Imagine that, realistically, the only rear wheel drive, stick shift sporty cars you could get under 10k with enough parts support to be practical were the following:
1. 2005-2011 Mustang
2. Sketchy BMW 1 series or really sketchy 3 Series of the 2008-2012ish era.
3. Genesis Coupe
(I could also get a previous generation V6 Camaro but I can't see out of those things so the answer is no.)
Since I live in Korea, the aftermarket and parts are easiest for the Gen Coupe, still easy but more expensive for the BMWs and kind of hard for the Mustang. Is there anything amazing enough about a S197 Mustang or small BMW to make me ignore these advantages? Should I say "eff it all," make a friend in Japan and import a Z32?
Boxter?
EDIT: Rereadiing I see you are limited in choices. I'd go Genesis.
preach (fs) said:
Boxter?
EDIT: Rereadiing I see you are limited in choices. I'd go Genesis.
Those exist here, but they're like 40K for a ratty one. Miatas exist too, starting at the low low price of 55K for a new one.
Time to start an importing business!
preach (fs) said:
Boxster?
Here's a Boxster guy in Korea on the 986Forum: Hello From Korea
I'm not sure how prices and availability there are though, but you could try contacting him on that forum if you're interested.
There's some other funky stuff I looked at:
1. Kia Elan (90s Lotus Elan with a Mazda B Series and hot cams, basically). These are achingly pretty and I hear they drive absolutely amazing. I could get one in the 7k range but it would be over 10k to get a nice one. Also, front wheel drive.
2. Honda S660. Light, revvy, mid engined, cool looking and turbo charged for convenient tuning. They, unfortunately, depreciate at about the same rate as Manhattan real estate.
3. Second generation MR2. Rare as hens' teeth here, but Japan isn't far away. Reasonably priced. Steering wheel on the wrong side for Korea.
4. Random old American stuff. (I've seen a 70s Dodge Dart, Fox Body Mustang, C4 Corvette etc) Rare as hens' teeth, America is far away. Reasonably priced and the ultimate lego sets.
5. Going completely insane and buying a "Daewoo Prince" aka Opel Rekord E and replacing every single drivetrain and suspension part with something that's not meant to bolt on.
In reply to AAZCD (Forum Supporter) :
Thanks!
I had assumed a Boxter would be crazy expensive to maintain and/or immediately pop its intermediate shaft. Am I mistaken?
DaewooOfDeath said:
5. Going completely insane and buying a "Daewoo Prince" aka Opel Rekord E and replacing every single drivetrain and suspension part with something that's not meant to bolt on.
Heh...I'm doing that to an Opel GT.
DaewooOfDeath said:
In reply to AAZCD (Forum Supporter) :
Thanks!
I had assumed a Boxster would be crazy expensive to maintain and/or immediately pop its intermediate shaft. Am I mistaken?
For DIY maintenance mine haven't been more expensive to maintain than any other sports car of similar age. I don't know how parts cost will be there, but if you can get shipping from FCP Euro, Rock Auto, Amazon, eBay, and others it's not too bad. So much of the maintenance needs depends on the care that a ~20 year old car has already seen. Some IMS bearing do fail, but it is not a given that it will. I have a 1997 with over 185,000 miles that still has the original IMS bearing. I will probably replace it when it's time to do the clutch, but it's not a thing I worry about.
Note: I am not trying to recommend a Boxster in Korea. Just adding the info I have, since they were brought up. When I lived in Germany (late '80s, and late '90s), I bought German cars. If I was in Korea, I'd probably get a Korean car.
Gen coupe. I mean, when in Seoul..... but seriously, they are decent cars, you have access to stuff we here in the states can only dream of and it's really not bad platform to begin with.
The 1 series isn't sketchy if you go with the 128 vs 135. And the 128 can be tuned quite well.
Had I known this before I bought my 135, I may have purchased a 128 instead and not had my heart broken via my wallet.
In reply to DaewooOfDeath :
You mention Mustang and then later mention V6 Camaro. You never say if your looking at V8 or V6 Mustang. Just know that for the US 2011 model year Mustang introduced the 3.7L V6 that produces 305 hp and is rated for 30 mpg highway. The previous year's Mustang V6 was the 4.0L at 210 hp and is rated for 25 mpg hyw. With this said, if considering Mustang V6 I would only go with 2011's 3.7L
I think the easy answer is, "when in Rome..." I would lean toward the Genesis and what is probably a plentiful mods and spares market.
