Robert, I am a musician living in New York City since 1997. I have owned a car here since day one, and need one to move my drums around. Since I was a boy I’ve been pretty well obsessed with all kinds of cars, starting with my older brother’s ’68 Mustang, and it seems to just be getting worse with time. Of course I visit TTAC every day, as well as other blogs and forums, and have stacks of car magazines and books at home. My private shame is that the car I own is the beige ’99 Camry LE I bought from, ahem, my mom six years ago. In fact every car I have owned in NYC the last twelve years has been some kind of boring, base model 4-door sedan that blends into the NYC scenery like a dirty paper coffee cup on the sidewalk. With the exception of a too-short ownership of a ’71 Dodge Dart a couple years ago, my own Truth About Cars has been about as fun as getting a parking ticket. At this point, time is passing too quickly and I need to get a car to drive that doesn’t feel like putting on a wet pair of socks every day. I am asking for some advice for what you think (and maybe your colleagues) I should look for that would meet the following criteria:
1. Manual Transmission—this alone would introduce a whole new world of fun to me. (I’ve never owned one, and I know in NYC it could suck, but I’m not a commuter)
2. Under 10K—I don’t have the money to garage a car, can’t afford a new one, and don’t want to go through the torture of watching a beautiful expensive car go through the NYC Super Depreciation on the sidewalk. Some cosmetic challenges are OK. They will happen anyway. Fast.
3. If it is to replace my beater Camry, it needs to hold a drumkit. Which isn’t really THAT difficult. Should I sell the Camry and replace it with an all-purpose car? Or keep the Camry (parking two cars on the streets here is NO picnic) and buy an additional, completely impractical, “fun” ride? This issue would be a no-brainer if I lived out in the ’burbs and could just park an old project car in the driveway like everyone else. But it’s New York and it has its own set of challenges. Any thoughts?
Sincerely, Dave XXXXX
Oops!That photo would be 1969 Dodge Dart not a 1971.
Magnum R/T
Excellent car, excellent utility, blast to drive, and the best part for you, the value has dropped a LOT.
Inner NYC?
Try thinking like a European.
Hatch. Maybe hot hatch.
Being located in USA, well, you don’t get many choices.
Old Stalwart- VW Golf of any vintage. Usually also offered as GTi but the base model is famous for nice driving manners. I liked the first generation the best but they have probably all rusted away here in the land of salted roads. If there is a clean low mile one of those in Northeast it is probably located in a garage in NYC, owned by someone who does not have to drive every day.
If you go 2 car route then I recommend a first generation Miata. Pure fun, its almost as good as a motorcycle and when it rains you just reach back and haul up the top with one hand. Price way down in the single digits.
Used Mazda 3S 2.3
You can thank me later.
sounds like a cheap motorcycle would do the bill. Ninja 250 to learn, then GSX-R 600 after a few months.
Sell the Camry. Really any late model compact hatchback or sedan would do the trick.
I would also opt for a Mazda 3. However it would make a lot more sense to just list about six to eight cars that appeal to you and see what you like best.
My choices would be…
1) Mazda 3
2) Nissan Versa
3) Toyota Yaris
4) Toyota Matrix / Pontiac Vibe
5) Ford Focus ZX3/ZX5
6) Hyundai Elantra GT
The Fit would top them all but unfortunately I haven’t found one in the under-10k price range.
Dave, you may want to consider a used Scion xB.
It’s not a perfect choice, but it’s fun to drive, holds lots of stuff, and can be easily modified if you’re in to that sort of thing. Plus, the build quality is awesome, and the reliability on my ’05 (bought used with 80k miles) has so far been very high. It’s an awesome city car that’s small and easy to maneuver in tight spots. Mine has a few dings here or there so parking it outside never bothers me.
OK..it’s not very fast, but the Toyota 1.5L engine is smooth as silk and gets decent fuel economy. And there may be an image problem, but…who cares! I like it.
1st Gen Scion Xb with a stick. Plenty of those to be had for under $10k. And according to my experience, and truedelta.com’s, extremely reliable.
And the thing is a hoot to drive around urban areas. Although even with the rear seats down, you may have problems with the drum kit…depending on how big you kit is.
Plus it is very easy to park on the street, and the visibility is excellent.
Good suggestions above.
FWIW, I have a drum kit too, although it doesn’t travel (strictly for recording, it stays in the studio).
