Suggestions for a second vehicle?

[bigslimdog]

Currently I have a 2015 Tundra CM which is primarily used to haul around the family (and soon to haul a 26-28 foot camper I hope to purchase in the near future). I also have a company car which can be driven for personal use when I'm not working but can only be driven by me and must be within a certain radius of my company HQ.

Occasionally the situation pops up where my wife or I need a second vehicle and I'm looking to purchase one in the near future. It will be driven less than 5k miles per year. Here are my requirements:

• Honda or Toyota
• sport sedan
• Prefer manual transmission
• under 100k miles
• less than 10 years old
• under $15k

The only vehicles I have found that fit this so far are the Lexus IS250 and Honda Civic Si. Anyone have any experience with these vehicles or recommendations on others to look at?

 

[philsey]

Your requirement for a MT eliminates an awful lot of very good choices.

I would have suggested a Corolla. I bought my sister an ex-Enterprise Corolla 5 years ago - nothing but oil/filter since.

 

[GrossMan]

Scion Tc would meet your specs. Should be able to get a gently used one for $15K or less.
Can't vouch for it personally, but the one person I know with one (2012) loves it.
--

 

[bigslimdog]

Isn't the TC a coupe?

I did look at Corollas. Not really sporty but it is pretty appealing to be able to buy a brand new vehicle that meets every requirement except for sporty for under $15k.

I adjusted my MT requirement. I would prefer one just because I miss having a MT but I guess it's not an absolute must.

 

[Friggin Idiot]

I adjusted my MT requirement. I would prefer one just because I miss having a MT but I guess it's not an absolute must.

Get a manual while you still can. I very much miss mine, and they're a dying thing except in race type cars.
I had a very fun Subaru Legacy GT that was 5spd, and even in adverse weather stayed glued to the road. You specifically said
Honda or Yota though.
A quick Cars.com search says you can find exactly what you're looking for. If it were me I'd grab one of the GT Limited versions, they had a different suspension in them and had much less body roll around high speed corners. These aren't the highly coveted WRX or STi Imprezas so they won't be as expensive, and they're roomier inside.

 

[NoDak]

camry SE or an Avalon touring model if you can get away from the MT requirement or if you can find an old Matrix (but the sporty version are very hard to find)

those are the only decent sport sedan's you will find in Toyota in that price range.

scion's dont have any 4-door sporty cars

lexus is probably the only sporty sedans you will find but anything decent will be above the 15k price point.

 

[mxer]

Seems like a pretty picky list for a 2nd vehicle that barely gets driven.

 

[Thai]

I like Lexus IS250...luxury, small, and 4 doors. Civic Si? Nah, because there is potential for previous owner abuse (remember, most are driven by pimple popping kids...before jumping on me, i am exaggerating to make a point).

Subarus are good too. Reliable and AWD to boot! Like Civic, careful of abuse.

Another one that is pretty good...is the Acura TSX. I prefer the one that just went out of production vs. 1st gen because 2nd gen was quieter and solidly built.

 

[ARQ91]

The outgoing TSX is a nice car, but I think the 1st Gen. TSX is much sportier and better looking. Fairly reliable (red paint fade issues and weak tranny) Milano Red with a 6 SPD please !

2005 IS300. It's close to your vehicle age requirements, but is one hell of an amazing car. They are hard to find, but can be had with a 5 SPD and are super reliable.

Personally, I would go with the IS300 because TOYOTA ! Both are very nice cars and just as good even with the autotragic transmissions.

 

[bigslimdog]

Get a manual while you still can. I very much miss mine, and they're a dying thing except in race type cars.
I had a very fun Subaru Legacy GT that was 5spd, and even in adverse weather stayed glued to the road. You specifically said
Honda or Yota though.
A quick Cars.com search says you can find exactly what you're looking for. If it were me I'd grab one of the GT Limited versions, they had a different suspension in them and had much less body roll around high speed corners. These aren't the highly coveted WRX or STi Imprezas so they won't be as expensive, and they're roomier inside.

I agree, my first couple of vehicles I ever owned were manuals including one that was fairly sporty, an Acura Integra GSR which was a blast. I'd love to grab another MT. I'll checkout the Legacy, the only reason I didn't include Subaru was because a quick search for WRX Imprezas showed they were out of my price range. Wasn't aware they had anything else in a sport sedan.

camry SE or an Avalon touring model if you can get away from the MT requirement or if you can find an old Matrix (but the sporty version are very hard to find)

those are the only decent sport sedan's you will find in Toyota in that price range.

scion's dont have any 4-door sporty cars

lexus is probably the only sporty sedans you will find but anything decent will be above the 15k price point.

I did find some 80-90k mile IS250's within the $15k range. I don't really classify the Corolla/Camry/Matrix in the sport sedan category.

Seems like a pretty picky list for a 2nd vehicle that barely gets driven.

Yes it is picky. As you mentioned it's a second vehicle and also I don't have to rush to make a purchase. Seems like the perfect time to be picky.

I like Lexus IS250...luxury, small, and 4 doors. Civic Si? Nah, because there is potential for previous owner abuse (remember, most are driven by pimple popping kids...before jumping on me, i am exaggerating to make a point).

Subarus are good too. Reliable and AWD to boot! Like Civic, careful of abuse.

Another one that is pretty good...is the Acura TSX. I prefer the one that just went out of production vs. 1st gen because 2nd gen was quieter and solidly built.

