Inexpensive family fun car?

[SilverBullet]

Let's say you have a $10,000 budget, and you were looking for a family "fun" car you could mod and play with...

The only requirements are:
1. Less than $10k
2. Needs to handle a rear-facing child seat (in the back seat)
3. Decent gas mileage
4. AWD preferred, not necessary

What would you look at?

[NickS VR4]

S2000

[NickS VR4]

Hmmm, Maybe a used civic si? subaru legacy?

[92RT-TT]

Audi A6 2.7 Bi-turbo. Same engine as an S4, cheap route: chip it, downpipes and you've got 330+hp with heated leather seats and Bose 13 speaker sound :D. Or throw in K04 turbo's or RS6 Turbo's and you've got 500+hp in your little family hauler. Personally I own a A6 4.2 V8, more hp then a stock 2.7 bi turbo (4.2 is 305 stock) and its got a 3 inch wider body then the 2.7 but if you want to be able to tune it and mod it there isn't much you can do other then exhaust, intake, and a chip (get it up to around 350-360 is as good as it gets without a SC).
Best part about either of these choices are they look good and are super comfy buy still sporty.

Oh and I'm thinking C5 A6 not C6 A6 era... 2000-2004 model year (in case you dont know what c5 and c6 are for audi)

[FstAsVR4]

S2000

????????????
Evos are getting around 10k, wrx, or audi very good choices.

[DocWalt]

I'd probably go with an older Legacy and WRX swap it. Evo's and STi's are still out of that price range for a decent one.

[NickS VR4]

????????????
Evos are getting around 10k, wrx, or audi very good choices.

It was a joke.

[DrkZide]

I'm not sure if he can get a C6 A6 for under $10k. I would go with a B5 A4/S4. We picked one up a B5 A4 (2001) for $6300 in excellent condition. Plus another $600 in taxes and registration.

[92RT-TT]

Oh and I'm thinking C5 A6 not C6 A6 era... 2000-2004 model year (in case you dont know what c5 and c6 are for audi)


I'm not sure if he can get a C6 A6 for under $10k. I would go with a B5 A4/S4. We picked one up a B5 A4 (2001) for $6300 in excellent condition. Plus another $600 in taxes and registration.

I agree, I was thinking C5 like my first post lol. I've got a 2001 C5 A6 4.2 and I love it!

[Alex3000gt]

I would totally separate the "fun" (read: fast) car from the "family" (read: daily driver) car.

Trying to make the daily driver fast is going to cause headaches as it will become unreliable.

Trying to make a fast car a daily driver is going to cause headaches because it will have subpar fuel economy. Split the difference and get a rock solid turbodiesel that returns 48 mpg highway, then garage the 'fast' car and make it faster. I am biased in the matter though.

[DrkZide]

I agree, I was thinking C5 like my first post lol. I've got a 2001 C5 A6 4.2 and I love it!

How are those compared to the B5 A4 1.8T or even the B5 S4 TT V6?

[93STLTH]

Don't laugh, but a Scion xB might suit your requirements. You can definitely get one for less than 10K, they get good gas mileage, have a surprising amount of rear seat room and there's plenty of aftermarket parts to make it your own.

[MNRVR4]

I agree, I was thinking C5 like my first post lol. I've got a 2001 C5 A6 4.2 and I love it!

I agree, i also have a C5 A6 with the 4.2, really enjoy the bose system, and im especially looking forward to the heated seats this time of year :D

[92RT-TT]

How are those compared to the B5 A4 1.8T or even the B5 S4 TT V6?

Not to put the B5 A4 1.8T down, but there is no comparison lol. Before my c5 A6 I had a 2000 A4 1.8 5-speed Quattro. Nice car dont get me wrong, but after you've been in a c5 a6 4.2 the b5 a4 seems like a geo metro in terms of quality, luxury, and options lol. Then again I saw the window sticker on my c5 a6 and it was north of 58k new! eek! I would never have paid that but you get the picture. Its got everything under the sun, heated steering wheel, heated front and rear seats (all individually controlled), heated windshield fluid, heated mirrors of course. Dual climate zones, Power memory drivers and passenger seats, auto dimming mirrors, auto leveling xenon HID headlights, speed sensing steering, speed sensing bose 13 speaker radio system (sounds amazing), power rear window shade, and of course the beast, the 4.2 Litre 40 valve V8 :D. That plus the 4.2 has a unique body compared to all other A6's. The 4.2 is a factory widebody so its 3 inches wider and about 3 inches longer. Comes with the S4 brakes, sport tuned suspension, and true dual exhaust.

Haha sorry that was kinda long but I literally fell in love with this car after upgrading from my A4. I dont think I can ever go back to an A4 again.
Here's a little pic of mine :D.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs539.snc3/30555_585464184770_184901749_33992961_532150_n.jpg

[MNRVR4]

I agree with 92RT-TT

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll68/MNRVR4/IMG_0628.jpg

[92RT-TT]

Haha the audi enthusiasts are crowding the thread. I know I've said it before, but great looking car MNRVR4!

[gerber93tt]

evo 6 from japan right side drive :)

[MNRVR4]

Haha the audi enthusiasts are crowding the thread. I know I've said it before, but great looking car MNRVR4!

Lol, thanks! I really wish mine was the same color as yours though, But hey i guess there has to be some variety huh?

[92RT-TT]

Lol, thanks! I really wish mine was the same color as yours though, But hey i guess there has to be some variety huh?

Thanks! This color really grew on me once I buffed my car. When its clean and waxed the metallic flakes give it such a deep look. :D

[DrkZide]

I'll have to check out the A6 or if I can afford maybe a S6. I was looking at an S4 before. I'm just building up until I can buy an A8/S8.

