I have an 09 Accent SE 5 speed I need to sell.
Great little car that I bought new. All it ever needs is basic mantenance. Timing belt change is super easy, but wont need another for 50k+ miles.
That's enough whoring from me but if you PM me I can give more details.
Nick (Not-Stig) Comstock wrote: In reply to dj06482: It is beyond my power to resist such temptations. Seriously, I have zero self control with a vehicle. The problem with an E36 and to some extent the RX-8 suggestion is that I really like them. I would eventually end up with a full on prepared race car, and I would be super paranoid about leaving it out on the street. I know it sounds weird to normal people but it would be much better for me to try and stick with something I can tolerate vs. something I really like. I'd be much less likely to go ape E36 M3 crazy with it and end up divorced and homeless. As for the Mustang suggestion, give me a GM F-body any day. But again, that is something I really want and would be compelled to make the car perfect. Who would spend $40k on a $2500 firebird? This guy, that's who
I understand where you're coming from! My '01 Mustang with 287k sits in the garage all winter so it's not exposed to the chemicals they use to melt the ice/snow.
I managed to keep my E36 and Mustang very stock. The only thing I've added to the Mustang was an Steeda Comfort Pro shifter handle and an extension for the shifter handle (it already had a K&N CAI and a Flowmaster exhaust when I purchased it). The E36 I was even better with, the wildest I got with that one was to replace the plastic thermostat housing with an aluminum one. More than anything, I haven't had the time to play around with either, which has kept the modding bug at bay.
I'm curious to what you wrote Tom. You can pm me if it's not appropriate for the board.
The answer is a Miata with a hardtop. I'm in a very similar situation except my son is 7. Don't really like convertibles but I bought a 96 Miata and just need to find a hardtop now. I did disconnect the passenger airbag for his safety.
Let's see... small hatchback, not a convertible, not a Ford, $4000 budget, no real concerns about mileage... have you considered a C4 Corvette?
OK different direction - Suzuki Samurai - what kid would't want to be picked up in this
http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/5225918669.html
http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/5228547418.html
I've heard of people doing rallycross with miatas, rx-7s, and RX8 so I think it should be suitable/doable. Having never gone rallycrossing myself I can't say for certain. That needs to be remedied tho.
I think the Hyundai Accent idea is a good one to explore. You could find a decent one for cheap and you could throw on the Accent SE parts on it.
In reply to 92dxman:
I think I'm leaning that way. The other suggestions are good ones, I am making a list. But, I keep coming back to the idea of a simple little hatchback as being the right answer.
Is there anything to consider besides the Accent and the Yaris?
On paper those two are very similar, 106hp for the Yaris vs. 110 for the Accent. But the Accent is a couple hundred pounds heavier. Both have torsion beam rear suspensions.
In reply to Nick (Not-Stig) Comstock:
I'd expect similar reliability out of either, have you looked at pricing to see mile-for-mile which is better priced?
In reply to petegossett:
There are one of each for sale locally, both 07', with very similar miles (under100k) and appear to be in similarly well taken care of condition. The asking price for the Yaris was $3800 and the Accent was $3500. I will say there is more of a selection of Accents than 3door Yaris. Especially when looking for a manual.
My brother has an 09 Accent with about 95k on it by now. It's very easy to work on and doesn't really suck, it's just boring (his is an auto sedan). A 5spd hatch i think would be a great DIY-friendly low-cost high-mpg commuter if you didn't want something much older.
I can't fault my Accent at all, particularly after the way I continuously and mercilessly beat the every-living E36 M3 out of it, but if I had to nitpick on it's faults, here's the list:
60k-mi timing belt change, with the water pump at every 2nd one. Not any worse of job than others, but that interval is short by modern standards. The factory CD player started eating CDs. The blower fan switch is possessed and turns on(more often) & off(not that often) on its own. The A/C compressor locked up around 110k. The speedometer also quit around that same time(requiring a replacement cluster). Now that it's up around 150kmi there's quite a bit of noise from the suspension, part of it is definitely shocks/struts and mounts, probably end-links too. The short 5th gear means that running 80mph down the interstate you're near 4k rpm, and I've only seen a max of about 32mpg.
Of course - and I can't emphasize this enough - I beat the berkeley out of this car! I bought it with 54k on it, and I'm not sure it had ever been washed/cleaned, and I think it's first oil change might have been right before that time. 
I've continued the tradition by drag-race launching it at nearly every stoplight and winding it to 6000-6500 in every gear(power really drops off well before redline), getting airborne as often as I can, running 60-70 through snow & slush, and generally driving like a E36 M3head for the last 100,000miles...and the car doesn't mind. 
When shopping Accent hatchbacks look for an SE. Giveaway options would be foglights and the 16" alloys. They have firmer springs and dampers and a larger front sway bar (reviews at the time stated approx 25% firmer up front and 12.5% firmer rear overall), b&m short throw shifter standard on the 5 speed, and if I recall a nicer stereo. Nicer is relative...its still economy car sound quality to be honest.
Pete is right, they run high rpms at highway speeds. About 1k rpm more than the automatics. Expect 32-34 mpg with moderately spirited driving.
The better dampers play nice with lowering springs. I have over 100k miles on Megan springs and everything still feels good.
Celica.
In reply to failboat:
The B&M shifter was a dealer aftermarket option until '09(? i think) when it became standard on the SE. Although I'd say it depends somewhat on whether the OP is leaning more toward autox or rallyx. The SE would be better out of the box for autox, but the non-SE has better spring rates & a bit more suspension travel for rallyx.
Yes the B&M came standard on 09. I really only know of the changes from 09 and up.
I think I'm leaning more towards rally x, but could see doing auto x as well. I think I would sacrifice some parking lot performance so the car won't be beaten to death and destroyed out in the fields.
Really there are a lot of things out there that will do what I want. As usual though, I am way over thinking it.
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