Kobi writes:
I need a car for under $15,000, manual trans, RWD or non-transverse/non-haldex all wheel drive. I hate transverse/fwd. I hate automatics. I have owned a Nissan SE-R, Acura Integra, Honda Prelude and now I have a last generation Toyota MR-Spyder that I don’t want to abuse during the winter again. I got a last generation Isuzu Trooper for my wife, little baby and dogs — but she complains about the mileage. So I want to get a winter-ish car that I’ll enjoy too, that is safe (!) for the baby, and has room for two dogs. This car is in addition to the MR and the Trooper.
I like reliability, I like convertibles as well – love the sun. If the Toyota Solara convertible were rwd or longitudinal awd with a manual tranny that would be my dream car. If Toyota made a 5-series like station wagon with RWD – that would be a close second. I like reliability. I love cars, but it pisses me off to have to throw parts at something.
I have been thinking 05 Legacy GT wagon – big sunroof. A little scared about the first model year jinx, and some (although few) reports of reliability/expensive repairs. Or maybe go really, really budget and see if I can find an unabused Legend or Integra GSR sedan? I’ve made a list – having already ruled out BMW for the nonsense with maintenance that I can’t suffer.
IS300
Pro: Toyota, RWD, manual yes
Con: everywhere, wagon auto only- swap from sedan, small interior
G35 Sedan
Pro: RWD, manual yes, high hp
Con: everywhere, cheap interior, ugly 1st generation body
Acura TSX
Pro: manual yes, Honda engine, nice interior, like a big Prelude?
Con: transverse fwd
Infiniti M45, 2003-2004
Pro: classic shape, relatively rare, v8, high hp, RWD
Con: auto only – possibly swap likely difficult
Sajeev answers:
The Infiniti M45 has a classic shape? That’s gotta be a first in the history of the Internet. Anyway, I don’t see you hating transverse powertrains, considering all the wrong-wheel drive cars you’ve owned. And the ones you’re considering. And as far as BMW nonsense in the reliability department, I see Subarus being just as troublesome. And maybe even harder to diagnose and repair for multiple reasons.
Get over transverse powertrains, or get a used Mustang GT droptop driven by an older, somewhat hoon-averse, person. Oh wait, you want safety, so kiss your droptop dreams goodbye! Judging by your current and past vehicles, you like cheap and cheerful: none of the cars on your list fit the bill. Why consider snobby, near luxury cars? I’d recommend a Honda Civic or Mazda 3. Even better, their zippier versions at the top of the range: the Si and the MazdaSpeed.
Steve Answers:
You have a terminal case of the What-if’s. In the corporate world we call it paralysis by analysis, but the big point is this. You’re just gazing at your navel for way too long and creating friction out of fiction. Haldex AWD systems are fine these days. Transverse powertrains are fine. Heck, just getting FWD and a good set of snow tires is absolutely fine.
I can’t recommend a car because you simply have the automotive preferences of Cybil. You want a Solara? Fine, drive one. You want a Subaru Legacy wagon? They are insanely overpriced (as are the Toyondas and BMW’s you mentioned). But if that’s what floats your boat so be it. The only real direction I can give you is… don’t be a snob. The prior owner of the vehicle is going to have a much greater impact on your long-term satisfaction than the corporate emblem on the hood. I just don’t know any wagons with convertible tops, AWD, and a stickshift for $15k.
The Toyota MR-S you drive will likely outlast whatever your desire du jour is. I would just get it some good snow tires. A detail. Catch up on the maintenance… and drive the wheels off of it. For $15k you can enjoy some amazing vacations and still drive a great car when you get back from leisureland.
Need help with a car buying conundrum? Email your particulars to mehta@ttac.com, and let TTAC’s collective wisdom make the decision easier… or possibly much, much harder.
Jeep Wrangler 4-door
Convertible
Easy to drive/maneuver
Fairly reliable and simple
Kid/dog-proof
She’s coming from a Trooper, so it’ll drive like a sports car ;)
(and if she had a Trooper, a major downsizing could be culture shock for her)
Very good value retention in later years
EDIT: Have these been on the market long enough to hit $15K? If not, it’s gotta be close…
Exactly what I was thinking.
