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Did you get the memo?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 32,530
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Best Budget Fun Cars
I've always loved fun on a budget, maybe because I'm poor.
 Anyway, throw out your favorite fun cars (or trucks) for under $5000.I'll start............ Obvious one: Miata. Ha, I beat you all to it. Blast to drive, reliable, cheap. Too bad I don't like convertibles. Honda CRX Si: pretty much the same attributes as the Miata, but FWD and prone to rust. Also fits you into the "ricer" mold. Saab 900 turbo: some may find this to be an odd choice, but my '97 900SE was a really fun car. 2.0 turbo has very little lag, and can be easily modified for silly power. Good ride, decent handling, can be made much better with a little work. Reliable, good MPG, cheap parts. I would lump both the NG900 and original 900 into the same description, but the older ones are even cheaper. I'd love to find a decent SPG as a daily driver. BMW E30: 325is is what a BMW should be. Lightweight, tossable RWD car with a straight six in front. 318is isn't as fast, but still fun. Engine swaps or forced induction can make an E30 into a giant killer.
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‘07 Mazda RX8-8 Past: 911T, 911SC, Carrera, 951s, 955, 996s, 987s, 986s, 997s, BMW 5x, C36, C63, XJR, S8, Maserati Coupe, GT500, etc |
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09-13-2007, 05:20 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: southern RI USA
Posts: 1,513
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Good choices but I actually put the 91 318is mit M42 dohc engine over the M20 cars because it's lighter, gets better gas mileage, has hydraulic lifters, and the oil filter is easier to get at. My closest friend went from a 300 hp WRX wagon to a modded e30 318is and loves it. (saving for a house).
NG900 Turbo (especially the SPG) VW GTI 16v...the 2.0 liter 90-92 model. Still the best one they ever made IMO. The 91-94ish Nissan Sentra SE-R.
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Sepia brown 1971 911T. |
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09-13-2007, 05:25 AM
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944, and if you can find one, the 944 turbo....
gorgeous, great handling, unloved (so its cheap).
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tk 08 911 C2S - Sold 13 Audi A4 14 Jeep SRT 500HP |
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09-13-2007, 05:28 AM
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Writer/Teacher
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You can find an excellent 944 or a decent 944S for $5000.
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Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. |
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09-13-2007, 05:29 AM
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Did you get the memo?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wichita, KS
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944 is cheap to buy, not always so cheap to own (I've been there).
 Otherwise a great looking, really fun car.
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‘07 Mazda RX8-8 Past: 911T, 911SC, Carrera, 951s, 955, 996s, 987s, 986s, 997s, BMW 5x, C36, C63, XJR, S8, Maserati Coupe, GT500, etc |
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09-13-2007, 05:29 AM
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Back in the saddle again
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Central TX west of Houston
Posts: 56,119
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Don't forget that some miata have hardtops.
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Steve '08 Boxster RS60 Spyder #0099/1960 - never named a car before, but this is Charlotte. '88 targa SOLD 2004 - gone but not forgotten
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09-13-2007, 05:32 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
Posts: 5,472
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Toyota MR2, especially the supercharged ones. Lots of fun if you can get past the boy racer image.
Are you looking at classics too? If so, MGB & Alfa Spider come to mind.
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Jake Often wrong, but never in doubt. '81 911 euro SC (bits & pieces) '03 Carrera 4s '97 LX450 / '85 LeCar / '88 Iltis + a whole bunch of boats |
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09-13-2007, 05:40 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: new england
Posts: 263
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some miata's have removeable tin tops, there is no miata coupe.
I've owned a miata for 8 years, and the top has never been up once. If it starts to rain, just drive faster. BMW 2002 up here they are absolutely dirt cheap. I found a deal for two of them, both in running condition, and one in good driving condition for 2k. great go-kart steering. lest we forget: the 914. it is [for good reason imo] a very cheap car. I used to be really down on these things, because, well, its not exactly pretty, is it. But then you get to drive one... it really feels like the boxster, pre power steering/brakes, etc.... very light, well balanced and nimble
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66 911... no more 90 mazda miata 76 unimog 406 Dune Buggy! |
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09-13-2007, 05:42 AM
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Did you get the memo?
