Fun DD for ~10k

Need a reliable AND FUN DD for around 10k...Any suggestions?

So far I have narrowed some cars down to these, let me know what you guys think:

-mini cooper S -subaru WRX/STI -NB miata with lots of suspension work -e30 -e36/m3 -mazdaspeed 3

also prefer RWD, then AWD, then FWD. Something with cheap and available replacement/upgrade parts.

Longshot - Pontiac GTO

Define reliability. Some people around here tgink ilatian cars are reliable enough to be a dd

A $10k Cooper, STi, or MS3 is probably going to be a whooped hunk of crap...if you can find one. So you can probably throw reliability out the window right there.

Miata is always the answer, so you can start there. Or if you like Mazda, a Mazda3 will be a nice choice.

Mustang may not be a bad option..not top quality reliability, but not bad and meets your other needs.

Where can you find a 10k STi? Around here it can be a challenge to find an SRT4 or regular WRX for under 10k.

Dood, you listed a Mini as your first choice but followed it with FWD as least preferable. Is a Mini FWD?

For all around fun, RWD, huge aftermarket, big enough to drive distances yet small enough to flog, easy on the eyes; I don't think you can beat a 2002.

But I'm weird ....

Forte SX is exactly in that range, will still have a warranty, has 6 gears, a decent suspension, and 170+hp with torque to go with it. Gets 30mpg, has an awesome factory stereo with bluetooth etc.....

Klayfish wrote: A $10k Cooper

My friend just bought a Cooper S for $8k. All it needs is a power steering pump. Otherwise it is in good shape.

93EXCivic wrote:

Klayfish wrote: A $10k Cooper

My friend just bought a Cooper S for $8k. All it needs is a power steering pump. Otherwise it is in good shape.

So it;s a $10k cooper.

If I had 10k I'd have a turbo miata or a manual RX8 I've never had a daily driver (car) that cost more than 5k. Toys cost that much. Not real cars that don't get big blocks or turbos.

Define fun? For me, a DD has the opposite needs of an autocross car or track car. You can't use 100% of a cars handling or acceleration on a daily basis, so mega sports cars are out. The Miata is a car that is almost as enjoyable at 50% as it is 100%. But if I can't stop at Home Depot on my way home from work, that's no fun.

I would look at the Honda Fit, Elantra GT/Touring, Mazda 3 wagon, 2.5 RS Subaru, etc. All can be a lot of fun to drive on real roads, offer some practicality and have room for upgrades.

IS300, G35, Lincoln LS (though manuals are a bit of a unicorn), WRX, P71, Cobalt SS

in no particular order

Bobzilla wrote:

93EXCivic wrote:

Klayfish wrote: A $10k Cooper

My friend just bought a Cooper S for $8k. All it needs is a power steering pump. Otherwise it is in good shape.

So it;s a $10k cooper.

No it is an $8k one that needs a $400 pump.

Used mazda2 is about that price range now but its likely to be base model so worse interior and no cruise control.

NB Miata or E30 M3.

In reply to GameboyRMH:

Can you even find E30 M3s for $10k?

GameboyRMH wrote: ...E30 M3.

I wish these were $10k. Granted you can find a POS for less than that, but decent ones are now $15k, nice ones are $20k and garage queens are $35k and up.

Never should have sold mine back in 2003. It was an '88, in great shape, with ~100k miles on it and it sold for $12.5k. It would be worth $20k now.

NB Miata, IS300, RX8, E36 M3, E46 330i ZHP, WRX, MR2 Spyder, MR2 Turbo, Celica AllTrac.

On the FWD front, 2000-2005 Celica GTS 6spd, 99-00 Civic Si, any Integra GSR or Type R.

Or...... 10 MX6 GTs?

Probably not the STI for under 10k, just threw that in there. But i've found some good speed 3's with around 55k miles for about 10K and mini cooper-s for about the same. RWD is first, but the list of cars is in no particular order.

Also "fun" as it something I can drive around and commute with, but still reasonably auto-x or track days just for fun. I don't necessarily have to be competitive with the field. And "reliable" as in rods and pistons don't melt. Minor things I'm okay with, I'd prefer not to have to take the entire engine apart and rebuild it every 75k miles.

5 speed IS300, everything about the car is spectacular except the gas mileage. I miss the hell out of mine, but it just wasn't affordable to commute in for me, at least compared to my current car (Gen1 Insight)

Dead nuts reliable

Comfortable

Handles nice (I had the OEM LSD, Koni Yellows and Tanabe swaybars on mine, it was fantastic)

RWD

Sounds great with an intake and exhaust

98-00 m coupes used to be found in that realm......damn fine cars, and those aren't that expensive to maintain. The kicker is, the styling isn't for everyone.

I'd be looking at a NC Miata. The extra interior space is nice to have. The NB and NA is too cramped for my tastes for DD duties.

I second the Fit. Although I think it's ugly, it's pretty fun on the back roads, dead nuts reliable, can haul a ton of junk, and gets great mileage. My buddy and I have transported all of our band's equipment down to Nashville and it still returned a good 33/34 MPG. Though some of the fun factor was lost with a couple hundred pounds of sound gear, it handled pretty decently and felt sure on steep twisties.

The challenge is finding one of 10K. Around here, a used Fit's almost as much as a new one.

Jaguar XJR or XK8 or XJ6R