Cars with sub-7 0-60 times for under $3.5k?

"Levi" (brandini93) 01/06/2016 at 17:45 • Filed to: Carbuying

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Looking for something cheap to replace my dead Mustang (4.0 with 5 on the floor for those wondering.) Criteria are: cheap, automatic (yeah, I know, but my wife is 2” away from being a little person so...), published 0-60 when new of under 7 seconds. I’m really trying to avoid going slower than my Mustang, and I really need a ride sooner rather than later so I can stop bumming rides to work. Pic is unrelated, just bad cupping I saw when I was a trucker. If it helps anything I’m in Stillwater, OK, moving to Tulsa in July. Most jalop recommendation I’ve gotten so far is the Taurus SVO. Wanted an Eclipse GSX but F&F tax shot a hole through that one. Many thanks for suggestions, advice, or just commentary!

crowmolly > Levi 01/06/2016 at 17:49

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GTP. LT1 F-body if you’re a gamblin’ man.

Captain of the Enterprise > Levi 01/06/2016 at 17:52

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Not really a suggestion but what is the technical height for being a little person?

Matt Nichelson > Levi 01/06/2016 at 17:55

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Something something miata is always the answer to everything ever blah blah......

I like the Taurus idea but those would be pretty hard to find in decent shape these days, no?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Levi 01/06/2016 at 17:55

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Last-gen Preludes came is just under 7 seconds, as did Saab 9-3 Aeros. This website will be useful: http://www.zeroto60times.com/

Cherry_man1 > Levi 01/06/2016 at 17:57

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Fox Body Mustang with a 5.0L?

Levi > Captain of the Enterprise 01/06/2016 at 18:00

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4’10”

64Mali > Captain of the Enterprise 01/06/2016 at 18:01

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IIRC under 4’8 for common terms. My wife is a Pygmy at 4’10 and my SIL is 3/4 of an inch from needing a booster seat (under 4’9).

RallyWrench > Levi 01/06/2016 at 18:09

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Beater E36 M3s are pretty damn close to that now, especially automatics, and if not an M3, the 328 isn’t much slower. What about F-body Z28s? If you can find an LT1 car it’ll give you fair punch for the money. Pain in the ass to work on, though. Does it have to be a car? No shortage of V8 shortbed trucks for that kind of money. Maybe not 7 second trucks, but still quick enough.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > Levi 01/06/2016 at 18:09

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Late Volvo 740 turbo or a 940 turbo. That’ll put you in the mid-7s, and with a junkyard turbo, and an intercooler from an Isuzu NPR box van, and you’ll be solidly into the 6s.

You can get the Volvo for about $1-1.5k, and have the rest for upgrades.

Here’s a 940 turbo sedan for 1750. http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/ctd/5370186943…

RallyWrench > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully 01/06/2016 at 18:10

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This is a great suggestion.

GE90man > Levi 01/06/2016 at 18:15

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Passat b6, don't know if under 3.5 though, but 0-60 is in just 6.6 seconds

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Levi 01/06/2016 at 18:16

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I got my E36 M3 Sedan with an auto for $3300. It also needed like $1000 in work to get road legal so not entirely in budget...

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > RallyWrench 01/06/2016 at 18:17

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I’ve owned more than a handful of them, so... My quickest one had a TD04HL-19T turbo from a S60R, a set of 42# injectors from a Thunderbird SVO, 3” airflow meter from an early 960, Isuzu NPR intercooler and a manual boost controller. All-in, about $2k, and it would eat ‘90s and early-mid ‘00s Mustangs and F-bodies for lunch, every day of the week. I should never have sold that car to buy an S60.

Nick Has an Exocet > Levi 01/06/2016 at 18:19

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Cobalt SS?

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > RallyWrench 01/06/2016 at 18:21

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An E36 m3 for less than $3.5k?

The cheapest one around me is $10k.

RallyWrench > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully 01/06/2016 at 18:25

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I’ll have one eventually. I miss my old 245, but my after surgery my back couldn’t deal with the driving position for more than an hour, and not having a split-folding rear seat was a pain for family road trips. That, and my wife never warmed to it because it was old and loud. So I want a 945. I missed out on a sweet one with a T5 swap for $2500 on T-bricks a couple of years ago.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Levi 01/06/2016 at 18:27

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1.8T GTI from 2000-2005 should be close, the manual tested at 6.5 when it was released. Available with an automatic, and you can bump power from 175hp to 200ish with an ecu tune for $500. Most dealers list an asking price of around $5000 where I live for cars with not too much mileage, so I would think with a little luck and from a private party $3500 should be doable.

dogisbadob > Levi 01/06/2016 at 18:31

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The 4th gen F-body comes to mind.

The A32 Maxima/I30 is only under 7 with a manual (6.6); the automatic is 7.7 (I30 with the LSD) or 7.9 (no LSD)

The A33 automatic does meet your standards if you get the 3.5L engine (02-03). In fact, the I35 is automatic-only.

Early G35’s and M45’s may be within your price range.

If you’re lucky you can get a really high-mileage 03+ Accord V6 (mid 6’s with an automatic, high-5’s with a manual) or Camry V6 (auto only, I believe this was under 7 with the 3MZ)

The 94+ B-bodies with the LT1 are in the mid-6’s as well (not just the Impala; ALL LT1 B’s meet your speed criterion)

The PT Cruiser GT should also be acceptable and possible in your budget.

I’ve even see W202 C36’s for 3k, and I know they have a sub-7 0-60

The Volvo 850 turbo and the early S/V70 turbos

You could even get an E36 M3 automatic in your budget; 0-60 is in the mid-6’s (the manual was a second quicker).

dogisbadob > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/06/2016 at 18:34

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Did any magazine ever test a 5g Prelude automatic? All of the ones listed on that site are manual (click the i button)

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Matt Nichelson 01/06/2016 at 19:17

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Too slow lol.

trillworknthewheel > Levi 01/06/2016 at 19:22

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Where I live you probably could get a gsx, tsi or awd laser for 3500. Might not be in great shape or running properly though. Definitely could get a fwd turbo dsm in that range.

BringBackTheCommodore > Levi 01/06/2016 at 19:35

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If you can find one of the Regals equipped with the supercharged 3800 (typically the GS model Regals), they’re good for a sub 7-second 0-60 time:

https://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/538831…

This one is going for $2100.00 and is in Detroit.

Levi > Levi 01/06/2016 at 20:24

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All you guys are awesome. Trying to star everyone's suggestions but wife wants to watch some GoT. All shall be recommended in the morning at least. Thank you so much!

RallyWrench > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. 01/06/2016 at 21:25

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I’ve seen a couple of beat ‘95s for $4k. The 3.2s are getting down around 6 for cars with needs.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Levi 01/07/2016 at 01:02

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Thought of another, E34 BMW 540i from 1993-1995.