The Best Car Under $10,000

Takumi Fujiwara

Takumi Fujiwara

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Max Archer
We periodically have a thread similar to this one.

This time, I'm asking the opinions of the members of this forum. What do you think the best car for under $10,000 is?

Consider this a semi-theoretical exercise. This will be a car for an experienced driver, and will be used as a primary car. But performance is also a concern, after all, no one likes to drive a car that can't handle, or is underpowered.

Consider also that $10,000 is an optimistic ceiling. Maybe $7500 is a more realistic price level, excluding a car that has enough benefits to be worth the price.

So, what do you guys think?
 
I am assuming that used cars are what you are aiming for?!? If that is the case a nice 944 turbo post mid 85 and preferrably 88-89 would be a fairly good choice... Maybe not the best but it has 240 hp and great handling abilities and tons of ability. A good 88-89 turbo s/turbo depending on the year will cost you $7-8k... so that gets my vote...
 
nissan skyline HR31 or DR30, or nissan A31 cefiro, a RX7 FB or FC would also be nice
 
Well ofcourse you all probally know what car Im going to say. The 1990-1992 Talon/Eclipse/Laser AWD. Average price is $3,000, and with another $2,000 it can run high 12's at 320 hp.
 
Might be helpfull to also give us a budget for running costs. Some cars just cost a lot more than others when it comes to that, even if you might be able to buy them for cheap.
 
a S12 silvia (FJ20DET not CA20ET) isnt a bad car ethier

this car does fall well below $10000, so extra money to throw at it
 
I'll second the nomination for a 944, but I will mention that they can be very expensive to maintain.

If you're looking for something a little newer and simpler, I recommend a '97-'99 Neon ACR coupe. It's very light, pushes at least 150 crank hp stock, and has a dynamite suspension package featuring adjustable Koni struts. You shyould be able to pick one up for $4000 or so in good condition, which leaves you enough money to play with. For about $1500 you can install a rebuilt 2.4l DOHC from a Stratus, and a few more dollars will get you goodies like a Mopar Performance ECU ($200), a nice header ($300-400), an intake ($150), and an upgraded clutch ($200), and Mopar Performance Hi-rate springs ($200 installed). So for around $7000 for the built package you can have a sleeper that handles amazingly well for a FWD car, will roast the tires well into 3rd gear, and is a ball to drive.
 
Funny how each of you recommend only what you're driving...

If you're a bandwagon jumper, get a 240SX or a Corolla GT-S, pay way too much for it and be happy about it.

If you're not, there's litterally a multitude of fun cars you can get for less than 10k.

If priced right, an RX7 TurboII can be a good investment, although it may get pricey if you're not careful with it. Same deal with the MKIII Supra.

1st and second gen MR2s are also pretty fast and fun to drive, but they tend to be a bit tricky to handle, even for experienced drivers. Celicas from the mid 90s were pretty gutless, so I wouldn't suggest bothering.

The Nissan front drivers, most notably the NX2000, the 200SX SE-R and the original Sentra SE-R, are incredible little cars. Fast, fun and cheap. Plus, they all share the SR20DE, which is a gem of an engine, and can be souped up to no end.

The Miata is a good car, too, but then you get the sexist remarks... you could always look for a 323 GT-X, but these things have shady reliability, and are getting rare. The MX3, if equipped with the V6, is also a good little car. There's always the MX6 turbo from the late 80s, if you can find one in good shape.

I'm not a big fan of Volkswagens, but you can't omit the Corrado in such a market. Stay away from the G60, even if it's priced right. It's a money pit on wheels. Golfs and Jettas are pretty boring, to me at least, but the VR6 versions have punch.

And, of course, you've got the Civic/CRX/Integra twins, which are always good buys. Reliable, fun to drive, easy to work on, and endless aftermarket options. There's always the 1992-1996 Preludes, which, in SR-V form, had the 195hp 2.2l H22A. A bit on the heavy side, though, but they are great cars.

Turbo Mopars, like the Shelby Daytona and Omni, have huge potential. A bit fragile, though, but I'd jump on the occasion if I saw one. You've got the Neon, too, as neon_duke said.

