Joe's new daily, what should it be?

[Joe G]

People of r3v,

It's time for me to get into a fun-ish daily driver again and I would like some input from all of you lovable assholes.

So here's the deal: I'm selling my 944 (hoping to get ~$8.5K), my fiance is taking over my '14 Impreza hatchback as her DD, and I am looking to spend between $4K and $6K on a new daily.

Wants:
Manual transmission
0-60 in less than 6.5
RWD preferred, then AWD, no FWD
Good road trip car (comfortable, good stereo, etc)
Reliable-ish (minimal >$500 common failure items)
Newer than 1990
Fun to drive
Not boring

So far I'm thinking e39 540i 6-speed (have a line on a '98 with 128K for $4200), 2nd gen WRX (hatchback preferred), Porsche boxter w/hardtop (silly, yes), E30s of course, e34s, etc.


And here's this because it made me lol:

[Eric Giles]

The E39 540i 6sp would be a good choice, but timing chain issues are expensive and tedious to replace. My first thought would be a nice E46 330i, and you can find ZHP'S in the upper end of your budget.

I'm on my third E46 ZHP, and I absolutely love them. Very comfortable, very fun to drive, and they meet your performance and reliability requirements.

Earlier this year I put mine up for sale and bought an E46 M3. I kept the M3 for about two months and then sold it...and kept the ZHP, even though I had a buyer that had put down a deposit. It's just such a better overall, everyday car that does many things very well.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[IceWhite]

Yeah, I second what Eric Giles says. Keep the E46 330i in mind, as it really is an awesome car! You definitely won't go wrong.

[2mAn]

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=409128

act quick and you can get a steal

[tak7]

I recently bought an '97 540i/6 and must say for me it's a great daily (if gas mileage isn't a priority). It's very poised at speed and angry when you want it to be.

I also agree with the ZHP, and when I was shopping if a proper e36 m3/4/5 would have popped up I'd have been interested.

GL

[varg]

That's a tall order. A boxster in that price range is probably a ticking time bomb (IMS failures abound 2000-2005 and something that cheap is probably high mileage and hasn't been retrofitted).

[Joe G]

I had a Mystic Blue 330i ZHP, 6-speed with an alcantara interior. I've never regretted selling a car more.

If I can find one, I will buy it.

With that said, I am tempted by a V-8 strictly based on exhaust noises (commute is <5 miles).

[2mAn]

dont be a bitch

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=408235

[Kershaw]

I bought a e39 540i 6 speed as my new daily in January of this year.

It's a bitchin daily.

Edit: 97s are non vanos and have a more durable engine, no vanos problems and the timing chain guides seem to last much longer. Preferably find one with an m5 LSD already swapped in, because that's a pain to do. And if you can find one with the m5/m-sport body kit, it's a vast improvement in appearance.

Mine:

[Hooffenstein HD]

Manual G8.

[Kershaw]

Ooooooh, a manual g8 would be awesome. But good lucking finding one. I think they only came in the GXP trim with the v8 and they carry a hefty premium last time I looked. An e39 m5 would be cheaper.

[TheTacoMan]

e34 540i six speed or bust, really wonderful car. They are hard to find however, brother just scored a 100,000 original two owner car. They are out there, but a really nice balance between modern and a classic.

[Joe G]

This is exactly what I want. Just need the 944 to sell.

https://austin.craigslist.org/cto/6156714729.html

[2mAn]

My buddy has one and just got married. Alpine white 6 speed. I'll see if he wants to sell it, he just got married so he will probably need money

[Joe G]

^ That would be fantastic.

I will fly to anywhere in the continental US for the right car. Haven't had a proper roadtrip in a while.