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 (basically just fun to drive). 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.


::EDIT:: accidentally put it in hot deals.

 

[Aves]

Spec-V if you can get a deal.

 

[AmdEmAll]

Mazda Miata
Mazdaspeed Protege
Mazda Protege MP3
Subaru Impreza 2.5RS

 

[spidey07]

Really does sound like a honda civic. Sure they are not powerful, but they are fun to drive.

You could try searching edumunds.com to get an idea of whats out there.

 

[sniperruff]

a used civic Si (EP) these are cheap as they are not popular and not that fast compared to other pocket rockets. but i think they look pretty good, the shifter is right next to the steering wheel, gets good fuel economy, is reliable, and most importantly, it's quite rare.

you can easily find a used one for around $12k or so.

otherwise, the focus (after 2002) ZX3, mazda protege are some cars that come into mind that qualifies as being fun to drive and cheap.

example on ebay

 

[Shawn]

mine

 

[thedarkwolf]

Mustang, camaro/firebird, and miata. Just about everything else is FWD and who wants that?

 

[Connoisseur]

Originally posted by: Aves
Spec-V if you can get a deal.

Yeah I was looking at the Sentra Spec-V. Looks like a decent deal. Anybody have experience driving it? Also a Miata and Focus ZX3 sound interesting. I didn't consider them at them time. Also I should edit that I'm not a huge hatchback fan (at least not the ones that look like wagons). How's the reliability on the Focus?

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: Connoisseur

Originally posted by: Aves
Spec-V if you can get a deal.

Yeah I was looking at the Sentra Spec-V. Looks like a decent deal. Anybody have experience driving it? Also a Miata and Focus ZX3 sound interesting. I didn't consider them at them time. Also I should edit that I'm not a huge hatchback fan (at least not the ones that look like wagons). How's the reliability on the Focus?

the focus after 2002 is ok. it's nothing fast but it's sharp (my co-worker had one and it was fun throwing it around bends). the 2000-2001 models are supposedly not very reliable. he had a 2000 and he beats the crap out of it every day, and it never had any major problems.

the spec-V is ok but IMO not worth the money. basically a sentra with an altima 2.5L in it with torque steer for altima money. well at least that is what motortrend or caranddriver said.

 

[duragezic]

Impreza 2.5, Mazda Protege (not sure if the Mazdaspeed orange one is anywhere cheap enough tho), but not that a Civic or Accord wouldn't be a bad idea either. Find any reliable compact that is light enough so that a 2.0 - 2.5L i4 is still peppy enough.

 

[Savarak]

Toyota Celicas fit your requirements...

 

[jlee]

MR2?

 

[teckmaster]

If you're close, I will put my 04 Focus up for grabs

 

[FoBoT]

i have a '97 Saturn SC-1

nice "sporty" red , manual transmission

i'll sell it to you for way under 10K

it only has a bit over 2x that mileage , but it is reliable

 

[Inspector Jihad]

my pops got a 99 a4 with 59k miles for 8 grand....you could surely find something similar.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Connoisseur

Originally posted by: Aves
Spec-V if you can get a deal.

Yeah I was looking at the Sentra Spec-V. Looks like a decent deal. Anybody have experience driving it? Also a Miata and Focus ZX3 sound interesting. I didn't consider them at them time. Also I should edit that I'm not a huge hatchback fan (at least not the ones that look like wagons). How's the reliability on the Focus?

my sentra happens to be a POS. the engine doesn't start very well, which the dealer claims nissan knows is a problem but can't fix it. it's the only automatic car anyone has ever managed to flood. it also pings. and now my shift lock is broken so i have to press a screwdriver into a little port next to the shifter to move it from park. the boots on the steering linkage are wearing out way too early, so its making a horrible noise when i turn the steering wheel (and of course will need to be replaced, $$). plus the interior is complete ass, all hard plastic. the center armrest is useless because it's so far back (not that you'd want to use it because you'd bruise your elbow), the seats are far too narrow, designed for someone 5'8" and 140 lbs (i'm 6'0" 170 lbs, so its not like i'm fat). all those little cubbies and things make for plenty of rattle as the miles pile on. i dunno whether to never buy a nissan again or never buy a mexican built car again, or both. in hindsight maybe i should have just bought the maxima.

