Coolest second cars for the cheap ideas?

[max20s14]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

And all of the threads consist of guys nostalgically saying get a XXXXX.



And this is what was recommended mt often in all those threads.

I just don't like Miatas at all. mostly the look(except for the newest iteration). Cant argue with the value though.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by wbradley

Ralph Nader doesn't approve!

Tcoat, I know you're a few years wiser than me, and as much as I did see a few Corvairs on the road years ago I wondered was the rear engine layout so great or is it just the rarity?

The post 64s were a great car. How can you go wrong with a rear mounted boxer 6? Unfortunately they were a bit ahead of what the American public was looking for. Didn't help that they also came out at the very start of the pony/muscle car era. I loved my 66 and have been knocking around the idea of getting another for a fun weekend cruiser. There is a thread on it here someplace.

Nader talked about the first gen and even his statements on those were debunked years later.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by max20s14

I just don't like Miatas at all. mostly the look(except for the newest iteration). Cant argue with the value though.

I am with you 100% on that!

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I know, but neither does $3 to $5K. At least my choices are different.

Disagree, I sold my '91 Nissan that never left me stranded over 25k miles of ownership and had better A/C than my FR-S for $2k. These first two listings have fewer miles than my truck did when I sold it (>200k).

https://bham.craigslist.org/cto/d/19...616324157.html
https://nashville.craigslist.org/cto...618875975.html
https://nashville.craigslist.org/cto...595796922.html

OP already knows that KA24E's are unkillable


Lots of decent cars under the $5k mark that are reliable with solid A/C, the hard part will be finding one that isn't miserable to sit in with a collapsed seat and grody plastics.

But talking sense to people who don't like Miata's is like having a political discussion with your favorite demographic to shit on.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

Disagree, I sold my '91 Nissan that never left me stranded over 25k miles of ownership and had better A/C than my FR-S for $2k. These first two listings have fewer miles than my truck did when I sold it (>200k).

https://bham.craigslist.org/cto/d/19...616324157.html
https://nashville.craigslist.org/cto...618875975.html
https://nashville.craigslist.org/cto...595796922.html

OP already knows that KA24E's are unkillable


Lots of decent cars under the $5k mark that are reliable with solid A/C, the hard part will be finding one that isn't miserable to sit in with a collapsed seat and grody plastics.

But talking sense to people who don't like Miata's is like having a political discussion with your favorite demographic to shit on.

I just don't like the LOOKS of Miatas. Nothing wrong with the car if you can always sneak up from behind it.

Never left you stranded in 25K? Not that big an achievement. My first Lancer never gave me a single issue when I traded it with over 255K. The guy that bought it probably put another 100K on it before it got totaled by a drunk (it was parked on the side of the street).

[Spuds]

Cool, Cheap, Reliable. Pick 2.

My strategy, get a beater you don't particularly care about. Purpose: Move my arse from point a to point b every time. Everything else is secondary.

You might be able to find an old h6 outback/legacy in that price range, which are a reasonable mix of all 3 categories, but it would more likely be up north somewhere since they aren't popular in the south from what I hear. I got mine for 3.5k, but it didn't last very long. Though that seems to be atypical.

[MuseChaser]

1989-1992 Volvo 240.



/thread

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I just don't like the LOOKS of Miatas. Nothing wrong with the car if you can always sneak up from behind it.

Never left you stranded in 25K? Not that big an achievement. My first Lancer never gave me a single issue when I traded it with over 255K. The guy that bought it probably put another 100K on it before it got totaled by a drunk (it was parked on the side of the street).

Pretty decent achievement for a net profit of $500 over five years of ownership not including gas and insurance.

Bought: $1k
Maintenance: $1.5k (mostly driveshaft, clutch, windshield and tires)
Insurance payout for fender bender:$1k (fixed myself)
Final sale price $2k

How much did you sell that lancer for? I'd wager it is very close to proving the point that good cars can be had for $5k or less.

[max20s14]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

Pretty decent achievement for a net profit of $500 over five years of ownership not including gas and insurance.

Bought: $1k
Maintenance: $1.5k (mostly driveshaft, clutch, windshield and tires)
Insurance payout for fender bender:$1k (fixed myself)
Final sale price $2k

How much did you sell that lancer for? I'd wager it is very close to proving the point that good cars can be had for $5k or less.

you can definitely find cool cars in good shape for less than 5k (cool in my opinion - the ones in my OP are my top choices for the range).

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

Pretty decent achievement for a net profit of $500 over five years of ownership not including gas and insurance.

Bought: $1k
Maintenance: $1.5k (mostly driveshaft, clutch, windshield and tires)
Insurance payout for fender bender:$1k (fixed myself)
Final sale price $2k

How much did you sell that lancer for? I'd wager it is very close to proving the point that good cars can be had for $5k or less.

My statement was in reference to the car traveling 25K miles without an issue and had nothing at all to do with price and what you got for it.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by max20s14

you can definitely find cool cars in good shape for less than 5k (cool in my opinion - the ones in my OP are my top choices for the range).

Depend on what you define as"good shape" as well as "cool". You can most certainly buy working "cars" for that.

[cjd]

I'd be staying away from trucks with a kayak, unless it fits in the back. I much prefer loading/unloading my 17' if its on a car with roof rack.

With that in mind, I'd be looking for a wagon. Nothing bigger than the older style Forester. CRV might sneak in as usable. A RWD S10 with cap might work, those were reasonably low.

[Jordanwolf]

Miata is always the answer,
M,iata is always the answer, is always the answer
, M,iata is always the answer, is always the answer, is always the answer
, M,iata is always the answer, is always the answer, is always the answer, is always the answer

[max20s14]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Depend on what you define as"good shape" as well as "cool". You can most certainly buy working "cars" for that.

Absolutely some may think all of those are lame. This is why its just my opinion.