i am looking for a car for my son to improve his manual transmission skills. criteria is that it should be running, clean title, and less than $3k. preferences are japanese - miata, Z car, accord coupe etc. thanks
I bought the kids a used base Mini Cooper manual, easy tranny, light, great visibility, lots of fun. If you look hard you may find one in that range but high miles and such. vdm
We bought our daughter a new Kia Soul for less than $15k.....it will take her through college.....now it’s 4 years later and she handles the MT very well. It’s easy to shift, and kinda fun even for me to drive.
I goofed the project and spent $3500 on a school bus. Sorry. It teaches him nothing about manual transmissions, which he already knows, but a lot more about air brakes. Matt Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Serious thought -- a small pickup might be a good choice https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/d/tomball-95-mazda-b2300/7263765944.html https://houston.craigslist.org/ctd/d/houston-2000-chevrolet-s10-regular-cab/7263126105.html https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/d/the-colony-1997-toyota-t100-sr5-4wd-spd/7264088224.html
I learned on a 1st or 2nd year miata. Very forgiving. For safety in today’s world I would stick with something accord size.
went to look at a few of these....unfortunately what we found in our price range was basically parts held together with rust and hope
Maybe early wrx? I was a passenger in one that hit a tree going very quick and walked away fine. Lucky but the car was also very safe.
Are you buying this car just to have him learn manual or will this be his primary vehicle? If just to learn I would recommend renting a car or having him do a manual trans driving school / lesson. You'd have to go through all the insurance/registration and then have a crappy car you'd want to get rid off in a week.
I love searching for this stuff. Talk him down? https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/d/houston-1993-ford-probe-gt/7267313353.html Yawn, but probably a good choice: https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/d/houston-2007-toyota-corolla-le/7266075801.html I have one of these in my driveway that I bought to teach my kids to drive a stick, 10 years ago: https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/d/houston-1999-f150-xlt-v6-standard/7266044458.html Should go forever, cheap: https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/d/baytown-2002-honda-civic-must-see-super/7264069848.html Here’s your Fiat 500: https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/d/richmond-fiat-500/7260110515.html
thanks jim. he panned those he had a V6 honda accord with the v6 that he thought was sporty enough, but that was wrecked a couple weeks ago.
This and a hamster? https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/d/friendswood-2012-kia-soul-clean-carfax/7264808558.html
I learned on a 93 Eclipse. I don't believe that car is the best option. lol I think the 350z, aside from visibility being a concern is a great car to learn on from what I remember driving one.
Amanda had a Saturn Sky base engine with MT. I still miss that car. Not $3K but probably getting close, if not the Red Line power train...
nowhere. i told him to just get his honda accord running and use that - which he did. and he has applied to several schools out of state for starting in the fall - and presumably in person. so he will be leaving tx within 6 months anyway, and i will just give him something from the stable that works - and we can junk the accord and have him focus on studies (wishful thinking?). but i am still looking for a cheaper manual for him, in case anybody has one for sale nearby.
Whats wrong with the Accord? My tech just lost his car to Loop pileup (pre freeze) A neighbor is looking to offload his Subaru it's a standard and AWD.