Recommended cheap cars

[cys19]

I'm looking for a cheap (0k-6k) RWD car for a good deal. I've been looking into the 240 for a while, but I have a low budget and recently there's been so many 240 thefts going on. And if I get one and it gets stolen the next day, I would cry my *** off, and I wouldn't wanna do that. So, experts, what are some great cheap RWD cars that yal would recommend?

[sil80S13]

corolla sr5 85-87. s12 200sx nissan hatchback. pinto. toyota tercel aka starlet <-- ultimate sleeper car.. har har har.

[nametakennow]

Wow, RWD limits it a lot.

Older Miata, MR2, even 3 series.

Beyond that it's going to be too old/used and falling apart to do much with.

edit: Okay, I can't go without saying that FWD, while not great, is not the bane of existence that people tend to say it is. Sooooooooooo, I do have to throw in the classic SE-Rs.

[ceniack]

get a late 80's BMW 3 serise, can be had for less than 4k

[wangless]

Quote »toyota tercel aka starlet <-- ultimate sleeper car.. har har har.[/quote] i had a tercel as my first car... pretty damn pos, but it got me from place to place

mr2 > 240, but its a 2 seater... i think thats the big reason why i didnt go mr2

on a side note, my last 240 was stolen, and it was a hard desicion to get another 240 with the fear of getting it stolen again . now that i recently got a job, i can get an alarm system... combined with my club and autolock... the theives will certainly take longer this time to jack my car... anyways enough rambling

[JESTER]

I have seen a couple 280z's and 240z's in the auto trader lately for around 5500 dollars.

That is the way I would go. Or the older 300zx.

Of course I would sooner steal your 280 or 240Z than your 240sx.

P.S.I knew a guy that was into ripping off car stereo systems back when I was in high school. I got into the wrong crowd kinda deal. His motto was, "If you don't have an alarm on your car, you deserve to get your **** stole."

If you got something nice, take the time and spend the money to get an alarm. It is worth it.

[Chingon]

mr2, rx7, any old nissan z car, old datsuns or celicas, corolla gt-s, i'm sure there's some vw out there, some supras (pre mk3), mini's if you can get a hold of, triumphs, MGB's,

IN awd, talon/eclipse gsx, impulse rs, celica alltrack/gt4, mazda 323 gx?,

[cys19]

mr2's are so damn exp. I found an 80k mileage '91 mr2 on autotrader for 8k!!

[ceniack]

haha, yeah, get you an old 60 or 70 sumthing VW bug

[andrave]

I saw a V-6 87 200sx go for 500 bucks. smoking.thats what I'd be after if I wanted a second car. I think you could swap the 300zx twin turbo v6 in, but I'm not sure how easily. but that'd be fun.

[Chingon]

mr2's are so damn exp. I found an 80k mileage '91 mr2 on autotrader for 8k!!

don't worry, the 1st gen is better...

[krazy skwerel]

Yeah find you a supercharged first gen. They are pretty damned neat.

[Mr1der]

i had a tercel as my first car... pretty damn pos, but it got me from place to place

mr2 > 240, but its a 2 seater... i think thats the big reason why i didnt go mr2

on a side note, my last 240 was stolen, and it was a hard desicion to get another 240 with the fear of getting it stolen again . now that i recently got a job, i can get an alarm system... combined with my club and autolock... the theives will certainly take longer this time to jack my car... anyways enough rambling

you should buy a wheel boot and install a couple of kill switches too.

[sil80S13]

hahaaha paranoid!..yeah it sucks getting your things stolen.. thats why i dont have any kinda valuable stuff in my car, no stereo... nOTHING at all... i have a alarm..but my last car had a alarm, and they still stole everything.. think about it..who pays attentions to alarms that go off in the street. i wish i had enough room to park my car in the garage. it'll be alot easier... and more safe..gosh...