Here's a pic of the A4 at the local Audi Pikes Peak meet.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs404.snc4/46721_1392115324063_1267540048_30950453_5086623_n. jpg

[SilverJester]

How about a Galant VR-4? Not as comfy as the audi's but it has lots of power potential.

[92RT-TT]

I'll have to check out the A6 or if I can afford maybe a S6. I was looking at an S4 before. I'm just building up until I can buy an A8/S8.

Here's a pic of the A4 at the local Audi Pikes Peak meet.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs404.snc4/46721_1392115324063_1267540048_30950453_5086623_n. jpg

Looking sharp man, mine was similar to yours. Black but with w/ S4 rims, H&R race springs (super low and really hard, never get those again lol), RS4 grill, magnaflow exhaust, DDM tuning HIDs.

I'd love to get an A8/S8 someday. Those have a couple more options that the A6 doesnt have like power rear trunk hatch and well I cant think of the others at the moment lol. Anywho, nice looking A4 :D

To the OP, another fun car to get would be a Magnum RT. They are getting close to the 10k range with decent miles on them. I believe my mother and father bought one a year or so ago with 50k miles for 13k I wanna say. It was a 2005 Magnum RT (345 hp). I've driven it a few times when I go over there and it hauls ass pretty good. Plus you can turn off the traction control and lay some rubber lol

[Mean Green]

S4 hands down.

[SilverBullet]

I've always had a thing for Audi's, but I've also been scared a little by maintenance. Can't be any worse than a 3S, right? lol

When I say "family" car, I really mean something I can drive my 10 mo. old son in. I need a car that can handle a back seat, rear-facing child seat (at least for another 2 months, than it can be forward facing.. still back seat though).

I drive about 35-40 miles one way to work every day, and 90% of the time I'm the only one in the car. If we're ever going somewhere as a "family", we take the wifes Grand Cherokee. But, I do have to pick my son up from time to time in my car.

[gwurst]

2003 Infiniti G35 sedan
2004 Acura TL

Between the two I'd choose the G35, although I currently have a 2004 TL myself.

[92RT-TT]

Audi maintenance can be expensive if you go to the dealer, but I live by a shop that only works on vw & audi and they charge 80/hour which is extremely reasonable for a German car. Parts aren't too bad as long as you dont buy them from the dealership. I will say that timing belts and engine related parts I always buy from the dealer, but things like brakes and suspension stuff I dont mind getting from online places. You kinda get what you pay for in terms of the car and quality. I got a new job 2 years ago so I've put on over 80k miles in just the last 2 years alone! Its been super reliable. Currently my car has 165k on it and it still looks new. They truly are a quality built car. My leather and everything looks as good as it did the day I got it.

[Jeremy C]

How big of a family we talking?

It may not be as fancy as an Audi, but I can tell you my SVT Focus has been running family duty for 2 years now (3 kids - 13, 10, and 6 right now).

Pros:
-Cheap (you could get a euro-spec for under 10K)
-cheap, easy maintenance
-Fits a family of 5 fairly comfortable (all 5 of us were cooped up in the car for a 2,200 mile drive cross country, then a second 1,200 mile trip last summer).
-Great mileage (I get 27mpg strictly city, and have seen 35mpg highway)
-Handles like a go kart.
-Fun to drive. Little weak in the torque, but running it out to 7k rpm is no big deal
-Cops will never look at you because "it's a Focus"
-Cheap to insure
-Parts are dirt cheap and easy to procure (unless you're talking SVT specific, but I would bet even those parts are cheaper than the parts for any car mentioned in this thread so far)

If you haven't guessed, I like the cheap aspect of it. It's a family car - Kids are going to lower it's resale to nothing, so might as well get something that reflects the lifestyle.

cons:
-It's a Ford
-somewhat chincy build quality (what do you expect for a cheap car?)
-ricers will want to race you (which is why my car is debadged minus a tiny SVT badge on the back)
-No real high tech gadgets. This also means less things to break.

I'm rolling 106K on my car. I picked it up at 80K (I think). In that time I've replaced:

strut bar end links ($16/ea, 2 easy to reach bolts - 15 minute job tops)
antenna mast mount ($12, took longer to get the tools than to do the replacement)

Things that need to be fixed:
-rattle in the drivers door (haven't looked too deep into it)
-windshield wiper home position relay ($5 part, 5 minute job)
-the 100K (supposed to be 120K but no one waits that ling) tuneup. Parts total looks to be about $160ish

So yeah, from personal experience, this makes a great "cheap to maintain, can haul kids and groceries, and can still entertain me" car.

[thestealth]

What about a Mazda 3 or the little bigger Mazda 6?

[SilverBullet]

We had a Mazda6, they weren't bad but I don't see myself getting another one.

[DrkZide]

Looking sharp man, mine was similar to yours. Black but with w/ S4 rims, H&R race springs (super low and really hard, never get those again lol), RS4 grill, magnaflow exhaust, DDM tuning HIDs.

I'd love to get an A8/S8 someday. Those have a couple more options that the A6 doesnt have like power rear trunk hatch and well I cant think of the others at the moment lol. Anywho, nice looking A4 :D


It already has the 55W 6kK DDM HIDs. A custom Flowmaster exhaust is going on soon, right after a downpipe and testpipe. Getting ECU and Trip chipped, K04, FMIC, RS4 Grille and possibly some BBSs and a set of KW V1 coilovers.

Maintenance on this thing isn't really harder or much more expensive than the 3S. Some things are a little funny but I do all my own work on it. The bumper comes off easy as hell.

I just did the HID's a few days ago.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs407.snc4/47037_435631514341_737969341_5204374_547358_n.jpg

[Luke@tirerack]

Galant VR4