Your Feedback on a Fun Car Less Than $10K

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

10k is going price for a nice MR2 that body style... The "tuners" all want them. Really drives the price up...

Perhaps because there are very, very few around. Most have either rotted away or been crashed by now.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by slow&rusty

928s are not in the consideration way too unreliable and I do not need another project (as 928 all tend to be)

I daily drove mine for 3 years. Unreliable?

[notfarnow]

1978 911 SC for sale $11,500 in 92373

Price reduced to $9500... This is *exactly* the kind of 911 I'd want. Owned by a knowledgeable enthusiast, well-sorted mechanically, looks great but not SOO nice that you couldn't drive it daily

[techweenie]

Originally Posted by slow&rusty

A $10K 911SC will not be a good daily driver...so-so performance, terrible AC (Houston lets not forget), terrible HVAC (Houston lets not forget foggy windows), peeing oil everywhere, probably notchy shifting, bushings ready drop out, leather that will require Walmart seat covers, cracked dash...a true $10K 911...unless I am so out of the market that you can actually buy a decent one for $10K? Edjumacate me.

I see a 2001/2 E55 AMG and I am wondering how you can compare a mid '80s SC to it?

Friendly conversation not trying to start anything.

Yasin

Fair enough and taken as friendly convo.

But the fact is that you can find them at that price (see car above). A/c in 911s has never been an issue for me, but people ***** about it all the time. Just lucky, I guess, or not looking to be refrigerated. Yes on the cracked dash and seat. Can't argue with that. Leaks? All fixable. Shifting? What can I say, it's a 915. You can make it tolerable, but rarely good. And bushings? Yes, they'll need replacement, someday.

But you're going to do maintenance on any $10K car, and the 911SC won't need a water pump or radiator hoses, or any other water-related stuff, so you'll fix the bushings in due course.

Meantime, you'll have a car that will retain its value, be fun to drive, and look cool enough to make people want to key you.

[willtel]

Another option.

2001 Acura Type R
2001 Acura Type R - $8500

[berettafan]

Originally Posted by slow&rusty

I see a 2001/2 E55 AMG and I am wondering how you can compare a mid '80s SC to it?

this is where my question of 'what else do you have to drive' came from. if the guy has another vehicle with modern conveniences to drive as an alternative then my ideas would tend towards less compromises and a more serious sports car. if it's your ONLY car then maybe some consideration should be given to comfort on a hot day, etc. etc.

anyways the comparison you mention above for me is that when you are blasting around a corner in 2nd gear in the 911 and you feel the rear skip a touch then grab and then the rpms hit the sweet spot and she start screaming to the redline......well suddenly it doesn't really matter what your top speed or 0-60 is or how nice the leather seats are etc etc etc.

in other words to me there is no comparison.

[slow&rusty]

Originally Posted by berettafan

blasting around a corner in 2nd gear in the 911

LOL..there is not too much 2nd gear corner blasting to do in Houston..the traffic here is quite horrid...so modern comfort while sitting in traffic with it being 100+F outside would be a nice welcome.

Yasin

[techweenie]

So if you are having to commute in nasty heat/humidity in horrid traffic, loop back around and take another look at the Lexus SC coupe. It's cheap and less unattractive than most Japanese cars. I have a friend who recently bought one for $5600 and it's a lot of car for the money. You can use some of the money you save to tart it up with nice wheels.

[berettafan]

i think there was an article in GRM or somewhere about what a great car the Integra 'Type R' (gawd i feel like a ricer just typing those words) really is. not sure i'd give that kinda cake for an acura of that vintage but you never know till you go for a drive.

[onewhippedpuppy]

$10k buys a mint 944, 944S2, 951, 928, or even a Boxster. It buys a passable 911 that needs a little work. For the money, you'd be much better off with anything but the 911 if you wanted a Porsche DD.

[slow&rusty]

Matt and the gang...OK pick one (based on comfort, power, good looks, reliability, long term ownership, cost of long term ownership, fun)..these all just hovering in $13K price range:

1) E39 M5 (400hp 6speed):


-or-

2) W124 E500/500E (322hp, 4 sp Auto)


-or-

3) W210 E55 AMG (349hp, 4sp Auto)



Yasin

[GG Allin]

M5, but can you really fetch one for $13K?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Honestly, unless you find a smokin' deal you won't find much of a E39 M5 for under $15k. All I've seen in that range are pretty high miles and with a few issues.

500E vs E55 is tough. The E55 is newer, never a bad thing, and probably has a few nice extra features. But I'd also say that the W124 is a superior platform to a W210. Its hard to find a better built car than the W124 Mercedes. The E55 probably won't depreciate much more, I can't see them ever dipping below $10k. On the other hand, the 500E has stabilized at over $10k and it's a rare enough car that I can see them starting to appreciate like the E28 M5 and E30 M3 have in the last few years.

I know the 500E you are looking at. I also know that you will be hard pressed to find a nice E55 for less than $13k. I vote for the 500E. It's a very special, rare car that you can also drive daily and will probably become more valuable with time. You can also get the car in question for $10k, leaving some cash in your pocket. I like the E55 but I would not be able to resist a special, hand built (by Porsche) super sedan. Do it!

[slow&rusty]

Well I have a buddy who has this car for $13K firm its an '01, ...100K...no issues, cold A\C, custom stainless exhaust, new Konis and Intrax springs, new tires, everything works, perfectly maintained




Yasin

[onewhippedpuppy]

That's a really nice deal. How difficult is it for you to test drive both the M5 and the 500E? For that matter you could find an E55 to test as well. Ultimately they're all great cars, it might just come down to personal preference. Personally I have always thought of the 500E as being "special", but I've also never driven one.

[Schumi]

M5 sounds like a deal.

[Sarc]

Originally Posted by slow&rusty

just hovering in $13K price range:

Might be older than what your looking for, but just to stir the pot a little...any interest in a fully sorted 400ish hp E23 745i?

[Sarc]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

On the other hand, the 500E has stabilized at over $10k and it's a rare enough car that I can see them starting to appreciate like the E28 M5 and E30 M3 have in the last few years.

Any reason as to why 500e prices are all over the map? I'm trying to see the difference between clean 13K examples with this beast at 42K....or is it sloan-like dealer hype?

[berettafan]

Sarc is that the car profiled in GRM recently?

[Dueller]

What about a poor man's M5? the 99-02 540i's with 6 speed are cheap. ...like 3K less than a comparable 540 w/automatic. Quick look on ebay turns up this one with BIN of $7500: