Need advice on a decent "family car" that is fast ~$30K

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Need advice on a decent "family car" that is fast ~$30K (Page 1 of 3)

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:01:11 PM EDT

I'm stumped, I need a car that is suitable for toting 2 kids (1 infant, 1 toddler) around to day care and such. We won't use it for long trips or extended periods but it has to fit 1 car seat and one "booster seat" (eventually 2 boosters) and be relatively safe.

The thing is I'm giving up my 2010 Camaro 2SS to get it. I'd like to find a performance vehicle with the space required for the midgets in my life.

So, what says the hive? I can go as high as 50K but would like to stay in the 25-35 range. I'd also prefer used, preferably 1-2 years old. I don't mind going cheap on the initial purchase and putting money into upgrades either. So a grocery getter that puts out 400+ hp turbo'd or blown would be just fine by me.

Lastly, looks are a distant 4th or 5th in my book as long as it handles well (read: like a slot car) and can snap my neck.

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:01:54 PM EDT

[#1]

Caddy CTS-V
BMW M5
Pontiac G8 GXP

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:02:35 PM EDT

[#2]

G8s are fun to drive. Plenty fast.

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:03:34 PM EDT

[#3]

New Caprice, 4 door rear wheel drive V-8.

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:03:36 PM EDT

[#4]

Ford Taurus SHO. Fits the family and it's peppy.

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:04:47 PM EDT

[#5]

Subaru WRX STI could be a decent choice. Good room and it is very quick. AWD

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:04:51 PM EDT

[#6]

Are you fuggin' kidding me?

A new STi.

Period.

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:06:29 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
Ford Taurus SHO. Fits the family and it's peppy.

Yeah, or you could buy a CTS-V or used M5 for that. Maybe we should go to college, wear jeans and stop putting gel in our hair! Let’s do that, Steve!

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:08:00 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:

Are you fuggin' kidding me?

A new STi.

Period.

Yep, even comes in a "wagon"

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:08:02 PM EDT

[#9]

Pontiac G8
BMW 335i or M3
Audi A6 or S6

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:08:29 PM EDT

[#10]

A Camero isn't a family car? Why not?

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:10:15 PM EDT

[#11]

Evo

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:10:51 PM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
A Camero isn't a family car? Why not?

The Camaro won't fit the booster seat and the car seat or 2 booster seats. I thought it would be fine but my wife insists on a specific brand of car/booster seats and they are huge.

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:11:25 PM EDT

[#13]

Along the STI lines, you could go Mitsubishi EVO 10 or for a little less money and HP, a Rallyart. I had a 2010 lancer and fit a family of 4 in there easily (the kids were 14 and 13 at the time).

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:12:36 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
New Caprice, 4 door rear wheel drive V-8.

Police only?

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:12:45 PM EDT

[#15]

Legacy 3.6r or Forester XT with suspension, exhaust modifications, & tuning.

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:13:10 PM EDT

[#16]

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:13:46 PM EDT

[#17]

M3

M5

Sti

Evo

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:13:46 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:

Pontiac G8

BMW 335i or M3

Audi A6 or S6

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:15:07 PM EDT

[#19]

Get a real cheap car for transporting the kids and keep the Camaro?

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:17:07 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
Get a real cheap car for transporting the kids and keep the Camaro?

It crossed my mind ....

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:17:43 PM EDT

[#21]

You are going to want a 4 door. I'd go with the 335 sedan.

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:17:58 PM EDT

[#22]

Maxima

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:19:04 PM EDT

[#23]

V6 Altima?

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:20:32 PM EDT

[#24]

Trailblazer SS

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:20:35 PM EDT

[#25]

Another vote for the 335. Nice car, fast, handles well, decent gas mileage, quality interior.

That and the STI are your only options.

There is the Hemi Charger or 300C. But those cars suck ass.

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:20:49 PM EDT

[#26]

2012 Nissan Altima

Just drive north for a couple hours, I know a great dealership

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:21:03 PM EDT

[#27]

Camry SE with the V6.

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:21:37 PM EDT

[#28]

Nissan Maxima, speed and looks.

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:22:38 PM EDT

[#29]

Infinity FX50. Period.........

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:26:04 PM EDT

[#30]

Quoted:
Nissan Maxima, speed and looks.

