Ideas on next car for ~$7000 or less

NB miata?

e36 m3 or 328is?

SVT focus?

Save up and get an s2000?

Help? It needs to be reliable, get more than 20mpg, and handle well.

i like hatches for their practicality, and I like Hondas for reliability.

svt focus? or 02-05 civic Si?

Sell you my miata.

7 grand will get you a nice bunch of cars.. I wouldn't know where to start really. I do like your choices though

C4 Corvette. Get a 6 spd. close to 30 mpg on the highway and huge fun when you don't care aobut the mileage.

Mazda Protege5 sport package ;)

Get an E30 and a Miata for $7k

If you can stand the impractical storage space availability, I'd throw in an MR2 Spyder. I've seen 2001's for $7500, shouldn't be too hard to catch a special deal on one for <$7k. Faster than a Miata but MUCH smaller "trunk."

So, my current faves in that price range, descending likelihood:

NB Miata MR2 Spyder E36 M3

The E36 M3 is last, because it's pretty tough to find one in good shape for <$7k and a neglected M3 is going to cost a lot to whip into shape.

Obviously, though, you can get a ton of awesome cars in that price range, so keep your options open.

Edit: A C4 corvette 6-speed is an excellent choice, I just don't like the body style quite enough.

Get the cleanest 325is or 328is you can, and spend the rest of the money fixing the odds and ends (bushings/struts/brakes/waterpump)....then enjoy!

Or get a C4:) Can you really get 6-speed LT1 cars for that kind of money down there?

Three P71's?

A P71 and a Turbo II FC RX-7?

LS1 Camaro/Firebird?

A minty-fresh 90-93 AllTrac.

SW20 MR2 Turbo

MR2 Spyder

300zx Twin Turbo

MKiii Supra Turbo

Nice Fox body

E36 328is

V8 Manual 5-series

LS1 Camaro

3000gt VR4

Minty fresh Galant VR4

Reliable here is the key word I think. The standard GRM list applies;

Miata

MR2

E30

2000+ Celicas

and although I ususally put E36s and 944s on my list, unless you want the maintenance and general fixing that goes on with these two, you may want to shop elsewhere. If you don't mind that, they're worth a look and test drive.

Rather than the SVT focus, you could try to find an 03-04 with the 2.3L Duratec motor. Less peak HP, but more torque, better efficiency, and less expensive to acquire and insure. I don't know where you're located, but that was the standard motor for all vehicles sold in Cali, New York, and other hippy states.

I've had two Maximas and loved both of them. You can get them with a manual too, but harder to find.

Watch out for 00-02 celica gt and 00-01 gts cars. Infiniti g20 I have seen some higher mileage IS300's for $8k (7 might be pushing it) integra (till it gets stolen)

I hear that a lot, mine never got over 24.

stumpmj wrote: C4 Corvette. Get a 6 spd. close to 30 mpg on the highway and huge fun when you don't care aobut the mileage.

Thanks for the input so far. My friend has an mr-2 spyder and it's hopelessly impractical. Makes my girlfriend's NA miata seem like it has a massive trunk. The spyder isn't that quick either.

The 328is idea isn't bad, it's definitely a possibility.

Now that I think about it I don't want a FWD car again so no focus or celica.

I don't want a c4 vette, never been a fan of those.

I'm thinking NB miata or a NICE 328is is the way to go.

7k a really nice classic beetle rwd rear engine there not fast but my beetle will out handle my wifes focus.

I would think a nice E36 328is would be easy to find under $7k. I just sold my E46 328i that ran like a scalded cat, had a perfect interior with everything functional and an 9/10 body for $6200. It did have 168k miles on it though and needed front control arms and bushings and was still running the original clutch.

Is there any fan base for the Nissan NX2000? The little coupe with the weird front lights? Sometimes they pop up, I think they're neat. I think they have the same drivetrain as the G20 did.

I'll sell you my 5 spd Subaru SVX.

There are enough differences between the SVT and Duratec Focii to justify the difference. A lot of the parts can be easily transferred over (I believe that the SVT suspension and brakes are a common and relatively cheap upgrade), but I think as a complete package the SVT looks and feels so much better.

I can't remember too many differences between years other than the '04s getting six-spoke wheels instead of five.

If you have a chance, take a look at a European Package model too if you're interested. It doesn't have any more go-fast goodies, but some people prefer them. It will often be referred to as an EAP in ads. With it, the HIDs and better stereo are standard (optional in regular models), and it also comes with multi-spoke wheels, traction control, and full-leather Recaro seats. It also had a few extra colors in limited quantities, a yellow and an orange.

It doesn't have any major problems, but it has its fair share of little gremlins. The exhaust heat shield tends to rattle at around 1600 rpm at strange intervals; I removed mine. Common to all Focii, the ignition will suddenly not engage in some models. Basically, the last tumbler gets stuck and doesn't engage when the key is pushed in. The temp fix is to hit the key when it's in the ignition (seriously). I did that for a few months before finally buying a new ignition cylinder, which cost just shy of $100 shipped and coded from Tousley Ford.

If you have any specific questions about it, there are a few members here with them.

mattmacklind wrote: Is there any fan base for the Nissan NX2000? The little coupe with the weird front lights? Sometimes they pop up, I think they're neat. I think they have the same drivetrain as the G20 did.

It's basically a classic SE-R with t-tops and a hatchback. Good reliable car. I'm not so keen on the handling now that i have a miata. [/miata snob]