 

[mercanucaribe]

What the hell.. I know for a fact I posted that you should get a 2003 Maxima with the 255hp 3.5L, but my post is nowhere to be found.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
What the hell.. I know for a fact I posted that you should get a 2003 Maxima with the 255hp 3.5L, but my post is nowhere to be found.

I saw that post too..but then this thread was moved.

 

[Connoisseur]

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
What the hell.. I know for a fact I posted that you should get a 2003 Maxima with the 255hp 3.5L, but my post is nowhere to be found.

I saw that post too..but then this thread was moved.

Dude... if you could find me an 03 255hp Maxima in my price range that would be...awesome. All the ones I see are like 20k+

 

[Connoisseur]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Connoisseur

Originally posted by: Aves
Spec-V if you can get a deal.

Yeah I was looking at the Sentra Spec-V. Looks like a decent deal. Anybody have experience driving it? Also a Miata and Focus ZX3 sound interesting. I didn't consider them at them time. Also I should edit that I'm not a huge hatchback fan (at least not the ones that look like wagons). How's the reliability on the Focus?

my sentra happens to be a POS. the engine doesn't start very well, which the dealer claims nissan knows is a problem but can't fix it. it's the only automatic car anyone has ever managed to flood. it also pings. and now my shift lock is broken so i have to press a screwdriver into a little port next to the shifter to move it from park. the boots on the steering linkage are wearing out way too early, so its making a horrible noise when i turn the steering wheel (and of course will need to be replaced, $$). plus the interior is complete ass, all hard plastic. the center armrest is useless because it's so far back (not that you'd want to use it because you'd bruise your elbow), the seats are far too narrow, designed for someone 5'8" and 140 lbs (i'm 6'0" 170 lbs, so its not like i'm fat). all those little cubbies and things make for plenty of rattle as the miles pile on. i dunno whether to never buy a nissan again or never buy a mexican built car again, or both. in hindsight maybe i should have just bought the maxima.

Thanks for the honest advice. Now that I look at some reviews, it does look like the Sentra has some reliability issues.

 

[chipy]

Originally posted by: Connoisseur

Originally posted by: Aves
Spec-V if you can get a deal.

Yeah I was looking at the Sentra Spec-V. Looks like a decent deal. Anybody have experience driving it? Also a Miata and Focus ZX3 sound interesting. I didn't consider them at them time. Also I should edit that I'm not a huge hatchback fan (at least not the ones that look like wagons). How's the reliability on the Focus?

i have an 03 spec-v (manual transmission) and it is pretty decent. sure, it's no s2000 or viper, but it's got decent torque and handles nicely. i haven't had any major mechanical issues, but the interior glove compartment keeps "dismantling" - for a lack of a better word. also, the cupholders are either too small or needs to be placed elsewhere cuz i can't fit sonic's route44's in them.

mainly it's the little stuff that's annoying with this car but the performance and usability (4-door, power-locks, power-windows, sun roof, cd-player, etc.) make it a decent car. i got mine for 15k so you should be able to find one for much lower.

chipy

 

[ElFenix]

oh, the worst thing about the car is that the wheel size is completely non standard, so the cheapest tires you can buy (the god awful firestone firehawks) are still almost $100 a piece, but you almost have to buy them because they're the only ones you'll ever have a chance at finding in stock anywhere. sure, you can special order some michelins at costco, but that is about the only other tire in that size except for, oddly enough, about 10 different snow tires.

 

[EPCrew]

Are you still looking to buy a car? I have a 2000 Civic Si in electron blue with approx 36k miles on it. The car is garaged in NJ. I have been wanting to part with it since i currently live in NYC and rarely get a chance to drive it.

 

[alien42]

honda prelude

 

[AmericanRebel]

I would suggest a Mustang or a Camaro. Driven conservatively they can get mileage in the mid 20's. Or if that's not your thing, a used SRT-4 is about 15k, has 4 doors, good gas mileage, and is one of the fastest 4 cylinder cars available