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Fun, beater car for under $5k

For us poor folks who have been through lots of 5k cars, there are toooons of good options.
 
I have a 2001 BMW 740il sport for under 5K if you're interested!
It's big but it still is fast and handles well. Has some electric active suspension blah blah..
Just sitting in front of my house I don't really drive it..
PM me if you're interested we aren't too far away!
 
stan23 said:
Sure, anything is possible. It's obviously entirely possible to get an under 5K car to be in perfect working order and reliable.

Especially if you're looking for something 'fun' and not economical. You can buy a great working accord/civic/tercel/etc.. all day long for 5K, but it ain't going to be fun and what the OP is looking for.

Which is what my comment is based on. Sounds like he's looking for 'what used to be expensive cars' now in the 5K range.
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Still disagree. There's plenty fun cars that would be just fine in reliability. The OP listed some already and others have followed with a few more.
 
The point of disagreement is what constitutes "fun." I've owned that vintage WRX before and I couldn't wait to get rid of it. It was underpowered and the handling was downright sloppy. At that time, I also owned an STI and a 1.6L Miata and I felt that the Miata was loads more fun to drive than the WRX. In terms of value, the WRX was valued at around $8K at the time and the Miata was about $2.5K.
 
byke said:
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/4701384989.html
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/4691346181.html
:p http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/4705243555.html
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/4705161066.html
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/4704716644.html
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/4704703476.html
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i'm no spring chicken to CL, and i've gone to see some 'perfect running' vehicles to .. oh it's been broken forever, or it leaks a bit, or this doesn't work.

An advertised car/bike to what they are in reality when you drive them are never the same:)

Again, not saying finding something perfect and fun for under 5K is not possible, but the odds are definitely stacked against you. I'd like to see what the OP actually gets and what repairs (if any) are needed.
 
Nah, you just need to know the warning signs. They're stacked against you in that there are tons of shitty cars out there relative to good ones, but they're not stacked against someone who is savvy.
 
During research on known/typical issues and having a general understanding of car mechanics weeds out a lot of the trash.

Finding 'perfect' examples of certain cars for 5k may be difficult just because there aren't many left. But to find good cars that don't require major work when you get it or an expensive service cost over the course of some years, won't leave you stranded, is in good/acceptable condition for it its age, etc isn't terribly hard.

With a budget of 5k, I could do that all day.
 
Word. Skill developed out of necessity for me.
 
rosemont83 said:
I have a 2001 BMW 740il sport for under 5K if you're interested!
It's big but it still is fast and handles well. Has some electric active suspension blah blah..
Just sitting in front of my house I don't really drive it..
PM me if you're interested we aren't too far away!
Click to expand...

I'm actually very interested. Got any pics?
 
stan23 said:
IMO, a 5K car is exactly that. A 5K car.

I went through this phase once, and bought myself a 16v Scirocco.

Unless you want to pour money into a cheap car, don't expect it to be turn key, and reliable. Especially for under 5K.

BTW, I had the Scirocco for a few months - engine blew, and sold it off for a two hundred bucks.
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Timing belt broke huh?
 
My father just picked up a very nice 924s for $6,000. Replaced the Miata he had before. I would say the Miata is a bit more fun on a twisty road, but the 924s is better all around and actually has a decent bit of luggage space. I suspect some minimal suspension work would get the Porsche right up there in handling with the Miata.
 
What's a ratty but reliable Baja Bug going for these days?

plenty for around 4K. Can't beat that for fun off and on road. Pretend you're a drift racer on the street and thrash it on some good gravel backroads.
 
byke said:
Nah, you just need to know the warning signs. They're stacked against you in that there are tons of shitty cars out there relative to good ones, but they're not stacked against someone who is savvy.
Click to expand...

Agree. But that knowledge is earned through buying/selling/owning many vehicles, and never through just weeding what you can get for 5K ads.

I've been lucky to be very mechanically competent to buy/sell bikes and make good money from it.
 
stan23 said:
Agree. But that knowledge is earned through buying/selling/owning many vehicles, and never through just weeding what you can get for 5K ads.

I've been lucky to be very mechanically competent to buy/sell bikes and make good money from it.
Click to expand...

I've had 4 cars. 3 of them were made before 1990. Had good luck with them all. Any reliability problems were my own fault.

Doesn't have to take a bunch of trial and error... Just good research, picking good examples, and having the money to pounce when they come up for sale.
 
GAJ said:
Assuming a well kept car a Rabbit/Scirroco from the 70's will run you forever. :laughing
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Massive rust problems from 70's and even early 80's VW's.

Plus constant leaks from all German cars.........they can't get their metallurgy and torque specs straight.

Crap electronics too.......even basic shit like power windows.

German = nice to drive, crap to own. Same with all Euros, actually. Inferior quality even when compared to American cars.
 
And anything plastic, especially under the hood. Even on newer bimmers, you see that same fucking yellow-brittle-straight-from-the-factory coolant reservoir, holy shit it's amazing. Like the people who make them are all this guy...

69449-28227.gif
 
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