Budget Performance Sedan

[venmos1]

Im curious how many replies are from people with babies/children. I have an 11 month old, and i cannot imagine having one of my 2 vehicles be a car. Babies just have soooo much stuff. My recommendation would be a truck. i cannot imaging not having a truck. I actually look forward to when i buy my next truck (Mega Cab Ram with Ramboxes for extra storage). The rear facing car seat takes up so much room. For safety reasons, we put it in the middle (for now until the next baby arrives end of December). Even going grocery shopping frustrates me with the lack of space. I currently have a quad cab ram that is just not big enough and my wife has a CRV. Her next vehicle will etiher be a durango equivalent size or full size suv (tahoe). I hate having no space. Do they work? Yes, but i would rather have too much space than not enough, or barely enough and have to pack things just so perfectly to get it inside. Then not have any space to move in the vehicle. Just my $.02

 

[2KBlackGT]

Charger 1st. 300SRT 2nd,.........SHO 10th.

Added another option.

do yourself a favor and take the srt8.

This. Just look at the responses to this thread. The SRT will run good in stock form. You have to modify the other cars mentioned just to keep up to the stock SRT.

However, where are you finding 12-14 SRT8's for 25k with under 50k?

I'd like to know too.

 

[sutyak]

I personally wouldn't have a car with a nice interior with a new baby. You'll get all kinds of stuff on the back seat, as well as some permanent indentions from a car seat crushing into the seat. At least accept this reality when deciding on the car, and don't stress out over the possibly ruined leather.

Now that my kids are out of car seats and no chance of a diaper exploding all over the back seat, we have a 2014 Kia Optima SX 2.0 turbo that is awesome. Decent mileage (not amazing, but decent), and shockingly fast.

Cars we had in the earlier years included a couple of Foci, Toyta Echo, and Ford Freestyle (still have this one). I also waited to get another Mustang until the kids were out of car seats.

 

[einehund]

I just put a beach towel on the seats and then put the car seat in.

So ironically, I will be that guy that has to say it.

Kids are nasty (I love kids). You will get a combination of poop, throw up, pee, food, and other unknown fluids/solids spread throughout a car. Why anyone wants to buy extremely nice cars to carry their kids around in, is beyond me.

 

[Never_Enough]

The 2014-2017 SS?

Cheapest one I saw nationwide, under 50k miles is $29,995
Over 50k, there's a local one at $27k

I don't recall the mileage of them all, but around here there have been several 2014s listed well below $30k

 

[DiB14-SAFD]

I guess you didn't like my idea? I thought it was a real winner.

Had to scroll up, I missed it. Not sure if the wife would let me get away with that.

Im curious how many replies are from people with babies/children. I have an 11 month old, and i cannot imagine having one of my 2 vehicles be a car. Babies just have soooo much stuff. My recommendation would be a truck. i cannot imaging not having a truck. I actually look forward to when i buy my next truck (Mega Cab Ram with Ramboxes for extra storage). The rear facing car seat takes up so much room. For safety reasons, we put it in the middle (for now until the next baby arrives end of December). Even going grocery shopping frustrates me with the lack of space. I currently have a quad cab ram that is just not big enough and my wife has a CRV. Her next vehicle will etiher be a durango equivalent size or full size suv (tahoe). I hate having no space. Do they work? Yes, but i would rather have too much space than not enough, or barely enough and have to pack things just so perfectly to get it inside. Then not have any space to move in the vehicle. Just my $.02

If this was for our primary vehicle I would agree. I would be looking for a large 3-row SUV or truck. Since this will be mostly for me with only occasional use for baby hauling I want something I can enjoy a bit more.

I personally wouldn't have a car with a nice interior with a new baby. You'll get all kinds of stuff on the back seat, as well as some permanent indentions from a car seat crushing into the seat. At least accept this reality when deciding on the car, and don't stress out over the possibly ruined leather.

Now that my kids are out of car seats and no chance of a diaper exploding all over the back seat, we have a 2014 Kia Optima SX 2.0 turbo that is awesome. Decent mileage (not amazing, but decent), and shockingly fast.

Cars we had in the earlier years included a couple of Foci, Toyta Echo, and Ford Freestyle (still have this one). I also waited to get another Mustang until the kids were out of car seats.

I fully expect the car to get messy and won't be stressing over every little thing.

 

[CobraBob]

I would agree, just tough to find a 15+ Sport around 25k and under 50k miles. At least in my area +/- 500 miles.
I see some left over 16's, brand new, in the lower 30's.

The 13/14 sports are in the 15-25k bracket but are N/A and have 70lb less torque.

And the Sync system isn't great, compared to the Gen 2's Sync 3.

 

[Dusten]

So ironically, I will be that guy that has to say it.

