What's the cheapest muscle car to buy and maintain?

[Bubba1]

I do think this actually sounds cheaper and more practical than a used Porsche Boxster or Audi TT.

Yeah, cheaper from the repair side, and faster in a straight line, and draw some smiles from baby boomers that see it, but that's really about it. Of course a 10 yr old Audi TT, for example, will be far more comfortable, safer, better features, handle better, brake better, built better, get better gas mileage, and be far easier to drive in bad weather than a 45 yr old muscle car. But who cares about little details like that.

[Jesda]

I do think this actually sounds cheaper and more practical than a used Porsche Boxster or Audi TT.

Yeah, cheaper from the repair side, and faster in a straight line, and draw some smiles from baby boomers that see it, but that's really about it. Of course a 10 yr old Audi TT, for example, will be far more comfortable, safer, better features, handle better, brake better, built better, get better gas mileage, and be far easier to drive in bad weather than a 45 yr old muscle car. But who cares about little details like that.

I'd have bought one if not for Audi's POS timing belt that likes to snap well before its 60k replacement interval. The die cast model on my desk suffices for now.
If not for the Boxster's intermediate shaft failures I might have indulged in one of those too.
BMW Z3s I learned suffer from the same rear subframe failures as E46 and E36, and with their age and my hard driving habits it's likely to become an issue.

I like things that break predictably. Every time I get close to pulling the trigger one some old, interesting German car, they throw in a surprise. I suppose if they announce the surprise, it isn't rape when the repair bill comes due.

[Bubba1]

I do think this actually sounds cheaper and more practical than a used Porsche Boxster or Audi TT.

Yeah, cheaper from the repair side, and faster in a straight line, and draw some smiles from baby boomers that see it, but that's really about it. Of course a 10 yr old Audi TT, for example, will be far more comfortable, safer, better features, handle better, brake better, built better, get better gas mileage, and be far easier to drive in bad weather than a 45 yr old muscle car. But who cares about little details like that.

I'd have bought one if not for Audi's POS timing belt that likes to snap well before its 60k replacement interval. The die cast model on my desk suffices for now.
If not for the Boxster's intermediate shaft failures I might have indulged in one of those too.
BMW Z3s I learned suffer from the same rear subframe failures as E46 and E36, and with their age and my hard driving habits it's likely to become an issue.

I like things that break predictably. Every time I get close to pulling the trigger one some old, interesting German car, they throw in a surprise. I suppose if they announce the surprise, it isn't rape when the repair bill comes due.

If you're thinking of buying an old German car that break down more predictably, methinks your not looking old enough. For example, the only M3 I'd consider would be the old E30, not because it's only one significantly appreciating, but because of the simplicity and balance. . Later generations are faster and more powerful, but are more complex and not as dependable. II'd also look at the even older 2002ti, but i wouldn't touch a Z3 with a 10' pole. And as far as Audi's, the newest "old" ones I'd consider buying are the 1995.5 A6/S6, which was the last of the great overengineered Audi sedans, twin turbo 5 cyl. I would not hesitate to use a clean one as a DD. Well made and not overly complex. I'd also look at the old coupe GT's or urquattro's, but not as a DD.

As far as porsche's go, I'd look at a 993 (last of the air cooled 911's). Affordable and less complex than the newer ones. though I wouldn't use any porsche as a DD.

[Jesda]

The idea is to go forward or backward a decade or two (from 1991).

A 2002 actually sounds appealing.
A typical E30 handles well but it's less communicative than my Saab as well as less safe.
The coveted 500E can be had for $9-$15k, but if I'm spending that much, I'd rather have something from the distant past.



I think all of this searching is somehow going to end up with me in becoming the owner of a Honda Insight.

[Bubba1]

I think all of this searching is somehow going to end up with me in becoming the owner of a Honda Insight.

I never thought of you as the hypermiler type. Why not buy a Miata and drive with a smile?

[Jesda]

I think all of this searching is somehow going to end up with me in becoming the owner of a Honda Insight.

I never thought of you as the hypermiler type. Why not buy a Miata and drive with a smile?

I tried the Insight and to my own surprise, I smiled. It's feather-light and quirky.

[Dattebayo]

I suppose if they announce the surprise, it isn't rape when the repair bill comes due.

This made me chuckle.