What car would you get?

[Isaac Zachary]

What car would you get with the following budgets (assuming you had to buy one right now)?
$5,000
$10,000
$15,000
$20,000
$25,000
$30,000
$35,000
$40,000
$45,000
$50,000

Me personally:

$5K Bicycle/Public transportation
$10K Bicycle/Public transportation, maybe a used Toyota Corolla or Camry if I can find one at that price that's also not high mileage, so probably Bicycle/Public transportation.
$15K New Nissan Versa (actually the Versa ends up being a bit more, so probably still looking for a used car of some sort).
$20K New Nissan Versa (STICK SHIFT MAN!
$25K New Toyota Corolla Hybrid
$30K New Camry Hybrid
$35K New Prius Prime
$40K and up New Tesla Model 3 standard range (based on what I'd get from the federal tax credit personally this year if I were to purchase a Tesla) although the Toyota Corolla GR is very appealing too. I'd have to test drive both to decide.

[freebeard]

$5,000 --> $15,000 restored Superbeetle

$20,000 Arcimoto FUV

$25,000 --> $50,000 EV converted 23-window bus

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by freebeard

$5,000 --> $15,000 restored Superbeetle

$20,000 Arcimoto FUV

$25,000 --> $50,000 EV converted 23-window bus

I like your list better than mine. At least the VW portion of it.

[freebeard]

Model 3 Highland is not a bad choice in that price range.

I can collapse the list to $15K -- FUV drivetrain in one of my Beetles (the '58 Baja or the SUPERBeetle)

[Piotrsko]

Commentz: 58 is better candidate for electrical conversion... pre gutted
Haven't heard you chime in on new electric bussie. I liked the gassers I saw in European countries

[redpoint5]

All of my picks are varying qualities of minivans, perhaps with the Cybertruck at the top end.

[freebeard]

Piotrsko -- That's the plan. I had the Lexus axle to put in it, but became dis-enchanted with open differentials when I spun out on black ice.

Agreed the Baja is good for development, but a reproduceable kit would need to accommodate full fenders. This design (from 1995) has an 8" beam extension and the FUV battery box is about 8" wide.



The model has a cantilevered trailing arm suspension, but practically, a polished aluminum widened sand buggy beam instead.

redpoint5 -- Stanced Previa?

[redpoint5]

I'm always half joking, half serious that a used limo would be the perfect kid hauler. You close off the chaos behind you and motor on... plus you own a limo which is pretty BA for taking friends out.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Would motorcycles be totally out of question? Sure it's a whole different deal in the United States compared to Brazil where small-displacement motorcycles are widely used for daily commuting, but nowadays it seems like a motorcycle and a side-car might be the closest to the simplicity of a VW Beetle that would still be legal...

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I'm always half joking, half serious that a used limo would be the perfect kid hauler

I remember when a former neighbor borrowed one, a Mercedes-Benz with some ancient turbodiesel engine, from a relative of him who rented that limo for events.

[Piotrsko]

Limousines are crappy in tight parkinglots, you also get jerks trying to screw with you by getting in your way. Used mini bus is my preferred people hauler since they are shorter than my F250 and do about 8-15 people, plus the seats fold up for those emergency orange store wood purchases.