Keeping my FRS miles Low. Sub-DD car options?
 

In the effort to preserve my FRS' life I am considering the purchase of a secondary car to take over at least 3/4 out of the 7 driving days in the week. My commute is about 30-50 miles a day.

So far these are the cars I can think of (realistic to find used with decent low mileage) which will fit my driving preference while still providing a reliable and fun drive for at least 1-2 years minimum.

Budget: $1,000 min. - $3,000 max.
preferably manual.
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1990's miata
1995-2000 integra
240sx
Moped
Motorcylce
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looking for more ideas. feel free to add more options! hope this helps other people
thanks

**edit: removed some cars because some helpful suggestions swayed me to not consider them any longer.

out of the choices it looks like the integra is the clear winner to me. you can throw the mini and alfa out because of reliability and parts availability. i tried to make a commute (although twice the distance you are doing) and sold the miata because of it. i ended up getting another miata though because im done with school. either way i think it could be written off simply because of its rather poor gas mileage on the freeways. the impreza just doesnt seem to have the focus or power to make it as fun and lively as an integra due to the awd.

older hondas pretty much have the cheap dd thing down if you ask me and if you can deal with the size of the miata, an aw11 mr2 might be the ticket.

+1 on the Acura Integra, find you an RS model if you can (besides Type R the base RS is the hardest to find, but also the one you want) and have fun... I miss the willingness of the B18 non-VTEC motor, such a rev happy motor that loves to rev and sing compared to the FR-S...

Stay away from the mini's and alfa's if you want inexpensive trouble free transportation...very hard to beat old Honda's reliability and parts availability.

Third Gen Civic (83-87)
-Cheap, less than $2k for good condition
-Cheap parts, can buy whole scrap cars for $500
-Relatively fun, it's basically a go-kart with windows
-No fear learning to work on it, if it breaks just buy another
-Gas mileage, 40+ mpg, and you can get up to 50 mpg for less than 3 grand (suck on that prius, this thing has carbs for crying out loud)

This is the ultimate no-fear of getting crushed like a tin can cost cutting I give no shits because I'm awesome car.

Shit now I want one.

Edit: Integra/RSX (if you have the extra money to blow) is probably the best sporty econo car you can get that will give you the least amount of headaches, PROVIDING it's in good condition.

Doing exactly this, but the other way around...The AW11 is fully worked though, especially the suspension..
You may even love the AW11 more if you end up buying a decent one. If it has a SC, the two cars are so similar in driving feel but obviously the 86 is 30 years ahead so it is much better as a DD...

AW11 with the short steering kit is basically a road going go kart... Super cheap parts so best dollar/smile in my experience.

i'd go with the integra.. but if you don't care for tq and more for gas mileage than get 96+ civic HX

I agree.. This car is all about affordable fun .. Also from a company(s) known for reliability and enduring cars... So why do u want to drive some beater.. Have two tanks to fill, oil changes, insurance, etc and other crap to maintain when you bought the perfect car for daily driving? Sorry... Makes no sense to me..
I only say this cause I did this with my other cars and its dumb..

I understand the OP's point, but I think I view cars a little differently.

I love my cars, all of them. But, I'm not a car collector. I only own cars I'm going to drive and put miles into them. I can't afford, or at least not willing to afford, cars that are an "investment" so regardless of what I do, I'm losing money.

I also tend to own a car forever. One friend describes me as "The guy who drives his car until they no longer make parts for it". I've never owned a car I put less than 120K miles on, and some were over 250K. My goal is to put at least 300K on the FR-S.

To me, owning one car to "preserve" another is like borrowing money so you don't have to spend what is in your checking account. You're just fooling yourself.

That said, what I would do is exactly what I'm doing. Driving the FR-S daily, enjoy it, and have a reserve fund started now to replace parts as they fail down the road.

The only suitable replacement for an FR-S is another FR-S.

To be honest, if you're budget is $1-3k i'd say any "sporty" beater you find will do. You'll have to be quite lucky to find the one that fits all your needs. Best of luck to you!

Rent a tow truck and a truck driver and have them tow you in your FR-S everywhere you go. This way you still get to enjoy your car daily without the wear and tear. And you look cool as hell having your own chauffeur.

I understand the OP it's the samething people who live up north do with owning a winter rust bucket as a daily driver car.

There's nothing wrong with owning a daily driver car and keeping your toy for the weekend to enjoy.

Really buy a good cheap car as your daily....;)

Drive the tunafish out of your FR-S!
You already have a fun, cheap, wicked cool daily driver.
It's a Toyota, my MR2 is at 115,000 miles and going strong.
I beat on it (nicely) every day :)

Yeah, I say just drive your FR-S. Once you factoring in the cost of buying an older car, insuring it, maintaining it, (not to mention you are most likely driving a much less safe vehicle) etc it pretty much offsets any depreciation and wear and tear you incur on the FR-S. And you would 40-60 miles a day in a very used car with the FR-S sitting in the garage seems like a waste.

How about an Acura Legend? The the 91-95s are great cars, can be bought in manual or auto. It is a great engine and a very comfortable car. I daily drove one until I bought the FR-S, which I now daily drive.

My commute is 60 miles every day by the way. I bought the FR-S to have a reliable daily driver that I could pile the miles on and still take to the track. It is a 25k Subaru/Toyota, not a Porsche 911....