Subaru WRX wagon; ideally, 2004-2007. Or, Subie Forester XT in the 2004 model only. It has slightly lower gears in the manual, the exact same base motor as the STI just without the higher tuning (meaning, for not too much money, you can have a full-blown STI motor), and is easily modified to handle like a very seriously fun rally car. Plus, it can take slightly larger tires than a WRX so that’s a boon to NYC drivers, and you’ll have a total sleeper, with decent mileage, super utility for your kit, fun driving factor, and you won’t have to worry about city wear, dings, etc.
Outside of that, any of the hatchbacks mentioned would be great. Or, a tiny bit more upmarket, a used Audi A3.
Having been in roughly your situation for some years (needing to haul instruments, bikes, etc., but only wanting one car), hatchbacks may be the ultimate solution.
Good luck finding an A3 for under $10k.
Either a Mazda3 or its predecessor, the Protege5. I own the latter.
Thank you Robert for posting my letter! And thanks to everyone for their replies so far.
cardeveloper:
I love the Magnum and would snatch up an R/T in a second… if it had a manual transmission.
johnny ro:
Around where I live (Williamsburg) it is like a showroom of hot hatches… GTIs, Mini Cooper S’s, and I am intrigued… my fear is lack of space to put my drums, and/or my girlfriend, with said drums in the car. But I think I could do it. What do you think of the Cooper S? Not much for plummeting values, though…
And as far as the two car thing, I was thinking EXACTLY the same thing – 1st gen Miata, even if my friends would laugh – but I think I have ruled that out. Parking is tightening up around here and I was looking for a spot for 20 minutes the other night. With two cars the fun factor would deteriorate fast.
TVC15:
I need to drive one of those, as people keep suggesting the Mazda 3 who have owned one. I’ll thank you now.
I owned a rare 1969 Dodge GTS (a Dart variant), complete with 383 cu. in. MOPAR power. The thing was great on the straights but handling was nil. It smoked at the tires and tailpipe.
That’s why Barrett-Jackson auctions are so much fun on TV. Maybe there s/be a section on TTAC for such cars for sale here?
Your Camry is boring, but it’s reliable.
Any reasonably fast, fun (manual) wagon is going to be a Subaru, Saab 9-3 or Audi A4 (or such), but at under $10k is going to be old or high mileage, and thus less reliable. The xB is the only practical ride in your price range.
Dr. No has an interesting suggestion for RF, maybe TTAC could make some money ebay style.
+1 for both the Mazda3 and WRX/Forester XT.
Also consider one of the last year SVT Focii (Focuseseses? not sure what the plural is), I think they stopped making them in ’05. Very quick little car, available with a 6-speed and domestic manufacturer depreciation.
“Dave, you may want to consider a used Scion xB.” You pegged it. Good vehicle, quality build. Perfect car for the Big Apple and a guy with stuff to haul around.
for the price/fun factor, you ought to look at a Saab hatchback. Saabs depreciate like crazy, so you should easily me able to pick one up for your budget and have some cash left over to get a tune up and fluid change to get you started out right.
The Protege5 is a ton of fun, but your spine will hate you after driving on NYC streets for a while. If you’re looking more versatile with road trip potential, pick up a Honda Element. 3 drummers I know have bought them after seeing mine.
I agree with most of the posters here. I live in philadelphia, with the same parking challanges. I own a beat up, but running perfectly, VW Golf. Fun, fast, good for carying stuff.
Tho, i really want a smaller car, parking is THAT bad here, i am thinking about a Mini Cooper, but i dont think they are cheap enough yet for your budget. Again, fast, fun, carry all yout stuff, parkable.
As for two cars – Are you totally out of your mind? in the city?
As the owner of an ’04, I also recommend an early xB. Practical, cheap to drive, efficient, easy to park, and the back windows come tinted pretty dark from the factory. Good, unmolested ones can be had under $10k these days (when I bought mine last year, $10k was about the price floor on them).
Plus, you could probably haul three drum kits with it.
Focii (Focuseseses? not sure what the plural is)
Focuses or Foci could both be acceptable. “Focii” is just as ridiculous as “Focuseses.” There’s no need to repeat a plural ending.
As a current owner of one for the past 5 years and counting; Mazda 3. I’m about to conduct my 10th oil change.
Didn’t the previous generation Mazda6 come in a wagon as well as a sedan? Decent space, reasonably cheap, reliable, fun to drive. NYC will certainly take its toll, so goodness on the inside is more important than on the outside.
