A clean slate, an empty garage - What Would Oppo Do?

[nth256]

I find myself currently without a stable form of transportation, and burdened by an abundance of options. I've been car shopping for so long now that I literally just spin out thinking of possibilities, so I'm soliciting opinions - WWOD (What Would Oppo Do)? Be practical, be ridiculous, I don't care, just throw me ideas. No need to post links to actual vehicles, btw.

PARAMETERS:

• Firm $25k budget; the further under-budget, the better
• NEED two four-wheeled vehicles; no cycles (sadly)
• Will have one student driver in the household; one beginner-friendly option would be appreciated
• Reliability is a BIG PLUS for both vehicles - I'd like at least one car I can wrench on easily, but not out of necessity
• "Newer" is not necessarily "nicer"; I'm cool with stuff from 80s-90s as long as they aren't a full-on resto project
• At least one manual transmission
• Regularly carry three passengers, occasionally carry four (all with backpacks)
• Would prefer at least one SUV or wagon
• Ability to occasionally tow a small trailer is a plus but not necessary
• Some measure of light off-road/bad weather capability is also a plus
• Generally within the Austin/San Marcos/San Antonio area of Texas, but anything from a southern US state would be fine

This is stupid and i feel stupid posting it. If you care to indulge me, please accept my gratitude. Thanks in advance for whatever you post.

[Neil in Nomi]

@nth256

Suzuki SX4 for the new driver - $6000-8000

Subaru Forester manual - $10000-15000

How about that?

[davesaddiction]

@nth256

For me, I think one would be a manual Mazda 3 hatch (previous gen).

[Krusty Walnut]

@nth256 Used Toyota 4Runner and Honda Civic. This is the way.

[MisterButtercup]

@nth256 Toyota Corolla for the new driver.

Seconding @davesaddiction 's Mazda 3 hatch recommendation with manual trans.

Not sure if you want to post the closest metropolitan area to crowd source your searching?

[Qaaaaa]

@nth256 Dodge Challenger R/T, manual

[mjswee]

@nth256 The best Land Cruiser, LX450, LX470, or GX470 you can buy for $15k. And then the best manual E46 or E90 3-series for $10k (probably E46 given the budget). If BMW isn't reliable enough, Lexus IS300.

[nth256]

@MisterButtercup Austin, TX but San Marcos or San Antonio wouldn't be terribly out of the way either.

[theturbomrt]

Like a 2012 Honda CR-V awd with a light duty tow hitch would satisfy all your demands, and then whatever the hell else you want for the remaining $18k. Challenger R/T manual I guess. Or a Magnum?

[Cash Rewards]

@nth256 Used Prius, Honda civic hatch with manual. Years and mileage vary to meet budget

[derp]

@nth256 the nicest newest 4 door civic SI you feel like paying for. Should be plentiful options under budget, manual only, roomy back seats for passengers (seriously, backwards facing car seat and full size adult in the front seat ahead of it were no problem), they're great in the snow and rain and stuff with the limited slip differential.

2nd, the nicest newest AWD CRV you feel like paying for. hatch/wagon/suv adjacent, AWD for that bad weather, also roomy, comfortable to drive, decent on gas, great for a beginner.

done.

[Nibby]

@nth256 ford taurus wagon

[Future Next Gen S2000 Owner]

Suzuki Kizashi for the new driver.
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-Suzuki-Kizashi-Dallas-d2070_L33702

Saab 9-5 last gen. It's a looker and has aged well.

I would recommend a TourX but holy hell those are going for more now than when I bought mine new. Hell, I'll sell you mine.

[davesaddiction]

@Future-Next-Gen-S2000-Owner said in A clean slate, an empty garage - What Would Oppo Do?:

Kizashi

Good luck finding parts after the inevitable fender-bender!

[DSM_OR_DIE]

@nth256 one Corolla/Matrix XRS 6 speed and one Matrix AWD. If you MUST have a crossover then get a Pontiac Vibe version instead. And then you spend your remaining money on an MR-2 Spyder. That'd be a pretty good garage that covers the bases.

[HoustonRunner]

@theturbomrt said in A clean slate, an empty garage - What Would Oppo Do?:

Like a 2012 Honda CR-V awd with a light duty tow hitch would satisfy all your demands, and then whatever the hell else you want for the remaining $18k. Challenger R/T manual I guess. Or a Magnum?

I second your suggestion, but not going to find 2012 AWD CR-V around here for less than $10k. Prices have gone down a bit, but I paid $14k last October for a 2009 2WD one. Granted I paid more for a lower mileage (100k).

[theturbomrt]

@HoustonRunner said in A clean slate, an empty garage - What Would Oppo Do?:

@theturbomrt said in A clean slate, an empty garage - What Would Oppo Do?:

Like a 2012 Honda CR-V awd with a light duty tow hitch would satisfy all your demands, and then whatever the hell else you want for the remaining $18k. Challenger R/T manual I guess. Or a Magnum?

I second your suggestion, but not going to find 2012 AWD CR-V around here for less than $10k. Prices have gone down a bit, but I paid $14k last October for a 2009 2WD one. Granted I paid more for a lower mileage (100k).

There are more deals to be had this year than last.

Here's a '13 with 78k, AWD, tow package for $12k
https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/d/irving-honada-cr-exl-awd/7595702501.html
Of course it could be an accident car but who knows

[HFV_Junkyardin]

@nth256 I mean My current stable fits the restrictions pretty well.
In an Ideal world I'd trade the X3 for a 328i wagon.

[Highlander]

@nth256 https://carsandbids.com/auctions/K1M0RPQG/2014-honda-accord-ex-l-v6-coupe

or

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/rbq5DRJg/1992-isuzu-mysterious-utility-4x4

[Bandit]

@nth256 I wouldn't necessarily do this without a modern daily, but if I needed two cars here's what I'd do:

1990 Suburban - you can get a mint one for ~12k. This should handle all your utility needs.

You could go with a newer GMT400-800 Suburban too depending on your style for even less cash, all are equally reliable but the old squarebodies ooze class.

For manual 2-seater fun I'd go with a late C4 corvette, preferably a 1996 with the LT4 engine (more hp over the LT1). or a Pontiac Solstice GXP which is also easily in budget.

[Hike]

I'm thinking something like an 89-96 Corvette for a cheap fun car to wrench on and then either a Mazda3 or Mazda6, both of which were available with a manual. Shouldn't be hard to stay below 25k for those two and both are pretty reliable.

[RPMesq.]

@mjswee Seconding the Cruiser and E46/E90 idea. I'd add that you might also consider a 4th-gen 4Runner instead of a Land Cruiser. Perfect two-car garage. I should know, I lived it for several years (E46 M3 and an FJ80, and then a 4th-gen 4Runner).

[orneryduck]

2002-2004 Honda Civic (cheap, simple, auto, seats four)
2002-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer (Also Oldsmobile Bravada, GMC Envoy, and SAAB 9-7x)

Should be able to get into very nice examples of both for 12-18k total depending how low you go on miles and how high on options you slide.

[mjswee]

@RPMesq @nth256 I lived it with an FZJ80 and E90 335d. I sometimes regret getting rid of both of those. Another positive is the Land Cruiser should be depreciation-proof or at least a near flat depreciation curve now.

[sn4cktimes]

@nth256 2 door Wrangler, 4 door Wrangler. Both manual, both soft-too. Let the learner use the 2 door, take out the rear bench for no shenanigans. Done.