Sporty car for less than 5 grand. Update: see 1st post!

[CAMAROBOY69]

I would honestly go for a year round vehicle like the Subaru 2.5 RS as you already suggested. I currently daily drive a 2005 Subaru RS and I LOVE this car all year. Even more in the winter since its AWD and has one of the best heaters in any vehicle I have driven in my life. Its just an all around excellent car. Looks great, fairly quick stock, AWD is perfect for winter, insurance is cheap, and the gas mileage is around 25-28mpg. I dont think you will get any better than a Subaru Impreza RS for an all around "sports" car in your $5,000 price range.

If I got an impreza it would most likely be one before 2002 because the older body style is much cheaper. Also I think the 2 doors are sportier cars.

That is correct. If you are interrested in Subaru 2.5 RS then you will probably be around the 2000-2002 year. You might even be able to get lucky and find a 00-02 WRX for $5,000.
As for the 2 door, yes they do look more sporty but the insurance will be a little higher. Probably not much higher but a 2 door is almost always higher insurance than a 4 door. I forgot to mention that not only do the Subarus look good, get good gas mileage, cheap on insurance, and AWD for winter, but they also handle VERY VERY well.
Oh just an FYI, I picked up my 2005 2.5 Impreza RS for $4,600 but it was in a wreck and had a salvage title. I only put a few hundred into it to get it drivable and have been driving it for over 2 years now with no problems. So if you dont mind working on cars, a salvage car could be an option if you want a newer year Subaru than 2000-2002.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

Yea but it would be a Ford.

You got an excellent point there.

 

[savage388]

That is correct. If you are interrested in Subaru 2.5 RS then you will probably be around the 2000-2002 year. You might even be able to get lucky and find a 00-02 WRX for $5,000.
As for the 2 door, yes they do look more sporty but the insurance will be a little higher. Probably not much higher but a 2 door is almost always higher insurance than a 4 door. I forgot to mention that not only do the Subarus look good, get good gas mileage, cheap on insurance, and AWD for winter, but they also handle VERY VERY well.
Oh just an FYI, I picked up my 2005 2.5 Impreza RS for $4,600 but it was in a wreck and had a salvage title. I only put a few hundred into it to get it drivable and have been driving it for over 2 years now with no problems. So if you dont mind working on cars, a salvage car could be an option if you want a newer year Subaru than 2000-2002.

Whatever I get I'd like to find an r title, they're cheaper amd usually the don't have problems. You jut have to know who did the work on it.:tup.

You got an excellent point there.

That is a good point.

 

[eight6er]

I don't know if you ever got the Mazda Familia GTX or Nissan Pulsar GTiR where you live, but they are my favourite AWD turbo cars that I have driven, much more fun than WRX.

 

[Bottoz]

$5000 for the 944, but make sure you have another 5 laying around to fix it.

I bought my most recent 944 for $600 with a blown engine. I had the engine rebuilt for under $2k, and I've been racing the 🤬 out of it for the last 3 years with ZERO engine failures. It uses no oil, maintains rock solid oil pressure and hasn't lost power. If you fix a 944 correctly, it will run nicely.

The ONLY problem I've had is with Made In China CV Joints. 25+ year old junk yard CV-joints and axles haven't given me any problems. Again, I only use this car on the race track. And I run it as hard as I can.

 

[Slash]

Yea but it would be a Ford.

Nothing wrong with Ford.

 

[Jim Prower]

I don't know if you ever got the Mazda Familia GTX or Nissan Pulsar GTiR where you live, but they are my favourite AWD turbo cars that I have driven, much more fun than WRX.

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnope.

 

[savage388]

I was thinking, what about the old 3000gt sl's and dodge stealth? I won't get a turbo for 5k but the v6 has some go.

 

[SpartanG]

I was thinking, what about the old 3000gt sl's and dodge stealth? I won't get a turbo for 5k but the v6 has some go.

It's a cool car, but it's basically reached the point of urban legend that these cars are possessed or something. They kill a lot of people. This might not be a universal thing but I've heard a lot of stories about weird stuff with this car. (I just looked it up on urban dictionary and nothing so maybe im just pulling junk out my ass)

And with the 944, the thing you have to consider is this: the car may be cheap up front but there's a reason. Back when the car was being bought MSRP it was affordable by the average family unlike other porsches. So people bought them but then they saw Porsche upkeep and maintenance prices and did a and did not maintain the car properly. So the cars left now tend to be neglected, not running well, etc because they did not recieve the tuneups and services they needed. In order to get one that was maintained properly you will not be anywhere near your 5k budget.