Used first generation Cherokee?
Just don’t roll it over…
Or smack your head on the rear speakers mounted on the rollcage.
Guys, he mentioned the crappy mileage of the Trooper as his motivation.
Jeeps get mileage just as bad or worse.
But the list of candidates is so diverse I think he might be an “I’ll know it when I see it” kind of person, not a “seek advice and decide from that” person.
If you already have a fun car, why not get a Mazda 5 with a stick? Sure, they’re FWD, but they are more fun than a minivan. They are great for kids (sliding door and 3 rows of seats) and get mileage in the low to mid 20s.
I agree, the 5 is a fun ride for what it is and practical. You have the Toy when you want to hoon, so why get get another RWD convertible? Figure out what you really want from this third car, then narrow down your choices.
My brother drives an 05 Outback XT and my best friend drives an 05 LGT sedan. Both vehicles are quite reliable and I would definitely recommend them. Good luck finding a 5MT LGT wagon, though. I had originally looked for one when I sold my GTI but they are all modded or high mileage.
Why not an Impreza WRX wagon/hatch w/ stick? If you look hard enough, you’ll find an unmolested model. If you aren’t looking for something particularly sporty, a Forester or non-turbo Legacy wagon is pretty easy to find. The IS300 is a good option, but just plan on getting the sedan. I’m a hatch/wagon guy like you, but finding a Sport Cross is near impossible and you’d have to drive an auto.
I’m in a similar situation just opposite. I am looking for something fun, RWD, reliable, and under $15k. So far I’ve driven an 08 Miata MX-5 Sport 6MT (great handling) and an 06 Honda S2000 (OMG, what an engine!) If I can be patient, I’ll wait until next year when the Toyota FT-86 (FR-S) comes out, though. No need to buy a car and turn around and resell it when I can’t resist the FR-S.
GS-R! GS-R! GS-R! Inexpensive, reliable, tons of quality modifications to improve the driving experience if that’s your thing and it will depreciate less than anything else on your list. You’ll have a harder time finding a four door but the good news is that they’re not quite as popular with the “tuner scene” and, as a result, your chances of finding a virgin are better than they are with the 3dr variant. Good luck.
How are GS-Rs on insurance rates relative to other sport compacts in it’s class? I’ve tinkered with the idea of picking one up.
I’m 26, have two other cars on the policy, have collision on all three and fire/theft on the Civic and Integra and have had a clean record for the past five years. The Integra works out to about 140/mo but I have provisions in the policy protecting the extensive modifications. Depending on the car you bought and the coverage you chose I can’t imagine it would be more than what I’m paying, assuming you have a relatively clean record. Probably quite a bit less if you opt for standard coverage.
I have seen some old, non-modified Subaru wagons with low miles, but they’re almost all from very snowy areas of the country and were driven by little old ladies who wanted the 4speed auto. Sorry. If you look really high and low you MIGHT find a base Impreza wagon from the first generation or so that fits the bill. That’s a big MIGHT.
If you could get over your FWD averse-ness I’d suggest looking for a stick shift V6 Mazda6 hatch or wagon. I know, pretty dang rare, but seek and ye shall find.
a winterish car? where do you live? New York City, Montana or the UP of Michigan. It makes a difference. What kind of dogs? Paris Hilton tea cups or English Mastiffs? You want a “safe” car….well its 2010, so even 7 year old used cars are relativley safe, given their respective weights and girth. You have a young child and made mention of a transmission swap on an Infiniti M35….? Are you made of money? The 3 or 4 grand that a PROFESSIONAL swap might cost would be better served spent on your kid’s education or something else more meaningful. Your post is all over the place. Its easy to day dream and “what if” , and if its only a paper exercise thats fine…but to really expect to find what you want in the real world for 15k is a bit much.
“I just don’t know any wagons with convertible tops, AWD, and a stickshift for $15k.”
Awsome.
I’ve just had an idea for a new Top Gear episode – following on from the convertible Minivan…..
Thank you for making this feature a regular item on your site. The responses that I got were quite helpful. I hope other readers will take advantage of your knowledge.
