Best Daily Driver for $10k?

"Long Live the Longdoor" (victoryred08) 01/08/2015 at 21:10 • Filed to: Car Search

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Alright, I just watched the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and I got to thinking, what if I bought a fun car to DD for about $10k instead of buying a new car (man I change my mind often). So, you're looking for a reliable daily driver that's going to be fun and will tackle some snow occasionally during the winter. Show me what you got OPPO!

Manuél Ferrari > Long Live the Longdoor 01/08/2015 at 21:16

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just this morning i was looking at manual 190Es online

cool DD for like $3000!

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Long Live the Longdoor 01/08/2015 at 21:17

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Early 70's Corvette. They look awesome, mods are endless and parts are everywhere for them. Reliable as any other small-block powered Chevy.

Funktheduck > Long Live the Longdoor 01/08/2015 at 21:17

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In before miata.

Zohaibman72 > Long Live the Longdoor 01/08/2015 at 21:19

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Legacy GT Wagon

AM3R shamefully returns > Manuél Ferrari 01/08/2015 at 21:19

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Damn you, you got me searching this morning and all the ones near me were auto lol.

Scorpio GTX1 > Long Live the Longdoor 01/08/2015 at 21:19

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Toyota Supra SZ (NA)

Nissan Skyline (R34) GT-X

You're going to have to live in Canada, though. :P

Long Live the Longdoor > Funktheduck 01/08/2015 at 21:20

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Hmm, I wonder if i can find an NC for $10k, off to autotrader!

Manuél Ferrari > AM3R shamefully returns 01/08/2015 at 21:20

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what about the one in maryland?

how far is that from you?

Funktheduck > Long Live the Longdoor 01/08/2015 at 21:21

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You could stick with the BMW inspiration and get an e30

Long Live the Longdoor > Manuél Ferrari 01/08/2015 at 21:23

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I'd rock that!

Long Live the Longdoor > Scorpio GTX1 01/08/2015 at 21:24

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As it just so happens, I do (yay me)! I see the occasional skyline, they're pretty awesome!

Long Live the Longdoor > Zohaibman72 01/08/2015 at 21:29

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Yup, that'd be awesome! I was just thinking the other day on how I'd buy a new Legacy GT if they made one and here we are, problem solved; buy an older one. Was it 07 or 08 that they stopped making them?

AM3R shamefully returns > Manuél Ferrari 01/08/2015 at 21:30

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I'm gonna try to call and check out the car when I go to DC for the auto show at the end of the month.

Long Live the Longdoor > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 01/08/2015 at 21:31

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I'd get some weird looks in the winter with that... meh, I'm down.

Manuél Ferrari > AM3R shamefully returns 01/08/2015 at 21:32

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yesss

Zohaibman72 > Long Live the Longdoor 01/08/2015 at 21:33

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2009 in North America, because they cut out legacy wagon and made the Outback its own model.

They still make Legacy GT in Japan.

I'm in the same market in the exact same budget, probably going to go for the Legacy with the smallest engine but most options, since I'm doing it for insurance reason (my camry is too expensive on insurance)

Manuél Ferrari > Long Live the Longdoor 01/08/2015 at 21:36

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so cool! mini little Merc with a stick!

Long Live the Longdoor > Zohaibman72 01/08/2015 at 21:48

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Hmmm, cool. I'm gonna to keep an eye out for a nice clean Legacy wagon now.

N51fanatic > Long Live the Longdoor 01/08/2015 at 21:51

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This sounds like a great idea, but could you really DD a 25+ yr old car?? My last 3 cars have all been new, I bought a 99 forester to flip over the summer and putzed around in it for a few weeks. There's no way I could daily a 20+ yr old car, I'd miss too many of the conveniences

Axial > Long Live the Longdoor 01/08/2015 at 21:57

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1988 Fiero GT

I'd love to have one.

Axial > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 01/08/2015 at 21:58

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Also a lot easier to do snow tires for than newer sports cars with their giant, wide wheels.

dogisbadob > Long Live the Longdoor 01/08/2015 at 21:58

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There are a LOT of good choices!

It might be possible to get an HHR SS for 10k

03-06 Matrix XRS/Vibe GT

01-04 V40 wagon

8g Civic Si

Mazda 5

03-04 Infiniti M45

A P11 G20t

Saturn Astra (note that the awesome panoramic sunroof was only available on the 4-door)

Lexus LS430

The EP3 Civic Si and RSX are nice, but they only have 2 doors

These might be good, but they're not on my top list due to transverse V6 being difficult to work on:

06-07 V6 Accord manual 4-door (only made for two years)

Jaguar X-Type wagon

If you're in Canada, you have a few more choices (they are really stupid for not selling any of them down here):

Acura EL/CSX (even a CSX Type-S!)

