Help me find a new car Oppo

"Trunk Impaired 318" (matteocscaptura) 12/23/2014 at 13:21 • Filed to: None

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As a few of you saw late last night I might have to sell the MR2 in the near-ish future as my daily commute is about to get a bit worse and Im worried that that the MR2 wont be quite durable enough to handle the shitty Philly roads and drivers day in and day out. Therefore the search for a new car has begun and now you can be a part of it!

Requirements:

Must be a manual (unless its something awesome like a VehiCross that only came with an auto)

Must be somewhat interesting - I dont like beige

Must be fun - if it wouldn't show up to an autocross I probably am not interested

Must be in decent condition - see Philly driving

Can't be a convertible - sadly this takes the Miata out of contention

Budget - assuming I sell the MR2 Im looking at about $2500 - 3000 there plus Ive got some spare cash so about $4500 is the max I want to go so I can have an extra $500 for getting the car registered, and freshened up a bit.

Location- 2 hour drive from Philly or 3-4 hour drive from Watkins Glen NY.

To give you some examples of what Ive stumbled upon: Chrysler Conquest TSI, Toyota Celica GTS, E36s and E30s

Im looking forward to some great suggestions fellow Opponauts.

Crest > Trunk Impaired 318 12/23/2014 at 13:22

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Crest > Crest 12/23/2014 at 13:22

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Sorry i just wanted to see if it'll work

Trunk Impaired 318 > Crest 12/23/2014 at 13:23

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Shhhhh, dont let them know that thats part of the fun for me too!

Crest > Trunk Impaired 318 12/23/2014 at 13:24

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loooooool

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Trunk Impaired 318 12/23/2014 at 13:24

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Instead of getting a new car, why not rebuild the suspension on the MR2? These things are good forever if you have the rust under control. What? Did you think I was going to suggest something else? On #MR2sday no less?

EDIT - also, which direction are you from Philly? My uncle is looking for a car for my niece, and he likes MR2s/kind of asked me to help him find one. He's on the Jersey Shore, but would be willing to travel for the right car.

Trunk Impaired 318 > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 12/23/2014 at 13:26

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Haha I desperately want to keep the MR2 but Im just worried that the big holes in Philly's roads are gonna wreak havoc on my little car, and the rust isnt too too bad, mostly just of the surface variety.

Trunk Impaired 318 > Crest 12/23/2014 at 13:27

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At the very least Im gonna get some good laughs out of this!

deekster_caddy > Trunk Impaired 318 12/23/2014 at 13:28

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Keep driving the MR2!!!! I haven't seen you state any valid reason to get rid of it yet. Anything you buy you are still going to have to dodge potholes, etc. If you like it, keep it!

HammerheadFistpunch > Trunk Impaired 318 12/23/2014 at 13:29

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I'll tell you what I tell everyone else who asks my advice on a car.

its not because I don't like you

Its not because I don't think I could come up with some ideas

Its not because I don't want to help you.

Its because:

A. no one listens

B. They always come back to me for help fixing or to assign blame on the car they bought that wasn't the once I recommended.

On a Christmas related note, I hope you find what you are looking for!

Sn210 > Trunk Impaired 318 12/23/2014 at 13:30

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!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Ep3 Civic Si?

Probably wouldn't take it to auto cross, but Infiniti M45's are surprisingly cheap

Trunk Impaired 318 > deekster_caddy 12/23/2014 at 13:31

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The MR2 is just a bit too old and a bit too tired to be a DD with such a rough commute, its over 200k and while the mechanicals are all sound Im less than convinced with the rest of the car

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Trunk Impaired 318 12/23/2014 at 13:31

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It should be okay. They're super sturdy. Has there ever been another car build with as many firewalls? The only part I've ever had an issue with hitting the ground is the front valance, which is... well, no longer on the car. Control arms can get bent kind of easily, but apart from the bushings, that's an easy fix.

Trunk Impaired 318 > HammerheadFistpunch 12/23/2014 at 13:32

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Haha both are valid points, Im more or less just trying to get some more ideas. And thanks!

Trunk Impaired 318 > Sn210 12/23/2014 at 13:33

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The Si has popped up a few times but if I can I'll keep the MR2!

Trunk Impaired 318 > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 12/23/2014 at 13:34

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All good points, I guess I should look into how much a complete refresh would cost me

Sn210 > Trunk Impaired 318 12/23/2014 at 13:38

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Also, since you mentioned VehiCross...

VehiCross!

Trunk Impaired 318 > Sn210 12/23/2014 at 13:40

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I love them. SO MUCH.

jeffywk > Trunk Impaired 318 12/23/2014 at 13:45

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Miata with hard top? WITH A HARD TOP?

