Selling everything for ONE $5k car - but which?

With my senior year of college coming up, I am realizing the impracticality of my Boxster dream and am thinking of selling everything and getting out from my garage lease to generate some extra cash flow. Basically, I'd be selling all my cars and stuff for ONE single car, probably around $5k. Daily driver, will see snow, but also the occasional DE/auto-x. I'm single and don't need four doors but do need back seats, even if they aren't great. It has to be manual and fun.

Currently looking at:

E36 M3. Yes, they ARE getting that cheap. 318ti, although they strangely command M3-like prices. Saab 9-3 Vector 6-speed. Basically a Saab Cobalt SS. Audi TT, love the style, unsure on reliability. Audi A4 Avant, also not sure on reliability. Subaru Impreza 2.5RS, though values are kinda silly. Others, maybe Celica GT-S or Matrix XRS or something?

What does GRM think?

EG or EK Civic. Reliable as gravity, good gas mileage, huge aftermarket, fun to drive, easy to work on. I went thru a similar thing in my junior year in college and the Civic just made sense.

get something you can't break.

I like the late 6spd Celica GTS option.

93EXCivic wrote: EG or EK Civic. Reliable as gravity, good gas mileage, huge aftermarket, fun to drive, easy to work on. I went thru a similar thing in my junior year in college and the Civic just made sense.

Hondas are a HUUUUUUGE theft risk in Milwaukee and insurance pricing is absurd as a result. Not happening.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I like the late 6spd Celica GTS option.

or vibe gt

I would go the Saab route. My wife is on her second 9-3ss. we had a 2004 that I sold to my sister with 130k on it and now have a 2010. they have been very reliable. the do go through sway bar end links and strut bearings. They are a very nice car for the money.

Chris

Celica would be a good choice.

It's a sedan, but Protege would fit the bill great.

How about an E30? The car was reliable transportation for the previous owner for a long time. I think it just doesn't like me.

EG or EK Civic and Celica are all good options. You could get an AE92 'rolla like mine but some of the parts are hard to find.

The 2.5RS is also a good option, but the GC Impreza 2-doors and 4-doors are the exact same length and within 100lbs of each other...think about it.

Mustang
944 S2
FC RX7
Cosworth 190E
SVT Contour
SVT Focus
Mercury Couger (Contour based version)
Alfa 164
Audi A4 1.8t Quattro
Mazda 323 GTX with spare trans
Classic SAAB 900 turbo
Mint Merkur Xr4ti

avoid the B5 A4, reliability is suspect and maintenance is expensive (steering racks / wheel bearings / control arms) etc.

I like the idea of an E36 M3. Lots of room to grow with it for future upgrades and such, cheap enough to find used parts, old enough to be wrench friendly.

If you can get a $5k TT that isn't beat to crap, I'd buy that. I usually don't like vag products, but I'd get over it. I also like the Saab and celica gts options. I'd probably rather have any of those three than my current 318ti. I would be scared of a $5k m3

Halve budget, buy nice c900 turbo? Mine's beat to hell with a laundry list of problems, but still gets me around in reliability and faded comfort.

I want an e36 m3, so I say get the m3.

VAG products get a bad rap, but I have a couple of friends who run VAG's, one a B5 Passat and the other an R32. They both seem to be living up to the famous old GM phrase. "VAG products run longer badly than other cars run at all" The B5 has had the front control arms for the virtual lower ball joint system replaced and both have a variety of electrical quirks, but that doesn't affect the drivability day to day.

BTW How does a TT meet the rear seat requirement?

I would throw a Hyundai Tiburon into the mix. For $5K, you are going to get a pretty decent one. They are reliable, as practical as a Celica with the hatchback, and you get a choice of 4 or 6 cylinders. (You want the GT with the 6) They don't suffer the Honda Tax or theft rates, and there is some aftermarket.

pinchvalve wrote: I would throw a Hyundai Tiburon into the mix. For $5K, you are going to get a pretty decent one. They are reliable, as practical as a Celica with the hatchback, and you get a choice of 4 or 6 cylinders. (You want the GT with the 6) They don't suffer the Honda Tax or theft rates, and there is some aftermarket.

+1 for a left field contender I had never considered.

To throw my 2cents in we have a 2003 Vibe GT/xrs with 194,000 on the clock and its been super reliable. A couple of axles and 1 clutch at 175,000 and still fun to drive. If looking for one try to find an 03' I believe it's the only year with the 8350 rpm redline. I want to say they dropped the redline after that in 04'. It's been awhile I could be wrong.

If you still own the 9000 Turbo that's in your 'Garage' on here, just keep it.

If you can find an M3 in good condition thats not tired at that price go for that. I picked up a celica gt-s with the same restrictions as you. My top contenders were the celica, m3, and prelude. Ultimately grm convinced me to get the gt-s.

I dont think prelude's are a hot theft item, but if you live in an area with high honda theft I guess that's out. I know my celica is faster, lighter, and handles better out of the box, but I am a honda fanboy at heart and I do lust after the prelude from time to time.

With a high mileage M3 you're looking out for 5th gear lean, rubber bits, rear sway bar mount integrity, and of course cooling system maintenance. Also note tires are expensive if you're still planning on running a staggered setup. It is a great car or THE car, if you can get a good example.

With a celica gt-s there were lots of minor revisions and quirks about each year so it'd be up to you which year you'd like. The car responds very well to breather mods and could use a fat rear sway bar. I dont have many complaints about it other than it being a fwd mcstrut car.

SN95 or New Edge Mustang. Stupid-easy to work on, cheap parts, huge aftermarket.

Sell them all, then take a bus or ride a bike. Worry about owning a car after you graduate.

stuart in mn wrote: Sell them all, then take a bus or ride a bike. Worry about owning a car after you graduate.

I always hear this, but I disagree completely.

Never have I had more time and spare BS $$ (proportionally) to blow then when I was in college. Own a cheap car, wrench, and enjoy it. I agree with not going in debt while in college for a fancy car, but what better time to have an uncompromised ridiculous unreliable project? Break down? no big deal. bum a ride, walk to class, ride a bus, take a bike.

After college came an engagement ring... then a wedding... then a mortgage.. then a wife who wanted to go back to school... then kids... then everything else that goes with that. A car that needs to commute reliably, be safe, haul kids, etc.

I long for those stress free nights wrenching in the garage playing with old VW's when the worst thing I had to worry about was "waking up by 9AM" to make it to class on time.

stuart in mn wrote: Sell them all, then take a bus or ride a bike. Worry about owning a car after you graduate.

Unfortunately I will be commuting for work (moving this sping) so a car is, indeed, necessary.

I totally forgot about the Focus SVT as well, which I'm now primarily considering. Vibe GT/Matrix XRS, Celica GT-S are also still contenders. Subie and Saab too. I'm iffy on the Tiburon since timing belts on that V6 seem like a PITA. Prelude is worth considering if the right car comes along, I suppose, but I still worry...

The Saab 9000 I currently own has been such a frustrating nickel-and-dime affair that I feel nothing but rage while driving it, despite how fast, comfortable, and economical it is. Whoever buys it will be getting a nice car, but I didn't.

I know the M3 is probably a bad idea but holy crap, there are some deals out there right now!