CD Article: 20 under 20 - 20 sporty cars you can buy for under $20,000

[CD_Editor]

Used Vehicle Feature:


20 sporty cars you can buy for less than $20,000! Think you can't have a lot of fun for under $20,000?  Contributing Editor and Used Car Reviewer Chris Chase picks out twenty fun and affordable used sporty cars that will give you the most bang for your buck.

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[initial_D]

A great list!

No Miata?

[tpl]

Yes why no Miata? and why no BMW 3-series from 1999 to say 2002.  No Honda S2000 in that price range?

However, If I could only afford $20K ( plus tax) I think a  pre-loved BMW/Porche/M-B/Mini might kill me stone dead with maintenance and repairs when it was in those age ranges and sadly IMHO they are NOT cars that are all that easy to work on oneself without a reasonably equipped garage.   Now if one lived somewhere with a good indie mechanic.... even Guelph has one and TO has several.

[wing]

S2000 is in the list....

[chrischasescars]

A great list!

No Miata?

.

Funny thing - Greg, the editor, owns a Miata and he didn't even mention that when I showed him the article.

Gah.

[Careener]

Good list.
You had me until I saw the PT Turbo. Miata would have been a better choice.
Also there's one Solstice convertible on Trader for under 20K

 2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE Convertible 2D
Manual, 2 dr., 4, Gasoline, Silver exterior, Black interior, AM/FM Stereo, Air Conditioning, Alloy Wheels, Anti-Theft, CD Player, Driver Air Bag, Dual Air Bag, Keyless Entry, ... more
 $ 19,900.00 32,048 km
 

[The Mighty Duck]

Those used car prices are pretty optimistic.  I know BC has high used prices, but I've yet to see a Mini, RSX, or WRX for less than $14k.  Nor have I seen many G35s for under $30k, and nothing even coming close to $15k.

$16K for a Cobalt SS Supercharged is very attractive, though. 

[sailor723]

Those used car prices are pretty optimistic.  I know BC has high used prices, but I've yet to see a Mini, RSX, or WRX for less than $14k.  Nor have I seen many G35s for under $30k, and nothing even coming close to $15k.

$16K for a Cobalt SS Supercharged is very attractive, though. 

Not sure about how it is where you are but the strong dollar and US imports seem to have resulted in a drop in pricing for late model,luxury,or "specialty" used cars around here (East Coast). For example....I just searched for 02-04 G35 within 200miles of Portland Maine (enough of a radius to include most of New England) and found 186 G35's priced under 20K (02's started at 10,500). Even with the 6.1% duty and $200+ RIV fees you could easily have an 03 or 04 back here in the mid to high teens

[The Mighty Duck]

I searched BC, just for fun.  130 G35s listed, 11 under $20 000.  And all but three or four of those were $19 XXX.

I agree, there's great value to be had in the States.  If I was in a position to buy a new or slightly used luxury car, I'd almost certainly be buying South of the border...

[davidm]

No Miata is criminal.

Especially when you can slip into a perfectly fine 1990 for about $3500 in BC.  Ultimate starter car.  Manual, bulletproof, easy to work on (maintenance and mods), huge community, and still a hoot to drive almost 20 years later.

[sailor723]

No Miata is criminal.

Especially when you can slip into a perfectly fine 1990 for about $3500 in BC.  Ultimate starter car.  Manual, bulletproof, easy to work on (maintenance and mods), huge community, and still a hoot to drive almost 20 years later.

Or....There's several early 70's TR6's on Ebay in the mid teens

[tpl]

TR6s are certainly easy to work on  good thing as they would need to be worked on every weekend!

Seriously tho'  pre OBD and pre fuel injection cars are easy to work on and a Bosch K-Jetronic is easy as well

[The Mighty Duck]

Especially when you can slip into a perfectly fine 1990 for about $3500 in BC. 

Where?  Cheapest Miata I've ever seen was still more than $5000.  Most of the ones I see listed are asking $7000-10 000.  $3500 for a Miata would be a steal, on the island at least.

[Wolfe]

Especially when you can slip into a perfectly fine 1990 for about $3500 in BC. 

Where?  Cheapest Miata I've ever seen was still more than $5000.  Most of the ones I see listed are asking $7000-10 000.  $3500 for a Miata would be a steal, on the island at least.

It's certainly possible to find a nicely kept Miata fairly cheaply (at least I did here in Toronto) but unless your lucky it can take quite a bit of looking.

I spent about 6 months looking for mine last year. Eventually I found a motivated private seller that had bought a new summer toy and he simply wanted a fair price for the Miata without going to the trouble of storing it for another winter.


FedEx says that my new rims should arrive on Monday . I put the insurance back on today and if the battery is any good I hope to get it out for a drive on Sunday. I only had it for a week or so before storing it for the winter and it's been almost painful waiting for this damned winter to end .

[SkiBunny]

I agree, there's great value to be had in the States.  If I was in a position to buy a new or slightly used luxury car, I'd almost certainly be buying South of the border...

A great suggestion, but better buy in the U.S. soon. 

Because according to the Royal Bank forecast yesterday, the days of dollar parity are over. 

Royal Bank says the loonie is headed back down to around 90 cents U.S. this year, and in the 80-cents range next year:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080403/rbc_wire_080403/20080403?hub=Canada

[sailor723]

TR6s are certainly easy to work on  good thing as they would need to be worked on every weekend!

Seriously tho'  pre OBD and pre fuel injection cars are easy to work on and a Bosch K-Jetronic is easy as well

Oh.....I don't know....You get a fun car to drive AND you get to develop new skills in interesting subjects like "Electrical Troubleshooting", "SU Carb Tuning", and "The Five Minute Guide to Points" 

Seriously though,I had a TR6 as a year round daily driver all through university and it only got towed for a breakdown once that I remember. That's actually a better record the the four years I drove a '98  Grand Cherokee 

(and with skinny 185 SR15 studded tires they're surprisingly good in the snow)

[safristi]

..FUN LIST...I'll have ta search down in the couch cushions ta see wot I can come UP with...and then there's EMPTIES returns.....can we have a BOTTLE DRIVE fer a Boxter...or a HIGH 8's fer an S2000.....maybe a Saf Charity run fer a G35...gawd Spring is here and the SAP is rising.............Oh sugar OFF.....I'd take half on that list in a heartbeat......

[tpl]

TR6s are certainly easy to work on  good thing as they would need to be worked on every weekend!

Seriously tho'  pre OBD and pre fuel injection cars are easy to work on and a Bosch K-Jetronic is easy as well

Oh.....I don't know....You get a fun car to drive AND you get to develop new skills in interesting subjects like "Electrical Troubleshooting", "SU Carb Tuning", and "The Five Minute Guide to Points" 

Seriously though,I had a TR6 as a year round daily driver all through university and it only got towed for a breakdown once that I remember. That's actually a better record the the four years I drove a '98  Grand Cherokee 

(and with skinny 185 SR15 studded tires they're surprisingly good in the snow)

Somewhere between packing to emigrate and finally moving to Guelph ( 32 years in there)  I lost my genuine offset SU tuning wrench... seriously... I had one, a little wrench with a 45 deg offset to adjust the mixture nuts on SU carbs.

[safristi]

 "NUTLESS in SUEATTLE?"........

[Giant Dwarf]

As soon as BMW brings down the lease rates on the 135i, you'll be able to buy my '06 MX5 for less than $20k. 

No Miata on the list IS criminal.