Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » What DD would you buy for $2000? « 1 2 3 »
  • cxhb

    Aug. 11, 2010 12:46 p.m. cxhb Reader

    Alright, saved up a little scratch and will be back in school in about a week and a half. I would like to have a reasonable car for around $2000 and havent been impressed with whats around here. Gimme some ideas!

    No miatas

    No E30s... with more than 160,000 miles...

    Must have AC. Even if it means me having to put a little work into it.

    Has to be a 4-banger (with the exception of the E30. which seems to be a unicorn around here)

    Go!

  • cghstang

    Aug. 11, 2010 12:49 p.m. cghstang Reader

    Do you want an appliance or something with a soul?

    For an appliance, I'd look at Corollas/Prizms.

  • BoxheadTim

    Aug. 11, 2010 12:49 p.m. BoxheadTim Dork

    DD only? Best condition car you can find for the money, no matter what it is...

    Sanity is vastly overrated.

  • Streetwiseguy

    Aug. 11, 2010 12:54 p.m. Streetwiseguy HalfDork

    BoxheadTim wrote: DD only? Best condition car you can find for the money, no matter what it is...

    X2.

    Or a Neon.

  • 93celicaGT2

    Aug. 11, 2010 12:56 p.m. 93celicaGT2 SuperDork

    Escort GT
    Neon
    Celica
    Integra

    If you can bend on the 4-banger only rule, you can get a 2nd gen MX6 LS/2nd gen Probe GT V6 for peanuts, and it's a TON of car for the money. Great power, handle well, reliable, and the gas mileage is still pretty good.

    SCAVENGE THE SEA FLOOR FOR NUTRIENTS

  • cxhb

    Aug. 11, 2010 1:01 p.m. cxhb Reader

    Eh, Im thinking of leaning towards soul-sucking slow and utterly un-inspring. That way I know I wont try and do anything to it.

    I just found this, does anyone know about these?

    http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/1892682073.html

  • pinchvalve

    Aug. 11, 2010 1:03 p.m. pinchvalve SuperDork

    Ford P71 at auction. My local fire dept. tried to sell a low-mileage example for $1000 and it was a no-sale. Ended up cutting it up for training.

    "Don't Sweat the Petty Things." Yes, and Don't Pet the Sweaty Things.

  • cxhb

    Aug. 11, 2010 1:03 p.m. cxhb Reader

    93celicaGT2 wrote: Escort GT Neon Celica Integra If you can bend on the 4-banger only rule, you can get a 2nd gen MX6 LS/2nd gen Probe GT V6 for peanuts, and it's a TON of car for the money. Great power, handle well, reliable, and the gas mileage is still pretty good.

    Integras are almost impossible to find around here...

    Escorts are a possibility but a couple of friends had very little luck with them and they were bone stock...

    Neon is an interesting thought as they seem to be all over. Kinda scare me though. They just feel like they aren't worth half of what people ask for them. How is the maintenance?

    I like the idea of a celica... Ill keep an eye out...

  • cxhb

    Aug. 11, 2010 1:04 p.m. cxhb Reader

    pinchvalve wrote: Ford P71 at auction. My local fire dept. tried to sell a low-mileage example for $1000 and it was a no-sale. Ended up cutting it up for training.

    Lol 4 cylinder!!! Your crazy, why didnt you go in there and pick it up?! I think at $1000 I may have just done it... If it was good condition...

  • MadScientistMatt

    Aug. 11, 2010 1:07 p.m. MadScientistMatt Dork

    I'm thinking Escort, Protege, Saturn, or Neon - they don't hold their value like Hondas or Toyotas, so you can get more car for the money.

    "Mad Scientist" Matt Cramer

  • cxhb

    Aug. 11, 2010 1:11 p.m. cxhb Reader

    I like the way you think... The search started out looking for civics and accords and realized people just ask waaay to much for crap because of the badge...

    So the list now contains Escorts, Proteges, possibly Neons...

    How are Saturns to work on?

    Might be going to check out the All-Trac Corolla tonight if it is available.