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Location: Wichita, KS
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I'm not looking at anything, at least not any more than I usually do. Sometimes it's just fun to have a BS about cars thread, and having fun for cheap appeals to everyone.
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‘07 Mazda RX8-8 Past: 911T, 911SC, Carrera, 951s, 955, 996s, 987s, 986s, 997s, BMW 5x, C36, C63, XJR, S8, Maserati Coupe, GT500, etc |
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09-13-2007, 05:42 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: New York, NY USA
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Bugeye/Frogeye Sprite. But I do not know if they are cheap anymore..
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09-13-2007, 05:44 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
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Quote:
Saw two for sale at a a swap meet a few weeks ago. Bother were good solid drivers, if a bit "tatty". One was 8600, the other 9200 (had a 1275cc). Classic cars tend to be pricier up here, so I'm not sure what they would be worth in the US.
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Jake Often wrong, but never in doubt. '81 911 euro SC (bits & pieces) '03 Carrera 4s '97 LX450 / '85 LeCar / '88 Iltis + a whole bunch of boats |
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09-13-2007, 05:51 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,650
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Quote:
My budget fun car is a NA Miata with hardtop. |
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09-13-2007, 06:02 AM
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Did you get the memo?
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Location: Wichita, KS
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I would seriously consider a Miata with a hardtop, the one I drove was a lot of fun. The hardtop would never come off.
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‘07 Mazda RX8-8 Past: 911T, 911SC, Carrera, 951s, 955, 996s, 987s, 986s, 997s, BMW 5x, C36, C63, XJR, S8, Maserati Coupe, GT500, etc |
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09-13-2007, 06:30 AM
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Control Group
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Super beetle. Cheap, same layout as a 911, can be made to handle, go and stop like a 911 that weighs 1800 lbs
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She was the kindest person I ever met |
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09-13-2007, 06:36 AM
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Unfair and Unbalanced
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: From the misty mountains to the bayou country
Posts: 9,711
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914 2.0. Drove from N.O. to Houston in 4 hours got 32 mpg. Cornered like an animal. Reliable as hell.
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"SARAH'S INSIDE Obama's head!!!! He doesn't know whether to defacate or wind his watch!!!!" ~ Dennis Miller! |
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09-13-2007, 06:41 AM
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Cars & Coffee Killer
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: State of Failure
Posts: 32,246
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Does an Audi TT rank? Or is it an overpriced mechanical nightmare?
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Some Porsches long ago...then a wankle... 5 liters of VVT fury now -Chris "There is freedom in risk, just as there is oppression in security." |
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09-13-2007, 06:47 AM
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MBruns for President
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Ford Focus
Nissan 240sx Datsun 280zx Audi a4 RX-7
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Current Whip: - 2003 996 Twin Turbo - 39K miles - Lapis Blue/Grey Past: 1974 IROC (3.6) , 1987 Cabriolet (3.4) , 1990 C2 Targa, 1989 S2 |
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09-13-2007, 06:50 AM
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Did you get the memo?
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Location: Wichita, KS
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Audi TT is far more than $5k, not really "budget".
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‘07 Mazda RX8-8 Past: 911T, 911SC, Carrera, 951s, 955, 996s, 987s, 986s, 997s, BMW 5x, C36, C63, XJR, S8, Maserati Coupe, GT500, etc |
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09-13-2007, 06:51 AM
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Cars & Coffee Killer
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: State of Failure
Posts: 32,246
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Even a used, first generation one?
You'd be pretty hard-pressed to find a desirable 951 for under $5k.
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Some Porsches long ago...then a wankle... 5 liters of VVT fury now -Chris "There is freedom in risk, just as there is oppression in security." |
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09-13-2007, 06:53 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,650
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Quote:
 I'd add Nissan 240's and E30 or E36 BMW's to the list as well. |
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09-13-2007, 07:00 AM
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2007 Porsche Cayman S
The Viridian Falcon
SOLD! -- The Purple Pig
SOLD! -- Mighty Mouse
SOLD!! -- Alpine Wolf
2004 Mazda Miata
Gone to California
Turbo
