Interesting cars under $15Kish

[Andy348]

I have a rusted out E30 w/M20b25 and bolt ons that is blowing oil and showing its age. I've contemplated a shell-swap and full DD/track car build, and it seems like that would cost $12-$15K to get done right + an entire summer (at least) of work.

Therefore I am looking for cars around that price range + opportunity cost of working all summer. Needs to be very reliable as I do long trips quite often. Obviously would be nice if it could put up with Montreal winters, but I have the availability to store it if necessary.

AWD is an added bonus, RWD is good, FWD is not.

Originally I thought I was sold on a Z3 Coupe because of its unbelievable sexiness, but once I found the subframe issues I realized that the $15K price tag + at least $1K subframe repair, whatever else = too much to spend on a Z3.

I found some E46 M3s at 16K-17K which I know will end up costing some maintenance at the beginning (and has subframe issues, rod bearing should be recalled), but I think they're damn beautiful.

Checked out E39 540is, love the interior but not sure if spending $10K on a 540i will keep me happy. Not sure how quick they are anyways

I've even gone as far as checking out X5s, Touaregs, etc for the snow duty and extra space. Definitely not necessary, but would be nice for longer trips. I hear the Touaregs are quite unreliable, or else they'd be high on the list.

Not sure what else is out there. I figure E30 owners are pretty similar-minded, so what say you R3V?

[Herr Faust Schinken]

Manual 540s are pretty quick i think they do 0-60 in roughly 5.5 seconds, that pretty quick for a large car, some like mid 90s audis are supposed to be pretty cool and somewhat reliable theres a bunch of cool Japanese cars you can get for under 15k too

[e30lov]

You could spend 12-14k on an e39 m5 and probably have a boner every time you drive it.

[Herr Faust Schinken]

You could spend 12-14k on an e39 m5 and probably have a boner every time you drive it.

since when can you get a nice m5 for less than 20k

[z31maniac]

since when can you get a nice m5 for less than 20k

Maybe not in California, but everywhere else in the country, and it's been that way for awhile.


It all depends on what you want out of the vehicle?

Comfy DD that's fast as hell? E39 M5
Entertaining smaller car, that's still pretty quick and will let you do the odd track day? E46 M3
Even cheaper, not as fast, but will eat up track days and DD duties with a few small tweaks? E36 M3
Need to look cool parking at whole foods getting your Organic Quinoa? X5

[alB5]

What I gave my E30 up for, just my .02 :up:

[Herr Faust Schinken]

Maybe not in California, but everywhere else in the country, and it's been that way for awhile.


It all depends on what you want out of the vehicle?

Comfy DD that's fast as hell? E39 M5
Entertaining smaller car, that's still pretty quick and will let you do the odd track day? E46 M3
Even cheaper, not as fast, but will eat up track days and DD duties with a few small tweaks? E36 M3
Need to look cool parking at whole foods getting your Organic Quinoa? X5

it docent really matter, if theres a clean car in like Virginia i would totally road trip it back

[e30lov]

since when can you get a nice m5 for less than 20k

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId&csDgId&listingId=119284209&listingRecNum=5&criteria=dlId%3D474205%26feedSegId%3D28705%26rpp%3D50%26isDealerGrouping%3Dfalse%26sf1Nm%3Dprice%26stkTypId%3D28881%26PMmt%3D0-0-0%26rn%3D0%26crSrtFlds%3DstkTypId-feedSegId%26stkTyp%3DU%26sf1Dir%3DDESC&aff=national&listType=1

[e34john]

Bug eyed wrx?

I would get an an old impreza rs and turn it into a 22b clone.

Can't you get an old skyline there?

[Herr Faust Schinken]

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...nal&listType=1

whenever i see a cheap one like that i tend to think something is wrong with it

[gtdragon980]

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...nal&listType=1

Fuck I would trade my current e46, motorcycle and 2k cash for that!

[DEV0 E30]

My opinions may not be shared with others, edited this far too much:

What do you need? More doors? More space? Or are you just looking for fun?

E39 M5's are amazing cars. Probably my favorite 4-door sedan.

Even though you can score one for less than 15k, be sure you know what you're buying. There is one that is beat to shit locally for sale for ~$8k. I wouldn't touch that thing unless I was going to completely rebuild it, or put the S62 into an E30.

IF you can afford to treat her (E39 M5) like a garage queen and maintain her right then by all means go for it. I don't mean treat her like a garage queen all the time, but don't be the person who runs it into the ground because you don't understand that you're going to be spending money on it often.

E46 M3's are awesome too, but they aren't my favorite by any means. I also think they follow the E39 in terms of maintenance, if you're buying a cheap one, be sure to know what you're buying.

X5s only because of their reputation scare me, same thing, maintaining them could be pricey? Great things when they are running in tip-top shape though. Don't like Touaregs much at all. (Not a BMW fanboy.)

Originally I thought I was sold on a Z3 Coupe because of its unbelievable sexiness, but once I found the subframe issues I realized that the $15K price tag + at least $1K subframe repair, whatever else = too much to spend on a Z3.

Not sure what else is out there. I figure E30 owners are pretty similar-minded, so what say you R3V?

I owned a '99 Z3M Coupe for 5 years, should have never sold it, especially for what I sold it for, and since it was resold 6 months later. Sellers remorse much? Yep.

I wanted to erase debt and fund a new business, so I guess you can say my priorities made sense. I'll own another, and never let it go. Especially for the small number made, I want one before they gain in price.

They are peculiar cars, and probably not for everybody. I too was afraid of the subframe issues but never had any problems. It's not as big of an issue really. If it does begin to tear or crack, you get it fixed, then it's set for life. Some complain that they aren't comfortable, but in my eyes they are one of few cars under ~$20k that are true sports cars (aka not a sport sedan). I'm obsessed with shooting brakes though, so that leads to it. Something about automotive shapes that aren't used anymore is so appealing, so sexy, wide hips, dem' curves, etc.

Yeah, I miss that car. It doesn't feel like anything else when driving it either.

With $15kish I'd suggest saving that money and waiting or buying a reliable cheap car that doesn't gain many smiles, let your adventures do that. Or make your E30 reliable enough to take anywhere, and again save the rest. I just realized where you live, perhaps wait for an E30 Touring? Save the rest?

[cale]

You're in higher mileage STI or immaculate RSti territory with that price range. My swapped rs was probably the most fun car I owned, easily out performed my s52 touring, and immensely more practical in your province.

http://www.rs25.com/forums/f171/t200182-subaru-rs-sti-swap-sale-14k-smogged.html

http://www.rs25.com/forums/f171/t203197-1993-gf8-full-05-06-sti-swap-6-speed-5x114-3-a.html

http://www.rs25.com/forums/f171/t202389-99-rsti-6-speed-dccd-brembo-60k-sti-parts.html

[z31maniac]

it docent really matter, if theres a clean car in like Virginia i would totally road trip it back

If you don't know what you want out of the vehicle, it's tough to make a good suggestion.

[mrmckie]

A Evo...civic si, fun and reliable, teenagers and ricers will become your new best friends though. G35x is also not a bad choice. I'm not a huge 540 fan b/c my friend always has to fix something on his. Love the e39 m5 and e46 m3 but maintence costs scare me.

I would look a 530i sports or a g35x, a standard z3 coupe seems pretty hard to find