Sn210 > Trunk Impaired 318 12/23/2014 at 13:46

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there's only one that I can see for sale near me, but they're asking $5500 for it. So just a little more than what you wanted to spend

http://southcoast.craigslist.org/cto/4777178565…

jeffywk > Trunk Impaired 318 12/23/2014 at 13:46

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But how about a Subaru SVX?

Trunk Impaired 318 > Sn210 12/23/2014 at 13:49

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Its even yellow. I would gladly spend the extra money for a yellow VehiCross.

Trunk Impaired 318 > jeffywk 12/23/2014 at 13:50

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Thats a good idea, auto only sucks but its defientely interesting enough to make it acceptable

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Trunk Impaired 318 12/23/2014 at 13:51

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What is your reasoning for why it cant be a convertible?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Trunk Impaired 318 12/23/2014 at 13:52

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It cost me kind of alot, but I also went all-out. I ended up with Koni Yellows, Eibach pro springs (not a fan; I want different springs) along with replacing every bushing with polyurethane, and the ball joints. I also needed to replace a whole lot of other hardware, but mine was kind of an extreme example, though. When I picked up mine, it had 210k miles and every suspension component was original. I needed to cut some of that shit off because of how badly the components corroded. If your car was maintained at some point in the last 25 years, it shouldn't be as bad, but then again, you're up north and I'm in Florida so ymmv. At the very least, things to go over and replace if needed are the bearings (they fail in AW11s), ball joints, end links/tie rods (they will be rusted to shit, so get upgraded components from TwosRUs), and then obviously springs and struts. The koni yellows are fantastic. Having the damping adjustments and being able to dial them in is pretty great.

Trunk Impaired 318 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 12/23/2014 at 13:52

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Ive seen first hand in Philly a couple of guys taking a knife to a convertible top to get inside a car. After that verts have been completely off the radar

Sn210 > Trunk Impaired 318 12/23/2014 at 13:53

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Maybe I'll go take it for a test drive... I'll let you know how it is!

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Trunk Impaired 318 12/23/2014 at 13:55

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I've got a couple for you. If you aren't afraid of Craigslist

Mazda 6

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/4816054174…

Protégé5 Wagon

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/4815134677…

Acura CL TypeS

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/4816049211…

Trunk Impaired 318 > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 12/23/2014 at 13:55

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Yea, I picked mine up last year with just over 200k and am at about 210k now and it appears that everything is original so I know it would be a huge pain to do it all which is part of the reason that Im thinking about just selling it

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Trunk Impaired 318 12/23/2014 at 13:55

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I hear you on that one. Im not in an area like Philly, but I still never lock my doors to try to protect my top. Very valid concern!

Trunk Impaired 318 > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! 12/23/2014 at 13:56

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I found the MR2 on CL!

JGrabowMSt > Trunk Impaired 318 12/23/2014 at 14:11

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E36's are nice (the shop that does work on my SL has several), and they drive extremely well, but dear lord the labor costs of doing basic work on them is pure insanity.

What about a first gen Neon? You could get an Expresso Coupe. They're not bad. Lighter than the second gen, and an SRT4 swap makes them a lot faster.

deekster_caddy > Trunk Impaired 318 12/23/2014 at 14:16

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Remember that any older sports car you buy may need all of the same things...

jeffywk > Trunk Impaired 318 12/23/2014 at 14:17

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Yeah Manual is the only box it didn't check as far as I could see, but I know people have done 5-speed conversions before, but that'd probably be too much work to do it yourself or to find one that has already had it done.

deekster_caddy > Trunk Impaired 318 12/23/2014 at 14:19

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If the roads weren't all salty I would be DD'ing my '73 Buick. Well, that and I have a new car, but I love driving my old Buick and even with well over 200K and 41 years on the chassis it's still one tough bastard.

Trunk Impaired 318 > JGrabowMSt 12/23/2014 at 14:21

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I autocross a 318ti and have a friend with a 328i so I know my way around and E36 and a first gen neon is on the list of cars to look out for!

Trunk Impaired 318 > deekster_caddy 12/23/2014 at 14:23

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Im not worried about having to replace stuff its just that replacing stuff on the MR2 is probably going to be a lot harder than something else

punkgoose17 > Trunk Impaired 318 12/23/2014 at 14:35

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Rear engine, 4 door, manual transmission, and front and rear disc brakes. Interesting, fun, good condition and hardtop. Nailed it! http://allentown.craigslist.org/cto/4760755159…

Honestly you should keep the MR2. Honestly I want this car, but don't have the money.

bryan40oop > Trunk Impaired 318 12/23/2014 at 16:46

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