Need help choosing fun used car for $8000 Update: I bought it! Picture inside!

[Via]

For a cheaper "classic" alternative how about something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Hond...6256980?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item43abdded54

My friend had a used one around this vintage and absolutely loved it. I had fun driving it too when he let me. He kept it until 2005, I think.

He said they can really last if you take care of them.

 

[halik]

For a cheaper "classic" alternative how about something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Hond...6256980?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item43abdded54

My friend had a used one around this vintage and absolutely loved it. I had fun driving it too when he let me. He kept it until 2005, I think.

He said they can really last if you take care of them.

Is that place really asking $5K for 20 year old econobox?

Something like this would also fit the bill; really fun to drive:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Si-M...rs_Trucks&hash=item2eb9e9fe0f#ht_24018wt_1052

 

[NutBucket]

For a cheaper "classic" alternative how about something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Hond...6256980?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item43abdded54

My friend had a used one around this vintage and absolutely loved it. I had fun driving it too when he let me. He kept it until 2005, I think.

He said they can really last if you take care of them.

Really, suggesting a Prelude that doesn't even have an H22 AND its an automatic? And its overpriced too!

and the EP3 Si is probably the worst Civic Si there's been, at least the version released here. The versions released in the European and Japanese markets were worlds better.

 

[jlee]

Sure, just get it smog legal for CA first

But I too will suggest a WRX. Hell, we've got two!

Everybody knows you move out of Cali first. :awe:

I'm not sure what it'd need to be CA legal aside from replacing the exhaust - the turbo and intercooler are OEM Subaru parts, just not from the same car.

 

[bbs lm-r]

What about an MR2, I've heard rumors around the forums that they may be fun to drive

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/cto/2738043769.html

 

[jlee]

What about an MR2, I've heard rumors around the forums that they may be fun to drive

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/cto/2738043769.html

lil pricey for an n/a, but yeah they are fun.

 

[m0r1san]

If budget is tight - the RSX gets amazing fuel economy compared to WRX/GTI/BMW, and also great fun to drive. Also has one of the most reliable engines. 150k out of the engine is almost a given. Many people go over 200k.

 

[alfa147x]

How much fun can FWD be?


°

 

[JCH13]

How much fun can FWD be?


°

Lots of fun. Stupid amounts of fun even!


... says the guy with a RWD sports car.

 

[MotF Bane]

Lots of fun. Stupid amounts of fun even!

If you have something with good handling, lively response, and enough power to make some V6's envious. Oh wait...

 

[JCH13]

If you have something with good handling, lively response, and enough power to make some V6's envious. Oh wait...

:awe:

 

[m0r1san]

If you have something with good handling, lively response, and enough power to make some V6's envious. Oh wait...

:awe:

 

[DougoMan]

How does an AWD WRX handle compared to a FWD or RWD car? Do you get any torque steer from it? And is power oversteer possible like in an RWD car?

I've grown to accept FWD cars, but I still think RWD is way more fun. Maybe AWD would be a good compromise.

 

[satyajitmenon]

How much fun can FWD be?


°

Ever driven a Mazdaspeed 3 or a Mini Cooper S? :awe:

 

[JCH13]

How does an AWD WRX handle compared to a FWD or RWD car? Do you get any torque steer from it? And is power oversteer possible like in an RWD car?

I've grown to accept FWD cars, but I still think RWD is way more fun. Maybe AWD would be a good compromise.

AWD is slightly on the understeer side of neutral generally. They certainly can torque steer. I *think* one could get an AWD car to maybe oversteer a little if you played games with open vs LS differentials in the front and back or tire sizes.

On a race track I would prefer a 2WD car because they've got a bit more personality than AWD. AWD is certainly fast on a race track, especially for cone dodging.

On the street... meh, it doesn't really matter very much because you shouldn't ever be pushing your car to the point where FWD/RWD/AWD makes a significant handling difference.

 

[halik]

Really, suggesting a Prelude that doesn't even have an H22 AND its an automatic? And its overpriced too!

and the EP3 Si is probably the worst Civic Si there's been, at least the version released here. The versions released in the European and Japanese markets were worlds better.

