Mitch is from New York (the state, not the city) and daily drives a Hyundai Veloster with 130,000 miles. Now that he is about to finish graduate school he wants to treat himself to a fun secondary car, but it needs to be comfortable enough for his 6-foot 2-inch frame. With a budget of up to $15,000, what car should he buy?
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Here is the scenario.
I’m in my early 30’s, looking for a second vehicle. My daily driver is a manual, naturally aspirated Hyundai Veloster with 130k miles. I will be completing graduate school in a couple of months and I’m looking to get something with a bit more pizzazz, maybe a minor project or upgrade here and there.
Manual transmission preferred; would consider a “flappy paddle” manual/tiptronic type
Overall I want something fun, relatively sporty, relatively reliable and with character and quirks (ffs I drive a three door hatchback and have a love for the bugeye WRX). I like the idea of a hidden gem (i.e. the Saab 9-2xaero as the cheapest WRX around). Something to be used on weekend enjoyment cruises through the north east. Also of note… I’m 6’2 and would be described as ‘rotund’; so, unfortunately… Miata is not the answer. Price is somewhat negotiable, I’d like it to be ideally less than 10k but would consider up to 15k
Quick Facts:
Budget: Ideally around $10,000, up to $15,000
Location: Upstate New York
Daily Driver: Yes
Wants: Something more interesting and fun compared to Hyundai
Doesn’t want: A boring automatic
Expert 1: Tom McParland – Unicorn!
The Veloster is a fine car for the commute to keep your fuel costs down and I imagine it’s fun enough not to make your daily drive too boring. Now, if you are looking for something that has both more pizzazz, I have found your next ride: This is a 2006 BMW 325xi wagon with a manual transmission. This is one of those rare times where I make a WCSYB recommendation and I consider buying the car for myself. BMW 3-wagons are rare specimens; you combine a 3-wagon with three-pedals and have yourself a unicorn.
The E91 body style was the last wagon BMW made with the manual option, so these are sought after cars by wagon nerds. Under the hood is a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated straight-six that makes a respectable 215 horsepower. This car isn’t a rocket-ship but the power delivery is incredibly smooth and that excellent motor is paired with what was arguably one of the most satisfying manual gearboxes of the time.
BMWs of this vintage can start to be heavy on maintenance, but this example seems to be well cared for by an enthusiast who has upgraded it with some very tasteful and desirable mods. At $11,000 it’s right in the sweet spot of your budget, and I suspect you will choose this over your Hyundai for your commute.
Expert 2: Collin Woodard – It’s Pretty Obvious
I know you want something unique and not completely obvious, Mitch, but I’m going to completely ignore that because, I’m sorry, what you need is a Chevrolet Corvette. You want something fun to drive that’s also reliable and has character, as well as room for a tall, broad American? That’s a Corvette. Plus, it shouldn’t be that hard to find one with a manual.
Sure, the Corvette is rear-wheel drive and pretty low to the ground, so it isn’t exactly ideal for winters in Upstate New York, but that just means you should be able to get a better deal on the ones that are currently for sale. Throw a set of Blizzaks on there, don’t do anything stupid and you’ll be fine. Back when I lived in Boston, I used to regularly walk past a house with an owner who refused to stop driving their Corvette in the winter, and if it worked for them, it should work for you, too.
Since it’s a Corvette, there’s also a ton of aftermarket support, and doing little projects here and there or even overhauling the entire interior should be much easier than they would be if you bought something that’s more of a hidden gem. It should also be reliable enough that you’ll be able to spend your time personalizing it to fit your needs instead of wrenching away trying desperately to get it running again.
It looks like your options are pretty limited if you want a Corvette with a stick in your area, but here’s a C5 that probably isn’t too far of a drive. It’s currently priced at $11,500, but I’d be willing to bet they’re willing to negotiate. After all, who buys a manual Corvette in states that have winter while it’s already winter? (And no, I don’t care that winter doesn’t officially begin for another month. It was in the 30s when I woke up. It’s winter.)
Expert 3: Owen Bellwood – Looks Like A Fun Project
Mitch, congrats on getting to the end of grad school – the world really is your lobster now! A moment like this deserves a really special set of wheels to celebrate, and while I do love the Veloster, and the suggestions my colleagues have made, I think there’s something better for you out there.
You want something fun, you want something special, you want something that needs a few upgrades. Mitch, what you want is an Alfa Romeo and specifically you want this lovely Alfa Romeo Spider from 1988. It’s perfect.
It might not be the first car that comes to mind for you, but isn’t that why you’re asking Jalopnik for advice? So instead of driving around in a BMW wagon or a car your uncle might own, why not take home a dash of European flair to brighten up your day? The Spider is a great choice, it’ll give you the chance to work on your wrenching, is pretty sporty and comes with all kinds of classic Italian quirks.
If all that wasn’t enough to convince you, then don’t worry because I’ve checked and this car is a whole 14 inches longer than a Miata. This means that once again, the Alfa Romeo Spider is the perfect car for you.
Expert 4: Amber DaSilva – You Already Know What You Want
Mitch, let’s be honest with each other here. You already have a car in mind. You get a gold star for your pick, considering it’s more or less the same one I had in mind when I read your message, but there’s something you’ve got your heart set on. Go chase it, Mitch.
You want a car that’s usable and reliable enough for weekend cruises, but can still be tinkered with when you want to get your hands dirty. You have a love for Bugeyes, you like the rarity of the 9-2x Aero — just get one! They’re well within your budget, like this clean-looking PA car for just $6,000, which leaves you plenty of room for mods. Don’t like the Airlift bags here? Want to move to a front mount? You’ve got thousands to play with.
The GD platform has incredible aftermarket support, and you don’t need to push it to transmission-shattering power levels to have a good time. The wagon body should have more than enough room for your 6’2″ height. Why not get the car you so clearly want? Join the Subie Squad, Mitch. Join us. You know you want to.
