You guys clearly all know your shit, so I'm coming to you for some research help/advice.

I will be lucky if my Stratus passes inspection next March. Even if it does, I will be lucky if it lives to see 2011. It's got 175k miles and needs more work done to it than it's worth (about $700 on trade, unless I get a good deal from a dealer who is willing to give me $2k for a piece of crap as long as I buy new from them).

So here's the thing: I need a new car in the next couple years (2011 or 2012 models are a possibility) but I don't know what I want.

I know I want a car that meets these criteria, and even some of these are flexible:

Required:
- About $15k (preferably less, especially if going the used route, but will likely have the capability of going up to about $25k if I buy new). I do have access to a GM employee discount.

- I fit. I'm 6'6" and about 280 (in other news, lost about 10 lbs!) I need lots of leg-room in cars, and some reasonable head room. I do not comfortably fit in Focus/Cobalt/G5/Ion. Malibu size works. Pony cars work because they're long and low in the seat.

- Reasonably fun, but not necessarily stupid (no used Vettes or Vipers, 70's muscle is out).


Preferred (but not *absolutely* required)
- RWD. I much much much prefer RWD to FWD but I'm flexible.

- Coupe. I don't like driving multiple people if I don't have to.

- Decent power, decent fuel efficiency. I know these are usually a trade-off point, but I'm sure you guys know of something.

- Preferably American, but I'm willing to look at foreign if it's reasonable. No strudelmobiles. Had bad experiences with VWs in the family and do not want to repeat it.


So, suggestions? Also, don't get bent out of shape if you have a pretty decent suggestion but I automatically veto it because I think the car is intolerably ugly. I can deal with ugly cars when they do what I want, but stuff like Scions or the Eclipse are too ugly to justify.

For about 5k you could score a clean 88-93 5.0 5speed mustang. Or 93-97 Camaro Z28 6speed. These I think would be best bang for buck (at the price I listed they should be perfect/low mile. You can find them much cheaper but may have issues. Newer models of the same cars apply but I still feel the mustang started getting fat in 94 and the LS1 camaros (atleast here) are priced like gold.

3.8L V6 Camaro.
good power, fairly fuel efficient, excellent suspension, sporty ergonomics, NO back seat, decent hatchback space, fairly easy to repair (parts wise)

Cons...

they're getting scarce, they're RWD and you live in Rochacha, tune ups are a bitch because of where the last back cylinders are, service parts might be a little hard to find because the car has been out of production since 2002.

Thanks for the responses so far, guys.

I'm hesistant about the Camaro... just never been a huge fan. I'd probably consider a new base V6 over a previous generation.

As far as RWD and Rochester (and the imminent lake effect snow, etc.): I learned to drive in snow, and have driven a 92 Dakota, a 99 Grand Marquis, and my Stratus (most heavily) in snow all through NY. I drove for 3 Ithaca winters. Suffice to say, I'm a winter driver. Don't worry too much about RWD/Snow/Rochester unless it's a 70's Camaro, because those were notoriously bad in the snow.

The new Camaro V6s pack a pretty wicked punch... plus they sound fantastic, and get awesome mileage. I'm a definite fan.

Hmmmm. Didn't think about snow. I retract the fox body Mustang for 2 reasons. They don't even handle well in rain and I don't want to see another one die a cruel new england death by salt. I will however add Mazda MX3. If you can find one. Very roomy. Sporty. Great mpg. And apparantly good in snow since they are all over Canada.

MX3s have wicked serious rust issues in Canada. The strut towers tend to disappear.

Parts are pricey, too.

Posted by bandi MX3s have wicked serious rust issues in Canada. The strut towers tend to disappear. Parts are pricey, too.

See. I did not know that. Lol. I miss mine tho If I was gonna make a final attempt to recommend something it would be a 97-06 Jeep Wrangler. If you can a unlimited model. You can remove the backseat and reinstall as needed. And summer is great sans doors and roof. Plus snow will never be a problem.

Yeah, I'm certainly not against the idea of a Jeep. Always liked 'em, plus would probably try to make use of the off-road capabilities. Buuuuut their economy is pushing the limit for me.

Posted by velcrozeppelin Yeah, I'm certainly not against the idea of a Jeep. Always liked 'em, plus would probably try to make use of the off-road capabilities. Buuuuut their economy is pushing the limit for me.

I'll tell ya a secret. The 6 gets better mpg than the 4. And its much more fun to drive. With stockish tires expect 20 hwy 18 city. If you drive it slow. And get the hardtop up there. Lol.

My Stratus is averaging about 20mpg over the tank with fairly even city/highway driving. It should be getting closer to 30, but I can't find the issues and don't have the money to pay somebody else to find the problem.

So I'd like a bit of an improvement over the 20mpg.

Yeah you won't see over 20 in a TJ. Are u gonna be loanin on it? So we know what year range to stay in.

Yeah, I'll probably have to loan it. I should've specified that. I can come up with a decent down, but just need to keep it realistic.

And to point this out again - I do have access to a GM employee discount... which means about 2k off many cars, or a $2k "down payment" as they often look at it.

Are there any Saturn Skys left? Or its Pontiac sister. Fun, rwd, good mpg, and more room than it seems.

6'6" and 280 lbs doesn't work well in the Saturn Sky... lol

Yeah, sky/solstice are a bit too small for me.

I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that Fiat will help pull Chrysler out of the shitter so I can look at a Charger/Challenger, because I fit in those nicely and they fit my MOPAR love.

So, think Charger/300/Challenger size, or Mustang/Fusion + size, or Malibu + size.

New Malibu is well built, but has some pain in the ass features if anything goes wrong... for example, a headlight bulb is about a 2 hour job to do. The whole front fascia of the car has to come off, and it was definitely assembled by tiny robots- 4 of the bolts are impossible to get on.

Posted by velcrozeppelin Yeah, sky/solstice are a bit too small for me. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that Fiat will help pull Chrysler out of the shitter so I can look at a Charger/Challenger, because I fit in those nicely and they fit my MOPAR love. So, think Charger/300/Challenger size, or Mustang/Fusion + size, or Malibu + size.

i'm 6ft, 290lbs and the Sky/Solstice is too small for me.

if i had 25k laying around id buy a second hand humvee, or a dodge diesel

Solstice/Sky fits me like a glove... but I'm built like a 16 year old girl.