Tuner, have you considered a BMW 335? AWD or RWD, Coupe or Sedan any combo of the two is available with their 6 speed manual...handle well, 300 HP and a good aftermarket following. You can find them for high 20-low 30s...

 

You say that from the POV of someone living in a Texas climate. Imagine yourself living through an Upstate NY Winter, and rethink that prediction.

 

5 speed swap its the only way u will like your car again

 

Thanks, g sedan is a good bang for the buck. And they really improved the interior on the 07-10 .
I got rid of mine a year after owning it , that's when the economy really started to dip in CT , work hours got cut, other guys at my job got laid off. I panicked and sold the g since the payments were on the highside.

I do wish I kept it though cause everything played out pretty good for me.

I want another one but I think I'm going to buy a full size 07 or newer chevy/gmc truck next spring.

 

The 335 is a amazing car, only downfall is its a car you do NOT want to own without a warranty... That being said the certified 100k warranty 335s are still up there in cost.

 

Now that I read your reply, I realize it's none of my business to even ask. Sorry. I'm happy for you that things worked out well.

 

I say that from the view of knowing dealerships and your determination. You opened Pandora's box. The dealer will do everything they can to sell you on the car when they have it. There will be a couple that drop into their lap well before Spring. You, chomping at the bit(as we say in Texas), will get trigger happy, see one that is perfect in January, and have it in your garage two weeks later. I lived in the North, too. January is about the time when you start attempting to will warm weather by hand-washing your car in shorts on a balmy 33°F day. Pragmatism be damned!

 

Tuner,

For the time being my initial thought is just too keep what you have, at the very least until spring.

Personally speaking I don't satisfy easily with cars so I know where your desire too change is coming from.

Just food for thought, The guy who bought my car is thinking of selling. At the very least you could take it for a drive and see if it tickles your fancy...the power difference between a Auto 3.0 and a fully bolted 6MT 3.5 is significant. Also, I did achieve 30mpg on highway driving (insert debate here)

I'm a little miffed about your turning radius complaints, sure it sucks but how often do you make U-turns?

Its a fine line between performance and mileage...Wants and needs are easily blurred in this department. I'm likely going German my next time round, have you looked at a 5 series? 530i? Etc?

 

Tuner, I've driven this car the summer before MaximusTi did that amazing sound-deadening mod on the entire interior. That modified Polished Ti 6MT is just about as perfect as you can get with the 5.5 gen. One of the very last TechnoSquare Tunes, too, btw.

 

The carrot is dangling.
If you're really not happy with the car, sell it now. B4 winter sets in,(hopefully), and B4 you put more miles on it and subject it to more salt. It's fairly rare and considering the great condition it's in, I say pull the trigger to get the most out of it that you can. If you wait till spring it will be another year older and that can only drive the selling price down.

 

Nothing says rust like some nice NY winters.

Anyway though, if you were going to consider BMWs, may I suggest an E36 M3?
I know that they are old, and sedans in stick aren't that easy to come by (around here anyway), but those cars are pretty damn quick.

My moms 1990 325 has 190k and is still running strong and its surprisingly quick, only problem is that its not an ///M =\. My friend has an E46 325xi, and he loves it, he does wish it was faster though. Only reason hes getting rid of it is because he had a bent connecting rod that progressively got worse and worse until he found out about it now.

Both those BMWs are stick by the way, just so you don't assume I'm talking about an automatic and it'll be different

Good luck with your decision again

 

I would LOVE a bimmer. But, I don't want anything to do with the poor reliability of one. Unfortunately, off the list.

I do a lot of parking, that's where it bothers me most. You can't just turn into a spot, you have to do a damn 3 point turn into a spot. It's ridiculous, and downright embarassing because it looks like you don't know how to drive.


And I've PM'd you about your old car. Out of curiousity, because I'm sure I"m not the only one wondering, why on earth is he selling already, is there something going on with the car?


Yes, although I'd have to argue that a car is worth more in spring, especially considering it's sporty nature. People don't buy car's like this at this time of year traditionally. Well, this time of year, yes, but not in a month or so they don't.

