What Car - Friend Edition| Grassroots Motorsports forum |

SyntheticBlinkerFluid PowerDork
9/1/13 4:25 p.m.

I have a friend in the Army that lives outside of Atlanta in Smyrna. He likes cars, but I don't consider him a car guy (like us here at GRM), but he can change his oil, brakes, spark plugs, etc.

He and his wife currently have a 2003 Trailblazer and a 2011 Fusion. He actually has a farther commute than his wife, but SWMBO needs to have the Fusion because its the newer car. He wants to keep the Trailblazer to haul crap, but wants something that gets better mileage.

He came to me and asked for my advice on a fun daily driver, so I gave him some suggestions, but I though I'd come to the collective and get your opinions.

Here are his criteria:

Import
Something from early 80's to early 90's
Preferably a Coupe or Hatch
No preference on drive, but AWD a plus (I already told him AWD isn't going to probably happen)
4 or 6 Cylinder
Manual Transmission
Gets Good Fuel Mileage (mid to upper 20's is acceptable)
Reliable
Max Price is $3500

I already came up with:

200sx
S13 and S14 240sx
MX6
Corolla Coupe (both RWD and FWD)
E30
CRX

Any other suggestions?

Also if you have a craigslist link, post it here and I will forward it to him.

Thanks.

mndsm PowerDork
9/1/13 4:31 p.m.

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/4035970178.html

ATL CL isn't showing any good Mx6's, IMO.

Jaxmadine Reader
9/1/13 4:53 p.m.

Neon! Hecho in mexico is an import! Lol

Travis_K UltraDork
9/1/13 7:42 p.m.

Why not an early Impreza? A legacy with the same engine can get 25-28 mpg, so that should be ok, and there are both coupe and hatch versions with awd. They are pretty reliable and easy to work on, but some parts are a little expensive, and the quality of a lot of the autozone type stuff is terrible. A VW golf would work too, although in that age range none of the engines they come with are very good.

mazdeuce SuperDork
9/1/13 7:56 p.m.

I know it says import as the very first thing, but the SVT Focus should be on that list.

bastomatic SuperDork
9/1/13 8:01 p.m.

Awd, import, fun hatch?

How bout DSM? Talon or Eclipse?

JFX001 UltraDork
9/1/13 8:17 p.m.

In addition to the ones listed, maybe a :

2.2 Acura CL

Suzuki Swift GT

Celica

Saturn SC ( I know...but it's a good car)

SE-R

Jaxmadine Reader
9/1/13 8:24 p.m.

Reliable is also on the list? So no dsm. Lol

EvanB PowerDork
9/1/13 8:26 p.m.

Corolla with a 4afe and manual trans. High 30s mpg wise.

Kenny_McCormic SuperDork
9/1/13 8:34 p.m.

Seriously guys?

Miata w/ hardtop.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid PowerDork
9/1/13 9:59 p.m.

In reply to Kenny_McCormic:

I already had the Miata talk with him. That's a no go.

Caraddict New Reader
9/1/13 10:02 p.m.

An Integra ls, Hyundai tiburon,

bmw88rider Reader
9/1/13 10:13 p.m.

For commuting, Prelude or Integra. Next thread. For 3500, you can get a pretty decent example newer than the late 80s early 90s you have listed.

Canute Reader
9/1/13 10:27 p.m.

E36?

irish44j UberDork
9/1/13 11:06 p.m.

I'd got with Acura Integra. It fits all of the criteria and can be found for pretty cheap. I put 320k on my '87 with almost no problems other than a CV joint and a fuel injector gone bad.

I would opt for a mid-90s model in that price range. They're reasonably fun to drive, economical, reliable, have nice features and interiors, and a nice 5-speed.

Vigo UberDork
9/1/13 11:11 p.m.

I second the Prelude or Integra suggestion, and i think given the year range he should also include Accord coupes and HATCHBACKS as well. I really like 3g accords and would like a hatch for the uniqueness.

GameboyRMH UltimaDork
9/2/13 8:27 a.m.

EvanB wrote: Corolla with a 4afe and manual trans. High 30s mpg wise.

Yeah I think an AE92 would be perfect for this...especially since all the problems with them are racing-related and he's not doing that (except the achey breaky engine mounts...get aftermarket or urethane-fill them).

4AGE models are just as reliable as 4AFE, only not quite as efficient.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid PowerDork
9/2/13 4:51 p.m.

In reply to GameboyRMH:

After browsing the Atlanta CL, there are no AE92 Coupes. That was one of the first suggestions I made to him and of course there are none.

I now got him looking at E30s, which I'm wondering if that was a good idea or not.

dj Reader
9/2/13 8:45 p.m.

If he wants an AWD import getting over 20 mpg for under $3,500 in Atlanta why not any older subaru or DSM? That sounds more like what he wants rather the FWD imports or RWD E30s.