What would you buy for 5k?

[future]

We are trying to limit payments. So I can easily get a small loan and pay it in the year then only have one payment


I know there are tons of cool cars out there. Right now I'm stuck on this clean 7.3 F250. But when things go wrong on them it gets expensive fast (service advisor at Ford)

I drive a 2017 Fiesta ST now but plan on giving it to my lady so she doesn't need to have an old car. I don't care, I just want one less payment but also don't want a 2k corolla cause I'll loose my mind driving it. Ideas?

[e30gangsta]

e30 if you can find one, or e36.

[K_never_broke_again]

personally i’d get an older model saab, 95 or 93 from the early 2000s. my family has two, they’ve got turbos, they’re quiet, very nice to drive, good sound system and other luxury’s like heated seats. they’re also easy to find in manual, easy to self tune, and i’m gonna be honest the 95 sedan i drive frequently gets more comments than my 240(not sure how i feel about that). i haven’t checked prices recently but you can probably find one for under 3k. the main downside is saab is out of business but if you’re willing to do your own maintenance it’s really shouldn’t be a problem.

[shinhed]

Year 2000-ish Toyota Tacoma single cab. Reliable, easy to work on, and a truck.

[future]

I definitely do my own work, I come from three s13s, and a HR (best car I ever had) but got rid of that and my beater for the Fiesta for ease of a car seat.

I've got sense and think a truck is stupid because I drive like 500 miles a week. I wish I could be normal and buy a old camry for 2k and daily it but I'm a car guy so I'd loose it.

Sabb scare me cause I think parts are expensive? And also working on it worries me to. I think of it like BMWs and German cars which are a pain. I was looking at Avalons right now. Yes boring, but damn reliable and crazy room along with comfortable. But I'd likely lose it.


GS300s seem cool but I'd want the GS400 and can't seem to find any online.

Plus for the daily
Stick shift
Japanese
Turbo?
Cheap to maintain


I'd love a 2.5 RS but stock are impossible to find smh. A legacy GT would be sick too but can't find any

[future]

Wait......wtf are these? Tell me more about them! This one is so cheap I think it fake

Fun to Drive Saab 9-3 - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive sale
https://palmsprings.craigslist.org/cto/d/palm-desert-fun-to-drive-saab-9-3/7034252777.html

[[240sx]]

SAABURU!! SAAB with a boxer engine or GM parts bin. [emoji848]

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

[K_never_broke_again]

Wait......wtf are these? Tell me more about them! This one is so cheap I think it fake

Fun to Drive Saab 9-3 - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive sale
https://palmsprings.craigslist.org/cto/d/palm-desert-fun-to-drive-saab-9-3/7034252777.html

ayyye get hip bro! this is a pretty normal price for a saab, like I said they're hella cheap and you get pretty good value for what you pay. not sure about part prices, i'd have to ask my dad. Repair difficulty hasn't been too bad for me personally, but my dad has more experience than me. I think he's done half axles a few times without too much difficulty, he also did a rear main seal the other day which only took him a few hours(first time doing it). overall they've been pretty reliable, the 2001 95 sedan my family bought a few years ago was only like $1200, and the only issues it's had was a/c and a coolant hose leak, with plenty of miles put on it. both of them are getting close to 200k miles so maintenance is getting more frequent as expected, but they don't feel clunky or anything in any way. some other cool stuff- ignition is in the center console, so when you're friend gets in you can watch them look for it behind the steering wheel lol

[collegekid]

Get a 2003 - 2007 Honda accord. I see that you want a fun car but trust me, you don't want more projects.

The 4 cyl and auto transmission have been reliable in my experience. We bought that car new. We had one starter go out after 10 years, ps pump went out after 13 years of service, and vtec solenoid was taking a crap after almost 14 years. Car was rear ended right before I was going to replace it.

Or you can be like my dumbass and buy another fun car to daily around and constantly worry about suicidal deer, dumbass drivers, door dings, rust, and car thieves.

[jdmgtom]

99-00 Civic Si EM1 if you can find a clean stock one or a Honda Fit Sport.

[future]

I'm 27, we have a kid.

Now a day later my lady is toying with the idea of taking the older car. I'm really liking a Toyota Avalon for her. Can be had for under 4k and it's a Toyota


And I don't need a project but I need something fun. I've done the boring car before and it lasted a year. I'll loose my mind driving anything boring


If my lady can get over the old car then hey. I keep my Fiesta and we profit


That Saab seems cool. Is it that car that has a WRX motor? Or something different?

[TheRealSy90]

Do you want a daily driver to tote your kid around or a fun car just for you to enjoy? If you want both in one package you're going to need a higher budget.

[ZenkiKid]

Id get a 4x4 4 runner.

Super reliable vehicle and you can go camping/off roading with it.

[KA24DESOneThree]

e30 if you can find one, or e36.

Correct.

I know of a super-high-mile (over 400k) e30 that'll be coming on the market; it's had all suspension and brake work done fairly recently and has been maintained by the best mechanic I've ever known.

Otherwise, an E36 325i/iS can get 30mpg and outside of VANOS issues, which aren't too expensive, are pretty damn bulletproof. I got 34mpg with mine during a particularly poor month. They look good, too.

