Most fun to drive car under 12,000???

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: AmigaMan
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Miata. They have a huge aftermarket and forced induction kits start at around $1k.</end quote></div>

Seconded...if you can get in one. My brother has one and it's one tough sucker to get into and I'm only 6'1" (admittedly a little overweight too). But it's fun to drive out in the twisties. Top down, cruising the Blue Ridge Parkway with your SO is lots o fun!

But what do you wear on the other foot? Heheh j/k

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: exdeath
Hate to say it considering how anti-American ATOT is when it comes to cars, but I'd say a Mustang GT or Camaro is right up his alley. Look up "fun and sporty, back seat, under $12,000, and cheap to maintain" in the dictionary and there will be a picture of a Mustang or Camaro next to it.

Anything else I can think of are either two seaters (MR2), more than $12g (M3), or both (Boxster).

Maybe a Celica GT or an Integra or something? SRT-4 has a back seat and can fetch under $12g, but they are pretty much guaranteed to be beat to hell being both cheap and stupid powerful. Guess it depends on how much weight is placed on "fun" vs "practical"

Depends also on what is an acceptable year range. A 1986 Corolla AE86 4AGE is a fun car in the $5k range.

Yeah, a mustang GT would suit him pretty well as long as it was well taken care of. Although I'll still maintain the celica is a much better handler, although both will get the job done speed/handling wise. As was said - it really depends on what you consider fun.

I dont think I've seen an Integra on the street that wasnt beat to sh*t or riced to all hell in years though, but its a good choice as well.

 

[Arkaign]

Step 1 : Find a Lotus Esprit 80s model with a blown engine for $5k

Step 2 : Get a crate 5.7 GM motor

Step 3 : Get a tranny, motor mounts, wiring harness, and someone with the tools and patience to bolt it up

Step 4 : Fun 🙂

 

[Arkaign]

Hehe, I've seen a LS4 80s Esprit in Dallas before, at a swap meet in Irving, but check this out :

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/152919.htm

Bet that's a crapload of fun. When you find one of those Esprits, the stock 4cyl turbo motor is usually toast, and the car is dirt cheap. Awesome project potential, I want one someday.

 

[ballmode]

miata

or e36 m3

 

[helpme]

Originally posted by: BD2003
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: helpme
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Cattlegod
2003 SRT4 would probably be pretty fun too.
</end quote></div>

Just got one of these for $7,800 to relieve my daily driver TSX from track duty (road courses). Can't beat 250 ft-lb at the wheels for 8k 😉

The good:
It's a blast, and has plenty of add on performance parts. Not to mention a 5.6 0-60 time and low 14's out of the box (C&D).
Good seats
No mufflers

The bad:
Low rent inside (if it matters to you)
No camber adjustment
No mufflers</end quote></div>

And its a total deathtrap should you have the misfortune to be caught in an accident.

Hey now, he didn't say most fun and safe car for under 12k 😉

 

[EXman]

I'd say a prelude OR a VR6 GTI late 90's both alot of fun the GTI will pop the back inside wheel up if you drive it hard enough.

or that MR2 Turbo with a Ferrari kit Text

 

[Toastedlightly]

Originally posted by: helpme
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: BD2003
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: helpme
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Cattlegod
2003 SRT4 would probably be pretty fun too.
</end quote></div>

Just got one of these for $7,800 to relieve my daily driver TSX from track duty (road courses). Can't beat 250 ft-lb at the wheels for 8k 😉

The good:
It's a blast, and has plenty of add on performance parts. Not to mention a 5.6 0-60 time and low 14's out of the box (C&D).
Good seats
No mufflers

The bad:
Low rent inside (if it matters to you)
No camber adjustment
No mufflers</end quote></div>

And its a total deathtrap should you have the misfortune to be caught in an accident.</end quote></div>

Hey now, he didn't say most fun and safe car for under 12k 😉

Heh. Another vote for the SRT4. My brother owns one, and the few times I've driven it have been an absolute blast. Plus, seats 4 very comfortably while accelerating to 60 in under 6 seconds.

 

[coolred]

Okay so let me revise this a bit further. I am basically looking for a car that can seat 4(coupe or sedan) that is a daily driver but that is also not boring to drive. I am wondering if going to a manual tranny would do much. I know how to shift without stalling a manual, but I don't know the details on how to drive one optimally. And I also wonder if it will become a pain when driving in city traffic. Will add more later. And I think I mentioned it earlier, but it doesn't look like my maxima is worth as much as I thought. So I will probably have to reduce my cost for the new car below 10,000 now. I thought I could get 6,000 pretty easy out of my low mileage maxima, but edmunds says otherwise. I might be able to get 6,000 private party, but I don't have the time to sell on my own.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Just keep the maxima. You already have what you are looking for.

 

[coolred]

Yeah the maxima is nice, I was just thinking of getting something a liitle smaller or with better gas mileage. And I would call the maxima fun axactly.