by "Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru" (matt-powershiftmedia)
Published 06/20/2017 at 01:20
by "Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru" (matt-powershiftmedia)
Published 06/20/2017 at 01:20
Tags: Buying advice
; miata
; audi
; dsm
; volvo
; porsche 944
; bmw
; e30
STARS: 3
So you’ve decided you’re ready to derail your financial security and upset your significant other with a project car. You’ve got five grand to your name, and you daydream of bombing down back roads, banging gears and relieving some stress. You want a fun car that’s reasonably reliable, attractive, tuner friendly and not a murder on your insurance rates. Luckily for you, I’ve made a small list of cars I’d recommend to fulfill this task. Go grab a cold beer, turn off the television and fire up the printer, I’m about to take you car shopping.
The Criteria
Don’t worry, I’m looking out for you so you don’t end up sleeping on the couch. I’ve set a minimum price of $1,500 dollars to weed out rolling shells and basket cases. The max price as we established earlier is $5,000. I’ve elected to search Autotrader due to ease of use and general popularity among sellers. I’ve taken future depreciation into account, and I’ve compiled this list based on availability of aftermarket parts, decent reliability and ability to retain a fair portion of the original purchase price.
Mazda Miata
The Miata is an excellent choice for so many reasons, it’s lightweight, rear wheel drive, reliable and very tuner friendly. Insurance rates based on my information were lower than the average newer model Honda.
The Miata has a very cult type of following, and companies like Flying Miata have done some impressive things with the factory motors. Regardless of what you’re trying to achieve, the Miata is a solid choice. I can’t imagine values will ever drop much below what they are currently at, so losing your ass in resale shouldn’t be a major concern. Focus on the fun of ripping a lightweight convertible down a twisty road and let the stress of your workday just melt away.
Porsche 944
There were ten listings that I found, with the average price sitting right at $3,500. There was an 86,000 mile example with some maintenance receipts and new tires that looked pretty promising. The 944 non turbo models are pretty reasonably reliable, not a complete nightmare to service at home, and values have been pretty solid over the years.
Plus, it’s hard to beat the fun a Porsche can offer. If you’ve never driven a 944, it’s an absolute blast. Sure the turbocharged 951 is where the real thrills are at, but reliability drops into the basement right about there and the price goes straight through the attic. The naturally aspirated models are more than enough for weekend duties, and are a popular choice for new track enthusiasts. Sharp handling, slick five speed gearbox and excellent steering make the 944 a no brainer. You can’t go wrong with this choice. You won’t have a high horsepower monster on the cheap, but you’ll own the twisties with nothing more than a new set of shocks and struts, some sticky tires and some upgraded brake pads.
BMW 325E E30
You didn’t think I was going to leave out the legendary E30 did you? Superb reliability, insanely easy to work on, a five speed Getrag transmission that is so good it’s almost a privilege to use, and precise handling are just the basic selling points of this model. The E model meant a lower revving, longer stroke engine that makes powering through corners very exciting, and fuel economy through my experience is in the low thirties. I found two really nice examples for $3,400 and $3,250 respectively.
The BMW E30 met legend status long ago among amateure and professional racers alike. There are tons of aftermarket goods that can transform your BMW into a razor sharp precision instrument without blowing through your retirement fund. Just watch out for rust on the shock towers and in the trunk areas. Other than basic rust, these cars are an intelligent buy and have actually been appreciating in value. Buy one now and start taking the long way home.
Eagle Talon
There was only one turbocharged TSi model on Autotrader, but take my word for it, you can get a beautiful all wheel drive model under $5,000 if you’re willing to take a trip to get it. There are plenty of Facebook sale groups for these cars, and they’re definitely out there. Anyhow, this car is an excellent choice for many reasons. Fuel economy is mid to low thirties, extracting more power is simple if you have basic knowledge of a turbocharged vehicle, handling isn’t terrible and you can enjoy it through any weather.
The 4G63 engine is extremely receptive to performance upgrades, and bulletproof reliable if the maintenance is up to date. Beware of rusty examples, spend the money to get the cleanest example you can find. Don’t buy somebody else’s headache and buy the most original example you can find. Assuming you bought a car that has had a recent timing belt replacement and other associated maintenance performed, you’ll have a car you can start making fast for pennies on the dollar, and enjoy daily driving as well. Values on first generation models have started appreciating recently assuming you buy an all wheel drive model. I want to stress again to avoid heavily modified and rusty examples. Spend the money and buy the most virgin example you find.
Volvo 240
Of course I’m going to mention the coolest car on the list, the Volvo 240. Quirky cars are my speciality, and the 240 checks all the right boxes in my opinion. This model has been shooting up in value recently, and turbo models are experiencing collector status. There was one turbo example with a five speed manual for $4,999 which honestly blew my mind. There were thirteen examples overall under the five grand mark, and let me tell you, this car is a safe buy.
