what would you get for a DD, this has probably been discussed before but here it goes again Options

[JustinID]

I'm late to the game and it's already been (sort of) mentioned... but I like the idea of picking up a 3rd gen RX7 for ~12k. It's relatively inexpensive, good power, great handling, and when you decide you want to do something different (or you break the engine), drop an LSx with a 6 speed into it.

[rpoz-29]

I've done it twice. A '73 Vega GT I bought new, and drove until 1987, (and still own), and a 1987 4Runner I'm still driving. If I was going to buy a new car right now, I think it would be a Cobalt SS, or a Colorado 5.3 V-8.

[rpoz-29]

There's an '05 Chevy SSR at Royal Chevrolet in Richmond. The ad says it's an automatic, but it looks like a manual shifter, and has a tiny brake pedal if it is. Saw it on CL. I'm just throwing it out there.

[matt f]

I may turn my SS into my DD, after I get a Z06.

[codename Bil Doe]

Base model Cobalt. It gets 31mpg city, 40+ freeway if you baby it, and you can practice double-clutching on the way to work. Also doubles as a great drift car for autox when it rains.

(IMG:http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/29/l_2c4165d6fb984fafb8dfdff146bf35c7.jpg)

[00 Trans Ram]

I did the "mpg DD" with an 06 Saturn Ion. I even sprang for the 2.4L engine with 180hp. Despite the leather, sunroof and real wheels, it was still "just transportation".

I got rid of it an bought a G8GT. I may own this car for a decade. It's easily, hands-down, no doubt the best DD I've ever driven. I'm comparing it to BMW 330i, BMW 745i, MB CLS550, Cadillac CTS-V and Audi S4. I've driven all of them for at least a week as DDs (borrowed friend's and family's rides to test them out).

At 362hp and 380tq, it has plenty of power for highway and city. Heck, I've put mine on the track, and didn't want for power.

The exterior styling satisfies even my most critical critics - guys who own Audi and BMWs and think they're the best things since sliced bread. In fact, most people at gas stations mistake my car for something German.

The interior styling is great, too. Nice modern radio with a large, full-color LCD screen. Satellite radio available on 09s (I just plugged in a separate unit in my 08). Seats rival anything from Germany. More rear seat room than a BMW 7-series - heck, there's more room back there than most mini-vans (no joke)! Yeah, there's some plastic, but it's not like the plastic is trying to masquerade as something else. It's textured very nicely, so it appears correct.

It has the L98, which is basically an LS2 with Displacement-On-Demand (or whatever they call it these days). I get 20mpg combined, but I've got a 20lb anvil for a right foot. When babying it, I've gotten 30mpg highway and 23 city.

I haven't modded mine, yet. G8-specific parts are somewhat expensive. But, it uses the same suspension and other bits from the Camaro. Once those parts come on the market, prices will fall.

[koserv]

Some (more) food for thought.....

I've got two DD's in the garage that meet your specs...big V8, tons of fun, chick magnets....a 65 Buick Wildcat convertible and a 67 GS400 rag top. As long as you don't need a 70 'Cuda, the bang for the buck factor is huge right now in the muscle car market. Not the best handling rides on the planet, but they turn heads every time I'm on the road. I'm thinking about putting a modern front end and disk brakes on the GS, and , humm, wait a minute....I just swapped motors in the race car...once I get the old LT1, rebuilt I wonder how it would look in the GS....

KO

[roadracetransam]

So, here is my update.
I got a '05 Audi S4.
340hp 4.2L V8 AWD 6speed auto. I rather got a manual but this one was too good of a deal to pass up. It was a bit of a impulse buy at the end. I walked by it, took it for a test drive, even before I knew the price or what is under the hood. When I came back I was told 17k. Sold.

[Beach Cruiser]

Not a bad choice, and if you get the racing bug, I think it's an FS car to boot...

[cccbock]

I got rid of it an bought a G8GT. I may own this car for a decade. It's easily, hands-down, no doubt the best DD I've ever driven. I'm comparing it to BMW 330i, BMW 745i, MB CLS550, Cadillac CTS-V and Audi S4. I've driven all of them for at least a week as DDs (borrowed friend's and family's rides to test them out).

