Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests what car would u buy for under 15k

I'd buy a 99 SVTC with mods, personally, but the price may or may not fall in to that limit, exactly.

beyond jealous...

note to self, put sugar in rays new car if he doesn't sell it to me for $25.00 and a cookie. What is with everyone getting new cars recently?

Its just that time of years, I guess.

Oh, and,
Note to elraido: sugar isn't really the end-all-be-all to destruction of a car. other than changing the fuel filter, etc, I am not worried about it. Besides, you gotta catch me, first.

you have to sleep sometime. and I know a few people who have cars that could do more then keep up with you if I gave them some whiskey

and then I will hijack your car to cuba....it is watter proof as well, right? How about SVT Focus as well?
and how many times will i put as well in this post?

I posted this exact same topic a few months ago and got a bunch of very good comments -- check it out.

I had a few more requirements though (no Ford/Mercury, four doors, manual, power locks/windows, preferably leather and sunroof) so some of the suggestions there might be limited.

My personal top list included an E46 BMW (still wonder why I didn't get one ), '03+ Mazda6i or 6s, '02+ Hyundai Elantra GT (hatchback), '02+ Nissan Altima.

In the end, I purchased a loaded 2000 Nissan Maxima SE for 10,500. Your friend could probably get an '02 or '03 for his price range; they have much more powerful engines and come with HIDs stock. The car has a few caveats: horrid turning radius, not quite as fun in the twisties, play in the shifter (not unlike Contours, I hear; never drove an MTX Contour myself); lots of free play in clutch, and an occasional TPS issue (fix available from dealer; I haven't gotten it done).
However it is a quiet, smooth ride, the engine is very torquey, the build quality is insanely great, lots of electronic trinkets I can no longer live without (Homelink, one-touch sunroof open/close, one-touch driver's window close, low windshield-washer fluid light that's come on twice so far ; auto-on headlamps, etc.) and it's gorgeous to boot. They have a decently large aftermarket too, since you said your friend is into that sort of thing. In the end I don't at all regret the purchase. Check out my sig for pics and the full list of features on my own.

E46 BMW hands down. Mine has 130k miles on it now and it runs like a top, looks like new, etc. -- really showing that great German build quality and why the sticker was $41k+

Scott