Kids are nasty (I love kids). You will get a combination of poop, throw up, pee, food, and other unknown fluids/solids spread throughout a car. Why anyone wants to buy extremely nice cars to carry their kids around in, is beyond me.

It is possible, crazy I know, to keep a car clean... I cart my kids around in a Tahoe we bought new, and it stickered for 67000. Just a little effort, and teach your kids to throw shit away. Honestly most of the mess stays in the car seat

 

[black92]

I personally wouldn't have a car with a nice interior with a new baby. You'll get all kinds of stuff on the back seat, as well as some permanent indentions from a car seat crushing into the seat. At least accept this reality when deciding on the car, and don't stress out over the possibly ruined leather.

Now that my kids are out of car seats and no chance of a diaper exploding all over the back seat, we have a 2014 Kia Optima SX 2.0 turbo that is awesome. Decent mileage (not amazing, but decent), and shockingly fast.

Cars we had in the earlier years included a couple of Foci, Toyta Echo, and Ford Freestyle (still have this one). I also waited to get another Mustang until the kids were out of car seats.

I personally bought my car because like the OP, my wife was pregnant and an '02 Explorer with 212,000 miles on it wasn't the best whip to be hauling her around in. My daughter is now 15 months old and I haven't experienced anything to sway me from the choice I made. Either we are fortunate she's not a mess maker or we just don't give her anything she can make a mess with. I also use a car seat mat to keep the car seat from ruining the leather and making indentions. I would recommend something with leather anytime because it's much easier to clean up compared to cloth.

OP - The ONLY complaint I have about my car is the trunk opening isn't very big, but the trunk size is. Wife had a 2010 Milan that could accept bigger things than my car would (sounds dirty...). Now that my daughter is older and we are getting larger things, we purchased a 2015 Honda CR-V AWD Touring last Saturday. A SHO/MKS with a tune will more than satisfy you. If you need that V8 rumble, then you will not be pleased with the SHO/MKS.

 

[Dusten]

Im curious how many replies are from people with babies/children. I have an 11 month old, and i cannot imagine having one of my 2 vehicles be a car. Babies just have soooo much stuff. My recommendation would be a truck. i cannot imaging not having a truck. I actually look forward to when i buy my next truck (Mega Cab Ram with Ramboxes for extra storage). The rear facing car seat takes up so much room. For safety reasons, we put it in the middle (for now until the next baby arrives end of December). Even going grocery shopping frustrates me with the lack of space. I currently have a quad cab ram that is just not big enough and my wife has a CRV. Her next vehicle will etiher be a durango equivalent size or full size suv (tahoe). I hate having no space. Do they work? Yes, but i would rather have too much space than not enough, or barely enough and have to pack things just so perfectly to get it inside. Then not have any space to move in the vehicle. Just my $.02

Most new sedans do just fine. I hauled young kids around in my ctsv, and my wrx. I bought my ctsv in 2012 when my daughter was 3 and my son just 6 months old. I bought the wrx when he was 2, and an s4 when he was 3. Never an issue with space. 2 kids, and a wife who over packs

 

[mc01svt]

buy the latest full size rwd coyote powered ford sedan.

oh wait.. they dont have any... (^_^)

The only logical answer is a charger. Its big, plenty of space and has gobs of torque.

Next best choice would be chevy SS, pontiac G8 Gt/Gxp


As much as i love the mercury marauder these cars are starting to show their age with wear and tear. And the bigger problem is they are PAINFULLY slow. Stock they wont even break rubber and if im not mistaken 1/4mi times in the mid 15sec realm. You would easily get bested by a camry. Shame on ford for not putting the terminator engine in this car. Biggest fail in the last 20yrs.

 

[black99lightnin]

buy the latest full size rwd coyote powered ford sedan.

oh wait.. they dont have any... (^_^)

The only logical answer is a charger. Its big, plenty of space and has gobs of torque.

Next best choice would be chevy SS, pontiac G8 Gt/Gxp


As much as i love the mercury marauder these cars are starting to show their age with wear and tear. And the bigger problem is they are PAINFULLY slow. Stock they wont even break rubber and if im not mistaken 1/4mi times in the mid 15sec realm. You would easily get bested by a camry. Shame on ford for not putting the terminator engine in this car. Biggest fail in the last 20yrs.

No the biggest fail is no RWD coyote sedan.

