$10k budget on a car - what do you buy?

[squidmaster]

I'd be looking for a deal on an E60 530xit for my wife to replace our POS Subaru.

and yeah, I call shenanigans on 38mpg in a Subaru. our slow as balls Legacy gets 24 on a good day. The painful performance doesn't warrant the awful mileage (I wouldn't call anything under 30 good for a 4 cylinder car).

I daily drive a legacy 2.5 premium and never dip below 31.5 avg mpg. On trips I average 38mpg. I must drive like a geriatric patient.

Obviously, and as I stated very clearly, the 34-38mpg on the sti wasn't average, but immediate cruising mpg. I also said that I got an average of 24-28 on the sti. If you dont go into boost, it's just a regular ol 4 cylinder with oversized injectors.

Being able to tune the car helps an immense amount. For daily driving I tuned it specifically for economy. No reason to waste gas just puttering back and forth to work. That being said, my legacy isn't tuned at all-- 100% bone stock.

The 90's subaru factory tunes were awful. Unfortunately there aren't many good options for tuning them either. With the 02+ impreza and legacy however you get very useful addons like the Cobb access port and open source tuning. These methods can help significantly with economy.

I'm only speaking facts and experiences.

[Wanganstyle]

10k can get a e36m and you on the track happily/reliably.

10k can buy a e46m that needs another 5k into it.

Practice day lapping at thunderhill the pace between the my team mate and I was pretty close besides for the front straight (not close at all).

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[DEV0 E30]

In current times, $10k can get you a great car. I'm all for living below my means. Assuming this was for a DD, I'd get something that is a decent, solid car, that puts some of that 10k back in the bank.


New-ish Honda Fit - Space, optional 5 speed. Honestly as far as DD's go this is a fine choice.
E46 Wagon - Space, 5 speeds are rare but would like.
E36 M3 - Obviously a good choice.
Newer Civic - Appliance to get to a fro.


EDIT.

[nando]

really? why? I always kinda liked the N52 (non direct injected version). Did they come with M54s too?

I don't really want the headaches of a turbo, or the 535xi would be obvious.

[flyboyx]

that would be a cool car. try to get one without an n52 if you can. we have one and over the past few years, i have developed an utter disdain of that retarded shit excuse for an engine. i could rant for probably 30 minutes on how stupid it is but i guess you could do a search here or bimmerforums and get the same info.

[nando]

I'd be looking for a deal on an E60 530xit for my wife to replace our POS Subaru.

and yeah, I call shenanigans on 38mpg in a Subaru. our slow as balls Legacy gets 24 on a good day. The painful performance doesn't warrant the awful mileage (I wouldn't call anything under 30 good for a 4 cylinder car).

[flyboyx]

To my understanding Copart only sells to dealer licensed persons, and only sells insurance write offs. Its not a very great idea if you are looking for something with anything like a service history.

I know someone that works there, but only in the titles department, so who knows how much they know about the general workings of the company.

yes, actually my point was that an e46m3 in that price range will be a pos.

[markseven]

NB Miata

[JasonC]

Third gen Firebird (Formula, Trans Am, or GTA)

I was going to say a Henry J gasser or 68-70 Dodge Dart, but classic car prices are high still.

[ser1992]

Where are you people finding quality examples of these cars you are talking about for 10k!?

[golde30]

I have a lot of exp with Subaru, besides my brother, brother in law, 4 good friends, my wife also has a Subaru. Of those 6, all have had some major issues below 60k miles, and even worse on those over 120k.


Sti 34-38? Downhill maybe.

[squidmaster]

Lol this is some serious bad info.

For $10k you aren't going to get any reliable wrx or sti. They will be high mileage clapped out beaters that need instant $5k in maintenance. Also 24mpg in top gear cruising at 70mph perhaps....

Now that being said, my e46 m3 suggestion will be in same category, clapped out high mileage beater, but at least with the same amount of maintenance put in it's a superior vehicle.

Weird how you shoot down my experience with hearsay and conjecture. Even weirder how you say that I said sti for 10k when the post you quoted within your own post makes no mention of such a thing.

Highway cruising 65-70ish hit upwards of 34-38 immediate mpg.

A legacy under 10k that's still got plenty of life? Easy.

www.copart.com

To my understanding Copart only sells to dealer licensed persons, and only sells insurance write offs. Its not a very great idea if you are looking for something with anything like a service history.

I know someone that works there, but only in the titles department, so who knows how much they know about the general workings of the company.

[Vivek]

Buy an E30 for $500, dump $9500 into it.

Better to buy one for 5k (probably 7-8 invested) and dump 5k into it.

[Freakshow]

find a decent e28 and make her reliable shouldn't cost 10k maybe 5-7k at tops.

[golde30]

Subaru. Wrx or legacy gt. Just my opinion but they've been extremely reliable for me and still decent mpg. My STi got 24-28mpg unless I was being a dick

Lol this is some serious bad info.

For $10k you aren't going to get any reliable wrx or sti. They will be high mileage clapped out beaters that need instant $5k in maintenance. Also 24mpg in top gear cruising at 70mph perhaps....

Now that being said, my e46 m3 suggestion will be in same category, clapped out high mileage beater, but at least with the same amount of maintenance put in it's a superior vehicle.