YACT: Used sporty stick shift car for <=10k

[Connoisseur]

Yeah yeah I know there's like a million threads on this but none of them cover my price range. I'm not looking for any miracles as far as performance numbers or anything. I need to get a new car fast cause my 1993 Ford Taurus station wagon is making those painful transmission noises and I know it's gonna go by the end of the year (hey it worked as a beater and it was free). Personally I'm a fan of smaller cars (coupes, compact sedans). I'm looking for a fun to drive used small car (preferrably after 2000 model) that's reasonably quick and nimble. More importantly though, it should be reliable (and cheap to maintain) and should have acceptable fuel economy (>=24mpg highway). Does such a car exist? I'm willing to go a little higher for a good vehicle but I want to def. stay under the 15k radar if possible.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Wrong forum...

 

[Connoisseur]

whoops. that's weird. thought I posted in OT.

 

[dethman]

sounds like you just want to buy a civic.

 

[mercanucaribe]

You can get a 2003 Maxima for that price, with the 3.5L 255hp V6 and a manual.

 

[JknowWhat]

GTI/Jetta 1.8T/VR6

and then chip it.

 

[babylon5]

Civic or Tercel or some small Japanese cars that is reliable (make sure you install alarm too since they are popular to be stolen)

 

[randyo156]

Get an infiniti g20
99-02
nice compact
lots of nice features
and very reasonable
comes with the sr20 motor
get a 5 spd tho

 

[Triggerhappy007]

Originally posted by: JknowWhat
GTI/Jetta 1.8T/VR6

and then chip it.

He said something that's reliable.

What about a pre-2002 Civic Si?

 

[charloscarlies]

I'm driving an SVT Contour. I know sounds strange...but I'm pretty happy with it. It has a 3.5 V6 w/ 200 hp, handles very well, looks pretty good, and gets 20/29 mpg city/highway. Plus I only paid $6k for a 2000 w/ 65000 miles.

 

[kevman]

WGF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[PHiuR]

how fast do you want your car to be?
give me some sort of speed/how fast you want the car and i'll tell ya a car.

edit: or are you just looking for sporty look?

i hope the mods move this thread soon.

 

[Randolphjo]

Civic then add a Supercharger. That's what I did and it's a fun, reliable and fuel-efficient car.

 

[Dantzig]

Originally posted by: charloscarlies
I'm driving an SVT Contour. I know sounds strange...but I'm pretty happy with it. It has a 3.5 V6 w/ 200 hp, handles very well, looks pretty good, and gets 20/29 mpg city/highway. Plus I only paid $6k for a 2000 w/ 65000 miles.

Your car has a 2.5l V6 with 195hp (depending on the year) at the crank. More like 140-160hp at the wheels . . . 'Tours are good cars but not the most reliable out there

 

[charloscarlies]

Originally posted by: Dantzig

Originally posted by: charloscarlies
I'm driving an SVT Contour. I know sounds strange...but I'm pretty happy with it. It has a 3.5 V6 w/ 200 hp, handles very well, looks pretty good, and gets 20/29 mpg city/highway. Plus I only paid $6k for a 2000 w/ 65000 miles.

Your car has a 2.5l V6 with 195hp (depending on the year) at the crank. More like 140-160hp at the wheels . . . 'Tours are good cars but not the most reliable out there

You're right 2.5L....temporary brain fart. And not that it matters but it definitely is atleast rated at 200 hp...as stated in the manual. Of course it only makes about 140-160 at the wheels but that's like any other car. Everybody rates their engines at the crank.

How can you say they aren't reliable? Have you owned one? I've put 25,000 miles on mine in the last year with nothing more than oil changes. Maybe other people have had problems, but blanket statements like "Contours are unreliable" are stupid especially if you haven't even owned one.

 

[Maus]

For a blazing "hot" deal, any local chop shop

 

[ballmode]

Originally posted by: charloscarlies
I'm driving an SVT Contour. I know sounds strange...but I'm pretty happy with it. It has a 3.5 V6 w/ 200 hp, handles very well, looks pretty good, and gets 20/29 mpg city/highway. Plus I only paid $6k for a 2000 w/ 65000 miles.

I think they are 2.5 V6's???

Each SVT is hand built, probably the best bargain for a sport sedan for the 90's. A used Acura Integra GSR coupe or Sedan would probably be my next suggestion, but they are theft targets.

 

[AMCRambler]

Another vote for the SVT Contour. I have one too. And the 99-2000 models do have 200hp thanks to an extrude honed intake manifold. Definitely fun to drive.

If you want some more info on the 'Tour check out Contour.org. Lots of information and a bulletin board you can ask questions about the car. That's where I found the one I bought.