In reply to John Welsh :
See I have rubbed off on you! Maybe I need to connect with DoD and get myself a nice hookup on KDM parts.
Those three cars are all going to offer very different driving experiences and so my first thought is that you should buy whichever excites you the most. We are after all talking about what's basically a toy. If you want the most practical and least expensive then the Genesis Coupe is probably the way to go.
Yeah, I think you guys are correct. I just sold the Forte yesterday so it's officially time to start shopping. I think I'll get a Gen Coupe unless I get blown away with some killer deal on a 3 valve Mustang or 128.
I have driven Gen Coupes before and I like them so this probably shouldn't be as complicated as I made it!
APEowner said:
Those three cars are all going to offer very different driving experiences and so my first thought is that you should buy whichever excites you the most. We are after all talking about what's basically a toy. If you want the most practical and least expensive then the Genesis Coupe is probably the way to go.
How differently do they drive in your experience?
I've driven a Gen Coupe 2.0 turbo, a 2005 Mustang V6 and a 2005ish BMW 3 series. Ignoring the fact the Mustang had crappy tires (and the crappy V6) and the BMW was an autotragic, I thought they drove kind of similarly.
Is a Mustang GT's suspension tuning that different? Are the 1 Series that different from the 3 series?
DaewooOfDeath said:
APEowner said:
Those three cars are all going to offer very different driving experiences and so my first thought is that you should buy whichever excites you the most. We are after all talking about what's basically a toy. If you want the most practical and least expensive then the Genesis Coupe is probably the way to go.
How differently do they drive in your experience?
I've driven a Gen Coupe 2.0 turbo, a 2005 Mustang V6 and a 2005ish BMW 3 series. Ignoring the fact the Mustang had crappy tires (and the crappy V6) and the BMW was an autotragic, I thought they drove kind of similarly.
Is a Mustang GT's suspension tuning that different? Are the 1 Series that different from the 3 series?
1 series are lighter by a couple hundred pounds and smaller, exterior dimensions are very close to the E30 except taller. However without flares they are limited to 245/265 staggered tires. You can bolt on all the M3 suspension bits if you wish.
With the intake manifold, intake, full exhaust and tune they are somewhere in the 245whp range. The 128i is basically a modern a E30.
Can you get the 3.8 Genny there or only the Turbo? Because the later 3.8 GDI cars are so much better.
In reply to bobzilla :
We get the 3.8 as well. I'm actually not aware of any market specific differences between USDM and KDM versions.
Do you think the 3.8 is significantly better than 2.0 plus a tune?
In reply to DaewooOfDeath :
Depends. The 3.8 A.) sounds so good with the right exhaust. 2.) makes more power bone stock than the 2.0 with tune and iii.) tuned/bolt ons make it a great all arounder. I think the local (Chicago, close enough) tuner has these around 340whp NA.
Now, if you're putting in a bulletproof bottom end and head work/turbo then the 2.0 can make more power, but the same can be said of the 3.8. I think the 3.8 tuned is just about the perfect sporty Grand Tourer.
edit: I asked because y'all got some different engines in the Accent and Elantra as well.
Have the early FRS/BRZ twins crossed the $10k threshold yet? I admit I haven't been paying attention to the market on these.
stanger_mussle (Forum Supporter) said:
Have the early FRS/BRZ twins crossed the $10k threshold yet? I admit I haven't been paying attention to the market on these.
If you want a '13-14 (valve spring recall with many engines seeming to blow up after the recall) with a salvage title, then yes.
If you could find one a cheap enough, a K24/20 swap into one would be interesting.
bobzilla said:
In reply to DaewooOfDeath :
Depends. The 3.8 A.) sounds so good with the right exhaust. 2.) makes more power bone stock than the 2.0 with tune and iii.) tuned/bolt ons make it a great all arounder. I think the local (Chicago, close enough) tuner has these around 340whp NA.
Now, if you're putting in a bulletproof bottom end and head work/turbo then the 2.0 can make more power, but the same can be said of the 3.8. I think the 3.8 tuned is just about the perfect sporty Grand Tourer.
edit: I asked because y'all got some different engines in the Accent and Elantra as well.
That's pretty damn impressive from an NA V6.
It's too bad they are so damn heavy.
In reply to z31maniac :
that's why I said they're a great Grand Tourer and not sports car.
EDIT: that 340 was a low boost turbo (6psi). Looks like 280-290whp is more consistent NA
