What car(s)?

Window shopping for potential P71 replacements. Looking at $4K or less. Would prefer a hatch/stick/RWD/V8 but I'm pretty much open to anything. It needs to be low maintenance, cheap to fix, and fun to drive. Nothing with a 4.6 SOHC, period.

Here's what I've looked at so far:

• 1G/2G Talon TSi/Eclipse GSR - I've had 2 1st Gen Talon TSi's (1 stock, 1 modded) and loved them both. Little small, and it's really hard to find a non-molested one.

• Turbo Starion/Conquest - Found a local one in black that brought back memories of a silver one the family owned when I was growing up. Probably too old/unreliable/finicky to really be a DD.

• 94-95 Mustang GT - I despise the fox-body and the 4.6 even more, so the 5.0L powered 94-95's are the sweet spot of Mustangs for me. These actually seem to be quite easy to find in decent shape in my price.

• 3rd/4th Gen Camaro/Trans Am/Formula - The 3rd gen's are cool, and I used to have a V6 4th. I found some great LT1 cars, and some hammered LS1's. Checks all of my boxes...

Anything else?

Not a V8 (unless its swapped) but you live in prime turbobrick country.

Mine was $500 and I drove it 600 miles my first weekend with no worries. $2500 would have bought my last one with mods. $3500 gets you a sweet one with a T5 swap if you shop right.

Check out my garage and tuna55's

may I recommend MkIII Supra? it's basically a P71 coupe/hatch with more power, and better handling and (slightly) lighter weight.

If you are looking at StarQuests, you can't rule out a Supra...though a MkII would probably be more your style...maybe.

I think dsm's are junk. no caveat.

I think your head is right with the mustangs.

F-body's don't do much for me. Great motors, that's about it. Weakish rear ends. seems like tires have to be pretty big and expensive to work.

240SX is a 75% match.
HUGE aftermarket support for them. Stock they are completely reliable, but a bit on the slow side.
S13 chassis ones can be had in hatch or coupe. S14/15 are coupe only. Turbo kits are cheap. Pickup one with lightly rusted frame rails and you can get it for CHEAP. replacement rail sections are available cheap.

I'm seriously behind the 94-95 5.0 Mustang with a 3rd pedal and some cool wheels and stuff idea. I could keep rambling but you get the idea.

I noticed the high volume of TurboBrick's up here. Even found a few white ones a'la the old Touring cars. I may look into that.

If it doesn't have a V8, a turbo is definitely a good substitute. I actually started with turbo cars (DSM's, Turbo Coupe's, XR4Ti's, and Probe Turbo's). I'd love a 02-03 WRX, but I can't afford one right now.

I actually saw a very, very clean MkII Supra Turbo for sale locally in my price. It's close enough to go test drive so I should probably go take a look.

I'm very familiar with the fox Mustangs, which I think are about as visually appealing as toilet bowls, and the SN95/New Edge cars which look way better but have that same horrific bean-counter 4.6 I'm stuck with now. That's why the 94-95 GT appeals to me. 5-lugs, 4-wheel discs, 8.8" LSD, 5.0L, T5, and it looks great (better than the 05+ IMO). The fact that super nice ones are in my price range doesn't help. Swap on a Cobra R front bumper and hood, the 96+ vertical taillights, and a set of Bullitt's and be done. Intriguingly, I found a GTS locally (that's a GT with manual everything, no A/C or radio, and V6/base interior/trim). That would make a sweet sleeper F-Stock car locally, or maybe even STU. As a bonus, my FR500's from the P71 would bolt right on giving me instant awesomeness.

F-Bodies are an anathema to me. I've driven a ton of 3rd Gens and owned a 4th Gen. I love the looks (especially the Firebirds) and can handle the interior. The rear end isn't such a big deal anymore (bolt-in 9", 8.8, 12-bolt, Dana, etc) and the LT1 is actually a great motor that's overshadowed by the LS1. I think the LT1 cars are actually prettier anyways. I even found this:

As for 240's, thanks but no thanks. I'm well versed in Datsun/Nissans (720 King Cab, 86.5 Hardbody Z24 KC, 96.5 KA24 KC 4x4, 80 280Z Anny) and the KA motor is a boat anchor. That means I have to pay the dorifito tax to get a hammered SR20-swapped one and then get hassled by the police and every ricer under the sun. Pass.

I have re-discovered RX-7's though. I still miss Blinky, and I did start with an N/A FC all those years ago (86 GXL Streetport). I've found a few GXL/GTU in my range and even a hammered Turbo II. There's also a wicked TII swapped genuine 78 RHD...

94-95 Cobra mustang might creep into that price range and has more motor and more brakes and you can woodgrain the steeringwheel and pretend its a real cobra (of course I pretend most cars are a cobra).

Or really nice example of the older rwd Alfa sedans.

Or a v12 jag xjs coupe

Or a nice midsized 2 door from the 60s. Just saw a 60s Olds starfire black with red interior in really nice shape for 7500 in Hemmings. Its a little over budget but its unlikely to depreciate like a more modern car.

The 94-95 Cobra wasn't really anything special, but yeah if I found one I'd probably buy it to save myself from doing the 13" brake swap later.

I guess I didn't mention this car will have to be the DD and thus anything Alfa/FIAT/British is probably out. Also, I've had to work on a V12 XJ-S, I'd rather be sentenced to a lifetime of 944 timing belt changes!

$7500 is nearly twice my budget! Also, as much as I love old cars and want one, they make horrible DD's.