I’ll bite:
Cadillac CTS-V – RWD, stick, big V8
Dodge Magnum AWD – no stick, but good in snow
Nissan is pushing the, shall we say, “quirky” Murano convertible in the next model year or two. Save the transmission, you might be the target audience. Start saving, in a few years this beauty could be yours…
I’d say screw the manual transmission and get the ’03-’04 M45. I love those things.
Assuming you won’t accept that, and even though you don’t seem too into domestic cars, I’d take a look at the first-gen Cadillac CTS 3.6L.
There is also a manual-transmission Lincoln LS V6, but good looking finding one of those.
If only they’d offered the row-your-own with the eight cylinder. Egads.
Yeah, I support this comment. M35-45 seems like a great choice. It’s a sporty tank with safety features and an option of 4wd. IS300 is a distant second but I dunno if you can fit everything in there, wife, baby, and 2 dogs.
The dogs aren’t Newfies are they? LOL.
Two things to point out:
In terms of safety? The Trooper is one of the most unsafe vehicles you could put your kids in. Consumer Reports found them to be one of the most at risk vehicles for flipping.
In terms of winterish? RWD is aweful in winter. Period. AWD or FWD.
And I repeat, get your kids out of that Trooper, please.
Correction: RWD is only as awful as the tires of the car. From personal experience, a heavy overpowered RWD car can tame a Boston winter if it has the right tires. How about an Infiniti FX35? It’s a bit tall for a dog and not quite as roomy as a wagon, but it’s RWD and longitudinal, and also available in AWD. Also, if you really must have a manual, it shares a platform with the G35, so you can go bankrupt tilting at that windmill.
From personal experience, a heavy overpowered RWD car can tame a Boston winter if it has the right tires
+1 Actually, in some parts of Boston RWD has an advantage. I live in a hilly area and some of them are steep enough to cause most of the vehicles weight to shift the rear. On a front wheel drive you lose traction really quick. On a RWD it just digs in more.
I have a couple of FWD cars with Blizzaks, if the steeper approach to my neighborhood hasn’t been plowed and sanded, I have to make a 5 mile detour. On the other hand, my BMWs have no problem climbing the same hill under the same conditions.
I live in the snow belt.
In my experience a rear wheel drive (RWD) car with heavy lug snow tires on the rear is excellent in deep, wet snow especially on hilly roads. Only 4WD or AWD with winter tires, Blizzaks in my case, is superior.
I also have a front wheel drive car with top of the line Yokohama winter tires on all four wheels. It’s good on ice, but three inches of wet snow will bog it down.
What about Audi? Want a sedan — get a A4/S4. Want a convertible — get a TT. Want a wagon — get an Avant. Or, Subaru WRX, or Mitsubishi Evo. I’ve lived in Colorado for 34 years and have driven RWD BMWs for most of that time. I always have four real winter tires mounted on extra rims and change over when there is actual snow on the ground (don’t run winter tires on dry pavement). Personally, I’d go for something fun to drive (e.g. Miata) and the cheapest POS AWD for winter (Subaru, RAV4, CRV, Kia Sorento, etc.) driving.
Twotone
Yeah, I am going to say rob a bank and get the ctsv wagon. Makes more sense than any if those tranny swaps.
First thing that came to my mind after reading the first sentence of your letter was the Lexus IS300. It’s a great car, essentially a Japanese copy of the E36 3-series (and just as good except with peerless reliability). While a manual trans shouldn’t be hard to come across, the wagon will be near-impossible to find; they’re absurdly rare. The first-gen G is good too, roomier, but the reliability record isn’t quite as spotless (still good though) and from what I understand it doesn’t handle as well as the Lexus. Either one would be a good choice.
I think an 05 or 06 Legacy wagon might be the best bet practicality-wise, and Subaru reliability leaves little to be desired (first-year problems shouldn’t be an issue). Personally I would just nix the Trooper and spend a little extra on a newer, lower-mileage Legacy or Outback.
You say you had FWD cars with transverse engines, but three of the cars you mentioned that you’ve previously purchased are all FWD with transverse engines, were they all that bad?
