Most Bang for for the Buck under $10k?

"glemon" (glemon) 02/01/2019 at 22:42 • Filed to: None

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Simple as that, most driving fun. Is Miata always the answer? Old Mustang? C3 or C4 Corvette? A Triumph GT6 like Jalopnik recently featured? 80s or 90s RX or MR2? Porsche Boxster or 924-44?? Convince me, life is short, my funds are not unlimited, and I need a new adventure.

bob and john > glemon 02/01/2019 at 22:58

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the MOST fun you can have under 10K and still have you pants on is a bike. end of story./ 

dogisbadob > glemon 02/01/2019 at 23:01

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The Mr2 is the best choice since it’s a Toyota and will give you the least problems.

If you’re lucky, you can find a convertible Geo Metro.

There’s also the Tracker/Sidekick/Vitara

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > bob and john 02/01/2019 at 23:01

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yeah.... hes not wrong

MarquetteLa > glemon 02/01/2019 at 23:06

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The only thing the Miata lacks is power; i t’s not exactly going to pin you back in your seat. It will, however, try to throw you out of the side of the seat in the corners. Some of those cars you mentioned will provide interesting and worthwhile driving experiences on their own (mid-engine MR-2, V8 grunt, etc) , but none of them will be as cheap to run as the Miata (due to both reliability and cheap, common parts) . Those are the reasons I have one anyway.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > glemon 02/01/2019 at 23:07

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98-00 boxter. It has the more robust IMS motor and is a joy to drive.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > glemon 02/01/2019 at 23:13

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Corvettes,Mustangs, 350Z, older BMW 3 series, Z4s are the usual suspects, and I found a few 99-2002 base Boxters like this

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/758304533/overview/

glemon > bob and john 02/01/2019 at 23:25

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Yeah, I still have my motorcycle license, best bang for the buck for sure.

way2blu does a rev update > dogisbadob 02/01/2019 at 23:51

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Can confirm. Fun, and plenty practical too. Also still  works if you’re too tall/leggy for a Miata.

Tapas > glemon 02/01/2019 at 23:58

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Stripped out Miata with a Coyote motor.

Honeybunchesofgoats > glemon 02/02/2019 at 00:03

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XJ8. Reliable? No. But I’ve never enjoyed anything as much as I’ve enjoyed throwing that car around. Sports cars are meant to be fun, but a luxury sedan that likes to go fast around corners? That’s special. 

CRider > glemon 02/02/2019 at 00:16

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A m otor cyc le . Next question: What kind? 

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > glemon 02/02/2019 at 00:51

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I don’t know. Go drive a few and report back what you think. I say that because its so personal; fun can be speed, or feel, or reliability(so you hammer on it without worrying), or looks, or size . I suspect for many people it’s a Porsche Boxster. Just one random example of many well cared for cars under $10,000(might even be able to get an S) :

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/d/scottsdale-2000-porsche-boxster-73k/6807017025.html

blacktruck18 > glemon 02/02/2019 at 01:03

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Later C4 with the vented optispark, IIRC 94 was the first year with it. The 95's and 96's definitely have it.

I f you can find a 96 with the LT4 for $10,000 get one of those.

SpeedSix > Honeybunchesofgoats 02/02/2019 at 03:00

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How do you think the X300 compares to the X308? Just curious.

SpeedSix > glemon 02/02/2019 at 03:02

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(Probably) no stock car under $10k sounds as raucous as a Fiat 500 Abarth ...

AdverseMartyr > glemon 02/02/2019 at 06:58

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If you don’t actually need to be out in the real world the best variety would be some sort of VR setup with a great driving game that lets you drive all of the cars, (and motorcycles, and maybe planes.) ;)

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > glemon 02/02/2019 at 08:32

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EE Ninety

HFV doesn’t read. I was thinking all rounder. For straight up fun.. can you still get a decent 914 for that? 

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > dogisbadob 02/02/2019 at 08:38

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What if part of the fun you want is fixing the car? 

Shane Moore > glemon 02/02/2019 at 09:45

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https://corpuschristi.craigslist.org/cto/d/portland-1971-porsche-914/6807533703.html

I would probably let it go for “around” 10k

glemon > Shane Moore 02/02/2019 at 10:16

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Sweet, much worse car has been on CL locally for a ridiculous $18,500. Among many wish I would have regrets is not buying a really nice 914 I saw for  $2500 about 15 years ago.  Still have never driven one, assume with all the physics in their favor they would be a hoot.

Old Red Wagon > glemon 02/02/2019 at 11:02

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I’ll sell you my E30 Touring for $10k

Thomas Donohue > glemon 02/02/2019 at 11:08

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While I’d like to say Boxster, you’re probably better off with an NB Miata. If you want a coupe, the Scion FR-S are now under $10k too.

random001 > glemon 02/02/2019 at 11:23

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Abarth is probably the answer.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > glemon 02/02/2019 at 11:56

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A clean LT-1/LT-4 6 speed C4 can certainly be had for less than 10k, and they are a lot of performance and a whole lot of handling for the money. After daily driving one for a couple of years, I probably wouldn’t do one as a DD again. For not too much more than 10K, you can get into an early C5 that is a vastly better car to live with on a daily basis.

Honeybunchesofgoats > SpeedSix 02/02/2019 at 12:03

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The base X308 has a slightly faster 0–60 than the X300 XJR, without the turbo reliability issues.

The V8 has one major flaw: plastic timing chain tensioners that need to be upgraded to aluminum , which is about a $1200 fix at a shop, but other than that, it’s actually pretty  bulletproof.