I'll be selling my S13 hatch early next year with fresh stock-height suspension. Some adjustable arms. New soft brake lines. New engine and trans mounts. Fresh coolant. Passes smog. ~142k miles, clean title, fresh tires, five-speed, no A/C. It'll probably be priced somewhere around $5k.

[K_never_broke_again]

That Saab seems cool. Is it that car that has a WRX motor? Or something different?


The one in the ad has a straight 4 i believe. The subaru one that 240sx was talking about is the 92-X i think, commonly called the saabaru. It's basically just a rebadged wrx. They're cool but extremely hard to come by

[e30gangsta]

I also vouch for fits. Any fit is legit.

[future]

I originally wanted a fit before the Fiesta.......

[e1_griego]

I like a cheap dd and I've gone through a few.

Best was prob Matrix XRS which I sold for a 2010 Mazda3 hatch 6MT 2.5.

Currently driving a 99 Rav4 which is a lovely old bucket -- I can't tell you why I like it so much but it's great. I've put 13k miles on it this year and it's just rock solid. They have fully depreciated now, too.

For $5k I'm not touching anything but japanese cars. 03-07 Accord is good value -- my wife drives an 05 6MT TSX that we've put 80k miles on in four years and it's been great, too.

[spooled240]

Manual IS300? I've seen some for less than $5k now.

[BOROSUN]

i saw this cheap zx-10r for under $5k.

[jdmgtom]

I also vouch for fits. Any fit is legit.

Cant go wrong with a Honda Fit, they come auto or manual + four doors and you can get a fairly new car for cheap, I've seen 08-11 for around 5k. Look up the Spoon Honda Fit, maybe it'll help you make up your mind haha. Like the other dude said, at 5k if you want something some what reliable, I wouldn't touch anything except Japanese cars. you want problems and a money pit? get that Saab.

[aymaeid]

I wanted a daily that didn't break the bank and went with a 2008 G35X a year ago. I was also trying to avoid a boring accord or camry. Absolutely love it and great value these days. I paid 5k for a 2008 with 100k miles. It now has 120k and nothing but oil changes and brakes were done. The VQ has plenty of power and easy to maintain. Roomy and all the amenities you'd want in a daily. AWD isnt the best on gas but I'd rather have it than not. I recommend them all the time.

[future]

My girl was just telling me how she had a Matrix and loved it. I mean hey if she wants one again let's go for it


I really like the Fit and always have. I was Orginally looking ng for a second gen but couldn't find the color I wanted anywhere in a stick. I went to buy a new Yellow one but at the time they didn't make the Fit Sport in stick.....that's how I ended up in. ST a couple years back

Two years and 111k the Fiesta has done its job

My girl also likes the older Rav4 and the fact that you guys have them also makes me want to go that route. Now that we know she is okay with an older car for a couple years it's all what she likes.

But 100% with you guys. For 5k, older, it needs to be Japanese

[future]

We are pretty set on the nicest Rav4 we can get for 5k

[brndck]

for a strict daily i'd get a G20
or a Toyota Avalon. They're blah but they're surprisingly plush.

[S14rebuild]

Toyota Corolla...... newest i could get for 5k would be solid daily

Can even scoop a noce sc300 or is300 too

[brndck]

Toyota Corolla...... newest i could get for 5k would be solid daily

Can even scoop a noce sc300 or is300 too

is300 gets shit gas mileage and isn't that roomy.
man I wish Nissan had made some econobox ka powered RWD SEDAN in the early-mid90s

[Koukiii]

Not exactly sure what you're trying to use this vehicle for but if you can stretch your budget a little you can get into a Gen1 Toyota Sequoia. I just recently got turned onto this truck and love what I've been reading about it.

Reliable 4.7L 2UZ V8, came in 4WD, 3rd row seating. Best ones to get are the 05-07 cause they got VVTi and 5 speed auto. I'm looking to spend 6-8K for one with 4WD and under 200K miles to daily drive and tow my S14.

[jdmgtom]

Not exactly sure what you're trying to use this vehicle for but if you can stretch your budget a little you can get into a Gen1 Toyota Sequoia. I just recently got turned onto this truck and love what I've been reading about it.

Reliable 4.7L 2UZ V8, came in 4WD, 3rd row seating. Best ones to get are the 05-07 cause they got VVTi and 5 speed auto. I'm looking to spend 6-8K for one with 4WD and under 200K miles to daily drive and tow my S14.

That or the GX470

[silverarrow27]

Bugeye WRX wagon...I'd love me one of those. Especially when you have a kid and might eventually have a second. So much storage room for trips or outings in general.

[spooled240]

is300 gets shit gas mileage and isn't that roomy.

man I wish Nissan had made some econobox ka powered RWD SEDAN in the early-mid90sTrue, although considering the fact that the car needs very little maintenance makes it worth it imo. The 335i I was considering gets much better mileage but needs a easy $5k when shit start going bad. Yes there are ways to get good mileage and low maintenance, but you're driving a Corolla.

[Future240]

For less than 5k I got an Lexus es330. 114K.

[Dutchmalmiss]

P11 G20s are unpopular enough to have fun with on a budget. Can find clean examples betweeen $1-2k. Throw in an SR20VE or DET and suspension with money saved, boom.