You could do far worse than a 2007 Suzuki SX4. When I checked the Kelley Blue Book Web site, I found that a Good condition 2007 SX4 base model (which is no stripper) with 42,000 miles has a private party value of $9,325. With 38.1 cubic feet of cargo capacity (that’s with the rear seats folded up), the SX4 hatchback ought to hold your drumkit nicely.
If you want ultimate fun, easy to park, takes a beating (surrounded by a ring of plastic parts), handles hot sun and snow alike, and handles NYC potholes without flinching, then get a 2-door Wrangler.
I the last-gen 2-door, and I also used to haul my drums around. With the seats folded, it takes a huge kit (8 piece) with no trouble. Plus it’s so basic, nothing breaks and it also looks cool. Good luck!
Since my initial comment hasn’t posted yet (too many links?), here’s my suggestion: 2007 Suzuki SX4 hatchback. Good cargo capacity (38.1 cf), standard AWD and a KBB private party value of $9,325 should all help the SX4 meet your needs.
Honda Element!
My father played drums and used Wagons all his life to move the set. Wagons, ie: Dodge Magnum, can fit everything, but they’re deep and a pain in the ass & back after a while to move stuff in and out. Not the most effective/efficient use of the space for this.
A van, minivan or stupid SUV offshoot of the day is actually easier to move this stuff in and out of. Which is why I recommend the Element. It’s also very well enclosed and isn’t easily peered into like a windowy Matrix, Mazda 3 or Fit.
I used a Ford Explorer to haul my set around. I borrowed a friend’s Expedition with a small uHaul trailer for speakers when traveling with the band a few times, which worked out very well. The SUV’s clearance is a huge welcome when driving over the cross-bronx expressway and all the other god awful roads there. This is their big advantage over the smaller vehicles like the Focus and Mazda’s.
Also I’d like to ad the Hyundai Santa-Fe. That’s a very solid CUV, not overly large and I would think you can find one in good condition for $10k. Their smaller Tucson is pretty decent as well but may be a bit too small for a large set, I don’t know. These cars last forever too.
A used Honda Fit jumps out, screams and waves its arms at these requirements.
HONDA FIT! HONDA FIT! HONDA FIT!
High fun-to-drive quotient, twilight-zone interior space, small for the city, manual-yes, and it even throws in for free: reliable and economical on fuel.
Again: HONDA FIT! HONDA FIT! HONDA FIT!
PT Cruiser
You will get a much newer car for your 10K and plenty of room. You can also get a stick. The people that own them love them.
Hmmm, I had all kind of ideas till I read that part about parking on the street in NYC. That excludes lots of fun “oldies” which will rust quickly in that environment.
The Scion xB is a good idea; the xA is smaller, a bit cheaper but probably still accommodates your drums with the seat down. Or maybe one of those 2 door Civics from a few years back that are squared off in back like a wagon, and even open up like a wagon (“tailgate” swings down and window goes up).
If your gear will fit in the trunk, how about an early 80’s Mercedes 240D or 300D diesel sedan? You will definitely want the stick to wring as much performance as you can out of the diesel engine, it will still not be fast, but cars can be fun without being rockets. And the car will run forever with incredible mileage. They do rust, but slowly. Unfortunately the 300TD wagons are hard to find at a reasonable price in good shape, I know, I have been looking.
I would go for a Chevy HHR over the PT Loser, IMO. There is a “sedan delivery” version of the HHR out there (no rear side windows), not sure if you can get one under $10K or with stick.
If you are willing to risk the rust, I was going to say a Corvair work van or Greenbrier.
An Integra makes a great nyc car. It’s a hatchback and the back seats fold down so you can fit a gang of shit in there. I had an auto teg in nyc myself. The auto sucks, get the manual for sure, but it is the ultimate nyc traffic runner. The only drawback is it can be a target for thieves. I would strongly recommend getting an alarm with a pager and there is a little operation which makes it a lot harder to steal – relocation of the hood release cable (which stock, conveniently for thieves, runs through the outside of the fender right under the left wheel well cover). Here’s a tutorial for that operation: http://www.team-integra.net/sections/articles/showArticle.asp?ArticleID=732
Really any hatchback will do, you might even find a WRX wagon in your budget, which is a car high on my list, and not such a target for thieves.
Your drums will fit in a GTI, but probably not in a Mini (they are super tight inside and the back seats take up the entire hatch area).
Didn’t the previous generation Mazda6 come in a wagon as well as a sedan?
Sadly, the really cool wagon only carried the 6 cyl/auto combo.
Maybe a Subie wagon?
