What Car Can I Buy That I Wont Kill The Value Of?

"Milky" (jordanmielke)
10/13/2016 at 11:28 • Filed to: Crossfire, SC400, Miata

Currently stuck between the thought of buying a new car with a warranty (MX5) or buying another beater/cheap car that I know I can just write off completely when I’m done with it.

I am discovering that I am the worst kind of previous owner. My first 3 cars were beaters that I literally drove into the ground. The Crossfire goes as follows:

Engine pre-heater unplugged instead of replaced / stereo wiring wrong has no permanent power (read no memory) / seats only have power when the door is open and before the engine is turned on (butt warmers always work though) / radiator fan hasnt worked in a long time even though I’ve replaced the control module and fan / and now the parking brake is being removed because its bent and is rubbing against the rotor.

So yea, what say you Oppo? Spend $5k on a car I wouldn’t mind going to the dumpster in a year or two or new Miata because warranty and it wont be my problem? I’m kind of writing the S2k off my list for fear that I’ll treat it the same way.

DISCUSSION (30)

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Milky
10/13/2016 at 11:34

LeMons car.

S65 > Milky
10/13/2016 at 11:36

If you can afford one, MK4 Supra, restore a modded one to stock specification. Not sure how far you are from the DMV area but THIS seems like a good candidate

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Milky
10/13/2016 at 11:40

I’ll stick with my original suggestion to you from months ago.

Go find a ridiculously colored Challenger R/T

Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube > Milky
10/13/2016 at 11:40

I think your title only leads you to one option.

ANY new car you purchase you immediately lose value once you take the keys. Used cars on the other hand have already depreciated and are not losing much year to year.

Yes a warranty is nice but so is seeing funds in your bank account

Milky > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/13/2016 at 11:46

I love Chrysler products but I’m kind of over putting 20k+ miles on one a year. Plus its too big!

Milky > S65
10/13/2016 at 11:48

I dont think 20k miles a year and Michigan winters would be kind to it. Good idea though.

S65 > Milky
10/13/2016 at 11:50

2JZ is overbuilt, the winters though...

S65 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/13/2016 at 11:51

Missed opportunity to sell him the Montego

Milky > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/13/2016 at 11:53

Currently I have no warranty and am spending over $400 a month (average) just for repairs.

I know new cars loose value but I’ll be loosing money no matter what I do. Now I have a double negative going on.

extraspecialbitter > Milky
10/13/2016 at 11:55

I have another option for you.

Buy an S2000 roller for a couple grand. Drop in a junkyard F20c for another few grand. This way you’ve already seen the ugly bits to it and have no qualms of beating on it.

A funner S2000 is one you can beat on.

Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube > Milky
10/13/2016 at 12:05

Well really depends whether you are trashing the hell out of it or not. Also you need to look for a solid used car.

My daily is a 06 TDI that I bought not running for $3000 a few years ago. I spent about $1000 for new cam, timing belt, brakes, tires, susp.

I’ve put over 80k miles on it and it just keeps going with the exception of a few $30 glow plugs.

It has paid for itself over and over again and I watched my bank account stack up! I just bought a Dodge Viper ACR with cash from saving so much money over the past few years. Still daily the TDI

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Milky
10/13/2016 at 12:09

I paid $1000 for my Niva. Two years later it’s probably worth $2000. Of course it’s taken $3000 in parts to get it there but shutup.

Textured Soy Protein > Milky
10/13/2016 at 12:26

I know you have experience driving a cramped rwd 2-seater in northern winters but why so eager to continue the experience? I say this having DD’d an NB Miata for 4 years in Wisconsin running Blizzaks in winter. I got pretty tired of it. Something fun but awd and with some room to spread out while wearing a big winter coat is more desirable to me.

But if you do want to continue that experience, I’d suggest a used flippy hardtop NC Miata and make sure to get one with an LSD. The hardtop only adds about 80 lbs and doesn’t take up any more cargo room than the soft top. So for example, this one .

Rainbow > Milky
10/13/2016 at 12:27

Only saying this because I want one too: you can get a used Suzuki Kizashi with around 30k or less on the odometer for between $8-15k, depending on the trim level and exactly how low the mileage is, and the best part of it is that many of them still have their original warranty for another couple years.

