Topic: Value advice

[rrocket]

Link it, let's see this $3800 Miata.

FWD is none of those things...

I disagree.

Plenty of sporty FWD cars far more engaging to me than an 80s F-body.  Not to mention several of them would run circles around an F-body at an Auto-X or race track.

I've played this internet game before. I'll link, and then you'll change the definition of "serviceable" just so you don't have to say I'm right. Like you did with the "RWD" only thing.

But for those of us who are always cruising the classifieds, we know the F-Body isn't the only "fun" $3k car available.

lol, you're taking this much too seriously. "F-body" comes in a pretty wide range of performance....My 84 2.8L Camaro, I bet my son's powerwheels could give it a run on a track  On the other hand A late 4th gen with the LS1 is quick even by today's standards, and a bunch of in between options depending on what you can find in budget.

Re-read the last few messages, I never said anything about a lack of fun cars under $3K, in fact i gave 3 examples I'd purchased (none of them f-bodies) recently for less than that...You brought this discussion upon yourself.

The original point I was making was that the $15K being tossed around for a nice E90 opened up a LOT of really exciting enthusiast car options.

Right about the 2.8 Camaro. Can think of several FWD cars more engaging, quicker and better handling. And several RWD cars too. For similar money. But none of that matters, because you truly LOVE those cars.  Everything else be damned.  Which was my original point.

$15k doesn't open up a lot of options if you truly love (and want) a low mileage BMW E90.  It opens up options TO YOU personally, because you'd rather drive something else other than an E90 for the same money. But if you're an E90 lover, this could possibly be the equivalent of crack! LOL [emoji38]

It's the same reason I wouldn't be caught dead buying a V6 F-body.

And the same reason you wouldn't be caught dead in a Prius.

Zero interest.

[Gurgie]

I'd like to know where these $3k cars are? I'm shopping for something for son #2 with a max budget of $3.5k & all I see is absolute junk that's rotted out & won't pass safety without body work to the rockers. Ideally I'd like to find something for $2k - ish.

And sorry Sailor for hijacking your thread.

Sent from my SM-S901W using Tapatalk

[Firm]

At that price you have a to gamble a bit....20+ years old, and usually with some mechanical issue that's caused it to be off the road for awhile. They is being able to identify the issue and repair it cheap to get yourself a workable vehicle. All three of the examples I gave were 'junk' when i bought them; the Corvette had a bad gauge cluster (free DIY repair), the SLK had been sitting for years (didn't actually need anything but a battery charge and tires...lucky though) and the MGB had been sitting many years and had a bunch of electrical gremlins I chased down (again, free DIY). You're not getting anything decent on the road for $3K without putting in some wrench time.

[rrocket]

I'd like to know where these $3k cars are? I'm shopping for something for son #2 with a max budget of $3.5k & all I see is absolute junk that's rotted out & won't pass safety without body work to the rockers. Ideally I'd like to find something for $2k - ish.

And sorry Sailor for hijacking your thread.

Sent from my SM-S901W using Tapatalk

Neither Firm, nor I said "safetied".

We said "serviceable".

There is a difference..and in the case of $3k cars, sometimes a VAST difference! LOL [emoji38]

Also, "serviceable" means something different for everyone. For example, Firm is talented and enthusiastic. I'm now old and broken down!  So our level of what constitutes "serviceable" is probably a bit different these days! LOL [emoji38]

How about this?

I found this 2009 Honda Civic on AutoTrader: http://www.autotrader.ca/go/5-60597226

[Dante]

How about this?

I found this 2009 Honda Civic on AutoTrader: http://www.autotrader.ca/go/5-60597226

It's rotten man....

[rrocket]

How about this?

I found this 2009 Honda Civic on AutoTrader: http://www.autotrader.ca/go/5-60597226

It's rotten man....

I have no idea.

But I do know everything in the $3k range will need a thorough inspection before pulling the trigger.

And Gurgie is handy, so he may save some $$ doing his own work.

Someone I know not long ago bought a nice Crown Vic for that kind of money...sellers said no one would buy it because of the V8. But this car definitely doesn't fall under "engaging" or "fun to drive". LOL [emoji38]

[JohnnyMac]

How about this?

I found this 2009 Honda Civic on AutoTrader: http://www.autotrader.ca/go/5-60597226

It's rotten man....

I have no idea.

But I do know everything in the $3k range will need a thorough inspection before pulling the trigger.

And Gurgie is handy, so he may save some $$ doing his own work.

Someone I know not long ago bought a nice Crown Vic for that kind of money...sellers said no one would buy it because of the V8. But this car definitely doesn't fall under "engaging" or "fun to drive". LOL [emoji38]

And yet I wouldn't be shocked if the performance from a V8 Crown Vic is not too dissimilar to an F body. 

[JohnnyMac]

I'd like to know where these $3k cars are? I'm shopping for something for son #2 with a max budget of $3.5k & all I see is absolute junk that's rotted out & won't pass safety without body work to the rockers. Ideally I'd like to find something for $2k - ish.

And sorry Sailor for hijacking your thread.