I would look at a 2001+ Volkswagen Golf or a high-mileage 2007 Honda Element. The years listed for both offer standard side torso/head airbags. They are both practical, yet fun-to-drive. The Golf would be a bit more reliable if you move past 01/02. They both have their respective strengths – the Element is incredibly reliable, roomy, and would probably hold up better to the NYC roads. The Golf would be more fun-to-drive, get better mileage and could park in smaller spaces.
Another choice might be an older Civic hatchback, but you give up a good bit of safety. I personally couldn’t stomach driving a scion or a Miata. Any convertible would be a poor choice in the city anyhow. Plus, you would have your kit as a passenger in that one.
Focus Wagon, 2005 or newer.
Available with heated seats and mirrors, quick acceleration & wicked at cornering. I’ve tortured mine since it was new and the only issue so far has been some frayed wires inside the boot that links the tailgate with the body. This caused the rear hatch release to malfunction. This particular issue has been mentioned in the LemonAid guide.
Its possible to remove the rear seat cushions to allow the rear seat backs to fold completely flat and still maintain great front legroom and seat reclining.
I see a lot of small business run their operation out of that car. Myself included.
Dealer book value for my car w/ options package is $6500 CDN / $5000 USD.
The Mazda3 is a great choice (I have one) but you’ll have trouble finding anything except a base first-year sedan for under $10k (if that). The Protege5 would be easier to find and is probably just as good at hauling stuff as the 3 and just as fun, but refinement is not a strong suit.
I second the Focus idea. They’re really under-rated cars; superb handling (until 2008 anyway), reliable from 2005 on and the wagon certainly looks cavernous. They’re hard to find though.
Civic Si
Mazda 3S (no i version)
Subaru WRX wagon
There should be loads of Mustang GTs in that range, no idea if a drumkit would fit or not.
If you’re brave, a GTI.
The only problem with Mazda3 for just under 10k is new ones are in the 13s. 2008 hatch leftovers were 15k just a while ago in the newspapers in boston. The pricing makes me dizzy, I get confused and turn away.
Otherwise its a wonderful car to drive.
Wont get a drumset in the sedan version, I fear.
Mini Cooper S is great but surprised if under 10k and if you can fit drums ins.
Focus is good idea, yes me too.
Yyyyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeaaahhh. We’re gonna need you to purchase a used gen 1 Scion xB. We’re also gonna need you to come in on Saturday. Okay? Okay.
Seriously, while I love the Focus, a Toyota to a Ford is something of a backslide, no? I don’t imagine a musician – even a professional one – has much cash to frivously spend on auto repairs. And while Ford is my current favorite automaker, their most reliable vehicle is still a far cry from Toyota’s economobile.
You want space? Gen 1 owners will swear you can play the drums in the back of their boxes. There’s a thread currently going on ScionLife about the ludicrous things we’ve carted around as cargo. The current winner is 800 pounds of mulch…I was a close second with three people, luggage for same, a bed frame, and a potted fig tree named George.
The manuals are fun as hell, too. Nothing beats buzzing around an urban environment in an xB. After all, what good are the horses when nobody’s doing more than 25 MPH?
You want an interesting whip? Mission accomplished. There’s distinctive, and then there’s distinctive – so much so that you can identify your vehicle, at a glance, under two feet of fresh snow. Golf? Focus? Saab? Please — they’re about as distinctive as crab grass. If you want to stand out like the Oscar-Meyer-Wienermobile, in the sort of car that people in certain parts of the country still think is “some kind of spacecraft,” there’s really no question.
Put that Camry out to pasture (e.g. sell it to someone in New Jersey) and get on that! You’ll be glad you did.
Thanks everybody. It’s really great reading all your suggestions. Some of my intuitive choices are reinforced, and some suggestions I would have never thought of and now require some research. That’s great.
Robert – While that picture is indeed a pre-1971, my Dart was exactly that color.
I am intrigued by the small consensus on the Scion xB. I’ve always appreciated the no-compromise styling, love it or hate it. (The new one is disappointing in that regard) Reliability is big plus since, obviously money is an issue right now. And I didn’t know you could get one with a stick. Hmmmmm… me likey! I will definitely check that out. That is a car that was not previously on the radar. I would probably wish it was faster, but would take solace when it started every time.
