Looking for suggestions for fun car under $3k

bigred177

bigred177

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bigred
My younger brother will be 16 soon and is in the market for a car. My opinion is that everyone needs a fun, cheap car to start with and work on as a character building exercise :). I also wouldn't mind a throw away car for myself when I'm feeling more spirited than the TDI can offer.

The ideas I've had, in no particular order are:

Porshe 944s

Porshe 914

1988 Fiero

Probe GT

Stealth (maybe R/T, don't know about the fixability of the AWD)

early MR2

older S2000

Escort ZX2

Or, go the other way to something ridiculous like a limo, deuce and a half, Jeep, Karmann Ghia, etc.

I'd like the purchase price to be in the $2kish range and leave a little room for cheap fixing/playing. I've been known to turn a wrench and he has the desire to learn, just have to make sure I can still get parts reasonably.

I know y'all have had some fun cars in the past, so I'm curious what y'all's suggestions would be.
 
You aren't going to get a usable Porsche of any variety for $3000 all in. Probably the cheapest one you could get would be a 924, but you won't like getting a whoopin' from Kia Rios, they're that slow. I'm not sure what used car prices are like where you are but around here $2000 gets you a 20 year old car with 200,000 miles, or something newer with problems.

You might find an older Civic SI or Sentra SE-R for not too much money. They'll be really old,and you might want to go through the suspension, everything that old is apt to be pretty loose.
 
Find a Subaru. The older used ones are far better cars than their acquisition costs would indicate.
 
You're not going to find even a year 2000 S2000 for $3K either unless it's really high mileage, beat-up, and with a bad engine.

My 2006 still goes from $16-$19K

--Carlos V.
 
I'd look for a Civic. There are all sorts of aftermarket parts available, used stuff on eBay is cheap. You and your brother can learn how to work on cars and build a fun little rocket.

But I think paying $3,500 is a more reasonable expectation.
 
Find an old hearse. It's fun and a chick magnet.
 
Early Miata.

50/50 weight distribution,
Double wishbone suspension at all four corners,
The slickest-shifting tranny known to mankind,
Dead-nutz reliable
Easy on gas.......
 
Mazda Miata. Plenty avail around 2-3k. Some need work, but most will be running. Dead simple to repair, tons of fun, good economy, airbags, stick shift.

Yeah - it's kind of a chic car, but for a teen it'll do until something more costly comes along.

http://waco.craigslist.org/cto/4862620702.html


Maybe an early MR2 but I want my teen in a car with airbags. No to any Porsche unless you know them well and want to spend a fair amount of time working on it.

If you want to get him seriously injured or killed look at the Mitsu GT3000 VR-4. Incredibly fast. For $3k it'll need work but when they go, they really boogie.

http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/4892924051.html

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/4887365043.html

Death machines.
 
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Non Compos Mentis said:
Early Miata.

50/50 weight distribution,
Double wishbone suspension at all four corners,
The slickest-shifting tranny known to mankind,
Dead-nutz reliable
Easy on gas.......
Click to expand...


And you'll need to do a foam-extomy of the seat if you're taller than 5'7".

I'd have kept dad's but it just didn't fit. My eyeballs were right at the top line of the windshield with the top off. With the top on, I had to slouch. I'm 5'11".

I drove it a few times and it was a blast. They just need a tall guy edition.
 
This thread got me curious. In a matter of 3 minutes I was able to find numerous limos, a 72 pax school bus and a few hearses all for under $4000. Could you imagine a demolition derby with hearses??!!
 
FormerHangie said:
You aren't going to get a usable Porsche of any variety for $3000 all in. Probably the cheapest one you could get would be a 924, but you won't like getting a whoopin' from Kia Rios, they're that slow. I'm not sure what used car prices are like where you are but around here $2000 gets you a 20 year old car with 200,000 miles, or something newer with problems.

You might find an older Civic SI or Sentra SE-R for not too much money. They'll be really old,and you might want to go through the suspension, everything that old is apt to be pretty loose.
Click to expand...

Surprisingly, cars are relatively inexpensive down here. You can find some nice older cars for not a lot of money. I thought the 944 might be a reach, but it sounded fun.

Stewartb said:
Find a Subaru. The older used ones are far better cars than their acquisition costs would indicate.
Click to expand...

That was another one I saw, I forgot to list it. I think there was a Forester Sport or something that was pretty peppy? The WRXs here are still high.

Unbeliever said:
You're not going to find even a year 2000 S2000 for $3K either unless it's really high mileage, beat-up, and with a bad engine.

My 2006 still goes from $16-$19K

--Carlos V.
Click to expand...