Have you actually driven one? Paper honda fanboys bitch about the rear end on these, the weight blah blah, but having driving both gens of the SI, the EP3 is far more fun.

The first gen before that felt like a mildly warmed over econobox, wheres the EP3 seemed more purpose built.

 

[Via]

Really, suggesting a Prelude that doesn't even have an H22 AND its an automatic? And its overpriced too!

and the EP3 Si is probably the worst Civic Si there's been, at least the version released here. The versions released in the European and Japanese markets were worlds better.

I wasn't really suggesting that particular one, I was suggesting the type of car and vintage. Maybe my friend's was different; I can't remember what he had exactly. And I still think they're the best looking preludes ever made. To this day they still almost look like a concept car.

I know they're fun to drive because I've driven one, and supposedly they can last for a really long time.

 

[jlee]

AWD is slightly on the understeer side of neutral generally. They certainly can torque steer. I *think* one could get an AWD car to maybe oversteer a little if you played games with open vs LS differentials in the front and back or tire sizes.

On a race track I would prefer a 2WD car because they've got a bit more personality than AWD. AWD is certainly fast on a race track, especially for cone dodging.

On the street... meh, it doesn't really matter very much because you shouldn't ever be pushing your car to the point where FWD/RWD/AWD makes a significant handling difference.

Yeah, the Forester is unbelievably neutral on a track. Ridiculously, even. With different sway bars it might be coaxed more to oversteer, I think.

 

[dud]

OP, assuming that you can afford to take on some debt ... have you considered a new, more practical car? Consider the redesigned Elantra. The car is front wheel drive and yes, it is a Hyundai but for about twice what you have you can get a new car with a warranty.

 

[NutBucket]

That defeats the purpose entirely dud!

 

[Black2na]

Yeah, the Forester is unbelievably neutral on a track. Ridiculously, even. With different sway bars it might be coaxed more to oversteer, I think.

your car is neutral when off throttle give it gas and it pushed like a bus!...then again might have been the tires...

and what about an early 2000 IS300 toyota reliability and the early manumatics go for about 6-9k. and you could always hunt for a mazda speed protege those things are funn!

 

[jlee]

your car is neutral when off throttle give it gas and it pushed like a bus!...then again might have been the tires...

and what about an early 2000 IS300 toyota reliability and the early manumatics go for about 6-9k. and you could always hunt for a mazda speed protege those things are funn!

48psi on thrashed junk tires? Understeer? Nahhhh...

 

[Arkaign]

what STI parts came on this saabs, I've heard and seen them. Seats look a little funky, but the lights, and plastics look better.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_9-2X

That article only notes the more aggressive STI steering rack, but IIRC there are also some suspension bits and front brake calipers that are basically STI parts rather than WRX parts. Of course they're all interchangable.

 

[DougoMan]

I'm still looking for the perfect one, but I decided to go with the BMW 330i. You just can't argue with the straight six and RWD. I can do most of the work myself, so I'm not that concerned about maintenance costs. And from what I read they actually seem pretty reliable, and there are a lot of them.

Now I'm trying to decide between a high mileage 2005ish or low mileage 2002ish.

I think newer, higher mileage makes more sense?

 

[Arkaign]

I'm still looking for the perfect one, but I decided to go with the BMW 330i. You just can't argue with the straight six and RWD. I can do most of the work myself, so I'm not that concerned about maintenance costs. And from what I read they actually seem pretty reliable, and there are a lot of them.

Now I'm trying to decide between a high mileage 2005ish or low mileage 2002ish.

I think newer, higher mileage makes more sense?

Yes, as long as the maintenance was good and it's not super high miles. BMW fixed a lot of issues with the E46 as it went along.

Be prepared for expensive parts though, starters, coils, water pumps, brakes, etc are all a good bit more than your normal car, but if you take good care of it and keep an eye on things it shouldn't be that bad. And of course they are very nice looking vehicles.