Finally my very own...what car thread < 3k

So I managed to crash my 98 maxima into a deer tonight @50mph and depending on how things go I may be looking to replace it with something cheap, bulletproof reliability, safe, fun(ish), newish meaning 95+ (no e30s) and good mileage.

My budget is will be around 2500 the cheaper the better, but would be willing to go higher if all the maintenance is already done.

My list so far is (in order) and concerns

integra -rice/abused/pricey for what they are

pzev focus - rare/ above budget

another maxima - mpgs and boaty

200sx se-r- suspension woes? Learn me please i'm very interested

zx2 - transmission/water pump

e36 (which now are cheaper than e30s) - cooling system

probe gt/mx-6 - mpgs

Anything I missed? Big problems I should look out for? I do live in NJ so availability of cheap cars not beat are a problem. I found a clean 93 325i for 2300 but no mention about cooling system maintenance. Sorry if this post is disorganized I had a long day and work in the AM. Thanks in advance!

You can find good pre 95 cars that are often in better shape than newer ones. I would not limit yourself to 95+ just because of that. I really prefer cars without ABS and airbags, so I have always had older cars. My dads 96 legacy is pretty good, but they are still expensive with high mileage and parts get quite expensive. I am currently driving a 1983 Mercedes 300SD which is a very nice car. I paid $2300 for it, and it will take less than $2k to get everything in reasonable enough shape it should last for quite a while. Its quite a bit more fun to drive than you would think, for everyday driving it handles well enough that I dont even miss the milano i used to drive.

lnlds wrote: So I managed to crash my 98 maxima into a deer tonight @50mph and depending on how things go I may be looking to replace it with something cheap, bulletproof reliability, safe, fun(ish), newish meaning 95+ (no e30s) and good mileage. My budget is will be around 2500 the cheaper the better, but would be willing to go higher if all the maintenance is already done. My list so far is (in order) and concerns integra -rice/abused/pricey for what they are pzev focus - rare/ above budget another maxima - mpgs and boaty 200sx se-r- suspension woes? Learn me please i'm very interested zx2 - transmission/water pump e36 (which now are cheaper than e30s) - cooling system probe gt/mx-6 - mpgs Anything I missed? Big problems I should look out for? I do live in NJ so availability of cheap cars not beat are a problem. I found a clean 93 325i for 2300 but no mention about cooling system maintenance. Sorry if this post is disorganized I had a long day and work in the AM. Thanks in advance!

There is a funny quirk about this board and that is, if you want your typing to be single spaced, you have to hit the space bar two times at then end of the sentence. That is what i did to clean up your list.
Other board insight can be found at the end of this entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grassroots_Motorsports

Welcome!

regards to an e36, bimmerworld's 'cooling system rebuild kit' or whatever its called, plus a new expansion tank runs about $400, and that includes rad hoses, tstat/housing, water pump, main acc belt, and radiator. and while it's the first thing i just did to my newly acquired 93 325is, it's not just bmws whose plastic radiators and tstats fail over time. if there's no history of motor/trans mounts replaced i'd include that in the cooling system overhaul too.

3 posts in and noone has said Miata. You guys are slipping. But seriously, miata would fit most of your critieria.

Not sure where in NJ you are, Im down south. Used prices are definitely up but there are still some good deals out there.

Worth mentioning that the MX6 will get better gas mileage than the Probe. It's lighter AND has longer gearing.

They'll get around 30mpg highway.

If you're REALLY worried about it, you could get the i4 variant of either, but i would recommend it. The V6 is really one of the main reasons to get those cars.

Oh, and SURPRISE! I'm going to mention Celicas. Better MPG than the MX6/Probe, not as powerful, handles just as well, and i would prefer the interior.

If you liked your Max, why not just find another (better) one? Yah, maybe a chance to move on, and as you said, boaty, but did it fulfil your needs?

found this on cl maybe youll want to check it out http://delaware.craigslist.org/cto/2392151202.html probably worth the ride

Well I need a car that can seat 4 in a pinch so miata is out.