If you want a RWD convertible with a stick and good reliability for under $15K, go with a Mustang convertible. With the top down you can put four moderate sized or less adults in one (though keep it limited to shorter trips for the back seat passengers), they have good safety scores, are reliable (plus parts are prentiful and cheap if you do need something done), and have tons of aftermarket upgrade potential if you crave more speed.
You should be able to find a ’05 – ’07 Mustang Convertible under your price range, depending on miles, V6 vs GT and equipment.
NulloModo,
It really is time you had your own column here, no?
@ NulloModo.. I know its off topic, but gott’a I ask ya. Is there such a thing as a V8 non GT, Mustang convert? While were here,what is a”Pony Package”?
@mikey
1)no
2)available on v6 mustangs, fog lights in a “corraled” mustang grill, 17″ rims, suspension tweaks, some badges, tape stripe and, if memory serves, some years got ABS and traction control included, others did not.
Depending on the generation of Mustang were talking about there were LX 5.0s that were not GTs and there was a “GT delete” package that would remove the spoiler and GT badges. So it sort of comes down to, what makes a “GT” a “GT?” Personally I’d love all the go fast goodies with none of the flash.
Ack, I should proof-read my posts. That first sentence should have read “You say you hate FWD cars…”
Mikey – itsgotavtakyo pretty much answered it all, but yeah, GT = V8 for any recent Mustang. As for the Pony package, it has meant different things during different model years, but for the most part, it’s an appearance package with some extra equipment. For 2011 for example it gives you 18″ polished wheels, pony side badges, different floor mats with pony graphics, automatic headlights, a different grill, foglights, a rear spoiler, and an optional lower tape stripe. I’d say it’s worth it overall, it usually doesn’t cost much and it dresses up the car pretty nicely. As far back as I can remember, the Pony Package is V6 only.
A quick way to tell what you are dealing with in many modern Mustangs is the badging – for the current and previous body styles at least, if it has a Pony badge on the front fender, it’s a V6. If it has a GT or 5.0 badge, it’s a V8, if it has no badge, it is likely a V6, but it could also be a Bullitt or other special edition that came factory debadged. Up until this current year the V6 models didn’t come standard with dual exhaust, although there may have been a package that added it here or there. There are so many different special editions and variants of the Mustang it can be hard to keep it all straight, although as a last resort you can always pop the hood.
EDIT:
Dan – heh, sort of a post flurry and things overlapped. The ’08 and ’09 Bullitt edition might be what you are looking for. It came from the factory with cold air intake, 3.73 gears, strut tower brace, H pipe exhaust with bigger tips and glass packs, retuned suspension and brakes, and removed the majority of the factory badging. It had a custom ‘Bullitt’ trunklid badge, but nothing on the sides, and a blacked out grill.
Dan is correct if we’re going back to fox bodies. I was assuming mikey was referring to the 05+ car, which I believe is the only gen that offered a v6 pony package but correct me if I’m wrong. What gen was the GT delete option available on? I know there was a GT spoiler delete option available for the 05+ car but it left the badges, and the rest of the car, unchanged. It’s been three years since I was in the business and the minutiae started to fade the second I walked out.
Dang I thought the GT delete did more than get rid of the spoiler, although I guess the right adhesive remover would do that. But that would be dishonest, like getting an Impala SS and removing all the SS clues to make it look like Grandma’s grocery getter, sneaking up on ricers and blowing their doors off. Thank goodness I’m far too honest to ever think of doing anything like that. (fingers crossed)
Winter. Car.
I’ve conducted Closed-Course tests and have verified that if you even whisper the word “snow” at a passing Mustang, it will leap off the road and find the nearest ditch.
True story.
Thanks for the info guys…I envy “Kobi”. Keeping three cars on the road is beyond my financial means.
Personally, I like the gently used Mustang drop top idea. As far as winter goes, four steelies/four good winter tires,and some winter driving skills,will get you through.
1st gen. Solara (99-01). Qualitatively, a surprising number had the 3.0 V-6 with a 5-speed manny tranny, it seems like Toyota was trying to make amends for discontinuing the Supra. Scads available used 2 years ago. No doubt way below the budget, hence prime winter beater material. 1MZ-FE is common up through 06 since you seem to like swaps, you could swap the miles off the engine. FWD=winter beater unless you like to drive backwards like ‘Mater.