And besides that, I'm not ready to sell yet, I have to fix a few things first, waiting on parts and time to install. I will not sell this car with a P0505 issue, that will be fixed before I do anything, swap, boost, both, or sell, it will be fixed!

 

I'd have to agree with the time factor of parts and repair. Spring is a better option. On the bright side, (or not), it gives you a whole lot more time to ponder/torment yourself.

 

Lets not forget the 300ZX came out around that time as well. Come to think of it All the Japanese supercars of those days were overpriced! Performance wise they're no joke and still look pretty sexy even today.

 

It depends on the model. A co-worker of mine has three of them a 2000 M5, and 2003-ish x5 and a newer z4.

The m5 has 120k and he tracks it and drives it with no real issues. I know he goes to Watkins Glen and I think Monticello. His z4 has no issues either that he used to auto-x unitl he got the M5.lol.. He has a fair amount of trouble with x5 though...nothing ever serious, just "hiccups" here and there...

 

Overpriced? I don't think so, considering they were beating low-end ferarri's, etc, the price was Insanely low. For the Z32 anyways. Not that it was cheap, but certainly not expensive for what you were getting IMO.

Now that SVX, what a pile of trash. That thing was so slow, and insanely overpriced. I've never driven a car so sluggish for how many HP that thing was supposed to be putting down. I drove 2 different ones too, so I know it wasn't just the car I drove. I was seriously looking at buying one until I drove it, what a disappointment.


And Rhyno, thanks, yeah I know Bimmers seem to be hit and miss, it's a risk I'm not taking.


P.S. The A31 Cefiro is off my list. Seems one in the condition I want equiped like I want will cost 17-20k, NOPE.

 

That's a good point, I suppose the same could be said for the Turbo Supras of that day.

I'm surprised at that since all the magazines gave the SVX good reviews. But you've driven them and would know from 1st hand experience. I remember an interesting anecdote from a Car & Driver comparo of 5 seat sport coupes back then. Short version; They were driving through Mexico, a T-Bird went off the road at high speed avoiding a cow in the road. It got stuck in sand, they used the SVX to pull it out and back on the road.

 

^it was smooth as heck, handled amazing, etc. It was just way, way slower than I thought it would be. Otherwise, it was great. I can see why it got good reviews when new. I can see it getting decent used reviews. But when I drove it, it felt NO WHERE near the output rating that is listed on that car (around 200hp I think?) Felt like 150 at most.

 

I believe they were rated at 230 horsepower, and they were heavy too, weighing in around 3,500-3,600 pounds and had a 4 speed automatic. The earlier versions were front wheel drive, with awd as an option, and later models dropped fwd for awd only.

 

Actually, if I recall it was rated at closer to 300hp (SAE Net). The SVX was a heavy car and with all the losses due to the integration of the AWD, TCS, ABS, and AT systems it probably felt slow. Especially if they weren't working properly. But who knows, the car was technically way ahead of it's time. But obviously another case of sophisticated concepts not working so well in real world application. A little FYI; The Subaru H4 & H6 engines are 2 of only 3 automotive engines FAA certified (with appropriate modifications) for use as aircraft power-plants.

 

I did some Google searching, and I was correct about them being rated at 230. I also found a You Tube video of a Motor Week test of the car, and they also said 230.

I've heard about Subaru engines being used for airplanes. Porsche at one point in time also had one of their engines put in a Mooney. VW air cooled engines I know have been used for a while in airplanes.

 

To the best of my knowledge they were all AWD. The 4way variable torque-split used FWD by default for better economy. UH OH! I think we're starting to go off on a tangent.

 

I stand corrected on the HP rating. Heck, that's not much more than the AE VQ30DE-K@227HP(SAE Net)rating! No wonder it struggled in a 3600lb car.
Oops, forgot about the air cooled VW engine! That makes 4 including the Commander(a highly modified Chevy 454). Also, I believe ALL automotive engines are only certified for experimental use. A 5th.(non-automotive)engine just came to mind. A Rotax 3cyl. 2 stroke snowmobile motor was used in the original BD5 kit plane.