The early Ford Focus (Focii?) are always something to look at, if you like to tinker a bit. Escorts are useless. Mustangs, well, yeah, they exist. 5.0s are more desirable, but you might as well grow a mullet and say y'all every time you end a sentence. Same deal with the Camaro and the Firebird.

There are lots more, you just have to be on the lookout.
 
If you're looking for something different, you could pick up a Skyline R32 GTS in good condition for under 10k, even including import fees and such. The only problem would be finding replacement parts.
 
PR we may recommend what we drive just because that is what we know ... I think that you came up with a multitude of good cars...

I would love to own a corrado even tho its ff...
If you feel like pushing the envelope a bit you could prolly find a gc8 subbie 2.5 rs for $10-12k depending on where you live...

I second the nominations for the fb/fc rx-7's...

How about a 914... not a great porsche but has potential... ... ... Even one in great condition can't be too exp...

Or older carrera's like 70's models... carrera 2's shouldnt be too bad, but the turbos... what everyone wants might be... This is prolly one of the most exp cars to upkeep mentioned...
 
Hey, my car is for sale for $3,500.
1992 Acura Integra GS-R [DB2 w/ B17A1 engine]
(only persons who like to race/engine swap)
 
I never knew of the B17. . . I knew of a B16A1 and a B18C1 but never a B17A1. . . :odd:
 
Originally posted by miata13B
I never knew of the B17. . . I knew of a B16A1 and a B18C1 but never a B17A1. . . :odd:
Click to expand...

Because its very rare, only very few people (including myself) have seen it, in fact is even rarer than the NSX-R engine. This engine is 100% made in Japan specifically built for the US market, thats why you can't find it anywhere else but in the US.

I love my 'Teg Geezer'
 
Let me see a link to that. . . where do you live?

Originally posted by The Vanishing Boy
Because its very rare, only very few people (including myself) have seen it, in fact is even rarer than the NSX-R engine. This engine is 100% made in Japan specifically built for the US market, thats why you can't find it anywhere else but in the US.
Click to expand...

Ah a little research. . . Sounds like a 92-93 GSR engine. . . Which is truly not that rare, nor quite a find to tell the truth . . .

here 92-93
Gsr
B17A1
2G - DB
1678
10.0 : 1
160 @
7600 rpm
117 lb/ft @
7000 rpm
USA

sounds like a normaly GSR to me. . .

You truly just made an arse out of yourself. . . Sorry man. . . But I am still interested, PM me :D
 
Originally posted by PunkRock
The MX3, if equipped with the V6, is also a good little car.
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What he said... :D

Every day I get out of mine with a big-ass broad grin on my face - even if I've been trundling in 5th all the way home. Great car. Not earth-shatteringly fast, but certainly nippy in the truest sense (if you think a Ford Ka is nippy, the MX-3 V6 is roughly twice as quick to 60, has a much wider track and is half as tall). Plus it's a bird-puller (well, 3 Year 9 girls at my school were admiring it anyway).

Plus you can probably get two well cared for 1994 models for $10k.
 
Dude, Ford Probe GT all the way. Extremely reliable and confortable inside. Excellent stock suspension, very stiff and can take sharp turns at higher speeds with almost no body roll at all. They are very close in speed with a Ford Mustang V6 (alittle bit faster actually). You can find one for about $4000. If that's not fast enough, look for a KLZE engine and drop it in there. (CONSIDER IT)
 
It's an impossible choice, but I will say that $10000 buys a lot, and a lot more than people think these days. A 1995-2000 Chevrolet Tahoe or GMC Yukon 5-door is a super bet for an SUV, though later years with more stuff tend to run well over $10000.

Deals can be had on 1996-2001 Audi A4s, sending many of them under $10000 and even below $8000. They're also reliable, and about ninety percent have all-wheel drive. One of my favourite sport sedans is the 1999-2002 Infiniti G20. Yes, it was underpowered, but now it's cheap and Infiniti's badge carries some status along with it. I've been noticing some extreme dealing on 1999-2003 Saab 9-3's, particularly early models - I've seen several turbos with heated leather and a sunroof for under $9000.