After looking on Craigslist, you're right. Shame, looks fun.

pilot_dude said:
Find an old hearse. It's fun and a chick magnet.
Click to expand...

I like the way you think.

Non Compos Mentis said:
Early Miata.

50/50 weight distribution,
Double wishbone suspension at all four corners,
The slickest-shifting tranny known to mankind,
Dead-nutz reliable
Easy on gas.......
Click to expand...

docmirror said:
Mazda Miata. Plenty avail around 2-3k. Some need work, but most will be running. Dead simple to repair, tons of fun, good economy, airbags, stick shift.

Yeah - it's kind of a chic car, but for a teen it'll do until something more costly comes along.

http://waco.craigslist.org/cto/4862620702.html


Maybe an early MR2 but I want my teen in a car with airbags. No to any Porsche unless you know them well and want to spend a fair amount of time working on it.
Click to expand...

Good to know. I think he may be at the upper end for height of a Miata, but I may have him try one on.

If you want to get him seriously injured or killed look at the Mitsu GT3000 VR-4. Incredibly fast. For $3k it'll need work but when they go, they really boogie.

http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/4892924051.html

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/4887365043.html

Death machines.
Click to expand...

I'm looking for me too. :devil:

Looks like those are also rebranded as the Dodge Stealth?

josephbelt01 said:
Vista Cruiser


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Good choice. Too bad he's too young to know "That 70s show," That'd make it even better.
 
Gucci Pilot said:
This thread got me curious. In a matter of 3 minutes I was able to find numerous limos, a 72 pax school bus and a few hearses all for under $4000. Could you imagine a demolition derby with hearses??!!
Click to expand...

Most of the ones I see have 455s too!
 
bigred177 said:
I'm looking for me too. :devil:

Looks like those are also rebranded as the Dodge Stealth?
Click to expand...

Dodge Stealth R/T, same as Mitsu 3000GT VR-4. AWD, 4 wheel steering, active aero package, twin turbo, LSD axles, 4 piston disk brakes, etc.
 
Early 2000s Honda Accord. I like my 04 a Ranger, every guy needs a truck.

Make them more fun to drive with a 5 speed, especially if you live where the roads are crooked and hilly. Fun!
 
+1 for an early Miata. Fairly reliable, easy to work on, parts available and LOTS of performance upgrades.

Forget the 944 unless you like blowing many times its value on MX. Parts for a 944 are just as pricy as for a 911.

The rest would either be beaters, or MX would be an issue. I'd toss in the MR2, but you have to drop the engine for all kinds of basic repairs.

The Civic idea is novel, but over played, and not near as fun as a Miata. The Miata is a go-cart.
 
denverpilot said:
And you'll need to do a foam-extomy of the seat if you're taller than 5'7".

I'd have kept dad's but it just didn't fit. My eyeballs were right at the top line of the windshield with the top off. With the top on, I had to slouch. I'm 5'11".

I drove it a few times and it was a blast. They just need a tall guy edition.
Click to expand...

I'm 6'-1". All I did was remove the sun visors, and visibility went from "I don't fit" to "This car is a blast!"
 
What about a Baja bug? I don't know how they'd do down here in the summer. I don't know much about air cooled cars. A/C would be almost mandatory too.
 
bigred177 said:
After looking on Craigslist, you're right. Shame, looks fun.
Click to expand...

'tis.

Though mine needs a new fabric top as the wear-spots are starting to tear through.

Treat the engine like a motorcycle engine and you'll have lots-o-fun.

--Carlos V.
 
Late 60's early 70's Bug. Replace the floorboards and they are indestructible.

Flathead and phillips screwdrivers, a vicegrips, channel lock pliers and a crescent wrench and you can literally fix anything on them.
 
Non Compos Mentis said:
I'm 6'-1". All I did was remove the sun visors, and visibility went from "I don't fit" to "This car is a blast!"
Click to expand...

Unfortunately it's also about torso length vs. leg length. I'm 5'11" (maybe 11 1/2") but I sit "tall in the saddle". My head hits the roof in the Miata, the S2000 and just barely in the Boxster. I wound up with a Mini Cooper S.

Miata is a great choice for the OP's mission if they fit or can drive on top down days.

John

P.S. The club flight instructor where I fly says he can tell when I've used the planes because the pilot seat is all the way down.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
KeithASanford said:
Late 60's early 70's Bug. Replace the floorboards and they are indestructible.

Flathead and phillips screwdrivers, a vicegrips, channel lock pliers and a crescent wrench and you can literally fix anything on them.
Click to expand...

And there are plenty of performance and engine mods available.
 
Another angle could be an old regular cab short bed Chevy/GMC pickup with a 350 smallblock. Lots of fun stuff available, engine mods, crate engines, suspension kits, etc.
 
:sigh: I miss the days when MGBs, TR-6s, and all those cars were cheap, dirt cheap. The Datsun 1600/2000 series, Fiat Spyder (that was a Ferrari engine in that *****) was a great one you could buy between $500-$1000.

The British sports cars always fit better and cornered better. They had to corner because the brakes were crap, but a TR-6 was a pleasure to take around a track.
 
Bill Jennings said:
Another angle could be an old regular cab short bed Chevy/GMC pickup with a 350 smallblock. Lots of fun stuff available, engine mods, crate engines, suspension kits, etc.
Click to expand...

Hot rod pickups are fun, but handicapped as hot rods for hook up.
 
Bill Jennings said:
4wd, at least for the straight line!
Click to expand...

Lol, no. First off the transfer case eats too much power, second off the transfer case can only take so much power.

If you want to do 4x4, you have to put another engine in the bed to drive the front axle.
 
Henning said:
Lol, no. First off the transfer case eats too much power, second off the transfer case can only take so much power.

If you want to do 4x4, you have to put another engine in the bed to drive the front axle.
Click to expand...

I haven't researched it (at all), but I'd bet you could swap out the OEM transfer case for all kinds of cool stuff these days. The new Ford Raptor coming out next year is supposed to be putting out 600hp+, and will have an electronically controlled transfer case that is mechanically lockable for offroading yet will have electronically controlled clutch packs for on road power distribution and performance.

But yeah, light rear vehicles are hard to hook, but an old pickup or even Mustang is a blank canvas for one to work with.
 
The best way to do a pick up is mid engine with a V drive, just mount it in the bed.
 
FWD Audi A4, with a 5-speed. B5 edition with just over 100k and a timing belt job already done would be the ideal find. Plenty of forum support for DIY work, online vendors can get you cheap(er) parts. Both my kids got one at 16.
 
I'd take a look at the late 80's model 300ZX's which can be found in decent condition for $3-4K. Reliable 3.0L V6 and t-tops! Turbo models only had ~200HP, but they handle well and are built solid. Standard transmission was popular and they are about bulletproof. The auto tranny was a bit less dependable.

Eagle Talon/Mitsu Eclipse (the 90's models) can usually be found cheap, too. Unfortunately, they usually have bad/worn rings which is evident by the blue smoke most of them have coming out of the tailpipe (same goes for the 3000GT/Stealth). They were pretty stout though, and the turbo models would fly around pretty well. I wouldn't touch a Talon/Eclipse/3000GT/Stealth with an auto tranny, the autos were a common failure point with the Dodge/Eagle/Mitsubishi cars.
 
Wait. He's LEARNING to drive. You do not want to give him a fast or cool car.

You want an ugly 80s early fuel injected econobox. Maybe a Festiva. If you can find one, a Yugo or AMC Gremlin or Renault Le Car will do (bonus if it has the name on the side).

IMG_6107.jpg


Just don't buy a Reliant Robin.
 
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One guy walked onto the lot with his 16 year old daughter looking to buy a new Geo Metro. I talked him out of it. She had never driven before and this was TX with high speed gravel roads and heavy pick ups flying down them. I hooked them up with a buddy that was selling the 67 Coupe de Ville from his grandpa's estate. "If this isn't totalled in a year, come back and we'll put her in something smaller and more efficient then."
 
Henning said:
One guy walked onto the lot with his 16 year old daughter looking to buy a new Geo Metro. I talked him out of it. She had never driven before and this was TX with high speed gravel roads and heavy pick ups flying down them. I hooked them up with a buddy that was selling the 67 Coupe de Ville from his grandpa's estate. "If this isn't totalled in a year, come back and we'll put her in something smaller and more efficient then."
Click to expand...


You were a used car salesman?
 
narchee said:
You were a used car salesman?
Click to expand...


Started my working life in the used car business in St Louis when I was 11-19 sold my first one off the lot when I was 12:lol:, sold new and used for a while at Landrum Chevrolet in Burkburnett TX in my mid 30s trying to stay 'home' in N Tx. That ended over a not doing cold calls and not ripping off airmen.
 
MAKG1 said:
Wait. He's LEARNING to drive. You do not want to give him a fast or cool car.

You want an ugly 80s early fuel injected econobox. Maybe a Festiva. If you can find one, a Yugo or AMC Gremlin or Renault Le Car will do (bonus if it has the name on the side).
Click to expand...

Actually, if you care about your kid, an older gently used fullsize Buick or Crown Vic is much better.
 
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