I’m sorry to be the one to have to tell you this, but its time to grow up. You already have your car, plus a winter beater in the trooper for when your precious is too special to go out in the cold.
It’s time to man-up and buy a vehicle for your wife and kid. She’s not the one who wants a turbo, RWD, manual coupe — you are, and it’s time to let that go.
You seem confused between whether you want snobby or dependable. So I’ll give you 2 choices to help you get started. If you want snobby, look at a 5 year old Volvo XC70 with about 60K miles on the clock. It will take good care of your family for the next decade, just be sure to change the transmission fluid (right, Steve?)
If you want dependable, look at a 3 year old CR-V with the new design. The EX-L model has leather and you can probably get a CPO one in a color the little woman likes.
Sorry to be so cold. PS: If you are planning on more than 2 kids, you might as well get the minivan now. Either way, you’ll learn to appreciate those Sunday drives in May and October in the MR-S.
Wow. Thanks.
I listed the cars I’ve had and others I like as information to motivate suggestions.
In statistics we call it inference.
Apparently some of you don’t actually drive. Then you’d know that a 21 year old 4runner (my last car) can be more fun to drive than 10 year old Prelude. I realize that Honda makes a fantastic product – witness the S2000 and NSX when liberated from the fwd transverse platforms they’ve perfected.
As for the Trooper: my wife actually knows how to drive. Looking for a rwd large inexpensive reliable (mine had a replacement (gm I know) V6 at 90k) *manual transmission* suv? I was – I found the Trooper and enjoy it for what it is.
Also – no I’m not rich. I’m just lucky enough to still be working (thanks america) and I really, really love cars.
And for those gentle souls who actually gave me some useful information: for sure I hadn’t though of the CTS-V until someone reminded me – good call; thanks for the info on subarus – I just don’t know their product well.
Thanks TTAC. Remember – let jalopnik be jalopnik (no dis I like Jalopnik but wouldn’t ask that forum a serious question): down with fanbois, up with information.
“Apparently some of you don’t actually drive. Then you’d know that a 21 year old 4runner (my last car) can be more fun to drive than 10 year old Prelude.”
Dude your enthusiast stock just took a dump. You’re on the receiving end of a lot of great advice from some very knowledgeable people and you say something like this? Apparently you don’t actually drive if you honestly believe this. Having owned both a 4runner (great truck if you ignore the popped head gasket) and a Prelude SH (one of, if not the best handling fwd car in the world) I can call shenanigans.
A convertible RWD/AWD winter car with a manual gearbox, and room for a baby seat and two dogs?
Uh huh.
…
VW Type 3!
Given that Kobi already has an Isuzu Trooper he probably doesn’t want another SUV. That said, a 2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara would meet all his requirements:
– less than $15,000
– longitudinal 2.7L V6
– 5 speed manual transmission available
– rear wheel drive or all wheel drive versions available
– safe for the baby and plenty of room for the dogs
– good reliability record (2007 is the second year for the Mark II Grand Vitara)
Although the Grand Vitara is an SUV it will get better fuel economy than the Trooper (ie, much better on the highway and somewhat better in the city). The Suzuki, however, does not have the cachet or sportiness of the IS300, GS35, M45 or TSX. Typically, though, when you are buying to budget and have very specific criteria you’re going to have to make some compromise.
“my wife, little baby and dogs”
A perfect candidate for the demographic you have been forced into, even though you may be dragged into it screaming and writhing with your fingernails digging into your past life……..
appears to be time for a mini-van-type conveyance.
And it is something you can reside in if the economy continues its relentless slide into oblivion and the ruling class attains their oligarchy.
Although it’s very dependent on your proximity to a Suzuki dealer, checking out an SX4 Crossover might not be a waste of time. AWD with a stick, good fuel economy for an AWD vehicle and encouraging reliability reports from True Delta. The styling doesn’t do anything for me but there’s a lot of functional space for such a small vehicle and you’re getting 2010 safety features and a very strong new car warranty for very close to what you’re thinking about spending on a used car. It’s not the most inspired driver’s car but it gets less credit than it deserves. A friend bought one as a cheap four season commuter and has been fairly happy with it. Resale is absolutely atrocious so plan on driving it into the ground but other than that it might be worth a thought.
