1 sub $3k car that should be experienced before you die

I've found myself buying and selling a few cars again lately. Its more of a slightly profitable hobby than anything else really so I'd like to enjoy it a little.

If you could choose one cheap car to tool around in for a bit what would it be? I've owned and driven well over 75 cars but I've got the time and a little extra $$ right now to invest in another.

Alfa Milano is a good one, everyone should try driving one.

If I could find an unmolested starlet I'd be on it in a heartbeat.
First (last) one I picked up was $300

Triumph Spitfire or 1st generation Mazda Rx-7

I can't remember the last time I spent more than 3k buying a car, so I don't understand your question.

Some sort of pony car; Mustang, Camaro, etc...

V8 torque, questionable suspension and brakes...MURRICA!

http://siouxcity.craigslist.org/cto/3843470283.html

http://stjoseph.craigslist.org/cto/3863455483.html

60s Detroit barge, they're mostly worthless if it isn't iconic, a 2 door, or a big block and/or floor shift manual car

how can you forget -the- answer

Miata!

TR7 coupe, old school Jeep, 5.0 Mustang, redneck pickup truck with a gun rack, CRX, anything massive classic American iron.

Cadillac Cimmeron, Oldsmobile Omega, Ford Grenada, Dodge Diplomat.

Uhhhhh, where am I?

mr2

fox body Mustang

Miata

MGB

MG Midget

Triumph Spitfire

CRX

Classic Mini (if you can find)

fiat 124

alpha boattail (if you can find ) Any Alpha sedan

Any early 70s Cadillac

Any early 70s full size wagon

RX3

Volvo Amazon

Morris Minor (if you can find ) 1980s corvette

Mini Moke

Fiat 500 (real one if you can find)

Spitfire, Alfa, big American barge.

Omni GLH.

93EXCivic wrote: big American barge.

Funny you mention this. On Saturday I ran into a guy affiliated with my sons Boy Scout troop, and he was in his 69 Ford LTD. Not normally a car I would want but this one is a 23k mile survivor from Hawaii, and Alaska of all places. He had for sale signs on it, and I can't get it out of my head. Too rich for my budget, but I think I would love to have it or one like it. Something about a big 390 in that luxo-barge does it for me.

NOHOME wrote: alpha boattail (if you can find )

I don't think I've seen a solid boattail Alfa Spider this side of $10k since I've been on the internet.

Travis_K wrote: Alfa Milano is a good one, everyone should try driving one.

A little more pure, you can find GTV6's in that price range in need of some TLC with the same basic drivetrain/architecture. Regardless the Alfa V6 exhaust note is a thing of beauty.

nobody mentioned the Fiat X1/9?

I am also going throw out there the Lancia Beta Coupe'. One of the best handling FWD cars ever designed

xflowgolf wrote:

Travis_K wrote: Alfa Milano is a good one, everyone should try driving one.

A little more pure, you can find GTV6's in that price range in need of some TLC with the same basic drivetrain/architecture. Regardless the Alfa V6 exhaust note is a thing of beauty.

And if you are not of a V6 slant (which, I admit is hard to turn down), the Alfettas were very interesting cars. I had one for quite a while. Interesting.

How about French cars? I've never once driven a French car. They seem interesting, too. In an odd way.

Japanese V8 powered luxo barge.

A Jaaaaag. Ideally an older one with a SBC swap.

Any year Neon with a stick shift. Beat it mercilessly and fix nothing. I swear these things live longer if they are abused.

Lincoln Mark VIII. Chip it and find a local land speed event. Bone stock it will do 155 mph once you remove the speed limiter.

Anything with a turbo. Go to Home Depot and buy a brass bleeder valve and some vacuum hose. Instant fun.

slefain wrote: A Jaaaaag. Ideally an older one with a SBC swap.

No to the SBC...

alfadriver wrote: How about French cars? I've never once driven a French car. They seem interesting, too. In an odd way.

The way I am going.. I only need a French car and a Yugo to cover all of the european cars availible in the US

Roll the dice - bi-turbo, maybe a cheap porsche - how bad could it be?

Used to be a saying that any car guy worth his salt would have an alfa at some point in their life. These catch my attention

The milano buried in the garage caught the attention of my joke-fodder radar.