 

Got this from Wiki

 

Gosh T_Behr, you're a real info hunter on defunct cars, good job. Hmmm. Interesting stuff about the SVX, I didn't know about. At any rate The more I read about it the more I'm glad I've got my Maxima! Agreed?

 

Agreed

 

You would probably get more money if you parted it out, only pain is shipping all the parts, takes time.

 

It would be a crime to part that car out. If you see it in person, you'll appreciate why.

 

thanks bud. Yeah I wouldn't change the Headlights, tailights, or take off the Body kit though, all those items would stay on.

BTW, here's an updated couple shots, I finished my Custom LED signal install today:

 

Looks VERY nice! KEEP THE CAR!!!

 

If you get rid of the car I won't talk to you ever again! Consider this relationship over









Ooops was that out loud I thought I was pm'ing you

 

 

LMAO Maxking

 

So I've test drove a few cars, and done some more research. Thanks to MaximusTi, who urged me to look into the Bimmer 540i regardless of my initial imprints that BMW was unreliable. It seems more research has led me to conflicting opinions on reliability. Many owners noting that they're really not bad at all save for some electrical gremlins.

I've also made some more choices and research regarding fuel mileage, and what I really want in a car.

I've decided RWD is a must. There is no substitute for the light steering, playful cornering, wheel options/appearance, and overall performance.
Because of this decision, I'm fairly stuck with somewhat crappy fuel mileage.
I've also decided it would be foolish to buy something over $15,000, even after taxes I'd like to stay under $15,000 if possible. And of course it must be manual.
All in all, it seems my main, if not only options, are below. Please let me know if I'm missing a good one?

2005/2006 Infiniti G35 Sedan 6MT

2002-2008 Mercedes-Benz C230 - Kompressor preferred

1997-2003 E39 BMW 5 Series


Right now, I haven't had the Bimmer or Benz out yet. I love the G35, except for it's ugly rear-end (sedan). I'd have to put in some work to get it up to snuff.

The bimmer and benz would be ready to roll appearance wise pretty much, but I'd likely want to pull more power out of them, especially the C230, which I think will be too slow for my tastes, but a test drive will have to tell that tale.

 

Here's another car sitting pretty within your price range, meeting your requirements of a 6MT RWD, and that is somewhat stealth (meaning not too ostentatious). And it's a car that will crush your current options with raw, V8 power:

A 2005-2006 Pontiac GTO.

 

^that's a coupe John.


If the G8 came in a manual, I'd buy one in a heart-beat.

(the GXP is the only model that came with a stick, and it's rare, deadly on insurance, and a gas-guzzler. Oh and not available in Canada )

 

Really? Do you think?

I seriously explored the GTO as a next-car option this summer. The back seat is very comfortable, and reasonably accessible.

When I saw your Kompressor reference, I thought you were open to a Coupe. Didn't realize they had a 4-Door version. But then, I'm extremely ignorant of Mercs.

 

Personally I would opt for a 530i or a 540i BMW. After that I would look into the g35.

 

If I had Tuner's mechanical skills, I'd get the BMW too. But I don't and won't, so I'd say the Infiniti is the far more reliable vehicle. Probably far less costly in parts, too.

 

I've always admired the E34 M5. Great looking car, and they're quick and handle very well. Silky smooth bulletproof inline 6 that won't kill you in fuel mileage, and it has lots of torque. There was no automatic transmission option, manual only. Remove the electronic 155 mph speed limiter, and they can exceed 170.

One good benefit I've noticed having one of these M5's over an M3 is that they seem to have been much better taken care of, and have been relatively immune to the stereotypical fist pumping, techno blasting younger owners who thrash and bash them.

I'm not sure how easy it would be to find one in Canada, but they are still readily available here in the States, and well taken care of ones sell for reasonable prices. If I were ever to buy a BMW, this would be the one.