O/T: AWD "sporty" cars
 

Awhile back I asked for some information on the 350Z.. my mother wants to buy a "younger" car or herself. She thinks that she deserves it, and I think that she's right. She has a small list of criteria:

Must be AWD

Must have some heft to it.. TT is too small.

Must look sporty. (Audi S4's need not apply)

Must have an auto tranny

Cost below, say.. 40k

She doesn't care about performance or suspension or a 6-speed.. she just wants it to look all swoopy and futuristic. I suppose I should clarify what she likes in terms of looks.. she loves the TT, she likes the 350Z and the G35, but none of those will do..

Any suggestions??

-Adam

Re: O/T: AWD "sporty" cars
 

...while smaller than the A4, the TT is a 2900lb car. that's only 300lb less than the A4.

How about a Porsche 911 Carrera 4? There are several listed on www.cars.com, with ones from the early to mid 90s going for $20,000 to $40,000. Other good used cars would be the Eagle Talon TSi AWD, Eclipse GSX and the 3000GT VR4. Of course, if she wants new, then this doesn't really help.

Unfortunately, there aren't too many AWD cars out right now that look sporty. Maybe the BMW 330xi would work, but it's only available as a sedan.

As for the G35 coupe, maybe just wait a year or so and see if Nissan gives us an AWD version (the new GT-R????).

Then of course there's that other car... hmm, what was it? AWD, hefty, auto tranny, futuristic looks, under 40k... oh yeah, the Subaru SVX :D

Re: O/T: AWD "sporty" cars
 

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... Adam, you just described WORD FOR WORD, the SVX!!!

Was this a baited question? :D

Guess the only thing that wouldn't match is if she was looking to buy brand new with factory warranty, but you didn't specify that. ;)

sorry, guess i should've specified.. she'd like a brand-new vehicle. i'd love to put her in an svx, but i really don't want to be woken up with phone calls about her visor drooping, or her power steering making squeaking noises, or her transmission not shifting into second gear or reverse, or.. well, you get the idea. maybe if another one of those "brand new, never-before-titled" SVX's came up, she'd go for it.. Both my father and I love my car for her, but she needs something brand-spanking-new

-Adam

Re: Re: O/T: AWD "sporty" cars
 

that's what i was thinking, but i guess she obviously ruled that out, too? i'd say Carrera 4 or WRX w/JDM projectors (lotta loot left over if you don't go Carrera 4;) )

Neon?

Mike :D

AUDI a-4 or awd and bye no means ugly ,, verry clean lines,,
or a subaru wrx only AWD car i can think of,,

mitsu doesnt produce eclipse well the real eclipse any more or the 300gt vr4..

maybe a volovo,,

LOL im thinking mom cars here

Alan - your use of the gif (and using it at the appropriate times) the last couple days keeps cracking me up!

A little different approach
 

While most of the suggestions here have been for AWD cars, and nice ones at that (I think the BMW xi is a good suggstion), might I suggest the Nissan Murano. Personally, I think it looks sporty, it's got a strong V6 (Nissan's VQ series...10 best engines for 8 years running), the AWD CVT would be very nice for someone who wants an automatic, the interior is beautiful, IMHO, and I've been told it's fun to drive. Oh, yea, plenty of heft too.

Mat

http://www.freshalloy.com/site/cars/...ive/home.shtml

A little Murano Info. Check out the guages. I love 'em.

Check out one of the new Jaguar X-Type models. AWD, 2.5 or 3.0 V-6 (42-50K)

I did a little digging for AWD cars under 40grand and only came up with a few sporty options.
Audi TT 225 Quattro for $36,200
Audi TT225 Roadster Quattro (3472lbs) $39,000
BMW 330xi for $36,350
Jaguar X-type 3.0L for $36,300
Subaru WRX

Obviously the SVX is the ultimate choice for the criteria she set but the TT Roadster is a heavy enough car and would be my personal choice given the options. Ten years ago the choices for AWD and swoopy would have been much better but today,aside from the TT, they are all sedans, coupes, wagons or SUVs

One more option... 2003 Mitsubishi Evo VII. Pretty cheap, pretty sporty, not real substantial size-wise.

Price Range: Est. $29,000
Assy. Point: Japan

Mechanical front differential
Electronic Active Center Differential

Engine
Layout: Transverse mounted front engine
Bhp@RPM: 276 @ 6500
Torque (lb.-ft.)@RPM: 275 @ 3000
Curb Weight (lbs.): 3087