec
• Mazdaspeed6
• Mazda Rx8
• Pontiac GTO
• BMW 3er
• Etc...

That's a good list. Maybe add an Audi A4/S4 to it? Preferably an Avant?

[ocnblu]

Pish Posh. A homeowner needs a pickup truck. If you don't want payments, I'd find a nice used GM pickup truck. If you are willing to deal with payments, I'd find a nice new GM pickup truck.

[A Horse With No Name]

I have a bunch of trucks at work I can pretty much use whenever I want...I'm with Viper, R32 FTW!

THAT is a gentlemans cruiser, fast, comfortable, stylish...not just yes but...sign me up for a payment!

[Camino LS6]

I don't know...

I'm feeling kind of naked not having a real pickup.

(The ROPOS and Mothertruck don't count)

[A Horse With No Name]

Believe me, brother blu and Camino....but...right now...I don't have room in the fleet for one.

some day, I would love a nice full size pick up truck.

chris

[ocnblu]

Much more fun feeling naked WITH a pickup truck than without, just sayin'...

Mr. z, is this for you, or someone you know?

[Camino LS6]

Much more fun feeling naked WITH a pickup truck than without, just sayin'...

I suppose I could strip, head out to the barn, and commune with the Mothertruck.

But I don't see that being of much benefit.

[Intrepidation]

I've always had a thing for the Pacifica...a nice `07 or `08 Limited with the 4.0 and 6-speed would make a good people mover. Plus it drove well wand had Chrysler's best interior.

On the flip side, 16k would go a long way towards restoring the `Cuda I bet...if it were in my name.

Perhaps a Satellite Sebring

It's also possible to get a R/T LX car now for 16k if you look hard enough.

Oh, and Saturn Sky...if you can get one for 16k now...I don't know, but I'd love to own one.

Oh and Nissan 300ZX twin turbo...mmm........

[Camino LS6]

Man, that 'Cuda...

[A Horse With No Name]

Cuda yes...and Sky could be had for 16K.

Sadly the GXP Solstice is still above the 16k mark with low miles...

[vonVeezelsnider]

16K in my pocket and any car I could choose- hmm. There really is only one.

I'd pocket the change and take a nice vacation.

[Z-06]

Cuda yes...and Sky could be had for 16K.

Sadly the GXP Solstice is still above the 16k mark with low miles...

Depending on the MY and Mileage GXP runs between $19k - 23k. I have been searching one.

[Camino LS6]

It's out of character for me, but I still want a Solstice GXP Coupe.

[Sixty8panther]

[ocnblu]

Don't ya have to grease the undercarriage on those though, Sixty8?