Thinking about cars

"Joe_Limon" (Joe_Limon) 08/06/2013 at 15:00 • Filed to: None

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So driving back to work from lunch I started pondering used cars that look good but perform terribly that might be cheap to purchase.

Then I remembered the last gen Eclipse. I thought to myself, hey! that thing has been on the market for almost a decade now, I could totally forget about the fwd and crappy motor combination if I could hop in a used one for cheap.

Turns out these things are holding their value :(

I am NOT about to spend $15,000-$20,000 for a moderately miled several year old Eclipse.

Now I raise the question to you, what are the best looking "cheap" (i.e. ~$5000 range), used automobiles? no limits on performance or reliability. Only that it must be road legal.

Decay buys too many beaters > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 15:05

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2nd generation Eclipse, looks a lot faster than it usually is (unless you get the turbo models), and Since it is from the 90's the giant spoiler is acceptable. They can be had for good prices in base trim.

PowderHound > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 15:15

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I always thought the 90's celica looked great but was plagued by a lack of power and FWD

Joe_Limon > PowderHound 08/06/2013 at 15:17

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As far as cars from the 90s go, that one is definitely a gem.

Nerd-Vol > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 15:19

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Might be able to get an LS integra for under 5k. Get the five speed, you could swap in the B18C1 or you could just fully bolt the stock unit. Or just turbo it. Dial in the suspension and you could have some real fun.

MIATAAAA > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 15:19

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$5,000 is a pretty tight budget for any good-looking car. I'm going to propose the last gen Toyota Celica as the best looking $5,000 car you can buy.

Who can do better?

Joe_Limon > MIATAAAA 08/06/2013 at 15:25

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How about a Mercury Cougar? (laughs at single steel wheel)

Nick C. > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 15:25

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In my opinion the Nissan 300ZX has held up really well. Finding an unmolested example would be tough, but doable in that budget.

Casper > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 15:28

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There are dozens of cars in that category. Everything from DSMs to Mustangs. You need to have a little more specificity than that.

My favorites would be (as usual) Z cars, MR2s, RX-7s, etc. I really liked my SW20 and it was more or less practical. The Zs were all great too. The RX-7s just have a stigma from idiotic ownership.

Casper > MIATAAAA 08/06/2013 at 15:28

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Someone named Miataaa suggests the worst Celica ever made? Do you dislike the poor boy?

Joe_Limon > Nick C. 08/06/2013 at 15:29

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Hey, that's a good one! If you look hard enough you might even be able to find an unmolested LHD one.

http://alberta.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicle…

MIATAAAA > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 15:29

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FINE CALL. I agree - I think it might be more attractive to look at (sans steel wheel) than the Celica.

Joe_Limon > Casper 08/06/2013 at 15:30

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My specifity is finding the best of the best :D

Also, all of those cars have a stigma from fnf teenagers.

MIATAAAA > Casper 08/06/2013 at 15:30

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I think the last gen Celica was a pretty good looking car for it's price point! No?

Casper > MIATAAAA 08/06/2013 at 15:32

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We will agree to disagree. I think they look pretty awful on top of being FWD, gutless, and relatively unreliable. They were from the same era of Toyota that brought us that god awful MR-S.

Casper > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 15:34

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The most classic cars of the era have a stigma but the Eclipse is ok? Go home Joe, you're drunk.

OTStarBai2013 > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 15:38

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Very simple.

Nick C. > PowderHound 08/06/2013 at 15:38

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There is always the GT4....

I don't know if that can be had under 5K these days.

Nick C. > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 15:41

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That's a really nice one....

Joe_Limon > Casper 08/06/2013 at 15:57

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Never said it didn't. I was just picking on your point saying that the RX-7 somehow had the stigma but all the other ones you mentioned didn't.

Casper > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 16:00

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All cars have some kind of stigma, but generally the RX-7 has the most universally undeserved. It's very much like the unintended acceleration stigma that killed the Audi 5000. It doesn't matter that it's not based on reality, the damage was done.

Jagvar > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 16:06

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Why not go a step up and get yourself a Mitsubishi 3000GT (i.e., Dodge Stealth)?

Joe_Limon > Casper 08/06/2013 at 16:08

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While you may think that, I think they are pretty much even.

Joe_Limon > Jagvar 08/06/2013 at 16:10

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Good call! It shouldn't be too hard to find a decent fwd non-turbo version for $5000

boxrocket > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 17:18

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How old are you willing to go, and what do you tend to do with it?

IMHO, you can't go wrong with a Volvo (except the Mitsubishi-platform original S40/V40, though they do have their charms) or a Mazda. I've had 2 626s of various vintages, my wife has a 6, I drive a Volvo 765 Turbo and had a 745 before then.

