Help me find a car for $3500

I am in need of a car. My truck was hit and totaled recently. I made out rather well. I paid $1500 for my truck and got over 3 times that from the other guy's insurance company.

I am setting my budget at $3500. I would like this to include my travel, tags and gas.

I am in Ithaca NY. Zip 14850. Our local used car market sucks.

I am willing to do a fly, bus, whatever and drive.

I will drive just about anything. Things that are awesome and/or pimpy are preferred.

Cars like 1st and 2nd gen Focii are on my radar. I have owned a couple. Sedans and hatches preferred over wagons. FRPP SVT suspension in a box does wonders for these things. I already own a few tools that pertain to these cars, like 30mm and 32mm sockets and a 10 ton press (wheel bearings regularly needed to be replaced).

No beige cars. This goes for color and spirit.

Can I get a decent PI P71 with this budget?

I'm open to any and all suggestions within the rather loose parameters outlined above.

I am looking forward to what you guys and gals come up with.

I don't know up there but in my neck of the woods you can definitely get a p71 for that price.

How's this for pimpy - http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/5346674650.html

szeis4cookie wrote: How's this for pimpy - http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/5346674650.html

Nice. I'd much rather have that than a P71. Price leaves plenty of room for upgrades

Continuing the theme: 318i

Pretty awesome looking 318is 318is

In reply to LuxInterior:

The 318is will never be worth less than that FWIW. Lots of people love them, if the e30 m3 didn't exist, they'd have been the pinnacle of engineering for the e30 chassis.

Interesting. Thanks. Keep em coming.

Selling my SVT in Pittsburgh. Just put a ton of work into it. $2500 is my rock bottom dollar for it.

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/5348361979.html

You could buy 3-4 p71s from around here for that, ones imported from non rusty places too. There were 2-3 svt early focuseses around here for $3k obo month ago.

2008 accord coupes are fun and in that range, cobalt ss/ redline ion have some good depreciation and fun capacity.

In reply to jere:

Do you care to share where "around here" is?

Sorry thought it said. Northeast ohio

In reply to Scottah :

PM sent.

Anyone know the procedure in PA to obtain temporary tags?

Is PENNDOT open on Saturday?

Sounds like duratec zx3 focus time

In reply to captdownshift:

Sounds like SVT time.

Damn, for 2500, I would consider another svt focus. A duratec would be great too.

PM me if you might be interested in a Saab 9-3. For a GRMer, we can make something work and I'm in NE Ohio. I have 3 and only need/want 1.

That 318is is a damn good deal for $2k

Good Vibrations

Pimpin Merc

Grandpas P71

That's what we have locally that seems interesting in your price range. Good luck with your search.

2003 RSX Type S

This honestly looks way too nice for the age and price. The Altezza taillights suck and I'm not sure about the blue wheels and black spoiler, but everything seems all there and in good shape. It's right in Ilion NY

That Lexington P71 is calling my name ... Sell the GTI, buy the P71 and use the rest to put a LS3 in the Exocet. Hmmmmm.

Why hasn't anyone said Miata yet?

Get that 318is! That's a great price, and if you make it nicer, you are very likely to get your money back at the end. White is also a single-stage paint, so it's extremely easy to restore the original shine. Parts are cheap, etc.

The RSX looks good. Take a good look at that driver side front, the unfoggy headlight and the lack of VIN number on the drivers fender point to an impact happening in that area.

So, I bought Scottah's Focus SVT. It's better than I could have imagined. The noises it makes are aural sex. It drives incredibly well. I am still working on figuring out heel-toe with how the pedals are arraigned, but this gearbox responds very nicely to double declutching. Brakes are awesome. Seats are awesome. I couldn't be happier with it.

Thanks Scott!