To the folks who have suggested a Subaru wagon (Impreza/WRX/Forester), I would seriously consider one of those too. I saw a black WRX wagon the other day and a light went off in my head. Fast as hell, practical… Do they make a WRX without the huge hood scoop or does it need that for the turbo setup? I like a low profile. The Forester “sleeper” setup described by Ferrygeist is cool. The AWD would be nice in the slushy stuff around here. My Camry, already embarrassing, was even more so when it was stuck in an 18 inch snow drift a few weeks ago.
jerseydevil – I was only temporarily out of my mind on that one. I have since snapped back to reality. I did the two car thing when I owned the Dart, so I should know better.
A few of you mentioned the Suzuki SX4. I know nothing about that car at all, but now I will check it out, thanks!
And the Honda Fit – I had no idea those were fun to drive! Another car I need to shop now.
Volkswagon GTI’s are great looking, clearly fun to drive, and would easily fit my stuff, but I am a bit worried about the reliability and repair cost. My friend has an ’02 Passat and every time something goes wrong with it I am floored by how much he spends. Of course, he goes to the dealer, so maybe his fault.
I mentioned this before but with so many people talking about the Mazda3 (or similar). I think I should really try to drive one of those before I buy anything. Sounds like it could be the bang-for-the-buck winner… have to get over my irrational Mazda phobia…
Dr No – There is a ’69 Dart GTS that has been sitting in the East Village since the beginning of time. It’s black with a white butt stripe, and looks like was a target at a driving range for 40 years. There are more dimples on the sheetmetal than there are on a golf ball, but it still sits there every day, proudly defiant of the world passing it by.
-Dave
JuniorMint – LOL. How many TPS reports will fit in an xB?
Ah the joys of keeping a car and parking in NYC. I have unfortunate memories of sleeping in the car while double parked during street cleaning. And then oversleeping the exodus after the cleaning truck came through and having nowhere to park.
I drive from the NYC burbs to Manhattan probably 3 days a week, though usually during off-peak hours, and it’s enough to make me crazy.
For what it’s worth, my GTI is easy enough to park, but the Mk3 GTIs under $10k are not the most fun to drive.
Pontiac Vibe GT
The old Vibe GT and Hot Matrix had a cheapo GM clutch that liked to wear out very very early. Saabs and VW have scary reliability and Scions are sloooow. Get a used WRX wagon or an SVT focus. Yes you need a WRX with a hood scoop to get the air to the intercooler.
You can find deals on both on autotrader. A 2002 WRX wagon with 90k milles is 8k. On the the other hand, an SVT Focus from with 67k is 10k. Both are really good options that would be lots of fun that would let you sell you Camry.
I used to see that 69 GTS in the East Village all the time. Is that the one that’s always parked around Great Jones and Lafayette? I used to live on W3rd and would see it all the time.
I think the PT is a good suggestion; it would make a nice transition from the Dart to new. There’s an 07 (manual) in Jersey on Ebay for 9k…
The Element seems great too, may be harder to find, though. Good luck!
Mazda3 hatchback or Protege5.
As long as folks are mentioning the SX4, why not its predecessor – the lowly, forgotten Suzuki Aerio? These little MPVs are a bit tough to come by these days, but assuming you can find one the ’04s and ’05s easily go for south of $7k. The engine’s larger than an xB’s (a 2.3L after ’04), and except for some wheel alignment problems in the AWD models they’ve been reliable. Downsides: the wagon (which is the version you want) is one of the most ridiculous looking cars made in the last ten years, AWD is only available with the slushbox, and even with a manual it’s not going to give you the thrills that a real hot hatch would. Still, if cheap and practical with a dollop of weird are what you need, I’m hard-pressed to think of better.
JuniorMint – LOL. How many TPS reports will fit in an xB?
28,621. You can get more reports in there if you leave off the cover letters but, uhhh, I would advise against that. Trust me. :p
Driving in NYC is lousy. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a Miata or a Mercedes. It’s still lousy. So get something that you don’t care about, because it’s gonna get beat to hell. Then when your band thing falls apart, and you get a wife, and a baby and you move out of Brooklyn and into Maplewood, NJ, then you get a Miata.
If you want manual, fun to drive, but still practical enough to fit your drum kit I would go with a hatch. GTI, WRX, or Mazda3 are all good choices. WRX may be the best bet for reliability plus the benefit of AWD in NY. I have a GTI and love it. Great blend of many of the features you are looking for. But reliability is an issue with VW.
pb35 :
I used to see that 69 GTS in the East Village all the time. Is that the one that’s always parked around Great Jones and Lafayette? I used to live on W3rd and would see it all the time.
That is definitely the one – you nailed it exactly. That car rules.
