car hunt begins again...

Kinja'd!!! "PlayerWAN" (PlayerWAN)
03/01/2014 at 02:06 • Filed to: None

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Hey oppo, I need your collective expertise again. I need to find a car that's exactly the premise of the miata (cheap and simple to buy and maintain, lightweight, manual, rwd, fun) but with a fixed roof and a back seat. Think of a brz, only a cheaper used alternative. Budget is $3-5k. I can't really think of anything. Were there really no cars like this before the brz came along?


DISCUSSION (23)


Kinja'd!!! ReallyColorful > PlayerWAN
03/01/2014 at 02:07

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Smells like e30 or e36 to me...


Kinja'd!!!  V8 Rustler > PlayerWAN
03/01/2014 at 02:10

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Foxbody Rustler. Chicks dig it.

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Kinja'd!!! Milky > PlayerWAN
03/01/2014 at 02:11

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If you scratch light, a mustang or camaro fills the rest of the wants.


Kinja'd!!! CRider > PlayerWAN
03/01/2014 at 02:12

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Maybe a 300zx or similar, I'm not sure about getting one na Miata cheap though.


Kinja'd!!! PlayerWAN >  V8 Rustler
03/01/2014 at 02:14

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unfortunately those have been appreciating lately. Plus there's none around my area. I'll take her though!


Kinja'd!!! PatBateman >  V8 Rustler
03/01/2014 at 02:15

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I've actually been looking online for an old fox body for a project (I might post something about it soon). Not a lot in the $3k-$5k range that aren't salvaged.


Kinja'd!!! PlayerWAN > CRider
03/01/2014 at 02:18

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z31 would be cool, hard to find though. And as for the z32, they're heavy, not very cheap to run and maintain, and absolutely a nightmare to work on.


Kinja'd!!! PlayerWAN > ReallyColorful
03/01/2014 at 02:18

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I'd love to be able to find one in good shape around here. Not common though. And they're not exactly cheap to run and maintain.


Kinja'd!!! PlayerWAN > Milky
03/01/2014 at 02:19

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Camaros aren't exactly wrench friendly though. With what the engine being under the dashboard and all...


Kinja'd!!! Singhjr96 > PlayerWAN
03/01/2014 at 02:27

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Toyota MR2. I don't know where you live, but as you can see, you can get them pretty cheap. You could go cheap and put money into part/upgrades, or you can get one that's a little nicer and still have some good fun.

http://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-To…


Kinja'd!!! Frosted > PlayerWAN
03/01/2014 at 02:50

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Volvo 240.


Kinja'd!!! Milky > PlayerWAN
03/01/2014 at 03:10

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Well real talk, when I was looking for a car that cheap I was looking at these:

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But I bought this:

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Lasted for 2 years until I broke it.


Kinja'd!!! DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > PlayerWAN
03/01/2014 at 03:31

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SA22C

FC3S

AE86

MGB-GT

Maserati Biturbo

R109 SLC

XR4Ti

Z31

Volvo 780 Bertone

Volvo 262c Bertone

Opel Manta

Opel GT

Peugeot 504/505

Porsche 928

Supra

I'm out of stuff, now... Though, if you don't mind heavy, a Volvo 240 or 740 would be good fun. :)


Kinja'd!!! Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > PlayerWAN
03/01/2014 at 03:33

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Think outside the box a little. Fox Mustangs - like this one - are very wrench friendly. So are gen 3 F bodies. 240sx is a good choice but drift tax drove up the price in the past few years. 10 years ago, you could buy a 91-92 240sx in good condition for under $3,000. Now with double the mileage and with far more body damage and shitty eBay coilovers, you're hard pressed to find one under $5k.

A N/A Porsche 944 can definitely be found in that price range, too. Just expect to pay dearly when it breaks.

That price range will also get you a well-sorted E36 325i or 328i. They're not legendary like the E30 but they handle very well and tend to be really solid. If you're not afraid to turn a wrench, an e36 M3 in rough but drivable condition can be had for that price.

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Hell, a Benz C-class may even fit the bill. They could be had with a stickshift, too. Here's one in Charlotte .

It is really rather interesting what you can find.


Kinja'd!!! The Swedish Bandit > PlayerWAN
03/01/2014 at 03:47

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What about an AE86 or a nissan s12? AE86 might be bit of a stretch but you could easily afford a nice s12 for that money.


Kinja'd!!! PlayerWAN > The Swedish Bandit
03/01/2014 at 03:54

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Unfortunately not in Kansas. God I hate this state.


Kinja'd!!! GhostZ > PlayerWAN
03/01/2014 at 04:05

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280ZX 2+2. 3000 lbs, 150 HP.

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280Z 2+2, little smaller (lot less rear legroom) 2600-2700 lbs (after bumper delete) 145ish HP


Kinja'd!!! GhostZ > PlayerWAN
03/01/2014 at 04:07

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Also, just to reiterate, before the BRZ came along, Nissan's ENTIRE SPORTS CAR LINEUP made cars exactly like it, from the 60s to the early 2000s. That is where you will find your promised land of used cars.


Kinja'd!!! The Swedish Bandit > PlayerWAN
03/01/2014 at 04:14

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Searched through your entire Craigslist and you're right!, impossible to find!

However if you don't mind traveling a bit I've found this beauty in eastern CO; http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4335030930…


Kinja'd!!! davedave1111 > PlayerWAN
03/01/2014 at 06:12

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E30, all the way. By modern standards it's small, lightweight, and cheap to maintain. Not too expensive to run, either. Your budget should buy you a nice one, or a ratty one and the parts you need to fix it up.


Kinja'd!!! Hunterg > PlayerWAN
03/01/2014 at 08:59

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An e30 bmw sounds like it could be in range. Could be a bit more to maintain but they're insanely reliable


Kinja'd!!! Brian Silvestro > PlayerWAN
03/01/2014 at 10:33

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Wait a second...

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Kinja'd!!! evil2win > PlayerWAN
03/01/2014 at 12:50

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Why is it that I can't post pictures using windows 8.1? my mobile devices work fine. with that out of the way. Nissan 240 SX , old VW beetle (RWD, rear engine, easy to work on, parts are still plentiful and cheap, light weight).