Things I don't like about the max, rear wheel bearing replacement only comes in as a hub assembly costing ~270 each time to replace (part only), No fold down rear-seats, boaty, and mileage.

Quite honestly I'm just looking for the cleanest example of those cars I can find in my price range and the e36 fits the bill (so far). Twin cam saturns are also pretty cheap is there anything to watch out for those?

How come the Civic isn't listed there? Plenty to be had in your price range and meeting your maintenance/bulletproof standard. Mine is turning over 175k with minimal issue, just do yourself a favor and get an EX trim level or Si and proper manual transmission...

unfortunately theres no civics around here that aren't beat up in my price range. It is a very interesting good car that I overlooked i'll keep looking for those to see if anything pops up.

You should check out the 91-96 Infiniti G20, I know most people don't think sporty when they think of Infiniti but its basically just a 4 Sentra SE-R. I've been daily driving mine for about 2 years now and enjoy it, I've even done 2 trackdays and a handful of autocrosses with the car and its been a tone of fun.

But really you get

-sr20de

-same multi-link front suspension as skyline and 300zx

-Nice interior

-fits 4 people and a fair amount of luggage

-IF you get the g20-t you get black leather,sunroof,spoiler and LSD tranny (the trannys in the g20 arn't known for gear pop out like the ones in the se-r sentra)

-they are cheap because there not well know cars

The only down side are there are a few parts that are exclusively g20 parts like front axles,rear brake calibers, shocks and rear wheel bearings. Basically everything else can be swapped over from either a sentra or maxima

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infiniti_G

and here's a pics of my 94 g20-t lol

[URL=http://img8.imageshack.us/i/g202.jpg/][/URL] [URL=http://img526.imageshack.us/i/g203n.jpg/][/URL] [URL=http://img200.imageshack.us/i/g205.jpg/][/URL] [URL=http://img524.imageshack.us/i/g204.jpg/][/URL] [URL=http://img25.imageshack.us/i/g207.jpg/][/URL]

With the MX6, do you mean first or second generation?

What about a MkIII Supra?

i'm talking about the 2nd gen mx-6 namely the link i posted above. I just looked for anything with a sr20de, no manual g20s and only some beat up sentras. There are some semi-neglected 200sx se-rs.

Is there anything I should look out for regarding the mx-6s?

edit: and about the 325i aside from cooling system, brakes, etc is there anything I should be worried about?

mk3 supras are a little old for my tastes sorry

argh...can't find anything worth a damn under 2500 except that mx-6, any suggestions on how to search?

lnlds wrote: i'm talking about the 2nd gen mx-6 namely the link i posted above. I just looked for anything with a sr20de, no manual g20s and only some beat up sentras. There are some semi-neglected 200sx se-rs. Is there anything I should look out for regarding the mx-6s? edit: and about the 325i aside from cooling system, brakes, etc is there anything I should be worried about? mk3 supras are a little old for my tastes sorry

Nothing really voodoo magic about the MX6s of that generation. Just standard check for rust, leaks, steering, blah blah blah. The only thing "special" is that the timing belt tensioner on the V6 is a pretty bad design and prone to fail. You can often buy these cars "knocking" for cheap, replace the tensioner and drive.

Other than that.... it's a solid car.

I would have kept my 200sx SER a little longer if it was not a rust bucked with broken AC. I loved the motor and 5 speed combo (short shifter.) For a DD the suspension is fine, not a ton of aftermarket for the suspension. Also look at Sentra SE's 1995 - 2001 for the same same engine.

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/2415465355.html

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/2414292182.html

hahah those accords are a little more beat up than i'd like http://longisland.craigslist.org/cto/2410695994.html although it's a little far for me.

Are there any cool wagons or hatches i'm overlooking?