Used 2004-2006 Scion xB. Should be $10000. Toyota reliability. Insane space inside with the seats down. Easy to find, unlike a Mazda PR5. If you’re a musician you can pull off the scion funkiness no problem. Only downside is buzziness and droning on roadtrips, but the stereo is good for that. If it still has one. And weak metal and paint. It will be brutalized in new york.
My other suggestion is a Chevy Astro. That can be had for a few thousand. You don’t get reliability, but you do get durability, you might be able to skip hotels on road trips, and if it breaks down, there’s a Chevy dealer on every block ready to sell you parts.
Both are slab sided and ready for the protective coating of bumper stickers.
My daughter and her husband are musicians. They are also very hard on cars. After several cars that they just destroyed, they bought a 2000 Jeep Cherokee Sport with the 4.0 6. It has been indestructible and very fuel efficient. Lots of drums and amps fit nicely.
EDIT: post redundant, my first one just showed up.
Bottom line, no one’s ever going to mistake the Aerio for a great car. But if I could have that and an extra $2000 in pocket change versus a Mazda3, well…
Since you live in NYC, have you considered joining Zipcar? There are 2 possibilities:
1) Buy a fun car, sell the Camry, and use Zipcar to haul your drums around if it isn’t something you do too often.
2) Rent a variety of Zipcars and see which ones you like that also fit your drum kit. Zipcar’s fleet is automatic only, but you can just buy the stick version on the market. Once you buy your own car, cancel your membership.
P.S.: I don’t work for Zipcar.
Lots of good suggestions here. I like the suggestion of Integra particularly, and would add Honda Civic and Fit, if the fit is big enough for drums and girlfriend, and if used ones can be obtained for <10k.
How ’bout a slightly used Ranger pickup with a locking tonneau? If it has a decent bedliner, with some minor mods you could keep that drum kit from rattling around the bed…the locking tonneau would keep prying eyes from your load (in a wagon, with all that glass, people are gonna see what yer haulin’….maybe not such a good idea depending on the NYC neighborhood ya live in. Big tires to get ya through those potholes, high up driving position to see your way over and through those NYC jams. If you are careful and check out with a mechanic what you buy, pretty reliable, and cheap to run. 5 speed manual available, and a hoot on those runs to the Jersey shore.
Tramps like us, baby we were born to run….
You live in downtown NYC and you want something interesting and distinctive to park out on the street? More power to ya bud.
I spent four years in downtown Philadelphia, and if I had to move back into a city again and park my cars on the street interesting and distinctive is the last thing I want. I moved into Philly in 1990 with a very nice, clean, shiny black 1988 Chevrolet Celebrity Eurosport wagon. It was a terrible car for that environment. The punks would not leave that car alone. I think I put five passenger front door windows in it. No privacy glass meant that I could not keep anything at all in it or someone would bust a window. Punks even busted a window anyway just to rumage through it look for anything of value. Punks even stole it from right out from in front of my apartment one night. It was recovered by Philly’s finest a few hours later because I noticed it had been pilfered shortly after they took it. Meanwhile my wife’s car, a boring drab blue 1985 Chevrolet Cavalier, was never bothered or molested. I replaced the Celebrity two years later with a black 1985 Chevrolet Caprice sedan with a weather-beaten paint job. I had that car until we moved out of the city, and the punks never bothered it.
If the Camry can carry the drum kit and no one is bothering it why change? Boring sedans are great city cars because you can keep stuff in the trunk and no one bothers with them. If you can’t stand the Camry then get a Ford Crown Vic. Better yet, get a decommissioned unmarked Crown Vic Police Intercepter. Massive trunk, better suspension for dealing with NYC streets, and no one will mess with it because they’ll think its a detective’s car. Extra points if it still has the spotlight in the A-pillar.
If you must go with something wagon-ish or hatch-ish get an old SUV or minivan with privacy glass, and I would lean more towards the minivan. The high seat backs are better at keeping things out of sight from anyone peering in through the front. Plus it’s hard to have a more invisible car than a minivan. When was the last time you saw a cop pull a minivan over? Exactly.
As an owner of both a gen1 xB and a Forester, I can recommend both. The xB is perfect for urban environments: unparalleled visibility, compact, zippy, and economical. The ride is harsh, especially over rough pavement.
The Forester is much better in tackling pot holes and broken pavement. No need to slow down for anything, including speed bumps. And the AWD is a boon.
