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Advice for selecting a car around $5000-8000

Xecuter

Xecuter

Golden Member
Hey guys,

I recently got a 2001 Chevy Impala, 80K miles, good shape and although I like the car, I'm looking for something a little different, a little more 'fun'

Keep in mind I am going to school and don't have 20k sitting around to spend. My parents are buying the Impala from me for ~5000.

I'd like a nimble car, something pretty light and low to the ground. Think Z3, Del Sol, S2000, Miata, Porsche 944, etc.

I'd reaaaally like an S2000. I've seen some go for ~8000 with a salvage title and others in good shape go for 10-11k and I can't convince myself to spend that when it really should be going towards school.

So I'm opening it up for your thoughts.

$5-8k, light, nimble, manual tranny, 80-140k miles (140 is pushing it), decent gas mileage (no V8's), plain just enjoyable to drive.
 
Don't go for a salvage title unless you really know what you're doing, it's too much of a gamble.

Honestly, I think your best bet is a miata. An early 2000's one should be in your price range.
 
1991-1995 Toyota MR2
2000+ Toyota MR-S
2000+ Toyota Celica GTS
2002-ish Subaru WRX
Any Miata

I'm sure there are plenty more.
 
Keep the Impala - its a known quantity - buying someones problems for $5K while in school is a bad decision.

Stay focused on school and buy yourself a graduation present when you land a job.

As others have said - Miata is your best bet.
 
Fmr12B said:
Keep the Impala - its a known quantity - buying someones problems for $5K while in school is a bad decision.

Stay focused on school and buy yourself a graduation present when you land a job.

As others have said - Miata is your best bet.
Click to expand...

To be honest, at around 8k, you can find some REALLY nice, well taken care of Miatas with tons of customization that ramp up the fun.

I'm assuming the OP already knows this, but just a reminder, Miatas aren't exactly the standard of safety.
 
Easiest find would be the WRX, but they suck in stock form but its a good platform.

S2000 isn't that cheap yet and I doubt ever will before being destroyed.

Miata, maybe LS1 Maro...?
 
ballmode said:
Easiest find would be the WRX, but they suck in stock form but its a good platform.

S2000 isn't that cheap yet and I doubt ever will before being destroyed.

Miata, maybe LS1 Maro...?
Click to expand...

S2000s just keep going up since they canceled production. 🙁
 
You can find a really nice miata in that price range. Only paid $2200 for my 95 with a bad top. Planning to do any autox or anything?
 
My parents are buying the impala from me because they just totaled their car. I was thinking about shelling out the money for an S2K but that'll be a "landed my first job" present.

So a lot of you have said the Miata is a good choice. I'm a little nervous about driving around in a Miata because of the whole emasculation complex that comes with it.

Fmr12B said:
Keep the Impala - its a known quantity - buying someones problems for $5K while in school is a bad decision.

Stay focused on school and buy yourself a graduation present when you land a job.

As others have said - Miata is your best bet.
Click to expand...
 
I'm not catching it - is this a jab at "VTEC YO!"

I'm a fan of the Del Sol, but it seems others like the Miata more.

ballmode said:
They make Del Sol Vtec, personally I think for 8k your best bets for an everyday car with sporty flair is

RSX-S
WRX
Click to expand...
 
You can defInately find an 00-01 non abused S2000 for $8k. Too bad you live in Minnesota cause I have a pretty nice S2000 that I haven't been driving.
 
Xecuter said:
8k is in the far side of things. My parents are buying my car from me for 5k.
Click to expand...

This still seems like you'd be better off putting as much money as possible towards school. It's nice to have a "fun" car but if you're taking out loans or trying to save up for school it will be better to wait on it.
 
I don't think he needs a lecture in this thread.
What he's doing is pretty reasonable.
Hes getting $5k from the old car so he's only putting in $1k-$3k
 
TBH, I'm having problems finding a good car around 8K.

All the paper work for my loan has been processed and for the past month and a half that I've been looking, literally NOTHING has caught my attention.

I do have limitations of 2002+/-100K mileage though...

What annoys me the most is that I was settled in an Altima and in a matter of a week, all the ones I was looking at magically disappeared from the face of the fucking earth, including the ones in Orlando.

Now all I can find are Pontiac Sunfires, Audis that have been stolen twice and a crapton of PT Cruisers.
 
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