Classic for $5k or less?

[Eric Hahl]

Ok, this is gonna be real subjective but what cool, classic car is out there for $5k or less. I've been seeing some cool Mercedes 350SL or 450 Sl's out there. Lots of BMW 3, 5 or 7 series. What other cool classics should I be looking for? Or, what should I stay away from at the price?

[Christien]

In my experience, ANY car under $5000 is full of problems. It's one thing if you're looking for a project and don't mind investing another $5k and several hours of your time, but I don't think you can buy anything for 5 and expect it to be even halfway reliable as it is. Classic or not.

[onewhippedpuppy]

914
2002
Alfa Spyder
Saab 900
Datsun 510, maybe a 260/280Z
Miata
1st gen MR2
Fiat X1/9
Early 928
GTi
Scirocco
BMW E30
RX-7
CRX
5.0 Mustang

Browse Bring A Trailer for a while, that will get you in trouble.

[HardDrive]

Datsun 240Z.

[tadink]

most bang for the buck, by a long shot, is the 914.

Great fun to drive, still a porsche, and a great community.

oh, and that autocross thing - awesome performance!

Lots of parts available too.....and the damn lid fits in the trunk! AND you can carry 2 sets of golf clubs, and a suitcase! In what other sports car, never mind the cost, can you do THAT?!!?

I like 'em.

td

[Sarc]

Datsun 240Z.

That's going to be pretty tough. Not impossible, but your choices improve at $8.5k and up.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Quote

Datsun 240Z.

That's going to be pretty tough. Not impossible, but your choices improve at $8.5k and up.

Yup. 240 is tough, the 260 and especially the 280 are cheaper.

[sc_rufctr]

An old Alfa Romero?

Not the most reliable car but always fun when they're running well. All the fasteners are metric so your Porsche tools will work.

[AFC-911]

Picked up this Turbo for 3.6k.

I'm at 6k total if I include the re-paint, the wheels and the pair of Recaros SRDs.



It's not a common deal, but they do appear from time to time. I've got enough power to blow the doors off an NSX. And it's been sharing DD duties with my '91 Miata since last June and has been the sole DD since January.

You can find non-turbo examples easily in that budget as well.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by AFC-911

Picked up this Turbo for 3.6k.

I'm at 6k total if I include the re-paint, the wheels and the pair of Recaros SRDs.



It's not a common deal, but they do appear from time to time. I've got enough power to blow the doors off an NSX. And it's been sharing DD duties with my '91 Miata since last June and has been the sole DD since January.

You can find non-turbo examples easily in that budget as well.

How tall are you?

I tried one of these but my head rubbed against the head-liner. Also, the tops of my thighs rubbed against the steering wheel and I'm not fat.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Few more....

Jaguar XJS
BMW E21
BMW 635i
Datsun 1600
Mini

[AFC-911]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

How tall are you?

I tried one of these but my head rubbed against the head-liner. Also, the tops of my thighs rubbed against the steering wheel and I'm not fat.

5'6" and ~150 lbs.

Certainly roomier and more comfy than a Miata or a first gen MR2.

[LWJ]

Sprite and MGB both fit this

[Eric Hahl]

Thanks All! Lots of great suggestions to ponder.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

944. Possibly even an S2.

[AFC-911]

Originally Posted by Sarc

That's going to be pretty tough. Not impossible, but your choices improve at $8.5k and up.

1973 Datsun (Nissan) 240Z

Originally Posted by tadink

most bang for the buck, by a long shot, is the 914.

914 values have gone up since the last time I looked...Not sure if that's the case everywhere.

[klaus]

Originally Posted by Christien

In my experience, ANY car under $5000 is full of problems. It's one thing if you're looking for a project and don't mind investing another $5k and several hours of your time, but I don't think you can buy anything for 5 and expect it to be even halfway reliable as it is. Classic or not.

This is just wrong. With a PPI a car at just about any price point can be reliable. Here is a quick list of cars I have purchased for less than 5k and have been dead reliable:

BMW 535is (e28)
BMW 325is (e30)
Volvo 850R
Porsche 944 Turbo
VW GTI VR6 (MK3)
Datsun 280Z

So that spans car from 1975 to 1997, all of which only needed standard maintenance items to keep them up and running, sure all of those are not classics, but the BMWs, Porsche, and Datsun qualify.

[Eric Hahl]

I like that list Klaus!

[sc_rufctr]

My daily = FUN! It's worth about $2,500

VW VR6 (MK3)

[NeedSpace]

if you go with a 70s MB SL, the 380 engine had a tendency to have problems with the engine timing chain. Many of them have been upgraded by now, but good to ask about it. Also, if you go very old (1974), you can find them with manual tranny.


I agree with a lot of what was said. Here are some others that I have heard are pretty easy to own.
bmw 318i


Saab 900


Mitsubishi 3000GT


Mitsubishi Eclipse


Subaru SVX


Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT / GTV (this one might be a little less reliable than the others)


if you want to go REALLY cheap
70s rabbit/golf - if you want sport, I would stay away from the 48 HP diesel one I had


Ford Escort GT - a friend of mine had one of these and it was a lot of fun


What is nice about the really cheap ones, it breaks down, leave it you take your plates and hitchhike home.