Sounds like you’re looking for a used Audi cabriolet.
But it’s not a wagon, sooo….
Sanjeev and Steve,
God – you’re both morons. He obviously wants a TTAC Unicorn! The 300bhp, 1.8L V-6 diesel, rwd, 6MT, pather based, Ford Mondeo SVT, 4-door wagon cabriolet that they sell new for $12,995 and you can get CPO off lease for 6,995.
Ok, so, I’m curious about this. You say you want safe – with a !, no less – but then demand a non-transverse engine and many other things. So which is it? The safest used car for the money is probably a Saab, with the newest-gen platforms well within your price range. A same vintage volvo is as safe but is more money; same with a brand new Camry, say. But the safest car you can get for your money won’t have your laundry list of other priorities.
So, which is it? You compromise on safety to get your non-transverse engine… Something happens and your baby’s hurt or worse; do you say, “maybe it was the car, but at least it’s the right drivetrain”?
I don’t get it. It’s your child. You care about safety, you get the safest car you can get. You’re not just living for you anympre.
Above to the original questioner, obviously. And this after a re-read: you care about safety at all and you put your kid in a freaking isuzu trooper? What the hell is wrong with you? Are you deluded, or ignorant, or just that selfish?… I can’t even conceive of how you can have the foresight to understand that safety is an issue with cars and then put your baby in an old, ill-handling, badly built poster child for automotive recklessness. Yikes.
To his credit, the Isuzu Trooper isn’t nearly as bad as a lot of people make it out to be. Yes, it may be a bit tippy, as all tall boxy SUVs can be, but that can be almost entirely mitigated by how it is driven.
The biggest cause of SUV rollovers is sudden and severe turning one direction and then the next with no time for the vehicle to balance in between. If you know the vehicle’s tendencies and can keep your head in an emergency situation a Trooper isn’t an inherently unsafe vehicle.
Tippy is an understatement. Trust me – after having students in defensive driving clinics (which I volunteer at) bring in their narrow wheelbase SUVs (Bronco II, Explorer 2 door Sport, Trooper, etc.) Getting one of those up on two wheels is frightening (others have had them flip / roll). B/c of this SCCA and Tire Rack now ban these vehicles from their safety clinics – just too dangerous to make any sudden turns > 45mph.
I do agree with the advice to let it settle – it takes a well trained driver to settle them when they get tippy at high speeds – and in that emergency situation you will not have that space or time to settle the car from the initial sudden turn.
LEGEND! LEGEND! LEGEND! Put a RL’s C35 with the Legend’s C32 Type II cams to alleviate the BHG issues, and do the swap to a six-speed GS sedan. Good to go. Or…
Buy an old Crown Victoria Police Interceptor for $500. Rebuild the motor for some power (blower?) and bolt a Cobra’s T-56 behind it. Repaint it and put a Marauder/LX Sport interior in it. You now have an ultra-safe and ultra-reliable sedan that will burn its tires all day long, and at the end of the day hold your entire family and ten bodies in the trunk. Or you could just start with a Marauder and put up with the automatic.
Second generation Nissan Xterra:
-RWD/4WD
-available 6MT
-powerful V6 (265 hp, 285 ft-lbs)
-reliable
-under $15,000 for a non-abused 3-4 year old model
-fits the wife, kid and dogs
-simple, easy-to-clean interior good for kid and dogs
-safe
Sell the Trooper, get the wife the Xterra (that he can still have fun driving occasionally), and still have $ left over for a convertible that does not have so many compromises…
You know, I think you are onto something Weatherman…. except you did it wrong and chose the wrong vehicle accordingly.
Sell the wife, baby and dogs, buy a BMW M coupe convertible.
Problems solved right?
Oh – and move somewhere not cold.
