Show Me: The best handling cars under $10,000

"190e30-Now with COSWORTH" (190e30) 01/11/2014 at 14:10 • Filed to: Fun Discussions

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The car must be in all ways stock. Before instantly replying Miata, remember that although Miatas handle well in their stock form, they are certainly not the best out there prior to modifications.

Also, please refrain from "[Car X] is only $6,000, which leaves you $4,000 to get [brand Y] coilovers"

6cyl > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 14:13

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Best handling autox car? best handling track car? best handling rally car? best handling road race car? best handling daily driver? There is a different answer for each of these questions

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 14:13

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For FWD I would submit the 2002-2004 SVT Focus. (My actual car BTW)

It's capable of easily embarrassing much more expensive hardware in the corners without modification.

sony1492 > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 14:16

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6cyl > 6cyl 01/11/2014 at 14:16

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Autox: Miata

Track car: e36 M3

Rally car: Impreza RS/WRX

Don't know for the others

TurboSloth > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 14:17

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I'm sure you can find an older one which is cheaper. While I haven't actually driven a mini, people are always talking about how well they handle.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > 6cyl 01/11/2014 at 14:17

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Best overall handling car. Most balanced feel, best turn-in, easiest to hold your line and mantain grip with. The kind you would either take on a mountain road, take to the track, or autocross. Even rallycross, if that's what you prefer. Whichever car you feel checks off any of the boxes you personally consider to define a good handling car.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/11/2014 at 14:18

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I was looking into these as a possible next car recently. Good to hear they turn well.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > TurboSloth 01/11/2014 at 14:19

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That makes sense, especially considering the wheels are so far outwards.

Apparently, you can get a good R53 these days for around $8,000.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 14:22

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They are great handling.

However, unless you can do most if not all of your own maintenance, they can be expensive to own. The SVT is not a car one can ignore for too long.

If you want to know more, feel free to ask.

d00mZ > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 14:24

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190e30-Now with COSWORTH > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/11/2014 at 14:27

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I guess the main question is, when you say they're expensive to maintain, what part is expensive? I currently have one car, my toy/DD, a '91 Audi Coupe. I love it and it's awesome, but obviously, any time I do some serious driving (did an HPDE a few months back) I typically need to buy a new part here or there. In my old Neon ACR, parts were dirt cheap, while they're far more expensive for the Audi.

I plan on doing a lot more Autocross and more in the future, so as of now, I'm looking for something that's fairly reliable but most importantly has cheap parts. So I guess the TL;DR here is whether it just needs frequent, expensive maintenance due to the fact that it's difficult to work on, or it has genuinely expensive parts.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 14:27

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I still saying miata. Why? because it is the easiest to drive hard and keep grip. My 03 with potenzas on it will hold corners like anything and it is 100% stock except for oil filter relocation.

Miatas feel fast no matter what speed you are going so when you take corners at speed it seems much faster than other cars. Also no electronic helps at all.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > d00mZ 01/11/2014 at 14:29

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That is the nicest looking example of one of those I have ever, and that's not saying anything. Still a good thought though, like a cheaper, more reliable Boxster.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 14:33

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The parts can be more expensive than the normal Focus, just depends on what it is. There were some SVT specific stuff that is always hard to find. The other thing to consider is that with the cars now 10 years old, Ford is discontinuing parts. :(

An SVT is no harder to work on that any other car. The timing assembly must be kept current, and is a very specific procedure.

I'd say that as awesome as the SVT is, you're probably better served finding something with better parts access.

If you're still curious, check out the SVT HQ over at www.forums.focaljet.com

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 14:35

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On my own post, I submit this . Maybe not the BEST handling car, but probably pretty decent and definitely a lot of fun.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/11/2014 at 14:37

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Thanks for the insight. It definitely sounds like it just barely misses my requirements, but it's so damn tempting. High redline, great exhaust note, Cosworth, handling, hot hatch....its all there.

The link is broken, according to kinja

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 14:54

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Well, there are forums on FocalJet.com. Among them is the SVT HQ.

Best place on the web for info about them.

djmanila > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 14:56

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I would submit a BMW Z3 1995-2002 in stock form

djmanila > djmanila 01/11/2014 at 14:58

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Or the clown shoe Coupe for more Oppo

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/11/2014 at 14:58

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Good to know. Thanks for all the info

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > djmanila 01/11/2014 at 15:00

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The roadster sounds like a good idea, and for all I know an M roadster might even be in the price range. The coupes, however, I have not seen for under $10,000 in a long time. Enthusiasts are snapping them up, I guess.

djmanila > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 15:01

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I agree, there isn't many Coupes available. I see the Roadsters go for $7-10k in good condition.

