best fun/reliable vehicle for around 6k???

chin311

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2003
4,307
3
81
my current car is alright i guess, 1996 corolla auto...it does what it does...but isnt much fun to drive...

anyway, i dont have lots of money to spend on a car, but would like something relatively fun and nice without crazy insurance rates as well ;)

im gonna sell my current car for hopefully about 3.5-4k and then pay the rest in cash hopefully...

anyway, im looking at the following:

96-up VW jetta/golf/gti?
90's 240sx (so far my #1 choice :p)
mid 90's impreza if i could find one?
anything in this category, or anything for that fact, just not something thats gonna cost me a fortune in repairs or a rare car (ie, rx7, etc)

i DONT want another civic/corolla/protege type, im tired of em ;)

i was even considering a 4x4 toyota pickup or similar, my brother is into offroading so thatd be fun too, not sure about insurance on those tho...

any thoughts? thx.
 

WhiteKnight

Platinum Member
May 21, 2001
2,952
0
0
Jettas aren't that great in the resale market. They are nice cars, just make sure that you watch out.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,387
8,154
126
A '95 GTi w/ the VR6 will certainly be a blast to drive.

<--- Satisfied GTi owner :D
 

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,511
219
106
I'm buying another Corolla for 500 bucks...1981 SR5 (5sp RWD 2dr coupe)..you could look for one of those :p
 

chin311

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2003
4,307
3
81
Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
Jettas aren't that great in the resale market. They are nice cars, just make sure that you watch out.

what do you mean? pricing or reliablity and quality?
 

amgkid

Senior member
Sep 12, 2000
392
0
0
get a miata! rwd, great handling. not sure how new of one you can get, but they're reasonably cheap nowadays
 

chin311

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2003
4,307
3
81
Originally posted by: amgkid
get a miata! rwd, great handling. not sure how new of one you can get, but they're reasonably cheap nowadays

yuck, im 6'0 and i dont like that car, PLUS the insurance on those things is skyhigh, im an 18 yr old MALE, insurance hates me ;)
 

Parrotheader

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 1999
3,434
1
0
I'm not sure about your area, but generally speaking, your rates on a pickup should be about as low as you can get for any type vehicle. I honestly don't know if 4x4 will have much of an effect on your rates, but judging by the way most younger guys treat their 4x4s I wouldn't be surprised if there's a bit of a higher cost associated with.
 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
8
0
Get a 1996 or newwer Firdbird or Camaro with a V6. More power than your last car, but very fun and good on gas, for a sports car.

No timing belt, reliable, and 200Hp.
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,034
546
126
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Get a 1996 or newwer Firdbird or Camaro with a V6. More power than your last car, but very fun and good on gas, for a sports car.

No timing belt, reliable, and 200Hp.

V6 F-body!!!! BLASPHEMY!!
 

chin311

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2003
4,307
3
81
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Get a 1996 or newwer Firdbird or Camaro with a V6. More power than your last car, but very fun and good on gas, for a sports car.

No timing belt, reliable, and 200Hp.

hahahha, yah right, did you not read what i said about insurance? i'd be crazy on those...unless you plan to make donations...

o, and im not too fond of domestics ;) but thanks :p
 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
8
0
Originally posted by: NutBucket
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Get a 1996 or newwer Firdbird or Camaro with a V6. More power than your last car, but very fun and good on gas, for a sports car.

No timing belt, reliable, and 200Hp.

V6 F-body!!!! BLASPHEMY!!



Well I highly doubt he can afford the insurnace on a V8 ;) Let alone keep from killing himself. That and my mom had a V6 Camaro, very fast and quiet.

 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
8
0
Originally posted by: chin311
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Get a 1996 or newwer Firdbird or Camaro with a V6. More power than your last car, but very fun and good on gas, for a sports car.

No timing belt, reliable, and 200Hp.

hahahha, yah right, did you not read what i said about insurance? i'd be crazy on those...unless you plan to make donations...

o, and im not too fond of domestics ;) but thanks :p


Insurance is not that high on the V6, as the body is made to hold a V8 so it is safer in some areas than some econo box like a civic, so the insurance is the same sometimes less.

The insurance on my first car, V6 Firdbird, was less than a friend of mines Nissian sentra, just because the sentra is not as safe in a t-bone or re-end accident. So my insurance was cheaper, and I had a much better car.

 

chin311

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2003
4,307
3
81
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
New Cavvy?

With the rebates, cashbacks, and etc, aren't they around that pricepoint?

- M4H

wow, a NEW cavvy for 6kish?? thats insanely cheap...its a cavalier, but still thats C H E A P.
 

bcterps

Platinum Member
Aug 31, 2000
2,795
0
76
Save your money. You already have a reliable car, the money will come in handy, trust me.
 

chin311

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2003
4,307
3
81
Originally posted by: benchiu
Save your money. You already have a reliable car, the money will come in handy, trust me.

this is true...but ive always settled on having a 'reliable' car, but now i can afford a lil' something funner...and ive always liked 240's, i could stick w/ my current car for another year or so tops, then id prolly go insane from driving a corolla for that long :confused:
 

kly1222

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,102
0
0
AE86 corolla gts, 240sx, or an old school rx7... my top three affordable fun cars to drive. Reliability varies with all used cars. Helps if you can get it from someone you know and trust, and also avoid those that are turbo/supercharged as the added strain on the engine over time will start to cause problems.
 

bigshot

Senior member
Feb 13, 2001
649
0
0
90-93 integras
look better tahn the 94+
nice performance, good fuel milage, and reliable

nice car for the money espeically the 1.7L GSR
 

scorp00

Senior member
Mar 21, 2001
994
0
71
Insurance on powerful V8 sports cars isn't much more than it is on weak 4 cylinder 2 door cars. My insurance only went up $75 going from a geo storm(classified as a sports car with 110hp) to a '95 firebird formula with 275hp. I don't know if your parents will do it, but you can swap who's driving who's car and it saves a TON on insurance.

Also, i'd recommend a '93-95 V8 fbody. :D You can get one for 6k pretty easily, and they are fairly trouble free. Or maybe a fox body 5.0 mustang, they are real easy to repair. V8's are MUCH more fun than regular 4's and 6's.
 

WinkOsmosis

Banned
Sep 18, 2002
13,990
0
0
If I were you, I would get a 4runner or Tacoma and offroad with the brother. It's just a bigger difference from having a car, and you will appreciate the fun more than just getting a sportier car. Honestly, none of the cars you listed is funner enough to be worth $6000. A 240sx is RWD and handles great, but with only 135hp-155hp, it's ridiculous to replace your Corolla with it.
 

bcterps

Platinum Member
Aug 31, 2000
2,795
0
76
Originally posted by: chin311
Originally posted by: benchiu Save your money. You already have a reliable car, the money will come in handy, trust me.
this is true...but ive always settled on having a 'reliable' car, but now i can afford a lil' something funner...and ive always liked 240's, i could stick w/ my current car for another year or so tops, then id prolly go insane from driving a corolla for that long :confused:

Damn, I guess I must be insane since I'm still driving my 1990 Honda Accord (~175k miles). :)

I do want to buy a new car right now, but I'm waiting till my car completely falls apart. I think I can squeeze out another couple of years.