Maybe an old Toyota Cressida wagon from the mid 80s with a Supra 5spd gearbox swap plus a set of snow tires :)
Might as well swap in a 7MGTE at the same time. You’ll still be WELL within the 15k budget and it will stomp all the cars that have been mentioned thus far.
How about a Lexus GS300? RWD, manual available. Lots of gadgets and looks the part.
If I had a prize to give, it would be for this post.
I thought about this. The last gen cressida didn’t come in a wagon; the gs300 sedan didn’t come in manual. Both are compelling, though.
Audi A6 Quattro Avant
BMW 5-series Touring
Jaguar X-type Estate
MB E-series T
Subaru Legacy Kombi
VW Passat Variant 4-motion
Volvo V70 AWD
Kobi forgot to mention that this vehicle must also pull his 12,000 pound travel trailer and get 30 mpg while doing so…
Mercury Grand Marquis, Cheap, RWD, big, reliable. It doesn’t have a manual transmission, but you can deal with it.
…And the lack of a manual can be overcome AND it will still cost less than $15K!
“Haldex AWD systems are fine these days.”
I’ve gotta disagree with this. Mechanically there should be nothing wrong with the Haldex systems on market, but they are setup to be heavily front biased (new 9-5 aside). I guess the rationale is to provide the same handling characteristics of a fwd sedan so as not to ruffle feathers with buyers, but I don’t know any fwd sedan buyers that could positively identify the handling characteristics of a strictly fwd setup. To top it off, they still send power rearwards when the cards are on the table, and on loose surfaces this is very apparent. Predictable and adjustable they are not.
Now, there are companies that can chip your Haldex. There’s no reason with the torque split shouldn’t be 10/90 instead of 90/10, but it will nuke your warranty if the dealer notices (if they noticed at all they were abusing your car btw). As far as I’m aware there aren’t any reliability downsides to this conversion, but I’ve never done it so I’d welcome correction if this does open up a can of worms.
exactly
Saabaru 9-2x Aero (a nicely reskinned WRX Wagon). It will give you the high performance, reliability, and space inside all for a bargain price. However it won’t be comfortable when fully loaded. If you do plan on trips in it – buy a small carrier top type enclosed two wheel trailer to load up. By doing this it leaves ample room in the car for all the passengers to comfortably travel.
If you really want something with some space inside especially for dogs. Check out the Honda Element. It gets similar mileage as the WRX but with inside space galore and quite flexible and easy to clean out. It is also a great tailgating vehicle with pickup rear end and easy to access doors.
How about a 90’s Buick Roadmaster wagon? It’s rear wheel drive, has Vista windows and modern engines and trannies are easily swapped. Or you could go the Red Green route and make a full length moonroof using just a storm door and a sawzall.
Sell the unsafe Trooper and spend just a little more to get what you want:
$21K will get you into a Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium 5MT. The sunroof is GIANT. Your convertible 4WD 5MT wagon awaits.
I’ll second the XTerra. Also, that this guy needs to grow up.
I haven’t seen it mentioned yet, but a 2009 or 2010 Ford Escape XLS Manual can be had for 15-16k.
These have just-barely-passable interiors, but car-like handling for the old lady, decent space for the kid, and they are quite durable.
Only 178 horses, though.
He has one convertible, and “loves the sun”, but if this is a “winter car” he doesn’t want a 2nd convertible. What about an older Lexus GS300? Safe, roomy enough, RWD and you might even find a manual version. An older E320 with a stick would work as well, but you’d have a German car out of warranty. Not sure you can find a decent CTS at this price. The reality is this, your desire for RWD and a manual (almost certainly German and high mileage at $16k) is completely at odds with the desire for a reliable, low maintenance car. You know this yourself in considering an old Acura, and the cars you’ve had before. Get the TSX.
If you could handle an automatic, I’d sell you my Tribeca…I sent in a note in for advice on replacing it. Perhaps I’ll be flogged on these pages as well in days to come.
I had a 2003 MR2 and would caution you about it. I loved driving the car; it was wonderfully responsive and I never tired of the looks. But the top leaked terribly in the rain and was a challenge to drive in less than ideal conditions. Also, it was not nearly as well made as the 2000 Celica GTS it replaced. (That was an excellent car in every way.)