 

[mikeford]

Find out where the regional dealer auction is for cars coming off lease and cut a deal with some small local car lot to bid for you and do the paperwork for a fixed price ($500 used to be common) or get the money ready and start running down ads.

Personally I am still driving my 91 Mustang I bought new for $13.5k, but it doesn't get more than 20 mpg. My kind son pointed out the other day, gee dad our car is the crappiest one in this whole parking lot.

 

[Moffat Cafe]

I checked out the Contour site that AMCRambler so graciously included in his post and immediately ran and sledghammered both my car and the little lady's.
We aim to be a Contour couple!!

 

[ballmode]

Originally posted by: randyo156
Get an infiniti g20
99-02
nice compact
lots of nice features
and very reasonable
comes with the sr20 motor
get a 5 spd tho

Comes with the SR20? I thought those the G20 was FWD? SR20 is meant for RWD

 

[ATgunn]

Originally posted by: ballmode

Originally posted by: randyo156
Get an infiniti g20
99-02
nice compact
lots of nice features
and very reasonable
comes with the sr20 motor
get a 5 spd tho

Comes with the SR20? I thought those the G20 was FWD? SR20 is meant for RWD

The SR20DE and its cousin the SR20DET can be found in both FWD (Nissan Sentra, G20, 200sx) and RWD (240sx) cars.
-g

 

[Dantzig]

Originally posted by: charloscarlies

You're right 2.5L....temporary brain fart. And not that it matters but it definitely is atleast rated at 200 hp...as stated in the manual. Of course it only makes about 140-160 at the wheels but that's like any other car. Everybody rates their engines at the crank.

How can you say they aren't reliable? Have you owned one? I've put 25,000 miles on mine in the last year with nothing more than oil changes. Maybe other people have had problems, but blanket statements like "Contours are unreliable" are stupid especially if you haven't even owned one.

Well, I owned a 1999 Mercury Cougar which is build on the same platform as the Contour and uses the exact same drivetrain and shares many other parts with the Contour. All the Contour and Cougar Duratech guys used to hang together. My car started falling apart at 3 years old and 60k miles and I maintained it very well and didn't abuse it. Most of the real problems were intake/vacuum system and electrical. (Then there was the damn sunroof but that's a whole story on its own.) It also started having a lot of rattles and squeaks around 50k . . . Many of the Contour guys had similar experiences. My ex-girlfriend also had a Contour, but it was an automatic. The transmission had to be replaced at 90k I'm just not impressed with Ford's build quality. All of the import brands seem to be head and shoulders over domestics.

 

[charloscarlies]

Originally posted by: Dantzig

Originally posted by: charloscarlies

You're right 2.5L....temporary brain fart. And not that it matters but it definitely is atleast rated at 200 hp...as stated in the manual. Of course it only makes about 140-160 at the wheels but that's like any other car. Everybody rates their engines at the crank.

How can you say they aren't reliable? Have you owned one? I've put 25,000 miles on mine in the last year with nothing more than oil changes. Maybe other people have had problems, but blanket statements like "Contours are unreliable" are stupid especially if you haven't even owned one.

Well, I owned a 1999 Mercury Cougar which is build on the same platform as the Contour and uses the exact same drivetrain and shares many other parts with the Contour. All the Contour and Cougar Duratech guys used to hang together. My car started falling apart at 3 years old and 60k miles and I maintained it very well and didn't abuse it. Most of the real problems were intake/vacuum system and electrical. (Then there was the damn sunroof but that's a whole story on its own.) It also started having a lot of rattles and squeaks around 50k . . . Many of the Contour guys had similar experiences. My ex-girlfriend also had a Contour, but it was an automatic. The transmission had to be replaced at 90k I'm just not impressed with Ford's build quality. All of the import brands seem to be head and shoulders over domestics.

Hmmm as far as?

Maybe in compact cars...but talk about trucks and imports have a long way to go. Seeing an american truck with over 200K miles isn't all that uncommon. Especially for deisels.

I did have the sunroof problem that you mentioned, but otherwise I haven't had a single problem with this car (knocks on wood). I guess all I can say is you get what you pay for. This isn't a knock on the Contour because I love it, but there's a reason why it's cheaper. To some people (like myself), sacrificing a few squeaks and rattles is worth it when considering the whole picture. It really is a lot of car for the money.

 

[mikeford]

Spending too much on a car is easy to do with monthly payments etc., and a lot of the money really does nothing for you. That said the two best times of the year to buy a car is just before the model year officially changes (this may vary, but right around the time the new models can be sold the lease terms change and dealers have a lot of incentive to sell), and the last week or so in Jan when few people buy cars and quotas still need to be met.