The 1996-2000 Dodge Grand Caravan or Plymouth Grand Voyager is the minivan pick, not because it's better than the 1999-present Honda Odyssey, but because it's almost as good and has depreciated much faster. An outdated design by now, but dual sliding doors, some luxury features, and (not uncommonly) all-wheel drive. The Plymouth has the added bonus of having depreciated even faster than the Dodge, even though it's practically the same vehicle, with the same mechanical system that can be serviced by anyone who knows how to service the more expensive Grand Caravan.

Boring sedan of the day goes to the 1998-2002 Honda Accord, particularly V6 models, though in later years those are pricey and in early years they're a bit down on spec. Still, it's the reliable, safe bet for while you save for the current Accord. Another bland sedan with slightly more flair is the 1998-2000 Volvo S70, though non-turbocharged versions were dangerously underpowered (162bhp 2.4L 5-cyl) and turbos are rare under $10000. The 1994-1996 Volvo 850 Turbo is nearly as good. Also a nice mid-large sedan is the Australian-made 1997-present Mitsubishi Diamante, particularly because the used customer benefits from its high spec and low resale. It's boring, but a nice used buy.

Large sedan is a great class because depreciation eats large cars alive - the 1994-1999 Cadillac Deville, $40000+ when new, now fits perfectly into the price range. It's got a crap interior and horrid styling but incredible spec for $9500. Same goes for the 1992-1997 Cadillac Seville, which people seem to think is some sort of American super-sedan. Imported luxury sedans under $10000 typically aren't good bets because those that exist - LS400, 7-series, S-class - tend to be at least seven or eight years old and with somewhat spotty reliability. Exception is the 1990-1996 Infiniti Q45 which I like more than the 90-94 LS400, though I don't know why.

Sports cars in the price range are a bit tough since sports car buyers in the price range tend to know what they want. The 1997-2001 Honda Prelude and 1992-2000 Lexus SC (particularly the 400, but they're pricey) were nice sports cars, as were various 3000GTs, 300ZXs, and RX-7s through the years.
 
Originally posted by Ev0
If you're looking for something different, you could pick up a Skyline R32 GTS in good condition for under 10k, even including import fees and such. The only problem would be finding replacement parts.
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That's news to me... where have you seen a 32 for that cheap? I'd personally jump on one if I saw it, but the cheapest I've found were 18k, from MotoRex.


Oh, wait, I see you're in Canada.... I think that maybe that's true in Canada, with its 15 year import minimum age, but not in the US, where the car has to be legalized by strengthening the chassis and body and installing pollution controls.

And, as for VIPERGTSR01's suggestions, well, as sad as it is, there aren't any Skylines of any generation available in the US, aside from imported ones.

As for the 240SX, that's what I've been thinking of getting. But, as was pointed out, their popularity has raised the price. I really started the thread in hopes of finding a viable alternative. Unfortunately, it seems like an S14 is the only option....

Unless I can really find an R32 for under 10 grand.
 
Originally posted by Takumi Fujiwara

And, as for VIPERGTSR01's suggestions, well, as sad as it is, there aren't any Skylines of any generation available in the US, aside from imported ones.
Click to expand...
i thought the US at least would have the earlier versions of skylines....oh well
 
You want a pretty nice car? I'll suggest a Dodge Advenger. There pretty cool little cars and I actually looked at getting one. The Stratus is cool to. For cars I like the dodge cars. Or you could get a Early 90's Impala SS.
 
you could always look for a 323 GT-X
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I just found one with a new 2.0L 16V DOHC turbo engine swapped in. It had an adjustable LSD, and everything was tricked out. It was pushing 280hp, at 17psi of boost. It was painted to match the Xsarra Rally Carr (which can be seen in GT3). He told me he would hand over the keys for $4,000.... I was thinking about it, but i might just stick to my Silvia project.......


;)
 
i dont know where you are located, but in new jersey you can get a nissan 300zx(z32) with medium-high miles, for under 10k, and with regular maintenance those cars will last 250k-300k miles, and if it's twin turbo, u can get it up to 400-420 hp for about 2 g, stage three, and thats why im getting a nissan z323 in a couple months
 

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