  • Spinout007

    Aug. 11, 2010 1:13 p.m. Spinout007 Dork

    Svx.... but it had 6 vs 4.

  • BoxheadTim

    Aug. 11, 2010 1:18 p.m. BoxheadTim Dork

    If it's the sort of SVX that I'm thinking off, cxhb will be hard pressed to find one for $2k unless decent ones are a lot cheaper on the other side of the country...

    Sanity is vastly overrated.

  • cxhb

    Aug. 11, 2010 1:28 p.m. cxhb Reader

    I barely see SVXs around here. I feel like finding parts for it would be difficult... Thought I might not have much luck with an 89 Corolla All-trac either lol

  • Cotton

    Aug. 11, 2010 1:31 p.m. Cotton HalfDork

    MR2......it is RWD and has a soul.

  • Junkyard_Dog

    Aug. 11, 2010 1:32 p.m. Junkyard_Dog HalfDork

    $500 Volvo 740/940 Turbo + $1500 in maintenance/mods.

    BTDT.

    I love going to the Pull-a-Part because the dollar admission is cheaper than most car shows and you almost always see cooler cars.

  • cxhb

    Aug. 11, 2010 1:35 p.m. cxhb Reader

    Cotton wrote: MR2......it is RWD and has a soul.

    I dont think I will fit. At 6'5" 225lbs I would be crammed in there. Are the SW20s much bigger inside compared to its AW11 little brother? How are they to work on? I can see this turning out bad.... because it has a soul lol

  • jrw1621

    Aug. 11, 2010 1:36 p.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

    If no luck finding an e30, how about an e28
    http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/1886184925.html

    RX7
    http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/1867068369.html

    Econo-rides
    http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/1866149740.html
    http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/1884959016.html
    http://dayton.craigslist.org/ctd/1879224557.html
    http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/ctd/1892590547.html

  • cxhb

    Aug. 11, 2010 1:36 p.m. cxhb Reader

    Junkyard_Dog wrote: $500 Volvo 740/940 Turbo + $1500 in maintenance/mods. BTDT.

    Ha, that thing looks sweet. But by the link it seems that it needs quite a bit of work?

  • Aug. 11, 2010 1:37 p.m. Knurled Reader

    I'd put 2k into my existing car.

  • cxhb

    Aug. 11, 2010 1:39 p.m. cxhb Reader

    jrw1621 wrote: If no luck finding an e30, how about an e28 http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/1886184925.html RX7 http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/1867068369.html Econo-rides http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/1866149740.html http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/1884959016.html http://dayton.craigslist.org/ctd/1879224557.html http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/ctd/1892590547.html

    hmmmm.... that E28 looks interesting. And awesome! Though with the exception of the colt, all are above my price range...

  • jrw1621

    Aug. 11, 2010 1:41 p.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

    i expected that you had some negotiation skills. I would bet all the sellers would take $2k or less. My e30 was listed at $2300 and i paid $1800 for it.

  • cxhb

    Aug. 11, 2010 1:42 p.m. cxhb Reader

    Knurled wrote: I'd put 2k into my existing car.

    Trust me. I want to. But I hate using my fun car as my DD... Plus Im at the point where Im not getting any faster in it. To me, as soon as I open the engine up to do anything power related it has then become less reliable, more fickle. I intend to do just that. But because of that, I would rather not drive it everyday.

  • cxhb

    Aug. 11, 2010 1:43 p.m. cxhb Reader

    jrw1621 wrote: i expected that you had some negotiation skills. I would bet all the sellers would take $2k or less. My e30 was listed at $2300 and i paid $1800 for it.

    I have AWFUL negotiation skills lol Seriously poor... I need coaching...

  • jrw1621

    Aug. 11, 2010 1:46 p.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

    When I bought the e30 the tempurature outside really was 5 degrees. The negotiation went like this.

    Me: Would you take $1,500 for it?
    Him: I have it listed for $2,300 and i could not take less than $1,800 for it.
    Me: Fine. $1,800 it is.

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