My opinion is, get a miata and drive the hell out of it. Few cars teach the driver as well as this one can. Plus insurance will be as low as you can possibly get (because of the 1.6/8 engine and low crash rates) and its insanely cheap to own. Great canyon carver if you'er lucky enough to be located near roads like that. extremely simple car that is a ton of fun. If you can't tell, I want one myself. And about buying one with winters, you just need to actually buy it between the times of november through january. At these times, people are looking to get rid of these kinds of cars for the winter so it's a buyer's market. In the spring and summer everyone and their grandma wants a convertible. Now it's a sellers market and prices will be higher.

 

[savage388]

It's a cool car, but it's basically reached the point of urban legend that these cars are possessed or something. They kill a lot of people. This might not be a universal thing but I've heard a lot of stories about weird stuff with this car. (I just looked it up on urban dictionary and nothing so maybe im just pulling junk out my ass)

And with the 944, the thing you have to consider is this: the car may be cheap up front but there's a reason. Back when the car was being bought MSRP it was affordable by the average family unlike other porsches. So people bought them but then they saw Porsche upkeep and maintenance prices and did a and did not maintain the car properly. So the cars left now tend to be neglected, not running well, etc because they did not recieve the tuneups and services they needed. In order to get one that was maintained properly you will not be anywhere near your 5k budget.

My opinion is, get a miata and drive the hell out of it. Few cars teach the driver as well as this one can. Plus insurance will be as low as you can possibly get (because of the 1.6/8 engine and low crash rates) and its insanely cheap to own. Great canyon carver if you'er lucky enough to be located near roads like that. extremely simple car that is a ton of fun. If you can't tell, I want one myself. And about buying one with winters, you just need to actually buy it between the times of november through january. At these times, people are looking to get rid of these kinds of cars for the winter so it's a buyer's market. In the spring and summer everyone and their grandma wants a convertible. Now it's a sellers market and prices will be higher.

I know a kid with a 3000 gt sl and it is nice. The reason they kill people is the old Awd "I can do anything" motto that kids with evos and wrx's have too.
As for the Porsche yea I'm concerned about the condition but if I do my research properly I think I could find a good deal.
I'm leaning away from a miata because i live in an area thats really hilly and my current 1.6 L makes it work when I don't want to have to shift up and down to keep it in the powerband all the time. Plus if I'm buying something that I've got to store for winter I would like more performance for my money. I'd also like to take it to track days occasionally and a coupe is stiffer and safer.

 

[SpartanG]

oh, PA rep

And fair enough about the Miata. If you're saying that you would store it for the winter, then does that mean you'd be owning two cars? Cause that would be a great idea. It would slow down mileage and wear on both cars and you can legitimately list the one vehicle on your insurance as a recreation vehicle, saving you some money.

 

[savage388]

oh, PA rep

And fair enough about the Miata. If you're saying that you would store it for the winter, then does that mean you'd be owning two cars? Cause that would be a great idea. It would slow down mileage and wear on both cars and you can legitimately list the one vehicle on your insurance as a recreation vehicle, saving you some money.

Yep PA
Yea I would buy a winter beater in the fall for cheap and store it in the summer. I may sell it if I need money but you get the drift. My main goal is to save money by listing one that way. Or I would pick up liability on both, whatever is cheaper.

 

[masterrawad]

get a maserati biturbo. i remember seeing one on cars.com for $3995.

 

[Azuremen]

Along the Miata suggestion, an old MR2 can be a decent amount of fun as well. Though a bit more of a hassle to fix up and a touch heavier. But they seem to go for less than Miatas and I'd say are just as fun, and sometimes more fun because they like to go backward

You could also look into an early E36 325i, but do research there and be ready to have to some work yourself. E36 parts aren't expensive really, since they made something close to infinity cars with that chassis. Not too bad to work on, but some things will kill if you have a dealer or shop take care of it.

And then there is the Integra option, which can be a good amount of fun. Honda knows how to build an enjoyable FWD car (VW does too, but those fall apart and explode) and there is quite a bit that can be done with the platform.

 

[savage388]

Along the Miata suggestion, an old MR2 can be a decent amount of fun as well. Though a bit more of a hassle to fix up and a touch heavier. But they seem to go for less than Miatas and I'd say are just as fun, and sometimes more fun because they like to go backward

You could also look into an early E36 325i, but do research there and be ready to have to some work yourself. E36 parts aren't expensive really, since they made something close to infinity cars with that chassis. Not too bad to work on, but some things will kill if you have a dealer or shop take care of it.