That said, it’s a pretty safe bet that the value will drop tremendously after the warranty is up, since there aren’t any Suzuki dealers around anymore, but I’m also pretty sure that they’ll level out at a $5k resale value for quite a while, so if you find one of the cheaper examples, it shouldn’t depreciate terribly.

TheHondaBro > Milky
10/13/2016 at 12:52

80-series Land Cruiser.

Milky > extraspecialbitter
10/13/2016 at 12:54

That would probably require having a garage and I live that apartment life currently. Though that does sound fun.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Milky
10/13/2016 at 12:57

Well if you are going to buy a Miata, why an ND? I think the BRZ/FRS is a better car for the price. But if you are really set on a Miata, you might as well go cheaper with an older one. I dont prefer NCs but they offer generally of the same extra power and modern feel as the ND, just with shittier looks. Of course I think an NA/NB is the best solution, but you may want a newer car.

Milky > Textured Soy Protein
10/13/2016 at 13:05

I dont know if its my computer or kinja but Autotrader links seem to not be working lately. I have just started looking at NCs and they do seem like good value. I’m just not personally in love with the older models looks. Though my bank account would be happy with the cheaper price and it’d be more reliable than what I have.

This one seems like a good deal:

Kinja'd!!!

I do need to find out what models have a LSD though becasue .... I wouldnt do winter any other way but RWD. I used to drift my ‘ol SC400 anyday of the year and keeping it to winter now keeps me from being stupid/wrecking.

Milky > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/13/2016 at 13:06

I think I need to have a Chrysler product as my side car and not DD.

Also damn, I am jelly.

Milky > TheHondaBro
10/13/2016 at 13:08

If I was to get a SUV it’d be a Jeep. But I like sports cars for winter and I have no kids so I dont see the point of getting 15mpg.

Milky > Rainbow
10/13/2016 at 13:09

And I thought I was a hipster.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Milky
10/13/2016 at 13:11

Oh man, that sounds rough to spend $400 a month. That would be a pretty decent car payment! Something Japanese and 90s-00s sounds like that would be your saviour in this case. There are a ton of reliable used cars out there. I think simplicity is key to avoiding issues. Of course proper maintenance history is helpful as well.

Milky > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
10/13/2016 at 13:18

Currently debating NCs rather hard. I dont love them either but NA/NB and FRS/BRZ just dont do it for me in the looks department. Yes I know thats stupid.

TheHondaBro > Milky
10/13/2016 at 13:37

But they’re extremely reliable and they are starting to go up in value.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Milky
10/13/2016 at 13:39

Oh, if you actually like the look of the NC then I highly recommend it. I have seen some fast as hell NC Miatas but I just can’t get over the monster truck look it has. You could certainly get a really mint NC for like $10k. I know there are removable hard tops out there as well for the NC which would be a great addition for the winter months. They are different from the NA/NB hard tops but it’s the same idea. The ND is almost certainly better but for the price, the NC is going to be a lot better of a deal. Upgraded suspension and tires is basically a must if you want to race it but that can be done relatively cheaply.

Milky > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
10/13/2016 at 13:43

Why I was thinking ND - “ That would be a pretty decent car payment!”

Honestly most of the things breaking on the Crossfire is to be expected for a 175,000 mile car but another Japanese car sounds nice.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > S65
10/13/2016 at 13:46

I tried lol

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Milky
10/13/2016 at 13:47

Disagree! Go drive one

Textured Soy Protein > Milky
10/13/2016 at 13:59

The one I linked was a 2010 Grand Touring hardtop with the LSD and sport suspension. 55k miles and $18k-ish. Usually LSD & sport suspension come together, I think they were part of a sport package on the Grand Touring NC, unlike on the ND where they’re only on the Club.

Alex Zapata > Milky
10/13/2016 at 16:17

I have a friend like you, I do recommend the Miata, he has an NC and he’s worse than you and it has lasted, doesn’t look fantastic, but there isn’t much to go wrong, so long as you maintain the mechanical bits it’s great