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<$10K Canyon Carver
What are your thoughts on the best <$10K used weekend car for hooning around the backcountry?
- Needs to be a hardtop (I despise convertibles - ideally no sunroof too!) - Have at least some small rear seats for taking the kids out occasionally - 3 pedals - Assume I'm doing my own repairs - FWD or RWD: not bothered My previous car in this role was an NB Miata. Great cheap fun, but I sold it because it was taking up valuable garage space and I didn't want to leave it outside. I want something I can park on my driveway or street. Right now I'm looking at late versions of the 1st and 2nd generation Mini Cooper S (i.e. 2005-2006 supercharged and 2011-2013 turbo-charged). I've considered an E36 M3, but the Cooper is about 600 lbs lighter and I could probably have enough cash left over to do a brake and suspension overhaul on a Cooper for the same money. 500 Abarths have really depreciated hard, so that's another option. |
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10-31-2017, 03:44 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: NY
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Scooby?
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10-31-2017, 03:45 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 3,347
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944?
Mustang?
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1970 914-6 Past: 2000 Boxster 2.7, 1987 944, 1987 924S 1978 911SC, 1976 914 2.0, 1970 914 w/2056 |
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10-31-2017, 03:51 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: the beach
Posts: 5,149
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How about a VW Golf GTI?
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Charlie 1966 912 Polo Red 1950 VW Bug 1983 VW Westfalia; 1989 VW Syncro Tristar Doka |
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10-31-2017, 03:54 PM
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Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 3,111
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There are about a thousand choices in that price range, so I'm going to mention the first-generation Nissan 240SX, especially a '91-'93 with HICAS. It's very hard to find a nice stock car, and it's not that fast unless you put an SR20 DET in it, but it's got terrific handling.
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'80 SC Targa Avondale, Chicago, IL |
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10-31-2017, 03:57 PM
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Location: secure undisclosed locationville
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Quote:
it's called a motorcycle.
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1971 R75/5 2003 R1100S 2013 Ural Patrol 2023 R18 |
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10-31-2017, 04:05 PM
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Did you get the memo?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 32,370
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Hard to carry kids on a motorcycle. With regards to the Mini, we have a thread ongoing on that topic already. My list:
RX8 Mazdaspeed3 Mazdaspeed6 Focus or Fiesta ST Mustang GT 944 928 Infiniti G35 coupe Subaru WRX, Legacy GT, Forester XT VW GTI or GLI, maybe an early R32 Acura Integra GSR Honda Prelude SH Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 Saab 9-3 Viggen
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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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10-31-2017, 04:27 PM
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The Stick
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Whatever you get make sure you drive it first. Have a friend that wanted a mini for years. His wife finally gave him the okay. He drove one and found he didn't like it at all. Ended up getting a Mazda3.
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Richard aka "The Stick" 06 Cayenne S Titanium Edition |
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10-31-2017, 04:32 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 9,733
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A well set up 944, which is actually for sale....mine !
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10-31-2017, 04:35 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,758
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99 or 2000 Camaro SS six speed with an LS1.
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10-31-2017, 05:30 PM
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The answer is always Miata!
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1986 Mazda Rx-Vetten LS1 swap street / track car 2007 MX-5 Roadster, Cinnamon, MC STR champion (sold) 2013 Scion FR-S, MC STX champion (sold) 2002 Roush Stage 2 (traded) 1979 GP White 911SC coupe, aka "Bruce |
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10-31-2017, 06:03 PM
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Run smooth, run fast
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 13,447
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https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/cto/d/bugeye-wrx-6spd-sti-swap-ac/6349302829.html
 You're welcome.
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- John "We had a band powerful enough to turn goat piss into gasoline." |
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10-31-2017, 09:54 PM
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Did you get the memo?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 32,370
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I’d rather have a stock one John. As soon as I read about “MODS” and stuff that doesn’t work, I’m out.
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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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11-01-2017, 03:05 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Honolulu, HI
Posts: 9,824
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I love my Minis. If not that, then a 4 dr E36 M3, or an E30 318is or 325is.
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'24 Tesla Model 3, '22 Tesla Model Y '19 Tacoma '06 Carrera, '79 930 '06 S4 Avant |
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11-01-2017, 03:30 AM
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: Woodlands TX
Posts: 3,942
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could prob sneak in a subaru BRZ/scion FRS for near budget: 200hp, rwd, 2700lbs, miata like handling. A e46 zhp would be a fun alternative to a e36m if you can find one in decent shape.
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84 930 07 Exige S |
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11-01-2017, 05:11 AM
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e36 or e46 would be atop my list. Decent tires and suspension make make them a hoot. Mustang if you want to go that direction. Same as before, tires and decent suspension. No need to anything radical, just struts, maybe sway bars and tires. Tons of fun for the $$.
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11-01-2017, 05:36 AM
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Banned
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 928
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Build a Twin-Engine VW like this or similar
Bi-Curiosities: Volkswagen's Twin-Engine Terrors  Was a time I wanted to build a twin-engine Rabbit to compete in the Saba Hillclimb Or buy a twin-engine Suzuki Escudo Time Trial Car. If you can drive, NOTHING will beat you. 956hp and 2400lbs wet. Add twin turboed Hayabusas and you're over 2,000hp at the same weight or less. 
Last edited by Borders Reivers; 11-01-2017 at 06:42 AM.. |
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11-01-2017, 06:22 AM
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Did you get the memo?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 32,370
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I will say that a twin engine hill climb car is probably the most random and unique response to one of these “what car should I buy” threads. Well done sir!
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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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11-01-2017, 07:05 AM
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Now in 993 land ...
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I found the MS3 having so much torque steer it was very unpredictable to drive hard in turns. A ton of fun accelerating in a straight line but annoying and dangerous on a mountain road. Anything over 250hp should be rwd or awd.
G |
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11-01-2017, 07:15 AM
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944 - not interested in a more expensive and heavier Miata
Fiesta ST or FRS/BRZ would be great, but I'm not seeing those dip into the <10K zone just yet. Golf GTi is definitely a strong contender - looks like MkV would be in this price range. Having never owned a turbo: what's the lag like on a MkV? E46 M3 - love this car and I'm seeing high-mileage examples in this price range. They seem to be maligned for expensive maintenance, but I wonder if it would be manageable for a DIYer? E36 - I just can't get over the US/Euro power deficit and aesthetics compared to the gorgeous E46. Last edited by Ferrino; 11-01-2017 at 09:48 AM.. |
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11-01-2017, 09:46 AM
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1994 Porsche 928 GTS
2011 
Blue Gt
