Question of the Day: What Vehicle Would You Buy with A Budget of $20,000?
While it’s interesting to ponder what you would stock your personal paddock with if you ever struck it rich, chances are most of us won’t ever have the chance to own some of the worlds more exotic automobiles. But a lack of money doesn’t have to mean a dearth of fun either; for less than say, $20,000, a world of options could be had. So if you had an extra $20K dropped in your checking account today, earmarked for the purchase of one vehicle, which would it be? Give us your most considered answer, in comments.
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Comments
john
Already bought it. 2005 Cadillac CTS. Very happy with it.
The Man
Probably the one you pictured in the article. Nice choice as long as no one's ragged it out (Good Luck!) Otherwise, a mint condition Triumph TR4 would be a fine enough summer roadster for most people, and would leave at least $7-8000 to play with when it breaks down - which it will...
klarens
yeah this one in the pic is nice choice also nissan 240sx toyota supra not that old merc or bimma or (r)s4 from audi.......lots of cars
Dane
A late 70's Porsche 911 or a Mid-Eighties
Alfa Romeo GTV-6.........
Or a Renualt r5 turbo.....
or a Ford Focus ST from the UK!!!!!
man what a hard and good question.........
chris
Jeep Wrangler, just in time for summer, and tow the jetski topless.
Sol
S2000
Raj
What I hope to acquire soon ( 2004 BMW 5 series ) if I can find it uner 20K, or a 2005 Audi A4.
dante
I'm sure I'll forget some if I list them, and since the question isn't 'build from scratch', I'll narrow it down to one:
Rust-free 1984 Subaru GL 5-speed hardtop, EJ22 swap, rwd, 5-lug conversion.
rip
New? A Mini.
Old? There are so many. Maybe a Boxster.
05MustangGT
Factory Five Cobra Kit, and every thing needed.
jpaul
I agree with Sol, S2000. It also gets over 20mpg if you don't hammer on it all the time.
Charles
Mustang V6!
Mena
That picture is spot on. I would get an 06 WRX with a Cobb Tuning Stage 2 kit, some TEIN coilovers, and some sticky tires.
J. Hartmann
911sc 3.6
Trinks
If I could, I'd like a nice hatchback Civic Si, with plenty of change left over for forced induction or a K24 swap.
Ducati Minor
Overall, a 1970-74 Plymouth 'Cuda. New, I'd go with a VW Rabbit S.
Jeff
That pic is exactly what I would do. A 2/3 years used WRX that isn't too beaten, ideally blue w/ gold rims. :)
Those cars are damn fun, tough to beat for the price. Plus it's got AWD for when the weather gets cold and slippy. Fast, fun, 4 doors, room for stuff, AWD. What else you need?
Jeb
A 2004 Focus ZX3 and $10K of custom work, like a built-up gearbox with limited-slip from Haines Motorsports and some UK-market lighting and bumpers. Or maybe a Locost that needs to be finished up.
smokyburnout
an old Fiero would probably be anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars... a supercharged Northstar is about $16k direct from the GM Performance Parts catalog... with $20k i might even have money left over for gas!
ZeGerman
I'd probably just use it to restore my '66 GT0 while continuing to drive my not so speedy Maxima. If I was actually required to buy a vehicle with the money, I'd either go for a used STi or M3. Boring and typical choices, yes, but they have track potential and can be used every day.
X3 SoB
Z3, Boxster, older M3, MR2 roadster, S2000, or older M5. Many, many other choices, depending on availability and condition. Kind of a lame Question.
Cicero
Saturn Astra 3 door and with the left over money upgrade the engine and suspension a bit
X3 SoB
Ducati, good luck trying to find a 'Cuda for under $20K.
Michael
My answer is going to be rather practical, but I'm a college student who lives out of state and doesn't know where he'll end up... I'd probably have to go with a slightly used Subaru Outback. A nice car that will last a while.
Patrick from Astoria
Y'know, if you'd said $10K I would have really had to mull it over, but twenty? No question: 1987-1989 Porsche 911 Carrera, coupe or targa (probably a sunroof coupe), minimal options, minimal modifications, no silly boy-racer spoilers, dark-colored exterior. At this price point I'm mostly working with private sellers or higher-mileage examples, but that's perfectly acceptable given the general integrity of the species.