Providing in decent condition, not too many miles, and appropriately maintained, here is my short mental list of cars to look for:

Compact-ish: Mazda Protégé & 3, Ford Focus, Volvo C30 (hard to find under $5K but they're there), S40 (2nd gen) and V50. Also certain Hyundais and Kias, as well as the Suzuki SX4. Mitsubishi Lancers if they haven't been "riced".

Midsize: Mazda6 & 626 & Millenia, Volvo S60, 850, and 70-series (plus older 700/900 models), certain Hyundais and Kias, Nissan Altima, Infiniti I30, G35/37

Large: Crown Victoria, Volvo S80 and V90, Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego (same car), Nissan Maxima, Infiniti M/Q series

Sports car: MX-5 Miata, RX-7, RX-8, Celica, RSX, Cougar V6, 350Z/370Z, G35/37 coupe, "DSM"s if checked out thoroughly by an DSM-experienced mechanic. Avoid the fat ones that Chrysler screwed up (gen-3)

Small SUV: Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner/Mazda Tribute (same car underneath, essentially), Kia Sportage/Hyundai Tucson

Medium SUV: Mazda CX-7, Hyundai Santa Fe/Kia Sorento, Volvo XC90

Large SUV: Mazda CX-9, Ford Expedition, Ford Excursion

"Nano"van: Mazda5, Kia Rondo

Minivan: Mazda MPV, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona, late Ford Freestar/Mercury Monterey (4.2L V6 preferred)

Full-size van: Ford E-Series.

Truck: Ford Ranger/Mazda B-Series, Ford F-series.

I think that just about covers it. I'll update if I can recall any others.

Joe_Limon > boxrocket 08/06/2013 at 17:20

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That is quite the list, now cut out all the cars that don't look good, now select the few that you think look the best :D

boxrocket > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 17:27

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Alrighty then, top 15, that "look the best":

Mazda Mazdaspeed Protégé, Protégé5, Mazda3, Mazda5, Mazda6, MX5 Miata, RX-7, RX-8, CX-7.

Volvo C30, S40, V50, S60, V70

Suzuki SX4

Joe_Limon > boxrocket 08/06/2013 at 17:50

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The only RX-8's I can find in that price range have blown engines.

boxrocket > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 17:59

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There are two here in Saint Louis in the $7K range, both running and 2005 models. A bit more than your $5K range, I'll grant, but I've seen them (usually in the winter) for $4-5K

Milky > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 20:13

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I am very disappointed that you actually thought about buying the 3rd gen eclipse, and with the amount of FWD in this thread. Here's my last car, also way cheaper than 5k.

Joe_Limon > Milky 08/06/2013 at 20:17

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To be fair, I did say performance was not to be considered :)

Milky > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 20:28

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Performance considered or not, you still have car enthusiast pride to consider.

Joe_Limon > Milky 08/06/2013 at 20:36

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I dunno, I know a lot of enthusiasts who like fwd cars.

Milky > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 20:45

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That comment was directly solely at the eclipse. I personally am rwd biased but I can understand fwd, economy, packaging etc.

Joe_Limon > Milky 08/06/2013 at 21:01

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Wasn't that generation of eclipse despised by the enthusiast community mainly because of it's all show and no go persona?

Milky > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 21:11

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Yes ... and I'm curious to see where you are taking this ....

Joe_Limon > Milky 08/06/2013 at 21:22

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Well, if the original intent of the question was to neglect performance measures. Why are we including performance measures in our view of it being an enthusiast vehicle?

Milky > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 21:48

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This is oppo, we're all here because of our love of cars. A car can atleast have some redeeming qualities ....

That Eclipse is just bad, it got worse with each generation and that can be stood for.

Joe_Limon > Milky 08/06/2013 at 21:53

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What exactly is the 500's redeeming quality? The lack of a dash flower?

Milky > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 22:02

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multi air, 3 cylinder, unique top , not being a new beetle, etc. Point being, fast is always great, but even without that .... there are still a lot of cars that excel at other things.

Joe_Limon > Milky 08/06/2013 at 22:08

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I think the third gen eclipse excels in looking fabulous :)

Milky > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 22:15

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3rd gen eclipse =

Makoyouidiot > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 23:07

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My buddy has one of these, and it is blast to drive. v6 manual, but fwd...still great fun.

Joe_Limon > Makoyouidiot 08/06/2013 at 23:26

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Those were definitely styled ahead of their time. Which is good :)

Makoyouidiot > Joe_Limon 08/06/2013 at 23:40

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Also tough, he went overboard to dodge a deer and rolled it at about 40, the sides and roof are all scruffed up, we actually flipped it back onto the wheels and drove it home.