And then there is the Integra option, which can be a good amount of fun. Honda knows how to build an enjoyable FWD car (VW does too, but those fall apart and explode) and there is quite a bit that can be done with the platform.

I just seem to have an aversion to fwd after seeing how often cv joints and wheel bearings need to be on normal fwd cars I don't care to imagine a performance fwd car. I just believe it's a bad design, it's a shame too because I do think the integra's are quite good looking.

 

[Azuremen]

I just seem to have an aversion to fwd after seeing how often cv joints and wheel bearings need to be on normal fwd cars I don't care to imagine a performance fwd car. I just believe it's a bad design, it's a shame too because I do think the integra's are quite good looking.

Well, I've owned most of what I was suggesting - only thing different is my E36 is an M car. The Integra is surprisingly enjoyable, even the cheap LS I had. A GSR would be quite fun.

I'd say at least give a few a test drive, just to see.

 

[Anna+Reece]

A 3000GT SL wouldn't be bad, and I'm not trying to sound biased because I daily one. They really are fun cars and I got mine for way less than 5k.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> Take it from my personal experience:

The OG Toyota 86 (AE88 to be precise)

^ Like the MX-5 Miata; its slow, fun, lightweight, bulletproof, RWD, and easy on the gas. But unlike the Miata, it seats four, has more cargo room (in hatch form), and a bit easy on the insurance (depending on state).

-> For a cool 5-grand, you will evidently find a clean one in your area. But don't be fooled by your friends doing 'Tha Initial D' crap, as I'm using mine as a DD in parallel to my S2K.

 

[SVX]

1 owner Eclipse. I know you said you don't want FWD, but you gotta take a look at this.

A very minty S13.

A another 1 owner car, this time a Prelude. I know, I know....

If a old Celica suits you, this one is for you.

Hopefully I helped you.

 

[savage388]

-> Take it from my personal experience:

The OG Toyota 86 (AE88 to be precise)

^ Like the MX-5 Miata; its slow, fun, lightweight, bulletproof, RWD, and easy on the gas. But unlike the Miata, it seats four, has more cargo room (in hatch form), and a bit easy on the insurance (depending on state).

-> For a cool 5-grand, you will evidently find a clean one in your area. But don't be fooled by your friends doing 'Tha Initial D' crap, as I'm using mine as a DD in parallel to my S2K.

For some reason here in western PA we are all country bumpkins so there are no older Japanese sports cars like the ae86, s13,or supra. The rich people buy German and the rednecks buy American, there are tons of mustangs theyre everywhere and all beat.

1 owner Eclipse. I know you said you don't want FWD, but you gotta take a look at this.

A very minty S13.

A another 1 owner car, this time a Prelude. I know, I know....

If a old Celica suits you, this one is for you.

Hopefully I helped you.

I really like that stock 240sx. You never see those anymore, too bad it's an automatic.

 

[SVX]

I really like that stock 240sx. You never see those anymore, too bad it's an automatic.

Can't be that hard to swap, can it? I know Perfect Balance did it with is S13.

 

[savage388]

Can't be that hard to swap, can it? I know Perfect Balance did it with is S13.

I'm not sure. I don't think of want to tear into something like that right away even of it was.

 

[YSSMAN]

How about an ST204 Celica?


Compared to the other sports coupes of that generation (Integra GS-R, Civic Si, Eclipse GS, etc) the Celica was the slower, slightly more gentlemanly vehicle of the bunch. Using the same basic bits and pieces used in the Corolla and Camry, throwing on some Supra-inspired styling bits, Toyota came up with a car that was adequate in the performance category, but wouldn't kill you in the process. The ride/handling balance is where the car wins, in my book anyway. Straightline performance is not its best category, but with the right tires, it will still hang out there with modern sport compacts. That's pretty impressive for a design dating back to 1993...

More or less, you can pick up an ST204 for less than $5000. It will be as reliable as a wood-burning stove, can easily be worked on with tools you already have (probably), and if you have to replace parts, they're all on-shelf bits and pieces that are very affordable. Insurance rates aren't too bad, and even though the car is sporty, it isn't enough to get you in trouble.


