Topic: Looking for a fun daily driver!

[slowANDfurious]

Hey guys, im hoping yall can help me out. Ive been stuck driving a 99 plymouth breeze while working my way through school, and i cant take it any more! Ive saved up $8000, and i think its time i had something a little more fun.
Id like to not use the whole thing on the car, id like to spend like $6000 or so and use the rest to fix it up a bit, maybe make it a little faster, new suspension/brakes etc... I dont want a drag racer, i like cars that handle well (so please dont suggest a 5.0 mustang lol. I respect the power, but besides the looks, they're about as aerodynamic as a brick). Im open to all suggestions, I dont care about the year so much, but here are some things id like:

* Not overly expensive on insurance (i have a clean record)
* Parts are not really really expensive, and hard to find
* safe
* decent aftermarket
* manual (both for the fun factor, and gas mileage)
* decent MPG (this will be my daily driver after all)
* reliable (same reason as ^)
* seats 4 (doesn't need to be "comfortably", just being able to squeeze them in there every now and again)

I dont need something that is fast in stock form, solong as there is room to make it faster.  I wouldn't mind a sleeper... perhaps something a little older i can get for cheap, and make fast while still looking stock. But i guess id be sacrificing reliability bu going that route.

I can probably be flexible in a few areas, so if you know of something that fits most of these requirements, lets hear it. I need the reliability though.

Besides the "seats 4", Ive been looking at the NA miata's. I could pick one up for like $3000, buy a turbo kit etc.. but they kinda look like a chick car. Though i guess that would add to the "sleeper" aspect of it. Still though, lets hear your suggestions. Thanks!

[Turbo Bob]

For all out fun and handling, you actually can't go wrong with a Miata/MX-5, they are one of the best handling cars out there, especially the early ones.  Ignore the "chick car" comments and go for it, you definitely won't regret it.

And you are right, you can totally mod that car and make it even more fun for little money.

[Turbo Bob]

9th out of 100 great drivers car ain't bad... 1 place below the F50...

http://www.evo.co.uk/features/features/240343/top_10_greatest_drivers_cars.html

 

And look at the rest of the Top 10!

[dr_spock]

Maybe one of these? 

[HeliDriver]

^^ Good suggestion. And it would cost a lot less than the $8,000 budget, too. 

[carsncars]

99-00 Civic Si's a good choice. Pick that over a 96-98 model because the 96-98 is really just an American EX relabeled Si for Canada (though it has VTEC still). We have a 1996. Not at all fast in a straight line, but it's a fun chassis to throw around, tonnes of aftermarket, reliable and frugal when you need it to be. If you really want it to be fast you'll have to go with a different engine, but I'm guessing you're not looking to invest that much into it. Insurance is on the high side, and you run the risk of being ricey.

Ditto for an Acura Integra. But it's even harder to find an unmolested Integra.

It would probably (scratch that: definitely) rack up more in repairs/maintenance, but I've always had a soft spot for the Jetta or Golf VR6... They're more "substantial" feeling than the Civic and Integra.

[airbalancer]

An BMW E-36 or maybe E-46
A lot of aftermarket parts to get
It will seat 4
And if you do your own work, maintenance cost are low

[tpl]

A late E36 would probably be easier on the budget and possibly a better car than an early E46  and I suspect easier to work on.

[safristi]

..SLOW & FURIOUS...........sounds like a MX5 DESCRIPTIVE  ta me.................................i'm sure ya could squeeze a third inna back and one more wee onein the trunk.....................seeing as yer a stupid student that'll appeal ta ya.....

[TopGun]

I like the Miata option.

Did a search on Autotrader.ca for cars from $5,000 to $6000 and came up with lots of choices so you don't have to go the Civic route like everyone else:

• Protege5 would fit...about 175K on the clock
• Subbie Legacy GT...2001...120,000 km
• 2000 Maxima SE...156,000 km...interesting...although not fuel efficient
• 2003 Sentra Spec V...$153,000 km

[tortoise]

IMO the P5 has one of the best combinations of Fun, Frugality and Reliability. Feel free to add practicallity thanks to the hatch.

It's just not fast. Fast enough, sure.  But you won't confuse it for anything other than a 2.0 4cyl.

I have 192,000 on mine and it still drives tight as a drum.

[Leviathan]

• 2003 Sentra Spec V...153,000 km

Dunno about that one. There are too many known/common and expensive problems with that era SpecV.

[Arthur Dent]

Probably get nice Porsche 944 with records in that range.

Miata would be my pick.

[blur911]

Nissan 240SX might fit the bill.  Just be sure to check them out with someone who knows where to look for the rusty bits.

[johngenx]

If you can live with two seats, Miata all the way.  There is no more fun to be had for the dough, and they're completely bulletproof to boot.

As for "chick car" well that would be fine with me.  More than fine!!