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subaru-forester-25-xt/
Either is a great choice, and an XT (turbo) Forester is a total ball, very fast.
radimus – I hear you. I’ve been through the pain of break-ins, tire slashings, outright theft, and vandalism on my cars in New York city for the last 12 years. The Camry is absolutely the ultimate wallflower on the street, mine doesn’t even have hubcaps, and I can’t fault it for always being there and relatively intact every day. It’s just that lately every time I walk up to it I almost trip over it because I can’t tell it apart from a stack of newspapers and once I’m inside I narcoleptically (new word) fall asleep the moment my hands touch the controls. It’s dangerous when I am rolling down the street and ZZZZs are coming off the top of the car like Dagwood is driving.
Bob12 – I looked into it per your suggestion (and I have a bunch of friends who rent Zipcars) and, whaddaya know, there is a Zipcar garage 5 blocks from my house. Your suggestion on renting those cars to see what will fit inside is terrific. Thanks!
Thanks again to everyone for all the suggestions. You folks rock.
Justin Berkowitz :
Ah the joys of keeping a car and parking in NYC. I have unfortunate memories of sleeping in the car while double parked during street cleaning. And then oversleeping the exodus after the cleaning truck came through and having nowhere to park.
I drive from the NYC burbs to Manhattan probably 3 days a week, though usually during off-peak hours, and it’s enough to make me crazy.
For what it’s worth, my GTI is easy enough to park, but the Mk3 GTIs under $10k are not the most fun to drive.
Justin, do you own a stick GTI? Is that part of what drives you crazy driving it in the city? Just curious. Why do you say the Mk3 GTIs under 10K are not the most fun to drive? Too beat down?
dzwax :
After several cars that they just destroyed, they bought a 2000 Jeep Cherokee Sport with the 4.0 6. It has been indestructible and very fuel efficient.
16/20 is fuel efficient? Does the rest of the family drive Peterbilts? ;)
Volvo 240 or 740 Turbo wagon. Good MPG, simple and cheap to fix, suspension to handle NYC roads.
With the back seat stowed, it will carry your drum kit. And the guitar and bass player’s rigs. And a keyboard rig. And all the brass for a decent horn section.
P71 Crown Vic with push guards front and rear.
I live around the city, and I think the Volvo wagons are a great option, except most Volvo wagons are a bit big length-wise, which would really limit your parking spot options in the city.
I’d suggest:
BMW 3-series wagon
Volvo V40
Mazda 5
Ford Transit Connect (when its available on the market)
Honda Element
maybe a Volvo C30 too if you’re interested in a hatchback.
Dave, funny how in a city the size of NY that one car could stand out, isn’t it? I haven’t been downtown for about 3 years and I still remember that Dart. I can’t remember any other car that I’ve seen when I lived in NY.
One more suggestion (has been mentioned earlier) but I bought a new 2005 Mazda 6 wagon with a 5 speed when I moved out of NY as I purchased my first home. The Mazda was great at swallowing furnature, lawn mowers, BBQ grills, toilets, etc. That and it was fun to drive as well. I traded it for an SUV in 2007 with 22k mi on the clock for about $12k.
Dave already has a boring, cheap car and wants something with a bit more life in the wheel. So no scion, fit, scion, matrix, scion or suzuki for our buddy Dave the drummer.
BMW 3 or 5 series – take some time to find a 1 owner manual with all the work done on it and you could be very happy – a good cheap manly car you can be proud of showing up in.
these next 4 are a bit more pubescent:
mini -I have driven the snot out of one, very fun if your drums fit. silver/black -college girls all have red with ‘edgy’ white roof so avoid at all costs
Focus SVT hatch- awesome car, reliable, fast, actually alot of room in the back, steering that has real feeling that you can really feel!- a rare thing, Black or Red (owned one)
Subaru – go as small as you can with your drums fitting (Impreza?) – again, steering with some feel, and pretty good scoot, will live to 100, Silver/Black – avoid pimply royal blue and white
Mazda 3 hatch – good steering, tough, looks decent, good room Silver/black and not too bad in white somehow…
Zip car and buy something fun – great idea!
good luck and I hope you avoid the estrogen filled scion with the limp, dead steering and the 14″ wheels at all costs!
I’ve parked a bunch of cars in NYC over the years. I’ve found, the nicer the car, the less people will mess with it. It pays keep it clean, as people won’t mess with it as much (not that they won’t at all, just not as much). I actually had 2 cars for a couple months, after I bought my current car and was selling my old Integra. Parking one car, doable, 2? It sucks, don’t do it. If you want 2 cars, you have to rent garage space, otherwise all the enjoyment of having them is sucked right out of you.