At 362hp and 380tq, it has plenty of power for highway and city. Heck, I've put mine on the track, and didn't want for power.

The exterior styling satisfies even my most critical critics - guys who own Audi and BMWs and think they're the best things since sliced bread. In fact, most people at gas stations mistake my car for something German.

The interior styling is great, too. Nice modern radio with a large, full-color LCD screen. Satellite radio available on 09s (I just plugged in a separate unit in my 08). Seats rival anything from Germany. More rear seat room than a BMW 7-series - heck, there's more room back there than most mini-vans (no joke)! Yeah, there's some plastic, but it's not like the plastic is trying to masquerade as something else. It's textured very nicely, so it appears correct.

It has the L98, which is basically an LS2 with Displacement-On-Demand (or whatever they call it these days). I get 20mpg combined, but I've got a 20lb anvil for a right foot. When babying it, I've gotten 30mpg highway and 23 city.

I haven't modded mine, yet. G8-specific parts are somewhat expensive. But, it uses the same suspension and other bits from the Camaro. Once those parts come on the market, prices will fall.

Just passing by here and adding something:

The G8 GT is really nice and for those seeking daily drivers that might not follow this too close, the G8 GXP is due out "any day now" as well as the new Camaro (which most of us will want in SS trim).

These cars have very similar running gear based on the GM Holden guts underneath, and both have the LS3 (not LS2) putting out over 400hp (415 in the GXP, 422 in the Camaro) and both are available with 6 speed manual. Depending on your needs, that's some serious performance even in a big heavy car.

I'm dreaming about it a lot......

Bock

This post has been edited by cccbock: Mar 22 2009, 01:15 AM

[rinkscustoms]

Buick Regal T-type/Grand National option packages have better road suspensions than the '87 Monte SS's did. HD sway bars and spring/shock combos came stock on these cars. There are two GN's in the driveway, they were identical in terms of suspensions till one was modded for drag only (it has the capability to run mid 10's and then drive home), while the other is more of a daily driver. Dispite a "lumpy" cam, bigger 43lb/hr injectors, a Thrasher chip and a slightly larger turbo, it's still very driveable and can take a corner almost as good as my '94 Firebird Formula LT1/T56/3.42 rear (which handles/rides better than it's no-frills brother, my fathers '94 Camaro Z28 LT1/4L60E/2.73 rear.

The advatage of owning a GN, aside from being able to destroy just about any import that doesn't show up on a trailer, and still have the A/C on, is that insurance counts this "vette killer" as an ordinary non-turbo'd 3.8L Regal... Cheaper insurance! And if you were to throw a few grand into the suspension/wheel/tire category, you'd end up being able to pass porsches round a corner on the outside.

Call me bias, but an upgraded '86/'87 GN will have the edge against an Audi A4, 3 series, or C class (notably driven by ricks), and in my book outclasses them because Buick is GM's mid class fleet. Even if you dump $5G into the car to make it fast(er) and handle corners like a G-machine you can still stay within your budget of $15G. A "nice" GN will go for about $5G-$10G, the GNX variant being a low production version and considered a collectable (>2000 made) will be in the $20G-$30G range, while the Regal T-type cousin (available in a few more hues than black) will go from about $2G-$6G depending on the condition and mods already done (which it's a rarety to catch a GN/T-type bone stock anymore).

The stock block can push the 3800+lb car into the mid to low 11's in the quarter mile. (that's roughly 500-600RWHP) While you can drive it daily, hold 4 track tires and four of your buddies/chicks while paying insurance on a car considered to have less than 160HP.

[00 Trans Ram]

So, here is my update.
I got a '05 Audi S4.
340hp 4.2L V8 AWD 6speed auto. I rather got a manual but this one was too good of a deal to pass up. It was a bit of a impulse buy at the end. I walked by it, took it for a test drive, even before I knew the price or what is under the hood. When I came back I was told 17k. Sold.

Good buy. Got a friend who has one, and it's one fast car. He's got some extra stuff done to his (exhaust, tuning, intake, suspension, etc.). It sounds like a 60's muscle car under full throttle!