Recommend Me a Daily Driver

[mikeedler]

e39
they are large enough to fit people in it, and ugly enough to not care too much about it. mine makes a great daily and was WAY under your max budget.

[TimKninja]

E34's are great DDs.

Consider A TDI Mk3 Jetta.

[Bimmerguy91]

318is

[gp.plus]

e39

+1
I picked up an e39 for $4000, m-sport package, all the bells and whistles, 17" style 5's. It's quiet, comfortable, and very reliable, and with the sport suspension it even handles quite well. It also fits 4 adults in complete comfort. 150k and engine is quiet and aside from putting new sway bar links on it, it's been trouble free.

[Jon325i]

For a DD while you have a car project going, I would go for something basic & reliable. Plenty of foreign & domestic choices that offer 4 doors. If it were me, I'd go with something Japanese that needs nothing more than fuel in the tank to keep it going. It may not be as fun/exciting to drive, but at least you can depend on it while your E30 is under the knife.

Just my

[Karmageddon]

mk4 tdi golf/jetta.


1000km to a tank, even with a heavy foot (what I have old tires that need burning out so I can replace them).

The only thing I have had to change on mine, was the clutch... and that was at 140k km and with 3 learner drivers on it.


Not as much fun as the e30 to drive, but way more useful.

[Komzorz]

Jeep Cherokee 4L 4door 4wd.

Boom. The correct answer is always Jeep Cherokee.

[evandael]

First-gen Honda CRV. Facelifted 1999-2001 version with 5-speed and 150 horse I4.

- Car or SUV (needs 4 doors) CHECK
- 25+mpg (really would like 30+) CHECK, EPA 23/28
- Manual transmission preferred CHECK, manual available
- MUST have great AC (rear AC if possible too) probably CHECK
- AWD/4WD a plus, but not necessary CHECK
- Cupholders are always good CHECK
- Reliable of course CHECK, Honda.
- And the hard part, under $6k (if that's even possible) CHECK, see link.

cars.com search for > $6K, 5sp 1999-2001 CRV's

damn, now I want one!

[Kovs]

92 - 94 Audi UrS4
95 Audi UrS6

These are GREAT, hugely under-rated cars that can be had on the cheap (compared to the E34 M5 and MB 500e). You get the holy grail of Audi engines - 20V 5 cylinder turbo - unbreakable quattro drivetrain, large, comfortable interior (with rear AC vents), a huge trunk, and styling that still looks classy and current. I would by another if I had the room.

Even better - although you might be hard pressed to find one under $6K because of their rarity- go for the 95 UrS6 Avant.

Here's a few for sale on the west coast:

http://www.audifans.com/marketplace/show.php?table=pm_audifans_Cars&id=6788

http://www.audifans.com/marketplace/show.php?table=pm_audifans_Cars&id=6425

These look nice... although I've seen nicer ones with software upgrades, suspension, and Porsche brakes trade hands for about the same money.

[mbonanni]

4 door geo metro

My geo tracker (same thing pretty much right?) got horrible gas mileage. Then again the pedal was on the floor everywhere I went cause how slow they are...

e34's are comfy as hell, I would get one if I was looking for a bigger car. I think a 5 series is what you should be looking at, they are comfy family cars. Get a 528e, make sure the a/c work and car runs good, euro bumpers, wheels, mild drop...

[iX-treame]

e34 is a great DD I love my 540i/6 so much, comfy, reliable, good looking, fun to drive, solid all around car. Just get a 525i 5spd it's an awesome car and it's got an m50, what more could you ask for?

or

VW Jetta TDI 5spd, my parents bought one as a 3rd car to just use for running around town and for when my dad isn't driving his gas guzzling v8. But it's a great car, 50 mpg(fuel needle never moves, kinda scary!), honestly handles pretty well for what it is(I put it through it's paces), it's only got 90hp and you need all of it but with the 5spd it really helps. It has great A/C, not super roomy but it works. Everyone that drives it says they would buy one, especially after the fuel gauge doesn't move when they are done driving it. Oh and not to mention TUBRO WHISTLE so you can feel cool telling people it's boosted haha.

[e30trooper]

gc8 wagon

4 door
awd
5speed
fun to drive and they look pretty dam good.

[coreyw]

Anybody ever owned an Audi 4000s Quattro? Seems like it'd make a pretty good daily driver, but I'm afraid of what repairs and parts would cost. I've been reading mixed reviews online about them. I found one locally for about $2.5k.

[Axxe]

E36 328i 5spd

[lambo]

gc8 wagon

4 door
awd
5speed
fun to drive and they look pretty dam good.

I agree. The 2.2L's are bulletproof.