Long Live the Longdoor > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 15:09

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I'm going to go with one I've actually driven, Honda Fit Sport with the 6MT:

Can be found for under $10k, pretty decent car and handles like a charm!

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > Long Live the Longdoor 01/11/2014 at 15:13

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I found this the other day, and haven't stopped drooling.

Boxer_4 > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 15:16

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For fwd, the 2000-2005 Celica GT and GT-S.

A friend of mine has a 2002 GT, and gave me a ride on several occasions. It is capable enough to comfortably hit 65 mph on a 25 mph off-ramp. I'm sure a GT-S would be even more fun.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > Boxer_4 01/11/2014 at 15:18

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Plus, that VVT yo.

Long Live the Longdoor > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 15:41

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Sweet gravy that's awesome!

I'm not going to lie, I've watched many videos and have done some research into supercharger kits for the Fit:

Textured Soy Protein > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 15:43

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In no particular order...

And yes,

(Coincidentally, I discovered that this old pic I took of my old car is the #2 google image result when searching for "Miata 10AE")

naallday > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 16:42

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Seriously guys!? 88-91 Crx si or just 89-91 si hatchback. Amazing little cars. Used in auto x events everywhere to this day.

briannutter1 > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 16:44

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I present the....Cheaparral. 86-88 c4 z51

A whole lotta reasons not to own one, but they do turn a fast lap as witnessed by scca stock class domination for years

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 17:19

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I submit the MK5 GTi for FWD.

Yeah, they're few and far between for under $10,000, but I have started seeing 2005-2006 ones in that price range

Next, I submit the Bugeye WRX wagon for AWD.

Not only a good AWD wagon, but one that will humiliate much newer, more expensive sports cars.
For RWD, I submit the E36 BMW 3 series

nowadays, you can even get an M3 for under 10 grand, but I'd go with a 325i
yeah it's less powerfull, but it's going to be a more reliable, lower mileage car

JasonStern911 > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 17:22

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The best handling in stock form would be high mileage examples of either S2000, C5 Corvette, or Boxster. That said, for reliability reasons, the S2000 is the only one of the three I would personally own a high mileage example of.

911e46z06 > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 17:30

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e36 m3 all damn day

briannutter1 > naallday 01/11/2014 at 17:41

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Absolutely!

AM3R > Textured Soy Protein 01/11/2014 at 17:54

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What's the name for that color blue on the Miata?!?

stuttgartobsessed > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 18:14

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Any Alfa Romeo Spider in good shape that you can get under $10k.

Textured Soy Protein > AM3R 01/11/2014 at 18:42

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Sapphire Blue Mica. It was exclusive to the '99 10th Anniversary Edition. I was kinda surprised to see my own photo come up so high in the google image search results.

AM3R > Textured Soy Protein 01/11/2014 at 19:09

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I know why, it's an amazing car! Never seen that blue before, although I'm not too familiar with Miatas

Scott Keelan > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 20:47

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I'm going to say either a Miata or MR-2.

MountainCommand > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/11/2014 at 21:12

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my obligatory response....

Its gotta be a type SH model tho, because sh means, Super Handling! ATTS is legit.

Stef Schrader > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/12/2014 at 01:48

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I second the 944 suggestion.

944!

davedave1111 > Textured Soy Protein 01/12/2014 at 05:17

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Sorry to possibly pop that bubble, but your Google results are personalised. Others will get different results. Mind you, your photo's still top ten for me, so must be doing pretty well.

Textured Soy Protein > davedave1111 01/12/2014 at 13:07

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It's hosted on the Miata.net gallery... they probably have good SEO.

TwoFortified > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/13/2014 at 17:00

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Saw somebody else post an S13 180SX...Not gonna lie: stock ones understeer pretty bad IMO.

I would have said Silvia personally. I IMAGINE you can get an S13 Silvia in pretty good shape in Japan. My hunch is if you were to try to convert a US 240SX coupe into one, however, you'd overrun the 10K. Maybe.

SteyrTMP > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/19/2014 at 17:34

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'Nuf said.

PhiLOL (slowcarSLOW-MPGlol) > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 01/22/2014 at 13:32

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The fact that I'm the first one to post an Integra GS-R is seriously pathetic. Get it together, Oppo...

Speedster > Textured Soy Protein 07/19/2015 at 11:24

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Any Honda accord or civic from the 90s back. Not the best handler, but it’s good enough for an average driver. Would love to take it to the track one day