The IS250 was my front runner so far from only a couple days of browsing and researching. I had the same feelings as you on the Civic Si. The Lexus would probably be owned by someone at a different point in their life than the Civic which would hopefully translate to them taking better care of the vehicle. You're the second to mention Subarus, I will have to search again and see if I can find anything in a model other than the WRX Impreza.

The outgoing TSX is a nice car, but I think the 1st Gen. TSX is much sportier and better looking. Fairly reliable (red paint fade issues and weak tranny) Milano Red with a 6 SPD please !

2005 IS300. It's close to your vehicle age requirements, but is one hell of an amazing car. They are hard to find, but can be had with a 5 SPD and are super reliable.

Personally, I would go with the IS300 because TOYOTA ! Both are very nice cars and just as good even with the autotragic transmissions.

My Integra was milano red so I know the paint fade first hand. Had it repainted black which was equally as difficult to care for. Since then I have purchased four white vehicles in a row.

I have always loved the IS300 but unfortunately they are getting older (and more affordable to high school kids) and as you mentioned it's pretty difficult to find one that is a manual that hasn't been modified/beaten on. That's what led me to the IS250.

 

[NoDak]

if your going to look at subie's, look for a used 2.5GT legacy. if you want something a bit more sedate, get the 3.6R legacy. had one loved the car, but not the Subaru patented squeaks/rattles that are inherent to all subie's.

the transmission/engine was awesome in my 3.6R, but once your spoiled by the quiet of the Toyota's $30k+ vehicles, kinda hard to downgrade

 

[bigslimdog]

if your going to look at subie's, look for a used 2.5GT legacy. if you want something a bit more sedate, get the 3.6R legacy. had one loved the car, but not the Subaru patented squeaks/rattles that are inherent to all subie's.

the transmission/engine was awesome in my 3.6R, but once your spoiled by the quiet of the Toyota's $30k+ vehicles, kinda hard to downgrade

A quick search on autotrader.com looks like those models aren't in the price range.

 

[Thai]

The outgoing TSX is a nice car, but I think the 1st Gen. TSX is much sportier and better looking. Fairly reliable (red paint fade issues and weak tranny) Milano Red with a 6 SPD please !

True...however, the 1st gen was quite noisy. 2nd gen is more solidly built and more luxurious.

 

[wadle5]

I see you live in Baltimore. I'm surprised you haven't touched into the Subaru market. With fantastic vehicle choices in the past decade, great reliability, and not to mention the best awd system on the market. You get a 5 or 6 speed Subi and you will rack up more than 5k miles a year in that thing as they are so much fun to drive. Just my .02.

 

[ARQ91]

True...however, the 1st gen was quite noisy. 2nd gen is more solidly built and more luxurious.

Yeah, I guess for a daily the new TSX ain't bad with all it's creature comforts and nicer interior, but I feel it lacks the performance the previous one did. I was able to spend some time in a 2010 TSX and I'd much rather opt for the V6 or a TL.

I have always loved the IS300 but unfortunately they are getting older (and more affordable to high school kids) and as you mentioned it's pretty difficult to find one that is a manual that hasn't been modified/beaten on. That's what led me to the IS250.

If the newer IS is your thing, have you considered an IS350 instead ? Much better performance and it's pretty much the same comfortable little sport sedan.

 

[bigslimdog]

Yeah, I guess for a daily the new TSX ain't bad with all it's creature comforts and nicer interior, but I feel it lacks the performance the previous one did. I was able to spend some time in a 2010 TSX and I'd much rather opt for the V6 or a TL.



If the newer IS is your thing, have you considered an IS350 instead ? Much better performance and it's pretty much the same comfortable little sport sedan.

Definitely considered it but that added performance puts it out of my price range. I want something sporty and fun to drive but don't need it to blow the doors off everything else on the road.

I expanded my search distance and I'm finding some older Subaru Legacy GT models that look great and after researching the Legacy it seems to fit the bill for me. The added AWD and OEM turbo are definitely nice. Just seems that I have to find an older (2005-2006) model with under 100k miles to get one in my price range.

Looks like I'm between the IS250 and Legacy. The TSX is nice and fits as well but when compared with the IS and Legacy it just can't compete IMO. In fact the Legacy GT seems to be well ahead of both of them performance wise. I like the exterior of the IS best. Anybody ever own a Legacy? How is the reliability past 100k miles on an OEM turbocharged engine? Nodak how long did you keep yours and what year was it? Ever have any major issues?

The Toyota fanboy in me would probably still prefer the Lexus even though the Legacy may have the edge performance wise.

 

[NoDak]

I bought a 2010 legacy 3.6R within the first few months of the redesign.

the only issue I had was a rattle in the moon roof but that was fixed under warranty. otherwise not 1 issue in 51k miles.

I also didn't go the 2.5GT route as its a stick only, and turbo.

I would jump on the legacygt.com forums, the knowledge and friendliness is comparable to this forum. I was nodak over there also.

and you wont find any 2.5GT after 2013-4 since they phased out the turbo legacy and wanted the wrx to be the sports car of Subaru (not sure on the time frame when they were phased out).

also if you want you can find some forester 2.5 X models with that same turbo engine in it. only problem I see with a forester, its like a rav4, not as good sound deadening as a legacy.

the main reason I jumped from my legacy was the Subaru patented noises and I could afford to get back into a 4runner. still got 15k on a trade in for my legacy after 4 years and 51k miles. came out to around 50-45% resale retainability when I traded it in.

attached is a pic of my mpg over the course of owning it.

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