Mercedes B-class

a BRAND NEW Nissan Micra!!!!

Long Live the Longdoor > N51fanatic 01/08/2015 at 21:59

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Nah, I probably wouldn't go older than about 10 years preferably. I need to reliably show up to work on time lol.

GhostZ > N51fanatic 01/08/2015 at 22:22

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Yes, you totally can. The only convenience you'd miss that's in modern cars is heated seats, rollover protection, and more airbags. All music players can use radio tuners, and almost every smartphone has satnav on it already.

And 10 years ago, that wasn't even the case in most new cars.

The big fear with DD an older car is safety, second to repairs that have to be made. As new cars get more complex and a lot of reliable 80s and 90s cars are entering the bottom of their price curves though, it's entirely possible to DD and 20 year old car and stay out of the shop more than a new one under warranty.

GhostZ > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 01/08/2015 at 22:25

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Totally agreed, though you probably do need to replace the springs and shocks, as most C3s are sagging low now, and they'll scrape if there's deep snow.

GhostZ > Long Live the Longdoor 01/08/2015 at 22:28

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Anything with an SBC or SBF, RWD, and 4 doors.

Long Live the Longdoor > dogisbadob 01/08/2015 at 22:46

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Wowzers, that's an awesome list! I've always liked the Vibe GT, but I'm kinda done with GM for a bit (I'm driving a Cobalt coupe now).

Good idea on the M45, I've always liked those.

I actually don't mind the 8G civic, but I do live in Canada so I'd probably hunt for a CSX type S!

How did I not think of the RSX, good thinking!

I've honestly never seen a P11 G20t before, to the internet to research!

I know absolutely nothing about the LS430, is it any fun or just an awesome couch?

I've honestly considered a new Accord V6 manual Coupe, so the 06/07 Accord sedan is a viable option, I have no idea they ever made the sedan in the manual. What else would you ever need? Big sedan, manual, good power, decent economy, should run a long time... I feel a desire building.

Thanks for all the options!

Long Live the Longdoor > GhostZ 01/08/2015 at 22:52

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Sorry, my knowledge of RWD 4 door cars with small block chevys/fords is very limited, any suggestions of what to look for?

44444444444 > Long Live the Longdoor 01/08/2015 at 23:00

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Volvo V70R. Does everything.

44444444444 > dogisbadob 01/08/2015 at 23:11

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Swap the V40 for the V70. Why go for a 1.8t when you can get the vastly superior 2.5t wagon? Just make it 2004-2007 because it's a better car.

dogisbadob > Long Live the Longdoor 01/08/2015 at 23:12

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No problem.

Yeah I hate GM, too, and I still don't think they should've been bailed out, but I give the Vibe a pass because it's all Toyota underneath (a rebadged Matrix, which in turn is just a Corolla wagon). And of course, you can just get a Matrix :p

Oh man you're so lucky to live up there in Canada because you get the cool cars that we don't get down here. Yeah I really like the CSX-S! 8000 rpm and heated seats!

The B-class is also really awesome if it's in your budget. I love these things and I think they would've been a hit down here. Plus, there's even a turbo manual version.

Yeah, a lot of people didn't know they only made the V6 sedan in manual, and you can't blame them because they only made them for 2 years and not too many exist. I googled a bit and was able to confirm it was in fact sold in Canada. As awesome as it sounds, I'm still lukewarm about it because I hate transverse V6's.

Not too sure about the LS430, but I know that Bilstein makes coilovers for it.

JasonStern911 > Long Live the Longdoor 01/09/2015 at 00:06

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It depends on your lifestyle, but off of the top of my head, solid options are:

IS300 Sportcross

Infiniti G35X

Mazdaspeed6

And if you're willing to venture away from Japanese reliability, Volvo S60R:

Saab 93X Aero:

BMW E46 (likely a 330xi):

Long Live the Longdoor > dogisbadob 01/09/2015 at 00:11

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Ya I dig the CSX Type-S, I saw one on a dealer lot near my work that hand some TL Type S rims (you know, the awesome black ones) on it... if I was in the market at the time, I would have bought it in a heatbeat (I wish I had a picture, it looked amazing). I kind of prefer coupes and wish Acura continued making something like the RSX.

The B Class is pretty cool, just never really did anything for me styling wise.

Ya I'm not surprised the manual Accord sedan only lasted 2 years. I feel like if I were to contemplate that fully, I'd probably extend my budget a bit and get a TL Type S. I have nothing against transverse V6's (though I have little experience with them).