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$5000 for a sporty commuter car - ideas?

jlee

jlee

Lifer
The Civic that my parents were looking at fell through so the hunt is on again. Before, we were trying to find an 02-04 Civic coupe 5sp, but now we're broadening the search a little.

Requirements:
Standard transmission
Keyless entry
Air conditioning
Any color other than white
Cheap to fix (too far for me to do it, and they don't do their own work) - so no VW/Audi/etc
and "wicked good fuel mileage."

Preferred:
2 door
Bright color (blue, red, orange, etc)
Fairly low miles (i.e. no 150k cars)

I'm looking around for Civic coupes and may check out Maximas, maybe a Sentra Spec V, but I don't know anything about them.

Any other suggestions? We're hoping to start calling tonight and looking tomorrow (I'm off work 'till Thursday), with the goal of having something purchased by Wednesday. I'm in NH, and we're willing to drive 300-400 miles if necessary.


Edit:
Does not like Accord coupes
Maxima is too big and thirsty (which is too bad because I found an 02 6sp with 109k for $5200)
Civic hatch is ugly
Focus hatch is ugly
Hatches (period) are ugly

Now that we've settled on the above, I'm thinking a Civic coupe may be the only option left. 😛
 
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and old mazda3 or focus? don't know about the "wicked good fuel mileage"

se-r's used to have the sr20, but in like 2003 or something they changed to the altima's 2.5 qr motor, so it should be fairly cheap to fix/maintain
 
They test drove a Celica and didn't like how it felt inside. I'm not a big fan of Sunfires, but if ATG's consensus is that they're decent cars, we can check it out.

I did see a few Cobalts in that price range - how are they?
 
jlee said:
They test drove a Celica and didn't like how it felt inside. I'm not a big fan of Sunfires, but if ATG's consensus is that they're decent cars, we can check it out.

I did see a few Cobalts in that price range - how are they?
Click to expand...
Cobalts/sunfire are shit. I don't know why anyone would buy them unless they got it for a 50% discount of MSRP.
 
if it's not an SS, it's going to be slow as shit and have the generic shitty GM interior

but the SS (if it's the turbo or supercharged ones) can at least be fast/sporty but I don't think you'll find a decent one in that price range, but you can look for the saturn ion redlines too if you like it
 
You're probably not likely to easily find one with low miles, but look around for a Mitsubishi Mirage couple. 5th gen was I think 97-01 or 02, and I occasionally see one with 70k or so on the clock. I had a 4th gen a few years back and I loved it. It had pep, handled well, was decent looking (Cherry Red), and I got better than 30 mpg combined. I had an AT with a 1.8L, but a 1.5L model was made that was MT. Never read a bad thing about them, and what they were easy as heck to work on, even for a bumbling noob mechanic.
 
I've got an '01 Civic Ex Coupe...but I live in TX, soon to be MN and I don't have a replacement AND it's got about 145k mi on it.

Wait a tick, since you love your parents so much you'll have no problem letting my borrow your miata while I find a DD. Thanks JCH, you're a pal.
 
toyota echo

vvti engine is very peppy, faster than it looks, 40mpg, lightweight, reliable, and cheap to fix.

trick is finding one, they are kinda rare.
 
Scion TC or Nissan Altima Coupe

After all they really just want something that looks sporty...not sure if you can find one in the price range though...

My wife used to have a 2004 Civic Coupe...albiet 4spd automatic. Great gas mileage, but it drove poorly and the brakes were HORRIBLE (not ABS).
 
Friend of mine has a blue 2000 or 2001 Civic 2-door that is pretty solid. Those are decent cars for the money, easy to work on, and reliable. Keep looking...
 
Hyundai Elantra GT sedan

Almost 40 mpg highway, mid to high 20s city depending on how you drive

It's a 4 door and kind of ugly depending on your taste, but they are really reliable IMO and very cheap. My girlfriend's has 150k+ on it and I just bought one for my mom

Acura RSX or Integra

Honestly I think a VW would be fine too. Nothing that expensive to maintain about a with a well maintained Jetta (2.0) although it would be slow
 
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jlee said:
Requirements:
Standard transmission
Keyless entry
Air conditioning
Any color other than white
Cheap to fix (too far for me to do it, and they don't do their own work) - so no VW/Audi/etc
and "wicked good fuel mileage."

Preferred:
2 door
Bright color (blue, red, orange, etc)
Fairly low miles (i.e. no 150k cars)
Click to expand...

Mazda Miata 1994-2001 (To keep within your price range)

Unless you have a 4 seat minimum, the Miata meets all of your criteria and is one of the most enjoyable cars to drive ever built.
 
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