[Find Me a Car] I dont need a car, I want one .... as a Toy

"Moves-Like-Senna" (moves-like-senna) 04/11/2018 at 13:55 • Filed to: Unnecessary Car Shopping

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Long story short, my life has taken a turn where I no longer need a car. I live in the same city I work in (not 6 hours away), I live in the downtown core and have zero need for a car.

That being said, I’ve been getting into karting and now want to expand on that hobby and also look into auto cross/track days/curvy road driving.

My budget is currently up to $14,000 Canadian . I can likely swing up to four times that but I have zero need for this car so it’s 100% a glorified toy. I don’t really want to spend more than $14k as it’s low enough that when I sell it in a year or four, it won’t lose much value and wasn’t a stupid financial decision for a toy.

Things I will do with the car:

Track it

Drag strip

AutoX

Road trips

Drive out to do my hobbies (cycling/go karting)

Groceries once a week?

Only drive it on weekends lol

Things the car needs to be able to do

Fit myself and 1 passenger (I am 6ft 3 and want to fit with a helmet comfortably)

Be fun as hell to drive whether it’s a highway or a track (think Corvette

Be reliable enough to consistently take a beating on the track

Not cost a fortune to keep running

Low depreciation curve in the future

Either fit a bicycle/other stuff on top or inside the car (I’m thinking sea sucker)

Cars currently considering:

BMW 128i (seems a bit weak/not the greatest driving experience)

Fiesta ST

So, what are your suggestions oppo?

TLDR; I don’t need a car, want one, don’t want to spend a fortune. Uses are track/road trips (for driving pleasure)/curvy roads and sometimes groceries. I am 6ft 3.5 and want to be able to fit with a helmet comfortably.

Arrivederci > Moves-Like-Senna 04/11/2018 at 14:23

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I don’t know the Canadian market that well, but Honda S2000. It’ll retain it’s value extremely well (may even go up), very reliable, a ball at autox or track and from the same manufacturer as the car Senna helped sort out. You may be a bit tall, so make sure to confirm you fit before buying one :).

Stapleface > Moves-Like-Senna 04/11/2018 at 14:24

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The height requirement might make it a little tougher, but one car that has tons of room in a small package is a CRX. I know, it’s an old car at this point. They don’t really depreciate any more at this point. It’s like driving a go cart. They are loads of fun to drive on a daily basis.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Moves-Like-Senna 04/11/2018 at 14:24

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I would’ve suggested to import an early MR2 Spyder and putting a 2ZZ in there, but you won’t be able to fit a Seasucker on there due to the cooling slits on the hood.

So, NC MX-5 or NA/NB with foamectomy/seat drop it is then.

Censored > Moves-Like-Senna 04/11/2018 at 14:26

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Didn’t you just describe a Vette? Seems like the perfect answer to me.

Moves-Like-Senna > Censored 04/11/2018 at 14:34

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Pretty much haha aside from the budget it fits great. The thing is that even a C5 is in the high $20k where I just cant justify it :/

Moves-Like-Senna > Out, but with a W - has found the answer 04/11/2018 at 14:36

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I could probably find a solution hahaha but I dont want to do too much of an overhaul like an engine swap and RHD is impossible to insure up here.

Miata’s would be great but I don’t fit with a helmet. I have a friend who’s 6'5 who has one with a bare steel seat bolted to the floor. I can just drive it (I’m torso tall), with a helmet I’d have to find a solution for rollovers.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Moves-Like-Senna 04/11/2018 at 14:37

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and wasn’t a stupid financial decision for a toy.

Technically, toys are always a stupid financial decision.

Clearly you need an Impala SS

Moves-Like-Senna > Arrivederci 04/11/2018 at 14:37

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Thanks, definitely was on my list since even at it’s price range it wouldn’t go down but the fit/comfort is my main problem :/

Moves-Like-Senna > Stapleface 04/11/2018 at 14:37

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Now this is thinking outside the box! Thank you haha I love it. I’m going to take a look into these.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Moves-Like-Senna 04/11/2018 at 14:37

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Miata

Is

Always

The

Answer

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Moves-Like-Senna 04/11/2018 at 14:44

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Import from the US, that should be (a lot) cheaper! They’re fine with the base engine, but the pre-facelift ones tend to have a thirst for oil. The facelift took place in 2003, so I guess you can get them now?

