What car for $5k other than Miata

I am selling one of my bikes and want to replace it with a relatively trouble free fun car with a budget of $5k. I know that the proper answer is miata but my mind wonders to MR2s. I have had a 2nd gen NA (meh) and a 3rd gen (fun! but ugly and useless as an actual car, good cycle replacement though). Anything else that I should be looking for?

How about some variant of double wishbone Honda with a VTEC b series.  Fun, reliable, huge knowledge and parts base, found in your price range, just have to be a bit picky to find one that hasn’t been ruined. 

In reply to singleslammer :

I am reconsidering my MR2 project.

Interested?

In reply to Sonic :

Man, I would catch hell from the wife if I bought a Civic/similar. This certainly doesn't have to be a RWD car but I am not certain I can bring myself to that...

In reply to SVreX :

That is likely more of a project than I want even though it is a nice car. 

In reply to singleslammer :

Understood. 

(Your budget would probably cover you to get someone else to drop the supercharged engine in, and shoot it with paint!)

In reply to SVreX :

That is a thought... Does that S/C motor have a manual attached to it?

Main issue with MR2s these days is parts availability and the usual fun of dealing with niche parts suppliers.

singleslammer said:

In reply to SVreX :

That is a thought... Does that S/C motor have a manual attached to it?

Yes it does. 

C4

Boxster!

I bought my -97 Boxster in rough shape for $1500. Approx 70h and $1200 in parts (new soft top, brakes, some suspension parts) and a looooot of cleaning and polishing - I now have a very entertaining $2700 daily driver. Parts are not any more expensive than for my E46.

Honestly..... Miata.

Get a decent NB, and have some cash leftover. The interior in the NB's is modern enough to be nice, yet the car is still a fun miata, and they are hard to kill and easy to work on. You can fit a good bit in the trunk, especially if you skip the spare tire, plus a lot of cargo space on the parcel tray. (I'm running hard top only, so it's got tons of room, but there's still a good bit with a soft top. 

E36 M3?  

I did find a Mazdaspeed miata with a lot of FM parts for $6500. That might be worth a look of it is still around once my bike is gone.

In reply to Torkel :

Those basically don't exist in my area. It is an interesting thought though 

singleslammer said:

I did find a Mazdaspeed miata with a lot of FM parts for $6500. That might be worth a look of it is still around once my bike is gone.

That sounds like a great idea!

2007 Civic Si sedan? I'll be listing mine for sale soon. 

EP3

Early 350Zs can be had for that price. They might be a little scruffy, but still a good car.

Mr2 mr2 mr2 mr2

first gen mazdaspeed3's are down in that neighborhood these days. 

If relatively trouble free means maybe 50% chance of filling it up with gas more than once between tow truck rides, quite a few older amg Mercedes can be found for that cheap.

In reply to Tk8398 :

I already have an XJR6 so I am good on muscle luxury. Good thought though.

In reply to Robbie :

Keep a look out up north for rust free examples for me?

In reply to Strizzo :

My daily is a Saab 2.0T so too much crossover with the mazdaspeed 3, but certainly a contender if I go FWD. 

In reply to NickD:

That is something that I didn't think about. The 350z is a great car. What should I look out for with these?

Too bad I can't swing a bit more. 

https://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/d/mazda-rx-8-4dr-coupe-r3/6637701478.html

$9k RX8 R3

Two Fiero’s