Ummm...a motorcycle!

I feel the same way. The FR-S isn't a rare collector's car. It's a fun and affordable sports car that's meant to be driven. If the miles add up, you can always buy another down the road to replace it.

Personally I'd much rather be driving my FR-S than some worn-out old 1995 Integra or first-gen Impreza or Civic HX.

I think the OP is more concerned about driving a beautiful car 10 years down the road than trying to make it "worth more" when he goes to sell it.

OP if you're trying to make it "worth more" by babying it, YOU ARE MAKING A HUGE MISTAKE. Go look at the "classic" cars that are going for >$30k, take the 911, in good daily driver "I can take this to shows" condition they're worth about $40k for your standard '65-'73 911 (in '67 ~$6k plus taxes + fees), factor in inflation and it's just now breaking even. 50 years later a guy who bought one new can now sell it for what he paid for it, IF it's pristine. Same thing goes for cars like Mustangs, about $4k new, $20k-$40k now depending on trim, quality, and desirability.

Your money is better spent on time caring for the car and proper maintenance.

I drive approximately 60 miles one way to work also. I have a 2001 Nissan Altima in which I drive 3-4 times a week. That is the reason y I kept my old car for commuting but honestly i do miss driving my FR-S everyday to work. My commute will be 20 miles shorter after the memorial day wknd and i am considering driving my fr-s one more day.

My advice to you is, get anything in the 2000-2005 range that way you dont have to really spend a lot for maintenance, repairs etc.. if you get a vehicle older than 2000 you mite run in to problems that will cost you more to maintain.

LOL. I bought my BRZL as my cheap daily beater. Granted it is not very comfortable or roomy for my daily 80 miles mindless freeway commute. But it sure beats the costly maintenance of my previous e46 M3, cost of replacing the SMG as well as fuel costs.

LOL dang! i had a 1991 m3 once.. I loved that car! too bad i fucked it up by driving it way too much and racing vs those stupid hondas wanting to race me lol

Basically I got my car March 15th and I already have 4,000 miles on it. For good reason, yes, because the car is incredible and a joy to drive. But that is my dilemma, with how fast I am putting miles on the car, which is combined with work commuting + any other kind of driving, it adds up quick! So obviously I wouldn't make the thread if I couldn't afford maintaining a second car, hence why I made the thread.

Miata if you don't wan t the risk of your car being gutted by a chop shop every time you park it

Now that I think of it. Maybe buying a motorcycle is a better option since my commute is mostly street. Hmmmmmm

My latest find/ride to take me away from DD'ing the FR-S is the 91 Camry Wagon named Bertha that I bought for $1500. Its an auto, clean, 224k miles, and runs like a champ with almost 0/zero emissions. It gets over 35mpg, love it!

Now, after the Alameda J-tin show last month, I want to make it into a J-surf wagon... yes, with 'woodie' panels and baby moons.

Eric G

3k will go far towards a bus pass :)

plus, you look cool with that :P and save plenty spaces in your garage.

I like your style

Just drive the FR-S. If you wear this one out and want another, buy one. You'll still come out ahead of trying to DD a 20+ year old alfa.

If you want a cheap DD, get a mid-size american car like a taurus, malibu, etc. They tend to run forever and parts are so cheap they're almost free.

Or if you want a sporty second toy, just buy one for the fun of it. Don't justify it to yourself as a needed and wise DD, because it isn't.

-Justin

I'd say to enjoy the FRS now,while it's covered under warranty. As soon as warranty expires, then look into a DD to keep the miles low on the FRS :)

The FRS was my cheap DD option to keep the miles off of my MR2.

if you have such a far commute per day, make your choice on whatever car has the best gas mileage in your budget. I for one have a paid off tC and will use that has a DD so I can keep the miles on the FR-S low....

Got rid if my 95 dc2 RS for FRS.. I drive about 50 miles a day.. Rs was nice to drive and great on gas too. But I love the FRS more. Dont care about racking up miles lol..enjoy the car whats its meant for..

Life is short, enjoy while you could. By the time your FRS doesn't run anymore, you probably are looking at another car.

I'd get a bike if I were you. Riding bus or using crappy DD is just wasting your time.

I never thought about a Tc. Good suggestion, thanks

e30

I hate to do this, but I agree with all those that have brought up this point. This car WILL BE those affordable DD cars in 10 years. I bought the car because it was cheap as hell and I can beat on it without having to watch the odometer.

Edit: You bought a good car build by a pair of companies with a GREAT track record on reliability. BEAT ON IT:burnrubber:

I wouldn't bet on the depreciation being that severe on the FRS. My wife's '05 tC was only $17,000 new and with 75,000 miles on it, the KBB value is still over $10,000! Take a look on Auto Trader and try and find a cheap tC! Good luck!

This conversation makes me VERY glad my daily commute to the office is only 9 miles each way. :lol:

Scott

Sounds like your miles are highway miles and if that is the case your car will last a very long time versus stop and go driving. I had a 78 Subaru that I bought used, drove for many years and had 360,000 miles on it when I gave it to my Dad. The engine was never apart. Most of those miles were highway miles and all I ever had to do was the usual maintenance (oil, tires, brakes, hoses, tune etc...).

My advice is just drive it, enjoy it, and if down the road the miles start to make you uncomfortable...trade it in for another one.

Scott, i sincerely hope that you are correct. :)