Not too long ago I would have gone for a 1970-71 911S; now those are teice as much. Sigh.
corco16446
I'd get a brand new Chevrolet Cobalt
Big Jon
Harley Davidson Road King :-)
RickS2R
New? 2009 Jetta TDI with DSG when it comes out in a few months...HANDS DOWN!
Paul In Jersey
Land Rover 109, either a Series II or Series III.
Cicero
RickS2R I would love to see someone on a $20,000 budget get a new 2009 Jetta TDI with DSG
Ducati Minor
Somehow, I think a Jetta TDI for $20K is about as realistic and Shell going 100% to hydrogen in a year.
X3SoB--look up market research on it. Not every E-body 'Cuda came equipped with a 440 or a Hemi. It's called a 318.
bepsf
New:
Ford Fusion SEL I-4 5 Speed w/ Leather & Sunroof
Preowned:
Late model VW GTI
Rodney Dickerson
With $20K I would buy a Hyundai Elantra.
mark in maine
A nice "well broken-in" 944, and with the balance, a used Forester 2.5XT 5 speed
Jonathan Fung
A very gently used low mileage Mazdaspeed3.
And if it were a slightly higher-mileage Mazdaspeed3, I'd probably be able to afford a used 600cc sportsbike as well.
$20k can buy a very wide range of used cars.
garrett
ZENN electric car reprogrammed to go 40
Kal
$20k eh? How about a Porsche 928 GTS or 928 S4. Maybe a nice Porsche 968 or 944 S2 with the 3.0L. Or, a 944 Turbo with plenty left over to make it into a real monster. Water cooled, front engine cars from Porsche are WAY underated.
You could also get a nice Audi S4 (00-01.5')
Maybe a used VW GTI with the 2.0T and DSG.
An older C5 Corvette.
Audi TT 1.8T Quattro with the 225hp motor.
So many choices...
grohlinator
2004-2006 Pontiac GTO
Nick
Already bought it... a 2002 VW GTI 1.8T (5speed manual) It's got under 50k miles. I love driving this car every day.
02chuck
E30 or E36 M3 with money left over to "tune it up"
Hardy Shen
Honda S2000. Sure, it may not be as powerful as most modern sports cars, but its well balanced and nimble. The lotus Elise is a better car, but I would have to sell my organs for maintenance/repair fees. Honda also makes incredible engines.
Xenon
Prius. Lame and boring. So what? The gas is $4/gallon. It'll save so much money compared to a Jeep, Mustang or any other V6 mentioned above.
Chris W
MINI...used or new!
BrandonL
2004 Saleen N2O Focus. A buddy of mine had one, and that car was more fun to drive than any STi or Evo, because everyone thought it was just a body kit and some stickers. With the left over money, I'd upgrade the nitrous system to a 125-shot, put Michelin PS2's on it, and have plenty of money left still to finance the nitrous for a long time.
chuck goolsbee
My left brain would buy a VW TDI, but my right brain would find some older restored Alfa Romeo.
I'm conflicted.
--chuck
http://chuck.goolsbee.org
Tony D
you americans are lucky to have so many choices for so cheap. here in canada 20 grand won't buy you a base rabbit, let alone a GTI. And the STI? Try 50 grand in the great white north. At that price they sell very few, meaning they hold there value distressingly well. 20 grand might get you a decent 05 mustang gt though. but I really want the frickin STI...
Leo H
Honestly ...Forester or Golf GTi or a Mini van plus a Harley !!!!!
Joshua
That $20K would pretty much cover the restroation/ modifaction work I have in mind for my Volvo 1800, though that Spyker interior may have to be put off.
As far as what to BUY, I'm in the rather popular camp of the WRX, preferably a nicely used black hatch and a few choice upgrades (something comparable to the Prodrive Performance Pack from the UK) and a Thule rack on top.
Lucas Krown
Lincoln Continental -64 bagged with 22". :)
M. Dillon
I would used the 20K to buy a 2008 SMART4Two rag-top,fully loaded. Why? It's new;therefore,you get the full warranty. It's tied in with M-B,which has a track record of quality. Also,it worth noting,it unique AND it's a fuel sipper,with safety built into the car.
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