The Infiniti G20 might be worth considering if you get an automatic. The manuals often pop out of 5th gear, but I don't know of any problem with the automatics. And it's an easy-to-work-on 4-cylinder
You might be able to get a Saturn Astra. They have an Aisin transmission.
The first-gen TL and first-gen RL might be worth considering since they use a longitudinal V6 (the TL was available with an I5). NOTE; the 2.5TL and 3.2TL are completely different cars forward of the firewall. They seem to be mostly exempt from the Honda Tax. However, both are interference engines with a timing belt
DO NOT get any 99+ Honda V6 automatic, except the first-gen Acura RL (up to 04). The autos attached to any J-series V6 are all JUNK!
Can you find a decent Chevy Prizm in your area? They are a rebadged Corolla.
Mazdas are good cars if cars don't rust where you are.
Originally Posted by 92saturnsl2
The RE4F04A in my '96 Maxima has 265k miles and still shifts like new. Last changed the fluid at 200k, and it's still bright pink. They are known to be fairly bulletproof, according a lot of feedback I've read on some Nissan forums I frequent.
Pretty sure the Maxima used the same basic RE4F04A transmission perhaps with some updates (B revision) into the mid 00's until CVTs started appearing.
That transmission is fine, and so is the LSD version RE4F04V (most I30's have it), but it doesn't count when the car around it is a pile of rust
The transmission is the only good thing about the Maxima
Rusty radiator supports, rust-prone in general, issues with the engine's electrical things (TPS, MAF, knock sensor, etc), and it's a transverse V6 with all the horror of getting to the back of the engine (and it's one of the better transverse V6 designs, but still scary to work on)