 

[Steve@TF]

when you go look at some cars, take the baby with you and the stroller. install the baby seat on the new car and toss the stroller in the trunk. i dont know if you take other people with you but we do. so we would install the baby in the middle of the back seat and then sit next to it during the test drives. to see how squished/comfortable rear seat passengers would be next to baby.

i think, space wise, the charger would be the biggest option. biggest trunk and passenger seating area. just wondering how you could possibly find a newer srt charger for under $25k. unless it has over 100k on it. you can also maybe find a newer RT for your budget if the RT would work for you

 

[Dusten]

when you go look at some cars, take the baby with you and the stroller. install the baby seat on the new car and toss the stroller in the trunk. i dont know if you take other people with you but we do. so we would install the baby in the middle of the back seat and then sit next to it during the test drives. to see how squished/comfortable rear seat passengers would be next to baby.

i think, space wise, the charger would be the biggest option. biggest trunk and passenger seating area. just wondering how you could possibly find a newer srt charger for under $25k. unless it has over 100k on it. you can also maybe find a newer RT for your budget if the RT would work for you

I looked at cl for chargers locally, 12+ are 35k+

 

[DiB14-SAFD]

I personally bought my car because like the OP, my wife was pregnant and an '02 Explorer with 212,000 miles on it wasn't the best whip to be hauling her around in. My daughter is now 15 months old and I haven't experienced anything to sway me from the choice I made. Either we are fortunate she's not a mess maker or we just don't give her anything she can make a mess with. I also use a car seat mat to keep the car seat from ruining the leather and making indentions. I would recommend something with leather anytime because it's much easier to clean up compared to cloth.

OP - The ONLY complaint I have about my car is the trunk opening isn't very big, but the trunk size is. Wife had a 2010 Milan that could accept bigger things than my car would (sounds dirty...). Now that my daughter is older and we are getting larger things, we purchased a 2015 Honda CR-V AWD Touring last Saturday. A SHO/MKS with a tune will more than satisfy you. If you need that V8 rumble, then you will not be pleased with the SHO/MKS.

I keep the MKS in the back of my mind but I am not sold on the styling of it. I prefer the looks of the Charger/SHO over it.

when you go look at some cars, take the baby with you and the stroller. install the baby seat on the new car and toss the stroller in the trunk. i dont know if you take other people with you but we do. so we would install the baby in the middle of the back seat and then sit next to it during the test drives. to see how squished/comfortable rear seat passengers would be next to baby.

i think, space wise, the charger would be the biggest option. biggest trunk and passenger seating area. just wondering how you could possibly find a newer srt charger for under $25k. unless it has over 100k on it. you can also maybe find a newer RT for your budget if the RT would work for you

I haven't seen any under 25k yet but I have seen a few close to that mark that could probably be negotiated. Now I am talking about the previous generation, 12-14, 15+ isn't anywhere in the ballpark.

Most new sedans do just fine. I hauled young kids around in my ctsv, and my wrx. I bought my ctsv in 2012 when my daughter was 3 and my son just 6 months old. I bought the wrx when he was 2, and an s4 when he was 3. Never an issue with space. 2 kids, and a wife who over packs

It's good to see a little feedback on the wrx. I was hesitant to even put that on my list due to the 'small' trunk space compared to the others.

 

[black99lightnin]

I keep the MKS in the back of my mind but I am not sold on the styling of it. I prefer the looks of the Charger/SHO over it.


I haven't seen any under 25k yet but I have seen a few close to that mark that could probably be negotiated. Now I am talking about the previous generation, 12-14, 15+ isn't anywhere in the ballpark.

It's good to see a little feedback on the wrx. I was hesitant to even put that on my list due to the 'small' trunk space compared to the others.

I prefer the look of the 10-12 SHO's over the 13+ or MKS's.

And the 15+ Chargers have the 8spd and facelift, worth the extra money over an older model.

 

[VenomVeins]

If you're dead set on a sedan/car, then I have to ask why a lexus is350 (not 250) or is200t (turbo version that can be boosted more) isn't on your list? A 350 will curb stomp most other sedans out there including BMW's and they are 10 times more RELIABLE past 200K miles.

They're 4 doors, look bitchin', and they come with tons of great standard luxury items like air cooled/heated seats, sunroof, ect. The interiors are well thought out with cubbies and spaces all over, and the leather is buttery and luxurious, not to mention the ride.

Personally, I wouldn't touch anything made by GM and Chrysler. Their quality control leaves a lot to be desired and their interiors are laughably bad compared to lexus/bmw/infinity/audi.

Good luck in your search.

 

[mc01svt]

No the biggest fail is no RWD coyote sedan.

I wish swapping a coyote + 6spd into a crown vic was a plug and play swap. (-_-,)

 

[Famine]

SHO hands down. Not even a comparison to me.

 

[03Sssnake]

I prefer the look of the 10-12 SHO's over the 13+ or MKS's.

And the 15+ Chargers have the 8spd and facelift, worth the extra money over an older model.

This! Lincoln does absolutely nothing for me... Matthew McConaughey hey hey can shrill for them all he wants, but the cars are just ****ing boring.