Which generation? The NC should be the most spacious, the NB the least.

Moves-Like-Senna > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 04/11/2018 at 14:45

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hahaha very true but I can minimize the stupidity of it.

Hmmmmm that’s tempting hahahaha but only an issue with the transmission is sketchy.

Moves-Like-Senna > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 04/11/2018 at 14:46

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Except when there’s no fitting :(

Censored > Moves-Like-Senna 04/11/2018 at 14:46

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Wow, vettes are expensive to the north. Even with the 25% tacked on for the exchange rate this one is nearly under budget.

https://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/d/2001-c5-corvette/6553096388.html

This ones also close

https://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/d/1999-c5-corvette/6552894884.html

Then just to make you mad, here’s a Z06 just outside the window.

https://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/d/2004-corvette-z06-c5/6553591227.html

Moves-Like-Senna > Out, but with a W - has found the answer 04/11/2018 at 14:54

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Yea I was looking at the CRX suggestion and am realizing the only way to get a clean on is from teh US. I’ll take a look at MR2's as well. Thanks!

It’s an NA which is known to be a more spacious one as well.

Moves-Like-Senna > Censored 04/11/2018 at 14:56

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Holy jesus batmans! It’s way cheaper down there. I have no problem swinging a few thousand extra to get a vette over a 128i hahaha The 99 one you posted ( https://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/d/1999-c5-corvette/6552894884.html ) really caught my eye and I’ve always wanted to go to St Louis haha

Censored > Moves-Like-Senna 04/11/2018 at 15:02

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Contrary to popular belief, StL is great as long as you use common sense. Buy here and import. As stated above, the answer to your riddle is vette. None of the other suggestions are going to be able to be fun at autocross and strip without significant changes between venues. You could drive a vette to work, autocross, track day and a grudge night all in the same day (provided your day has approx 37hrs but you get the point).

chaozbandit > Moves-Like-Senna 04/11/2018 at 15:07

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Appealing options from five pages of quick browsing:

http://www.autotrader.ca/a/mitsubishi/lancer/whitby/ontario/5_36407061_20100121090312346/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ursrc=pl&urp=1&urm=8&pc=L3R%202A9&sprx=100

http://www.autotrader.ca/a/chevrolet/cruze/oakville/ontario/5_37259842_20100108065044301/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ursrc=pl&urp=4&urm=8&pc=L3R%202A9&sprx=100

Thomas Donohue > Moves-Like-Senna 04/11/2018 at 15:15

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Not sure on the 6'3" part, but a used GTI would fit the bill here. (A quick search indicates 6'5" will fit in a GTI, but YHMV)

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Moves-Like-Senna 04/11/2018 at 15:41

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Miata. I’m 6 ft and fit in one fine, if it’s still too small you just need to drop the seat a bit and top down :)

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Moves-Like-Senna 04/11/2018 at 15:48

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Considering you could rebuild the entire drivetrain and still stay under your budget I think it’s OK

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Moves-Like-Senna 04/11/2018 at 16:01

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Ducati multisrada!

For your list almost perfectly! Autox might be an issue, and ownership costs potentially. Otherwise it does everything!

My bird IS the word > Moves-Like-Senna 04/11/2018 at 16:04

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92-97 camaro/ firebird/ trans am lt1

Nick Has an Exocet > Censored 04/11/2018 at 16:04

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I agree with the Vette suggestion. It’s also fairly practical if that helps. It’s often referred to as “tall guy Miata”.

Moves-Like-Senna > Censored 04/11/2018 at 16:05

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That’s a very good point. I’m going to dig in and see what I can find down through the states. It’s really tempting hahaha these interiors remind me of my 02 silverado haha

Nick Has an Exocet > Moves-Like-Senna 04/11/2018 at 16:07

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Do you have a garage for building a kit car?

Allow me to be that guy: You could build something like an Exocet for that price. Of course, it won’t do anything you want until you put it together but a race-spec Exocet could have a bike rack fitted. Carry groceries? It’s been done...

(Ken Fox’s image stolen from the Exocet group on Facesplace)

Moves-Like-Senna > Thomas Donohue 04/11/2018 at 16:08

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Thanks! I actually do fit in these but they’re still in the mid 20k range up here :/