Advice for selecting a car around $5000-8000

Xecuter

Golden Member
Aug 17, 2004
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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.
 

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
1
0
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.
 

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
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.
 

Dr. Detroit

Diamond Member
Sep 25, 2004
8,343
789
126
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.
 

RavenSEAL

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2010
8,661
3
0
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.

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.
 

ballmode

Lifer
Aug 17, 2005
10,246
2
0
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

Lifer
Aug 17, 2005
10,246
2
0
They make Del Sol Vtec, personally I think for 8k your best bets for an everyday car with sporty flair is

RSX-S
WRX
 

RavenSEAL

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2010
8,661
3
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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...?

S2000s just keep going up since they canceled production. :(
 

thedarkwolf

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 1999
9,015
114
106
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?
 

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
FTFY

Psshhh...

At ~$8k, a $2k daily driver and then a $6k MR2 Turbo would work...but I wouldn't want an MR2 Turbo as my only car unless I left it alone. Which, naturally, is hard to do. :awe:
 

Xecuter

Golden Member
Aug 17, 2004
1,596
0
76
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.

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.
 

Xecuter

Golden Member
Aug 17, 2004
1,596
0
76
I'm working full time and saving money for school so maybe? Probably not.

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?
 

Xecuter

Golden Member
Aug 17, 2004
1,596
0
76
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.

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

RSX-S
WRX
 

kaerflog

Golden Member
Jul 23, 2010
1,899
4
76
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

Golden Member
Aug 17, 2004
1,596
0
76
If we can set up a deal I'll fly out and drive it right on home :D

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.
 

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
1
0
8k is in the far side of things. My parents are buying my car from me for 5k.

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.
 

kaerflog

Golden Member
Jul 23, 2010
1,899
4
76
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
 

RavenSEAL

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2010
8,661
3
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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.