What car under $8,000 would you buy to replace your twin?

[Lantanafrs2]

You can't replace this car for 8 grand. Unless of course you want a project car which will likely spend the rest of its life rusting beneath a musty tarp.

[Nevermore]

Hmm... See, I'm faced with an interesting dilemma. I've talked about it before, but my car is currently a corporate lease that is a benefit for my dad. It's a sweet deal, but he is fast tracking his retirement and is going to retire in less than a year. I'll have two choices, buy it or turn it in.

I've done the math and buying it (plus having to insure it) is going to end up costing more than I'm paying now, which doesn't sit right with me even though I know the deal was amazing and that's why it can't be matched. So I'm stuck. Right now, I have a car fund that is dogeared for a future classic/restomod. To get a favorable loan on the 86 I will probably have to dip into it, which will set me back, but if my payments are low enough on the 86 then I can just accelerate my savings and get it all back quick enough.

Or, I can abandon the restomod idea, cram as much money into the fund as I can until my dad retires, and then give the 86 back and try to buy something even cooler. If my payment is going up no matter what, I might as well take advantage and potentially get something nicer.

[Will BRZ]

Originally Posted by Lantanafrs2

You can't replace this car for 8 grand. Unless of course you want a project car which will likely spend the rest of its life rusting beneath a musty tarp.

Well, that’s why I said it won’t be a like for like replacement. Just something cheap that would be fun to drive and that may still meet the requirements that you had when you bought your current car. Reliability just comes down to looking for the right things. An $8,000 Honda or Toyota is less likely to give you problems than a Mercedes at the same price point. In a perfect world, both are equally as reliable and it would just come down to preference.

Just play along lol

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Lantanafrs2

You can't replace this car for 8 grand. Unless of course you want a project car which will likely spend the rest of its life rusting beneath a musty tarp.

Well, at least according to Kelly Blue Book you can...with another twin. Private resale value of my car right now is supposedly $8,000 on the high end. (2013, 150,000 miles, Good condition)

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Well, at least according to Kelly Blue Book you can...with another twin. Private resale value of my car right now is supposedly $8,000 on the high end. (2013, 150,000 miles, Good condition)

KBB almost always underestimates low volume enthusiast cars, I'll be extremely impressed if you can find an 86 for less than $8k that hasn't been crashed.

[Will BRZ]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Well, at least according to Kelly Blue Book you can...with another twin. Private resale value of my car right now is supposedly $8,000 on the high end. (2013, 150,000 miles, Good condition)

Wow that’s impressive. Wonder how much a good condition 2013 with maybe about 100,000 miles on it would go for in a private sale. At that point, it seems like a perfect first car for anyone. Not to get into it, but low power with good looks, good car to learn manual, practical enough for any teenager etc. The only bad thing I think would be insurance, but that’s about it

[Atmo]

Car Gurus shows 2013's averaging $12K-$14K around here. All have low miles, 50K +/-. 100K+ miles makes the difference in asking price for most vehicles when they fall off a cliff.

Ultra low mile 13's and 10 Series asking prices are starting to creep up lately even after all the recalls and start of winter.

Private seller prices are most likely much less than those dealer asking prices. They're getting cheap enough to show up in the local high school parking lot.

My neighbor bought his son a modded '13 A/T (exhaust, springs, wheels, tails, spoiler) as his first car. It looked good until he totaled it two weeks later (rear ended someone during the first rainy day after a long dry spell). The kid is fine, the car saved him.

[Leonardo]

I just saw a clean title RSX-S for $3500 on craigslist. It's got 237K miles, but looks great! I would totally DD it!




It's on PDX craigslist, if you are curious...

[daiheadjai]

Originally Posted by KR-S 86

Any Corolla/Matrix/Vibe XRS/GT from 2003-2006. I like the fact that they still have the powertrain of a Celica GT-S without all the flashiness (not a fan of the Celica's body style at all). I'm probably in the minority, but the fact that they don't stand out any more from their lesser trims makes them great cars for making cool little sleepers out of. I have a feeling that for the same reason, insurance isn't as expensive as the Celica or a twin, but I could be wrong on that front.

Out of those three, I'd look for a Corolla XRS since it's the lightest and nicest looking of the three.

Though, I'd buy one not to replace the FR-S entirely, but take its place as the daily driver instead.

Make sure you get a good test-drive including running it to redline.
I testdrove a 2003 Matrix XRS (I wanted the 2003 for the higher fuel-cutoff) but the thing felt like it wasn't even capable of hitting lift (it was warmed up already).

[DandoX]

If I was in a situation where I had 8k to replace my FRS. I would be VERY sad and upset and then likely go buy the best MX5 I can find.

[chaoskaze]

02 WRX/Sti in black......

I spotted a black one recently & realize they are the best looking after all these year.

That Bugeye Headlight & the way the fender is like almost half an inch higher ...

[NoHaveMSG]

I would just go buy a salvage twin.


Made my yearly offer to my dad's old buddy. He has had an 87' E30 in a barn for close to two decades. He rebuilt the motor and it has sat since. He has turned it down for about 14 years now. Says he is fixing it for his son. I just want it as a lemons car at this point.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by chaoskaze

02 WRX/Sti in black......

I spotted a black one recently & realize they are the best looking after all these year.

That Bugeye Headlight & the way the fender is like almost half an inch higher ...

They made them in colours other than WRB?
I don't believe it!

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

I would just go buy a salvage twin.


Made my yearly offer to my dad's old buddy. He has had an 87' E30 in a barn for close to two decades. He rebuilt the motor and it has sat since. He has turned it down for about 14 years now. Says he is fixing it for his son. I just want it as a lemons car at this point.

Unless the interior is gross and rotted e30s deserve better than lemons, at least go to chump car.