And if you like the WRX wagon, I’m pretty sure that is going to be the most fun to drive/practical/parkable/reliable car out of all your options.
A Golf is a good call. I had one in the 718 (2000 Mk IV), stupid things went wrong, but it could handle potholes no problem. Also it was at its best in the city, good off the line, ran out of steam around 60-70 mph (but you can always downshift). Easy to park and could easily eat a drum kit. And the Little Garage in Soho is actually a very good and honest VW mechanic. I sold it for $6000 with 31K on the odo, so you could easily pick up a nice one under 10 grand.
Dave, I’m going to level with you. You will never have a better driving, better performing, or more reliable car than a Crown Victoria. It will hold your drums, ten guitars, a saxophone, and sound equipment in the trunk. It has a big, durable cast iron V8 block that is repeatedly proven to be reliable past 400,000 miles. No Toyota or German “hot hatch” (an oxymoron if I ever heard one) can compete. Now, look around and you can find a relatively new Crown Victoria for 4-5k. Spend #3-4k on a turbocharger and supercharger (kits are available and you can have it professionally installed.) At most, you have a beautiful classic Ford for $1,000 less than your $10,000 limit. You’ll be much more respected in the auto community for doing this rather than going along with the crowd and purchasing some Volkswagen Rarebit or Subaru (hahaha, I can’t believe people take these little cars seriously).
A Ranger is not a bad idea, but make sure it’s a 4×2 regular cab with the short bed. Should still be big enough to hold the drums, but small enough to have a tight turn radius. Drove the regular and SuperCab, and it’s surprising how much bigger the SuperCab turn radius is. Of course, I may just suck at parking. And the tonneau cover with a lock is a great idea. Have one on my SuperCab and you have no idea what’s in it. Make sure to get a decent lock, though. The one I have feels like it could be broken pretty easily, but I live in the ‘burbs, so not too worried. You’re also going to have to hunt if you want one with a manual, even in the base XL. I think they had like 3 manuals out of 15 when I got the SuperCab in ’04.
whatsanobeen : The Volvo C30 is a sexy hatch, for sure. I have always been a fan of the early ’70s P1800ES, and that rear end lives on today. Those unfortunately, like the Mini Cooper, will need to depreciate a little more before I can get my paws on one.
boosterseat: I like all of those suggestions. Thanks for including colors. Haha. (I agree with most of those too). My brother sold his 3 series BMW sedan recently though because he was tired of the huge repair bills. I absolutely loved driving that car and I certainly would feel all grown up with a BMW wagon. I’ll price them.
dolo54: I have been scouring the interwebs for the WRX wagons in the area the last 48 hours.
Maxb49: My friend who is a bass player has a Crown Vic and loves it. I respect that big old American torque log, trust me. It floats over the potholes. It scares people when you are behind them. It swallows other cars in its trunk. But, it doesn’t have a stick, and that is the #1 priority on this list.
In my ‘hood there is a 67 Olds Toronado in good shape with a rebuilt engine and trans. $7,295 Canadian. What are you waiting for?!!!
RF:
A Classic Mini would appear to tick every box, albeit with some mods:
http://www.minispace.co.uk/beatles/ringo/index.htm
Good enough for Ringo’s drumkit!
Acura RSX Type-S
Just to put a period on this thread for anyone who somehow comes across it in the next couple hundred years: I saved some extra cash, took a little money out, and bought a 2005 MINI Cooper S with a 6-speed manual, with 20500 miles for around 15K. Thanks again to all the posters – was great hearing everyone’s advice.
The fun-to-drive in the city factor was just too much for me to resist, and I figured here will be many more chances in life to buy something “practical”. But honestly it has proven even more practical in the city than I had anticipated. I was thrilled when I discovered that late at night, once I had staked out the perfect parking spot on the correct side of the street, I can often drive off and come back and have it waiting for me because only another MINI could fit into it. Joy.
I rented one from Zipcar first to make sure that my drumset would fit in one. Barely, with a passenger. 35 mpg on the highway isn’t too shabby either. Although the way I have been driving it around town (like a jackass, usually) my mileage has been nothing to brag about.
Overall, I really like it, and the only thing I would change is that it rides pretty rough and rattles over bumps. But, it’s a MINI and they do that.
btw, boosterseat – it’s black with a black roof, black interior. about as non-college chick as they come :)