This. And Altima SE-R 3.5L V6
Love it, something like 290 hp

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:27:23 PM EDT

[#31]

T6 Volvo S60

just throwing it out there

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:27:57 PM EDT

[#32]

GLH?

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:29:46 PM EDT

[#33]

Quoted:
Trailblazer SS

That. I love mine.

400HP LS2 and AWD.

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:31:42 PM EDT

[#34]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Ford Taurus SHO. Fits the family and it's peppy.

Yeah, or you could buy a CTS-V or used M5 for that. Maybe we should go to college, wear jeans and stop putting gel in our hair! Let’s do that, Steve!

Where can you find a used 09 and up CTS-V or M5 for high 20's to low 30's with decent miles?

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:31:53 PM EDT

[#35]

Lmao @ all the Nissan Altima or Maxima comments.

The 2004-2008 Maximas were mid-14 second cars brand new and the new body style is heavier. He wants a "fast" car, not a mid-14 second car.

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:32:02 PM EDT

[#36]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Are you fuggin' kidding me?

A new STi.

Period.

Yep, even comes in a "wagon"

This. The 335 is good, but bmw maintenance can get really expensive, especially once it gets past 50,000 miles or so, which you are likely to get in a family car. The STI is high quality, and the after market parts for it are everywhere. I don't have a family and it will still probably be my next car. Plus AWD is nice, just be careful on getting used because they can be driven hard and/or raced and might have a lot more wear on them than the odometer says

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:32:08 PM EDT

[#37]

Quoted:
Caddy CTS-V
BMW M5
Pontiac G8 GXP

First reply nailed it.

If you can, I don't know why you wouldn't get the CTS-V Wagon. Not only is it nice, but it will whip the shit out of anything else in this thread, including your Camaro SS...and do it while carrying your entire family.

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:32:33 PM EDT

[#38]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Ford Taurus SHO. Fits the family and it's peppy.

Yeah, or you could buy a CTS-V or used M5 for that. Maybe we should go to college, wear jeans and stop putting gel in our hair! Let’s do that, Steve!

Where can you find a used 09 and up CTS-V or M5 for high 20's to low 30's with decent miles?

Where are you finding a brand new Taurus SHO for high 20's to low 30's?

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:33:34 PM EDT

[#39]

Quoted:
Pontiac G8 GXP

FIFY

OP, if you likes your Camaro, you'll love the GXP.

They are all 2009 (actually 2009.5) model year. You have a choice of stick or auto.

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:33:55 PM EDT

[#40]

I did the VW 2.0 turbo diesel route. It's not some 400 hp thing. But it does come with a manual transmission, it handles well, and it's got good torque for a 4 cylinder.

The 50 mpg on long trips is nice too.

My worst fill up when being aggressive still landed me 35 mpg in town.

If you can afford the larger bore VW and Audi diesels... damn.

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:34:33 PM EDT

[#41]

You could get into a 3-4 year old CLS 550 AMG.

Cam type: Double overhead cam (DOHC)

Cylinders: V8

Valves: 32

Valve timing: Variable

Torque: 391 ft-lbs. @ 2800 rpm

Horsepower: 382 hp @ 6000 rpm

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:34:46 PM EDT

[#42]

Quoted:
A Camero isn't a family car? Why not?

Two doors and a tiny back seat.

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:35:30 PM EDT

[#43]

Quoted:

Lmao @ all the Nissan Altima or Maxima comments.

The 2004-2008 Maximas were mid-14 second cars brand new and the new body style is heavier. He wants a "fast" car, not a mid-14 second car.

Especially when you consider that $30K could get him an E60 M5 with that glorious 500 bhp V10.

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:36:06 PM EDT

[#44]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Trailblazer SS

That. I love mine.

400HP LS2 and AWD.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w161/PantherArms/ab70cb18.jpg

10mpg...

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:36:19 PM EDT

[#45]

Nissan Maxima

Posted: 7/6/2012 6:36:25 PM EDT

[#46]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Caddy CTS-V
BMW M5
Pontiac G8 GXP

First reply nailed it.

If you can, I don't know why you wouldn't get the CTS-V Wagon. Not only is it nice, but it will whip the shit out of anything else in this thread, including your Camaro SS...and do it while carrying your entire family.

Sure but it's, even used with just "ok" miles, every inch of $60K which, while doable is a bit far afield of the price range I was interested in.