Reliable, beautiful, collectible, and highly regarded are all things that come to mind for me. These cars just never die, companies like iPD have been offering goodies for years, so you won’t have to worry about parts so much. Handling can be very good when modified and the turbo models are capable of making huge power. Overall, this is one of the slower cars on the list, but it would be one of my first choices. There’s very few cars that are as cool as the 240 at this price point. Buy one and don’t think twice. Take it to cars and coffee, you’ll be a hit, I can promise you that.
Audi S4
I’m referring to the “URS4” which means the first generation S4 with the famed twenty valve five cylinder. This is the engine that dominated group B rally, the engine that pushed the envelope and raised eyebrows everywhere. Over 200 horsepower in stock form from the turbocharged 2.2 liter, and they’re capable of over a thousand if you want to spend the money.
I wasn’t able to find a single example on Autotrader, so you’ll have to take my word for it. There are several Facebook groups for these cars as well, and they sell for between three and five grand for a nice example. Reliability is somewhere between death and taxes, these cars are tanks assuming they haven’t been neglected. Look for the obvious service records and you’ll be fine. Values have been steady and the market is reasonable. These cars are absolutely gorgeous and have an amazing interior, highly tuneable motor, Quattro all wheel drive, and the sound of that five cylinder symphony. Look out for rust, questionable repairs, and don’t buy a model that lacks service records. Follow those little guidelines and you’ll have a car you can count on and bring you enjoyment for years to come.
Closing Thoughts
Yes I know, there’s plenty of other amazing choices out there, I chose to highlight a few well known examples, and a few you probably didn’t think of. I’m in no way telling you I guarantee stellar reliability, guaranteed resale market outlooks or anything of that nature. I’m simply offering my advice, based on my experience with owning quirky cars of all shapes and sizes. There isn’t a single car on this list that I wouldn’t run out and buy right now, so my advice is truly from the heart. If you want a car that is so much more than just basic transportation, a car that begs you to take the long way home after work even after a fourteen hour day, a car you can take to a car show and get attention, this is a great place to start.
(Sorry for the formatting issues, I like to make my section headlines larger but I’m doing this from my iPhone sitting in my truck at a truck stop.)
My Name is Matthew, and I’m an author of mediocre articles. If you’d like to follow me and read more of my thoughts on random vehicles, you can do so on my very mediocre and very new website www.powershiftautomotive.com we also upload podcasts each Sunday.
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
06/20/2017 at 01:41, STARS: 2
Ew, Miatas are total chick cars. You don’t want one of those lame 100hp hairdresser-mobiles
"Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru" (matt-powershiftmedia)
06/20/2017 at 01:49, STARS: 0
Nah I find them to be extremely fun to drive. Wouldn’t be my first personal choice, but I certainly wouldn’t kick it out of my garage.
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
06/20/2017 at 02:04, STARS: 6
If you’re over 5 ft tall you won’t fit. Period. 0-60 is laughable, if being passed by an overweight, asthmatic child running uphill without an inhaler is funny to you. The structure is so minimal and unsafe that if an accident happens within a 500 meter radius of the Miata its totalled, automatically. Mazda designed the paint to attract bird droppings, and speed up the oxidation process.
Still want a Miata?
*Shhhhh! Prices are already going up, I want to keep spare parts for mine reasonably cheap*
"Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru" (matt-powershiftmedia)
06/20/2017 at 02:09, STARS: 0
I like it haha! Have any pictures of your Miata?
Shoot the prices have went up quite a bit. I remember years back these were dirt cheap, I cannot see them plummeting now.
"Bytemite" (bytemite)
06/20/2017 at 03:05, STARS: 2
Yeah because people like you keep talking about it! Enough for the slow ones out there to finally set aside their fragile male egos and actually drive a fun car! >.< the less bros want this car, the better. r/cars has been r/miata for a while so anyone who wanted a Miata now has one. And the ones who don’t, like Chad with his vape pen, hate it.
"Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru" (matt-powershiftmedia)
06/20/2017 at 03:39, STARS: 0
I’ve said for a long time that the Miata faced gender profiling that it shouldn’t have. It’s truly a recipe for a good time!
"Thatredcar" (thatredcar)
06/20/2017 at 09:00, STARS: 1
I wouldn’t recommend a 944 on a sub $10k budget. I have a 83 944 and i’ve already spent a couple thousand on just getting it good.
