Fun daily driver under $5k...what would you choose?

Justin · Postby **Justin** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 9:14

Miata. Great fuel economy, easy to work on, cheap to maintain and pegs the fun to drive meter better than almost any other car out there. If I didn't have kids, its what I'd be driving.

chickenwafer · Postby **chickenwafer** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 9:14

I wish I could DD a Miata. I'm just too much of a giant. If I wasn't I for sure own one right now.

iani1.1 · Postby **iani1.1** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 9:14

Haha you can always drive with the top down all the time or make a cut out in the trunk lol

slashsnake · Postby **slashsnake** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 9:14

Love the M3, though for 5k, not sure I would want the potential maintenance issues with any that would come for that price.

Miata, I guess it all depends on who else is with you. I couldn't do it, just not quite enough room to make it my only car. And unless you get a hardtop, it might not be the answer for winter.

What about a late 90's z-28 camaro?

90's talon tsi?

Prelude?

slashsnake · Postby **slashsnake** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 9:14

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=271006264&dealer_id=624233&car_year=1998&systime=&doors=&model=TAURUS&search_lang=en&start_year=1996&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=used&distance=200&min_price=&rdm=1316452542932&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=&fuel=&keywords_display=&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=1999&showZipError=n&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=DENVER_NO&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&isFlashPlugin=true&transmission=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&color=&address=80701&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=&make=FORD&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=68&standard=false

A few grand high, but maybe there's a slightly higher mileage one somewhere.

slashsnake · Postby **slashsnake** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 9:14

sorry missed the RWD only...

A triple white Vette? This is the year they got the huge tires... Granted the 89's on got the 6 speed.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=306276155&dealer_id=219792&car_year=1988&systime=&doors=&model=CORV&search_lang=en&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=used&distance=200&min_price=&rdm=1316453034511&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=&fuel=&keywords_display=&sownerid=58171825&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=1999&showZipError=n&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=DENVER_NO&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&isFlashPlugin=true&transmission=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&color=&address=80701&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=6000&make=CHEV&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=71&standard=false

eliminster · Postby **eliminster** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 9:14

what about this?
http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/2559221624.html

Ranger · Postby **Ranger** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 9:14

I've heard a LOT of horror stories about those SHOs...and it's still a Taurus :lol:

I actually race a 944, they're fun, but the rear suspension is a total pain in the ###, haha. They're amazing to drive, handles better than anything else I've driven (except my S2000), but I can't count how many times I've swore at German engineering because of that car :rolleyes:

Turbo 944s are even worse or so I'm told. That's an amazing price for that red car though! It's hard to even find N/A models with that mileage for that cheap.

Anyway I've decided to keep the S...I can manage. But I think if I sold it and had to get a cheap DD, I would for sure go for an NB miata. It'd be garaged, and I have an Explorer for any time I need more space, or for snow driving.

Learjet45 · Postby **Learjet45** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 9:14

Just curious: how many miles on your s2k?

Ranger · Postby **Ranger** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 9:14

Just about 75k now. Put 20k of those on it myself, including a road trip to TX and back. It's been the best DD I've ever owned...enough power (but I'd like more at this altitude), great gas mileage for what it is (average 28-30 MPG), incredibly reliable (had absolutely no problems at all), and of course, it's awesome driving a convertible. But what I like most about it is that it reminds me of an FD, minus all the hassle that comes with owning one :lol:

The only reason I would part with it would be to get out of debt, but I guess I realized I might as well suck it up, pay it off in another couple years, and keep enjoying it meanwhile. Though...I do think I will end up owning another FD someday. lol

xIceHoundx · Postby **xIceHoundx** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:14

Go Miata, hell if I could find a miata for cheap id be all over it. I'll be on the hunt for a DD here in the next few months just before I return home from this deployment so that I can get to working on the FD and because I dare not drive it in snow and all the sand they throw down on roads in KS, its brutal on paint. But im only looking to spend 1,500 for one gotta keep money focused on my build lol. Ive heard that Miatas are a blast to drive, not to mention they are so sexy when you stance them out with fender flares and some wickedly wide wheels

erod550 · Postby **erod550** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:14

Ranger wrote:I've heard a LOT of horror stories about those SHOs...and it's still a Taurus

I actually race a 944, they're fun, but the rear suspension is a total pain in the ###, haha. They're amazing to drive, handles better than anything else I've driven (except my S2000), but I can't count how many times I've swore at German engineering because of that car Turbo 944s are even worse or so I'm told. That's an amazing price for that red car though! It's hard to even find N/A models with that mileage for that cheap.

Anyway I've decided to keep the S...I can manage. But I think if I sold it and had to get a cheap DD, I would for sure go for an NB miata. It'd be garaged, and I have an Explorer for any time I need more space, or for snow driving.

Do you race Spec 944 with NASA?

Ranger · Postby **Ranger** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:14

Yep, sure do! Or at least, I used to...I didn't race at all this year

That was my choice though, I wanted to do other things this year and racing wasn't in the budget. I'll be racing with them again next year unless plans change.

erod550 · Postby **erod550** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:14

Do you know CJ Botts?

Ranger · Postby **Ranger** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:14

Sure do! Had a couple good races with him last year and sat around many a campfire on track weekends. Small world, eh?

Fun daily driver under $5k...what would you choose?

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