Fun sporty cars for under $10K with good mpg

[pint]

Originally Posted by 5280Hawk

I know you didn't want a Civic, but this is an 03 Si. I used to have one and it's a fast little car.


I traded mine in for $9500.00 last year on my wifes new car.

It got 26-27 mpg's and had 160+ HP

Yes, I really want RWD, but the Civic SI is a sweet ass car! Very well may end up with that or 2003 GTI 20th Anniversary.

[hoser]

4 seater Smart Car(s)!

YouTube - Fifth gear: Double decker smart.

[colofish]

Originally Posted by pint

Hmmm...hadn't thought about that. Are they pretty reliable? I've always liked the older Saab's. What changed in 1994? FYI - Grassroots Motorsports magazine has been building an 87 Saab 99 into a cool rally car!

Nastav is right.. After 94 GM acquired Saab (I think) and they began having reliability problems. I have 3 Saabs with over 200,000 miles and they are still running fine. Go to saabnet.com if you want to educate yourself about typical problems and a support group like IH8mud. I think the key to keeping them affordable is being able to do most of the mechanical work on them yourself.

[pint]

Originally Posted by hoser

4 seater Smart Car(s)!

YouTube - Fifth gear: Double decker smart.

Hmmm?

[Zack1978]

Mercedes Benz 400E 92 or 93!


Zack

[sprocket3]

Late 90s Audi A4 All wheel drive. The 1.8Turbo w/ 5spd is a blast to drive and though not a true sports car you would be surprised at how quick they are with a ECU chip upgrade. They handle pretty nice to and could be upgraded real easy. Same engine as the TT just tuned down from the factory for the sedan. With a chip upgrade you get 240lbs of torqe and about 200 hp from that little engine. Still gets 30MPG on the freeway. You would never know it's only a 1.8L. Same engine that they use in some of the VWs out there.

Front wheel drive sucks for anything more than enconomy.

[bjowett]

VW Corrado, 92 - 94.

A couple of videos to convince you, perhaps?

YouTube - Volkswagen Corrado SLC VR-6 on Motorweek

Corrado VR6 (Top Gear) Video - Metacafe

[Cruiserhead05]

Originally Posted by bjowett

VW Corrado, 92 - 94.

A couple of videos to convince you, perhaps?

YouTube - Volkswagen Corrado SLC VR-6 on Motorweek

Corrado VR6 (Top Gear) Video - Metacafe

I've always thought these cars were cool, and regularly keep my eye out for a nice VR6 if available. However, based on the reliabilty record they have, i dont think i'd ever want to drop $$$$ into purchasing one if it had to be a DD.

I see you own one though, can you convince us otherwise?

[bjowett]

Mine has always been good to me... though I have owned it since new and keep up on maintainence... The problems the car may have are well documented. IMO just like most other things on line you always hear the bad. There are plenty of kids with these cars, beating the crap out of them, turning them into rats. Will it ever be a Toyota in terms of reliability? No, not a chance... but it is an extremely cool car that is a blast to drive. The feel, the sound of the 12 valve VR6... awesome.

[sprocket3]

Hey! What about the Audi TT. The looks are not for all, but you will like they way they drive. Just be sure it's an AWD version with the high output turbo motor. I think they must be getting down there in price now. Parts and repairs should be in line with VW and A4 audi cars as it's just a different body on that platform.

Yes i am an Audi, Porsche, VW guy! They just drive better and one look at the suspension design of those Audi cars will tell you why.

[WristPin]

Originally Posted by sprocket3

Hey! What about the Audi TT. The looks are not for all, but you will like they way they drive. Just be sure it's an AWD version with the high output turbo motor. I think they must be getting down there in price now. Parts and repairs should be in line with VW and A4 audi cars as it's just a different body on that platform.

Yes i am an Audi, Porsche, VW guy! They just drive better and one look at the suspension design of those Audi cars will tell you why.

you could not pay me to drive a euro car, with the exception of a air cooled 'schwagen those things are always hard to work on, a PITA to find parts for ( they are all junk) and parts are expensive. the quaility ride is not worth it.

[WristPin]

dont forget about Kia, you know, they do have the power to surprise.




Just kidding.

Buy a civic SI

[jsaltlick]

I have a 2000 BMW 328i and it's the best car ever. Just saw one on Craig's locally for about $7500. The drive like go carts and I get about 24 mpg hwy and drive 80 mph usually. I'll never own another type of car for a DD. I've owned Nissans, VWs, hondas, toyotas, pontiacs, olds, chevy, basically everything and the BMW is a whole different beast.

If you stick to synthetic oil changes and keep up on maintenance they can easily go 300,000 miles. Plus it's RWD.

[pint]

Originally Posted by jsaltlick

I have a 2000 BMW 328i and it's the best car ever. Just saw one on Craig's locally for about $7500. The drive like go carts and I get about 24 mpg hwy and drive 80 mph usually. I'll never own another type of car for a DD. I've owned Nissans, VWs, hondas, toyotas, pontiacs, olds, chevy, basically everything and the BMW is a whole different beast.

If you stick to synthetic oil changes and keep up on maintenance they can easily go 300,000 miles. Plus it's RWD.

That just might work! I've owned about everything else (Ford, GMC, Olds, Mazda, Toyota, Acura, Honda, Porsche, etc) but never a BMW.

[hoser]

My dream daily driver is a BMW 123d, two door hatchback. Twin turbo 204hp, 295 lbs-ft torque and up to 54 MPG!! I really hope they bring this thing here. I would buy it new.

[pint]

Originally Posted by hoser

My dream daily driver is a BMW 123d, two door hatchback. Twin turbo 204hp, 295 lbs-ft torque and up to 54 MPG!! I really hope they bring this thing here. I would buy it new.

Not to shabby, but I don't think I could get one for $10K if they ever decided to import them! Hell if I didn't care about the money, I may "commute" in a Lotus Exige! I drove one of those and nearly peed my pants it was so fun!

[sprocket3]

Originally Posted by WristPin

you could not pay me to drive a euro car, with the exception of a air cooled 'schwagen those things are always hard to work on, a PITA to find parts for ( they are all junk) and parts are expensive. the quaility ride is not worth it.

I know you! You are the guy with the civic 1mm off the ground and the huge tin can style muffler on the back that makes it sound like an angry bee.

[rlabair]

I just sold my 90 E30 325i for $5500. Sweet ride, 5 speed is the way to go if you want sporty and helps with mileage. If you truly want sport you might want to check out the 95 -96 BMW M3's. Mine is a 98 and I love it. My 98 on cruise at 65 mph is averaging 30.4 miles per gallon. My E30 got about the same, both were chipped with CAI so you can have performance and gas mileage. Good luck, looks like you got a great bunch or recommendations to chose from.

[pint]

Originally Posted by rlabair

I just sold my 90 E30 325i for $5500. Sweet ride, 5 speed is the way to go if you want sporty and helps with mileage. If you truly want sport you might want to check out the 95 -96 BMW M3's. Mine is a 98 and I love it. My 98 on cruise at 65 mph is averaging 30.4 miles per gallon. My E30 got about the same, both were chipped with CAI so you can have performance and gas mileage. Good luck, looks like you got a great bunch or recommendations to chose from.

You're right, lots of good choices. Not sure what to do? Really like the BMW's, both 3 series and of course ANY M3. Would like to get decent mileage, but then I keep thinking...save more money and just buy another newer LC???