[sil80S13]

btw.. get a old skool celica supra.. those things are pimp! imagine a newer I6 turbo, powerplant in that thing!..or even a sr20det.. it'll rock.! thats major pimp status.

[Axel Grungy]

miatas have been catching my eye lately a bit more. while they are somewhat girly, not too fast, i think they are sweet. especially for autox. i want to get one down the road for that purpose. ive heard they arent too expensive either.

[Rex]

...P.S.I knew a guy that was into ripping off car stereo systems back when I was in high school. I got into the wrong crowd kinda deal. His motto was, "If you don't have an alarm on your car, you deserve to get your **** stole."...

Was his name Jim? Probably not, but we all knew a guy like this and they took things with reckless abandon.

Oh, on topic is there any other criteria? Import? 5 spd only? Age limits? milage limits? 2 door only?

[hannibal]

Keep it NissanS12 200sx, 87-88 had VG30E, earlier models were available with CA18ET. And its mod-able once you have more to spend.http://www.club-s12.orghttp://www.v6-s12.com

[nametakennow]

miatas have been catching my eye lately a bit more. while they are somewhat girly, not too fast, i think they are sweet. especially for autox. i want to get one down the road for that purpose. ive heard they arent too expensive either.

Exactly. 240s are great cars, I wish I had one, but they're on the way up in price, demand, and theft because of the surge in popularity associated with F&F, drifting, etc. Miatas are considered chick cars by a lot of people, but when you boil it down it's a very pure entry level sports car. A little boost and an even better suspension will put that car in a league with anything out there. This is why my first project will likely be a Miata, preferably newer (no pop up lights) rather than older, but I don't really care, form is just a nice luxury to have with function.

[spitz7985]

How bout an older RWD maxima? Those aren't bad.

[cys19]

I can't get over that s14 *** though. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. Save up longer for an S14 ($5000+) or spend my 2k on something else. I get impatient b/c I need a car by the end of Summer.

[gumby]

'87-'91 (i think) camaro 6 cyl AT survive better since they're under powered and dont get beat on as much. Generally these are mechanically reliable. easy 160k+. I've owned 2 '87 & '89RS w/130k+ previously female driven no major issues. not so good on gas but inexpensive to purchase and maintain. good daily driver.

[Mr1der]

ok Gumby, you can officially no longer post for that one:D

all the ones I've ever seen turn into complete turds in no time...

there's also the 3.8 T bird. Strong motor, cheap to fix. Heavy as hell though...Chicks did T Birds, just not when they're all busted like mine, until it gets 18's anyway:D

[Chingon]

just get a grand national while at it..

[krazy skwerel]

I think the S12 is your best bet. they are so damn cheap and so freakin' cool. You can pick up a mark II turbo model for 1500 or less. and the mark one even cheaper. Or go for the VG powered one like everybody else is saying. Maybe even get an s13. They are cheap as hell as well. I know where one is for 2k that needs a little cosmetics but is mechanicaly sound. Very nice car. test drove it today

[cys19]

my friend's s13 has heavy *** understeer. What do you think its balance ratio'll be if i put in a CA or an SR?

[krazy skwerel]

About the same as stock. The understeer can be fixed with a better suspension and tires. The S14 is indeed better for less understeer but it is considerably more expensive unless you get lucky. I love my S13 and my S12 though the S12 is a bastard right now.

[cys19]

I was thinking if the s13 and 14 had the same type of upgrades and engine, the s13 would win b/c it's lighter, right?

[krazy skwerel]

Well really when it gets to that it's all preference. the weight difference is only a couple hundred pounds. Not enough to really matter. What type of racing are we talking here? I like the S13 because they look good can be modded heavily and they are damn cheap. But really it would all come down to personal preference and monetary situation. With 2k you could get a really nice S13.

[cys19]

I was thinking it probably didn't really matter what type of racing b/c they're both pretty much the same, just one is lighter but has more understeer. And btw, is understeer solely based on balance ratio? Cause that's what I've always thought, since I've just recently begun learning about cars.