Good handling classics under 10k?

uh, idk if you've been listening...er reading.

But we havent really been talking about the Porsche, the tr8 was the one we were all talking about.

In reply to TrulySpooky:

If you don't mind fwd, I'd look at a first gen new MINI. Handles like a go cart, supposedly has enough room for 4 (kinda like a 911 can fit four people), it is larger on the inside than it looks, and is fairly economical. Good aftermarket, and most MINI owners I know are good people. I'd love to recommend the S model, but most of the S's of that vintage have either had their supercharger replaced, in which case you're good to go, or they're going to need it in the future. MINI no longer makes them so remanned is the only way to go. Also, a clutch will be needed. If farmed out, both are expensive, but can be done by the DIY'er in their driveway. I'd recommend a R50, which is the normally aspirated Cooper. If you autocross, H Street could be yours for the taking, provided you do your job. On the track, don't know. May depend on where the finish line is in relation to the last turn. I'd look at the 04-06 years, as by then the bugs were pretty much worked out. For the most part, parts prices aren't bad, but some are ridiculous. In all fairness, I should disclose that I owned a 2005 Cooper S, and am now in a 2011 Cooper S.

It's been mentioned but I throw out the Fiat twins, the X 1/9 and 124 spyder.

i cant seem to find any x19s. Not under 10k. Maybe im looking in the wrong places.

So I bought my new(old) car. It's a Volvo amazon. 122 wagon. It's that standard Volvo green. Has 68k miles on it. original engine and trans. the interior is a little rough but ill fix that. When i have the chance ill post photos.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Awesome!!!

Excellent choice! Have fun with it.

Most definelty a great pick; you won't see one everyday and there is loads of parts support.

Tom

In reply to Tom1200:

Im happy with it so far. Its a bit faster than my bug for sure.

With 68k miles, it's just broken in. Keep the oil changed, and it should last you 680,000 more.

What year is the wagon? Is it the stock B18 engine?

About the only thing you may want to be concerned with immediately is the timing gear. If the car does indeed have 68,000 miles on it, the timing gear may be original. The cam gear is pressed fiber and should be replaced every 60,000 or so. It's not an interference engine, so you can "run it till it goes", and I have, but better to just replace it than be stranded. A replacement gear goes about $100 nowadays, I think. They're available. As an alternative, a steel gear may be fitted, at some loss of quietness at idle. I've always used fiber replacements, though.

In reply to volvoclearinghouse:

Rockauto sells the Cloyes metal gear set for about $100.

it's a 68, and thanks for the advice about the gear. And I believe its the stock b18. I don't have any upgrade plans just yet. We'll see what i can do when i sell my bug.

In reply to Ian F:

I've seen that, and a friend of mine bought one for his 122. He had trouble getting it to fit, and ended up having to grind the centerbore of the gear slightly to get it onto the end of the camshaft.

Part of me likes that, with the fiber gear, there's a designated sacrificial gear. I've never had to replace a crank gear. And though I've heard some say they prefer the steel gear for racing, when we ran a 122 in LeMons we used a fiber gear and never had one break.

In reply to volvoclearinghouse:

Hmm... definitely something to consider. Since much of my build goals will involve minimizing NVH, I may stick with the fiber gear in my car as well (when I eventually get to that point... some day...).

m4ff3w wrote: Fiat X1/9 Super reliable (just clean the grounds), super simple, super fun.

And one of the best handling cars around with just Springs, struts, and sway bars. I think it was either C&D or R&T who got one over 1g of lateral acceleration with only a few hundred spent on the aforementioned parts

mad_machine wrote:

m4ff3w wrote: Fiat X1/9 Super reliable (just clean the grounds), super simple, super fun.

And one of the best handling cars around with just Springs, struts, and sway bars. I think it was either C&D or R&T who got one over 1g of lateral acceleration with only a few hundred spent on the aforementioned parts

I drove X1/9's for years and will second all of that. Great, under-appreciated cars. Difficult to find nice, no rust cars today.

If your VW is a Superbeetle, you already had your good handling car. Put some different springs and disc brakes on the front, you have a big go cart.

Theres a pro touring el Camino that has dropped below 10k to a grm member