HOU - manual transmission car <$3k? | FerrariChat

HOU manual transmission car <$3k?

Discussion in 'Texas' started by ross, Jan 17, 2021.

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  1. ross

    ross Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Mar 25, 2002
    36,206
    houston/geneva
    Full Name:
    Ross
    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
     
  2. ttforcefed

    ttforcefed F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Aug 22, 2002
    18,754
    not sure if they can be found for 3k but i plan on teaching my kids on my 2017 fiat 500 abarth
     
  3. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 26, 2001
    29,385
    E ' ' '/ F
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    Trailer Swift
    500 Sport with the stick shift. Early ones are really cheap. Fun cars, build quality is terrible.
     
  4. vdm9

    vdm9 Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    May 11, 2014
    276
    long island new york
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    vasilios
    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
     
    VAF84 likes this.
  5. blkfxstc

    blkfxstc Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 30, 2016
    767
    TX
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    Eric
    Anything Honda, that is what I learned on (a CRX to be exact).
     
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  6. Shark01

    Shark01 F1 Veteran

    Jun 25, 2005
    5,684
    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.
     
  7. CarbBoxer

    CarbBoxer Formula Junior

    Oct 7, 2008
    841
    Houston
    Full Name:
    PW
    CRX would be perfect to learn on but no longer available for cheap prices!
     
  8. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
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    Nov 20, 2003
    16,601
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    wax and Texas Forever like this.
  9. Shark01

    Shark01 F1 Veteran

    Jun 25, 2005
    5,684
    vdm9 likes this.
  10. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
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    Nov 20, 2003
    16,601
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    Matt F
    I’m only interested in Laurie...

    :)

    Matt
     
  11. Shark01

    Shark01 F1 Veteran

    Jun 25, 2005
    5,684
    She was really cute in the 70s.....did not age well :(
     
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  12. Ryan S.

    Ryan S. Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Mar 20, 2004
    26,625
    I learned on a 1st or 2nd year miata. Very forgiving. For safety in today’s world I would stick with something accord size.
     
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  13. ross

    ross Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Mar 25, 2002
    36,206
    houston/geneva
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    Ross
    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
     
  14. Ryan S.

    Ryan S. Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 20, 2004
    26,625
    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.
     
    TexasF355F1 likes this.
  15. F11

    F11 Karting

    Aug 2, 2005
    196
    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.
     
  16. jimpo1

    jimpo1 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jul 30, 2001
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    Jim E
  17. ross

    ross Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Mar 25, 2002
    36,206
    houston/geneva
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    Ross
    thanks jim.
    he panned those :rolleyes:

    he had a V6 honda accord with the v6 that he thought was sporty enough, but that was wrecked a couple weeks ago.
     
  18. jimpo1

    jimpo1 Two Time F1 World Champ
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  19. sidtx

    sidtx F1 Rookie
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    Feb 9, 2014
    4,454
    Frisco, Tx
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    Sid
    There's lot's of Fiat 500s around.

    Those things are a lot of fun to drive.

    Sid
     
  20. TexasF355F1

    TexasF355F1 Six Time F1 World Champ
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    Feb 2, 2004
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    Jason
    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.
     
  21. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Dec 6, 2002
    79,143
    Houston, Texas
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    Bubba
    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...
     
  22. jimpo1

    jimpo1 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jim E
  23. ross

    ross Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Mar 25, 2002
    36,206
    houston/geneva
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    Ross
    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.
     
  24. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,143
    Houston, Texas
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    Bubba
    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.
     

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