Sent from my SM-S901W using Tapatalk

Here's one for your son.  https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/399501642751326/?ref=category_feed&referral_code=undefined&referral_story_type=listing&tracking=%7B%22qid%22%3A%22-2619729317663307617%22%2C%22mf_story_key%22%3A%227316865121699562%22%2C%22commerce_rank_obj%22%3A%22%7B%5C%22target_id%5C%22%3A7316865121699562%2C%5C%22target_type%5C%22%3A0%2C%5C%22primary_position%5C%22%3A7%2C%5C%22ranking_signature%5C%22%3A2761285334098037213%2C%5C%22commerce_channel%5C%22%3A504%2C%5C%22value%5C%22%3A0.00047986908456949%2C%5C%22candidate_retrieval_source_map%5C%22%3A%7B%5C%227316865121699562%5C%22%3A111%7D%7D%22%2C%22ftmd_400706%22%3A%22111112l%22%7D  $2K for a reliable, somewhat modern toyota.  Cheap to run, cheap to maintain, and hit the budget.

[TheHire]

This is great actually.

@Gurgie let me know if you're looking for a decent cheapie. We just sold a really nice, not rotten original owner 2007 Civic sedan for $2,500+tax, safetied.

I think the only cheapie we have right now is a horribly ugly (steelies, some dings and dents) one owner black 2008 Saturn Aura V6 with every mile in the world on it, but safetied and like $3,000.

[Firm]

This is great actually.

@Gurgie let me know if you're looking for a decent cheapie. We just sold a really nice, not rotten original owner 2007 Civic sedan for $2,500+tax, safetied.

I think the only cheapie we have right now is a horribly ugly (steelies, some dings and dents) one owner black 2008 Saturn Aura V6 with every mile in the world on it, but safetied and like $3,000.

Does the Aura still have the polymer body panels?

[Firm]

How about this?

I found this 2009 Honda Civic on AutoTrader: http://www.autotrader.ca/go/5-60597226

It's rotten man....

I have no idea.

But I do know everything in the $3k range will need a thorough inspection before pulling the trigger.

And Gurgie is handy, so he may save some $$ doing his own work.

Someone I know not long ago bought a nice Crown Vic for that kind of money...sellers said no one would buy it because of the V8. But this car definitely doesn't fall under "engaging" or "fun to drive". LOL [emoji38]

And yet I wouldn't be shocked if the performance from a V8 Crown Vic is not too dissimilar to an F body.

In the sense of being powered by a big lazy V8, yes. Straight-line, probably similar to many of the f-bodies out there. Handling and braking, not so much....Maybe the Police VCs got some upgrades, but the civilian models I've driven are super soft, wallowy and brakes are pretty mediocre. The f-bodies handle pretty well, especially for their time....back in the 80's they were widely regarded as some of the best handling cars on the market, and C&D had a habit of running them up against the front-engine Porsche's for comparos. Remember, we're talking around 40 years ago.....these (and the Corvette) were the first mainstream cars to wear properly wide tires, 245/55/16's, and the cars optioned up with the performance suspension like my T/A got sway bars the size of sewer pipes, factory Bilsteins, 4-wheel discs, etc. At the time, it was a revelation for American performance cars.

Good read on the f-body handling vs. a 944 from C&D:
https://www.thirdgen.org/besthandlingamericancarpart2-caranddriver-oct1984/

For the 4th generation the engine got pushed waaaay back, essentially center of the motor sits where you'd expect the firewall to be with half the motor under the dash. Makes it annoying to work on, and the dead space infront of the motor looks silly, but it really improved the balance of the platform. Course by that point in the 90's there were quite a few more decent handling cars in the market.

[TheHire]

This is great actually.

@Gurgie let me know if you're looking for a decent cheapie. We just sold a really nice, not rotten original owner 2007 Civic sedan for $2,500+tax, safetied.

I think the only cheapie we have right now is a horribly ugly (steelies, some dings and dents) one owner black 2008 Saturn Aura V6 with every mile in the world on it, but safetied and like $3,000.

Does the Aura still have the polymer body panels?

I don't think so - I think the Ion was the last Saturn to have that.

[Gurgie]

This is great actually.

@Gurgie let me know if you're looking for a decent cheapie. We just sold a really nice, not rotten original owner 2007 Civic sedan for $2,500+tax, safetied.

I think the only cheapie we have right now is a horribly ugly (steelies, some dings and dents) one owner black 2008 Saturn Aura V6 with every mile in the world on it, but safetied and like $3,000.

That Civic would've been perfect! Not rotten and original owner would've worked great... that's something I'm looking to find, a long term owner in decent shape.

[JohnnyMac]

I think this listing is relevant to your value proposition.

https://www.facebook.com/share/yAKQyF4pULLpnKDr/?mibextid=gVQsCx

[sailor723]

I think this listing is relevant to your value proposition.

https://www.facebook.com/share/yAKQyF4pULLpnKDr/?mibextid=gVQsCx

Pics are at BMW Moncton and I see it's listed on their website.

[TheHire]

I think this listing is relevant to your value proposition.

https://www.facebook.com/share/yAKQyF4pULLpnKDr/?mibextid=gVQsCx

It is but it isn't. That's an F30 (2012+), which is the next generation from Sailor's E90. We know that the 4-banger F30s are junk, but the average buyer will still pay more for an F30 because it's a newer car with newer things and looks fresher than the E90 does.