Pre-requisites:
Here's where I'm stuck. I can't seem to think of anything other than a 2004 - 2006 mini cooper S or a miata. I've owned a miata before and loved it (NA, 1.6L). I usually want to try something different, the fact that I'm thinking of another miata says a lot about the car. I had a mini as well, but it was a RHD classic so it doesn't impact this decision.
What else should I be looking at? I hear people saying that if you like the mini cooper s you should be looking at the Mazda 2. Are they serious or pulling my leg? I can't tell.
Matrix
I think they're serious about the Mazda2. Zippy econo-car, that feels econo-car much like a '90s Golf might feel.
Hyundai Accent Coupe: These too have a reputation of being honest and fun. The honesty being that it is and will feel like an 'ol hot hatch that just doesn't break
Bob will be around soon to tell you more of the more recent Kia Rio SX offering.
Since your no longer in the rust belt, I recommend embracing something older yet rust free that just cant be found up north any longer. Have you met yet with John Hoops? He's your man for finding what you don't even know you want!
CL and FB allow for vehicles to be sorted by manual trans only. I'd do that regularly and just see what pops up in your price rance.
Another note: recent cars with manual trans, like the Koreans, are often low spec cars and as such, they often don't have cruise control. If cruise control is important to you, be sure to verify.
What are MR-2 spyder prices doing these days?
In reply to DrBoost :
What else besides daily driving do you want to do with it? There's ton of cars that could fit the description.. an old truck, miata, wagons... need more information to provide a suggestion.
Here's some non-standard suggestions to boost (no pun intended) your imagination:
Shopping is obviously key in your price range, but if you are not in a hurry something good should turn up.
John Welsh said:Have you met yet with John Hoops? He's your man for finding what you don't even know you want!
That's Hoopes to you. 
Look responsible in a fast, manual wagon
slow manual wagon
Get some sun AND bring the kids in the back seat:
Capri
Saab
Or, a cheaper Saab
V6 manual sedan or a 4cy manual sedan
Get that Ole Honda vibe:
Accord or V6 Accord or Integra
I have not met Hoopes. I hope he introduces himself to me soon LOL.
Brad, good point. I'd like to do an occasional autocross with is, especially because I have a 17 year-old daughter and a 15 year-old son that I want to know how to drive a stick and to really learn how to handle a car a the limits. Auto-x has always been a part of my driver's ed home schooling.
Thanks for the list. You've given me some things to think about.
DrBoost said:I have not met Hoopes. I hope he introduces himself to me soon LOL.
Meeting him will change your life. I know it has mine!
In reply to DrBoost :
We have had 2 Audi TTs, very fun cars. We'd still have the VR6 one if it was a manual. We sold it for $4k a month ago. The 1.8t we had was an awesome car until the turbo started letting go so we sold it with full disclosure also for $4k. VR had 198k miles and the 1.8t had about 180k. The VR was an '04 and the 1.8t was an '00.
I was just in the market for a $5k winter beater and immediately went to GTI. I ended up with a bucket list mk6 R with 105k miles for more than your price range.
We did not have any electrical issues with any except for the 1.8t had a couple dash issues. It was constantly 1999 in it but all of the other stuff mostly worked. There are places that will redo and warrantee these instrument clusters.
I am a big VAG guy so I will put up with and usually fix the little annoying electrical issues.
Did anyone mention a Boxter?
In reply to DrBoost :
We're close, not super close, but reasonably close. I'm up just North of Clearwater. You are not in a prime used auto area in PC. If you can figure out a short list of potential vehicles, you may want to look as far away as Atlanta to find a decent example. Atlanta is an easy one day fly and drive.
How could you sell your IS-F? My wife barely lets me drive hers.
In reply to John Welsh :
The feeling is mutual.
hobiercr said:In reply to DrBoost :
We're close, not super close, but reasonably close. I'm up just North of Clearwater. You are not in a prime used auto area in PC. If you can figure out a short list of potential vehicles, you may want to look as far away as Atlanta to find a decent example. Atlanta is an easy one day fly and drive.
How could you sell your IS-F? My wife barely lets me drive hers.
I have NO issue doing a fly and drive, so to me Atlanta is right next door.
Funny, the two MINIs you posted are already in my saved list LOL. But before I pull the trigger, I'm going to expand my geographic search. It's just a pain in FB market place since 100 miles is the widest search I can do.
The IS is really interesting.
DrBoost said:It's just a pain in FB market place since 100 miles is the widest search I can do.
Why is that? Are you on your phone or the website? On the website I change cities and mileage (up to 500) search criteria all the time.
hobiercr said:DrBoost said:It's just a pain in FB market place since 100 miles is the widest search I can do.
Why is that? Are you on your phone or the website? On the website I change cities and mileage (up to 500) search criteria all the time.
On my phone. I'll start using a PC.
Are you the Hoops they speak of in hushed tones?
Yep, with an "e" though.
Ok, somebody please translate this ad for me LOL. Is this some sort of uber-cool stuff that I'm oblivious to because I'm almost 50?
In reply to hobiercr :
Good to meet you. From the links you posted, I'm in trouble lol. But that's just what I wanted, some variety and things I hadn't thought of yet.
E46 330i? It should be better than a mini for maintenance, worse than a miata. Great DD from a space/sporty/comfort/ergo standpoint. I love mine.
Hoopes is basically royalty when it comes to finding things for sale that you didn't know you needed. It's a damn good thing I'm on the other side of the country.
To the original question, 5500 should buy a really nice NB, or the cleanest duratec focus hatch there is. The 2005.5 zx3 is a really fun and light hatch with a bunch of available goodies.
If you're interested in the world's highest mileage Cobalt SS/SC coupe (literally, 320K+ miles, 1 owner), I can talk to Pops.
ThunderCougarFalconGoat was thinking of selling his NB with hardtop in Clearwater.
In reply to barefootskater5000 :
Now you're just trying to make me blush.
In reply to DrBoost :
Looks like someone used speach-to-text and didn't bother to correct or edit anything.
"Rides damn good"
I can't tell if they're saying the Catalytic converter is all right, or if it's on coilovers with a flowmaster?
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