For example, parts are this car are realtively expensive and the cheap aftermarket is horrenodus compared to Nissan or BMW. On these cars the timing belt has to be changed every 15000 miles, now if you bought car with an unknown timing belt change, it has to be changed, RIGHT now. When you change the timing belt, you also got change the waterpump, because the new tight timing belt will causing the impeller to spin on your old waterpump, that’s around $500 spent right there. Then, all the bushings on the car will have to change because their all shot and most likely you’ll need to struts and shocks, because everyone of these does.
Then there’s the rust issues, these cars like to rust in odd spots, when you can’t see it until you take the car apart. Did i mention the seals failing on the sunroof and hatch, which will cause the car to intake water. You couldn’t feel the water, until you pull the carpets! Check the front carpets in the front of the car, the calk on the firewall likes to crack and let water inside.
Oh and don’t get me started on the mess of the wiring, good luck fixing electrical gremlins. There’s also the easyness these cars are to overheat...
"Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru" (matt-powershiftmedia)
06/20/2017 at 14:53, STARS: 0
Very valid points for sure, as with any car of this vintage especially a Porsche, you have to be prepared to shell out a decent amount of money to make everything right. With that being said, I feel as if the experience alone would make it worth it for most, and even at the $10,000 mark the car still seems very well worth it altogether.
"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
06/20/2017 at 16:30, STARS: 1
One additional option to throw in the hat:
Saab 900 Turbo (pre-GM) - Readily available on the cheap, surprisingly quick from stock, and a lot of inexpensive tuning options (APC mods, water injection, inter-cooler upgrades, bigger turbo, ECU swaps). Plus quirky as hell and they’re not worth much, so the insurance is cheap. Though I love my 8-valve, the 16-valve is the way to go for fast.
I was going to suggest a Alfa Spider too, but there honestly are not a lot of tuning options available for them. It was a solid engine that was pretty much giving all it could give from stock, so bolting on a bunch of aftermarket crap isn’t going to help.
"Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru" (matt-powershiftmedia)
06/20/2017 at 16:34, STARS: 0
Oh man, how could I forget the classic 900 or the 900 NG! I owned a classic 900 turbo years back, one of the Griffen models I believe it was. It was super fun to drive and was fun to look at!
The Alfa Spider Quadrifoglio is on my bucket list, it’s just one of those cars I’ve always wanted to own. They’ve quite appreciated in value along with the 75/Milano!
"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
06/20/2017 at 17:59, STARS: 1
I own a 1984 Turbo but haven’t been able to drive it in like 12 years. Long story. Seems like as a non-Miata track/ project car they’d be fun. Until you ruined the transmission anyway.
I also own a 1987 Spider, which I bought for much less than your theoretical budget . It is probably my only car I’m afraid to work on. They’re just so.... weird. (And, again, I own a Saab so I should be well versed in weird.) That said, people love to see it on a road and the Alfa 2.0L engine sounds so sweet. So yeah... buy one while they’re cheap!
"Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru" (matt-powershiftmedia)
06/20/2017 at 18:18, STARS: 1
Excellent post, we have a similar taste in cars it seems. I’ve heard the Alfa Spider transmission is the Achilles Heel for sure, but so worth it.
"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
06/20/2017 at 21:16, STARS: 1
I’ve heard that as well, but mine is behaving (aside from leaking fluid all over everything). My understanding is a long as you don’t hoon them, you’ll be fine. Saab transmissions have a reputation for being made of glass too, but I imagine the same is true of them.
"Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru" (matt-powershiftmedia)
06/21/2017 at 00:44, STARS: 1
Ditto, that’s a very true statement!
"Realthe" (therealmrzimmerman)
06/21/2017 at 02:22, STARS: 1
I owned a 1985 Porsche 944 once. $1800 in ~2006. Black, with original phone-dial wheels. Loved the look and the feel sitting in the driver seat. Made listening to G n’ R with the windows down on the highway feel like time traveling. Unfortunately, the car has a timing belt that blows anywhere around 30k miles. An interference engine with a short-fuse time bomb is not something I wanted to mess with and I only wish I’d known before I’d bought it. https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/so-why-do-944-engines-need-timing-belts-every-3000/98535/page1/
If someone asked me, I wouldn’t recommend one for this particular segment of cheap+fast+reliable cars. At least not for long. In my experience, it wasn’t easy to wrench on for a DIY mechanic and the parts still had a bit of a premium attached because Porsche.
If you’re insistent on getting one, make sure when you buy that the maintenance is up to date with the last timing belt change. Stick to that 30k schedule like German-engineered clockwork.
"Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru" (matt-powershiftmedia)
06/21/2017 at 05:50, STARS: 0
Very good to know! A few friends of mine had some rather good luck with around a year ownership each with a 944 and they insisted they were decently reliable. That’s a few times now I’ve heard about the timing belt. Appreciate the heads up for sure!