I want to buy a manual before I can’t anymore! Which car should I buy? – Jalopnik

Vineeth lives in Chicago and loves to drive. He grew up abroad and spent most of his life changing his own gears. Once he came to the United States, he bought “practical” cars, but he wants to get something fun with three pedals before they all become extinct. What car should he buy with a budget of up to $40,000?

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Here’s the scenario:

I am a car enthusiast, grew up abroad and settled in the United States. I drove as a driver for the first 10 years of my life. I thought I would have a lot of fun with cars in the US. But the timing never worked out. I have always had compromise cars to accommodate what the wife can drive or the growing family needs. Never really came to anything fun. At the point where I’m turning 40 and the world is going electric, I’m looking for something fun that can safely carry two kids (6 and 1). I’ve always had a hankering for German cars, convertibles, stick shifters, etc. Manuals are becoming harder and harder to come by, so I feel like I need to get one now before they disappear. That said, usable rear seats are a must-have. I live in the Chicago area so snow is a given, but I can handle rear wheel drive winter tires. I would like some semblance of reliability, but with my choices I may not get that. Maybe I’ll get CarMax warranty 🙂 The budget is no more than $40,000

Fast Facts:

Budget: up to $40,000

Location: Chicago, Ill

Daily driver: Yes

Want to: Manual, fun, real back seats

Don’t want: Something boring

Vineeth, I was ready to go my usual route with these columns and propose something that would meet your needs but would be on the “safe” side, a newer car with another warranty. But then I came across something in my search for a new manual hot hatchback that made me realize that for you, it’s not just about owning a manual before they all disappear, it’s about checking it off your automotive bucket list.

This is a 2003 BMW M3, right in your zone and under forty thousand dollars. The universe is calling. Sure, it’s a 23-year-old BMW that doesn’t have any semblance of modern safety technology, but it might be the last great M3 before everything started getting too fancy and complicated. I don’t even need to tell you the specs because I bet you already know them. There has been an accident reported on Carfax, although it doesn’t appear to be a major accident, and honestly, that’s why this car is within your budget. With only 66,000 miles and a solid service history, this could be your chance to own one of the best BMW ///M ever made.

I know, 2005 is the gray area where the IMS problem may or may not have been resolved depending on who you ask, but this particular 911 is good: the seller claims a new Porsche-installed longblock with the updated IMS design. That’s just one of the entire list of maintenance items linked in the ad, and those are just the stock items. This 911 also has coilovers, an aftermarket exhaust and some nice interior accessories. It’s clearly owned by an enthusiast, and there’s no one better to buy a Porsche from than an enthusiast.

Four seats, check. Manual, check. Suitable in winter with good tires, check it out – there’s a reason why Porsche keeps pushing all that engine weight onto the drive wheels. Grab yourself this 911 Sand enjoy your midlife crisis.

There are definitely two-door cars with bigger back seats, but I would also argue that by buying a convertible you make it easier for your kids to crawl back in there. I bet it will be easier for you to tie up the one year old too. A fixed roof would only get in the way. And when the weather warms up, you can enjoy the wind in your hair as you row through the gears, taking in the sweet sound of the V8 exhaust.

With your budget you should be able to easily find an E93 that you like. Here it is a white 2013 BMW M3 with approximately 71,000 miles on the odometer for $38,800 that should be close and looks like a good deal. Alternatively, if you want to save some money, the same dealer also has an almost identical one 2008 M3 with 69,000 miles and carbon fiber wheels on sale for $27,800. Personally, I’d probably spend the extra money on the newer car, since that was the last year for the E93 M3, and the listing shows the connecting rod bearings already done, but I bet you’d be very happy with both.

Hey Vineeth, happy early 40s! If you were in my family, we would give you a card made for a four year old and we would draw a rough zero in Sharpie to make it say 40th. Anyway, you’re left with a wonderful conundrum, but I think I’ve found the perfect car for you that’s fast, fun, beautiful, and equipped with an old-fashioned six-speed manual transmission: this BMW M2 from 2017.

The first-generation BMW 2 Series had a more usable rear seat than the redesigned second-generation car, plus it fits your budget nicely. This specific M2 is finished in white, which makes the blue brake calipers stand out even better. It’s not the flashiest car out there, but it’s hard to find a modern car that’s more fun and engaging than an M2. If you’re really into a droptop, and I totally understand why that is, you can find an M235i or M240i convertible with a manual transmission, and they’re even available with all-wheel drive if that makes you feel better in those frigid Chicago winters.

CarMax doesn’t currently have any manual M2s in your price range, but I’d say do some research on other extended warranties so you don’t end up paying out of pocket for expensive repairs. That said, this example doesn’t even have 60,000 miles on the odometer yet, so it should still provide plenty of trouble-free motoring. You can thank me later, but good luck with everything!