You could go with a later ST230 or ST231, but they seem to be harder to find in an unmolested, well-kept state. An ST231 would probably cost an arm and a leg to insure, but outside of that, I can't say much about that generation of Celica. There is a back seat, and people can possibly fit in them, just like mine. Power is available if you've got the ZZ2, but it is a narrow band. Thankfully, the car weighs less, so it scoots... Handling, once again, is the Toyota's strongest suit.




Otherwise, if you want a cheap sleeper...

The MKIII Jetta GLX is about as quiet as a quick car can come. Volkswagen jammed the big 2.7L VR6 in that itty-bitty package and ended up producing a fast sedan that no one really remembers. At the time, the GLX was one of the fastest, small German sedans that you could buy. Problem is, insurance is expensive, and reliability is as variable as the Michigan weather. Fuel economy exists... If you drive it nicely. If you think of it as a four-door Corrado, then by all means, you've got one of the coolest Volkswagens ever.

 

[eiriksmil]

* 2.8
Jettas can be dope though..

A fast sedan that no one really remembers? lol

 

[savage388]

* 2.8
Jettas can be dope though..

A fast sedan that no one really remembers? lol

Getting a 90's vw is a scary proposition because they are either they are great or they are total lemons, and there are quite a few bad ones out there.

 

[YSSMAN]

Aside from my transmission problems that eventually killed the car, my '96 Jetta was pretty reliable. It really does depend, and as the rule of thumb goes with most Volkswagen products, the later it was produced in the model run, the better it will be.

The main thing to remember whenever looking at a used Volkswagen, if they don't have the paperwork for the repairs they did, or have no way of recounting the repair history, I'd walk away. If the car has lacked basic attention, it is more likely to be a ticking time bomb than anything else... No matter the price.

 

[savage388]

Aside from my transmission problems that eventually killed the car, my '96 Jetta was pretty reliable. It really does depend, and as the rule of thumb goes with most Volkswagen products, the later it was produced in the model run, the better it will be.

The main thing to remember whenever looking at a used Volkswagen, if they don't have the paperwork for the repairs they did, or have no way of recounting the repair history, I'd walk away. If the car has lacked basic attention, it is more likely to be a ticking time bomb than anything else... No matter the price.

A lot of people that I've talked to that have owned them either love them because they had a great vw, or hate them because they got a bad one. This is particularly true with people that had jettas. I've found that Audi's have similar issues because I was I was looking into an a4 1.8t 5spd.

 

[YSSMAN]

My general opinion is that a Volkswagen or an Audi is about as close as you can get to owning an Alfa Romeo in the US, despite the Alfas not having been sold here for nearly two decades. The reliability is always in question, but when you boil everything down, you form a rather stupid bond with your idiot car to the point where only you can keep it together, and drive it from place to place.

My Jetta had its issues. Electronics would fail from time-to-time (lighting being the primary problem), but I'll be damned if that car didn't start up and keep running every damn day, even if it didn't quite run right. Despite all of those problems, it is still probably my favorite car I've owned... Despite the fact that any reasonable person would say that my current Toyota has been better. The only car that compare is my "85th Worst Car of All Time" Volkswagen Fox, that was ridiculously fun despite everything completely wrong about it.

I'd love to go back to Volkswagen after this Toyota, but I don't know if I could afford it.

 

[savage388]

My general opinion is that a Volkswagen or an Audi is about as close as you can get to owning an Alfa Romeo in the US, despite the Alfas not having been sold here for nearly two decades. The reliability is always in question, but when you boil everything down, you form a rather stupid bond with your idiot car to the point where only you can keep it together, and drive it from place to place.

My Jetta had its issues. Electronics would fail from time-to-time (lighting being the primary problem), but I'll be damned if that car didn't start up and keep running every damn day, even if it didn't quite run right. Despite all of those problems, it is still probably my favorite car I've owned... Despite the fact that any reasonable person would say that my current Toyota has been better. The only car that compare is my "85th Worst Car of All Time" Volkswagen Fox, that was ridiculously fun despite everything completely wrong about it.

I'd love to go back to Volkswagen after this Toyota, but I don't know if I could afford it.

Problems are what give a car character and make you love them enough to keep them way longer than anyone in there right mind should then wish to had them back when you finally sell them.. Honestly it is something I look forward to in getting an 80's or early 90's sports car. As long as it runs like 🤬 I can live with the little things.👍

 

[astrosdude91]

I second the Celica. All around great car! We have an ST230 in the family that is a very fun car. It may be a bit tough to find one that isn't riced out, but they do exist in good condition. And I can testify for Toyota reliability, it will last just about as long as you do.