What would you buy for < $5k?

[Scuba Steve]

Miata, hands down.

[viking911]

A hell hole 914 and shoe horn in a small block chevy. Make it loud and obnoxious as possible. Although the American muscle community will be afraid of it and you'll be disowned by the P-car community........sounds like a plan.

[carnutzzz]

Well, I have the 911 for the twisties, my Jeep for bombing around town, so what I'm missing is a 4 door.

I've always been smitten with the 1st Gen Infiniti Q45s. With 278 HP and RWD I think it would be cool to lower it a smidge, put a nice wheel/tire package on and a gruntier exhaust. The prices on them are under $5k, but finding one that isn't ragged-out is the hard part.

[71T Targa]

Originally Posted by carnutzzz

Well, I have the 911 for the twisties, my Jeep for bombing around town, so what I'm missing is a 4 door.

I've always been smitten with the 1st Gen Infiniti Q45s. With 278 HP and RWD I think it would be cool to lower it a smidge, put a nice wheel/tire package on and a gruntier exhaust. The prices on them are under $5k, but finding one that isn't ragged-out is the hard part.

I would have never pictured this as a "weekend or whenever toy"

[TerryBPP]

...and have $1500 for a turbo kit.

[Steve Viegas]

I had a 1991 q45(a) (full active suspension). During my three years of ownership over $20K of work was done on the car (all under warranty). It was a blast to drive and handled really well for a big car, but I could not afford to keep it up after the warranty ran out.

[t951]

I personally like the simple machines from yester year. No complicated computers, just simple mechanics.

That said, for $5k, I think:
An original 83/84 GTI or
82 Camaro Z28 (Simple, cheap, and you can drop a nice motor in it).
Mazda 323 GTX (blast of a rally car, if you can find one. It has basic computers in it)
RX7 Gen 2 or Gen 1. Either way, awesome fun.

Or something totally weird.....1983 Subaru Wagon, or 1988 Subaru XT, or a 1985 Renault Feugo!

[Big Ed]

Originally Posted by bell

Turbo dodge omni.....aka....GLH

Are there any of those left?

[exc911ence]

[m21sniper]

For 5k i would buy Mark Robinsons single turbo kit for my 928.

[vash]

if i had only five grand...i would save it.

that CJ-7 is a good arguement tho. great rigs...the carburator sucks (and not in a good way), and most of them i have seen have loose throttle shafts that give it one viscous vacumn leak that is difficult to detect. i wonder if they have perfected a fuel injection option yet.?

i did sell my '84 CJ for exactly $5k.

[m21sniper]

Put an edelbrock Carb on it and forget about it.

[targa911S]

914 2.0
83-84 GTi

[carnutzzz]

A Jeep would be a good $5k purchase. I already have a 4wd Jeep though- one that's edging it's way down towards $5k.

It's tough to get them stuck!

[futuresoptions]

Originally Posted by targa911S

914 2.0
83-84 GTi

+1000 and/or a BMW 2002

[Heel n Toe]

How about a '97 Jag XJ6 for $5500? A local (Columbia, SC) ad:

1997 JAGUAR XJ6
L Topaz. Leather, sunroof, passenger airbag, climate control, alarm. 3 MONTH 4500 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY INCLUDED! $5,495. Global Automotive 803.754.5568.

http://classifieds.free-times.com/index.cfm?searchOnlineCategoryID=496&searchOnlineSectionID=4557

[austin552]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Ummmm...me thinks that might be a BIT beyond the budget....

Well you can get a project car for less and make it like this for more.

[Dueller]

A used Triumph Speed Triple

[rammstein]

$4k should buy a decent E30, but if it was to be a second car that you don't need a back seat, Miata. I've never heard someone speak ill of their Miata.

[Schumi]

Originally Posted by Dueller

A used Triumph Speed Triple

Good choice.