is there anything exciting that is still a bargain ?

But those don't have hidden headlights.

 

Yeah, my car has some mileage (77k), but has great mods and lots of newer stuff. The car is more than decent, its been a great car for 8 years. The best trade-in number I've gotten is $27k, so sub-$30k cars are out there.

 

Another vote for the NSX.

Simply can't beat the combination of mid-engine, consistent design, drive-ability, reliability, safety, good performance that can be easily pushed way up, etc.

A greater starter (semi) exotic for someone like myself with no skills or real desire to turn wrenches.

+1. I'm starting to think an Alfa Spider will be my first foray into an Italian weekender...but my aforementioned lack of DIYer skills/desire might make that worrisome...TBD!

Cool ride! I'm a Z fan all the way back to the Datsun days. The Nismo is a bit too new for this list I think; need to let the depreciation curve run its course first. Now a 240/260Z...a yesteryear NSX!

I would if I could.

 

any Viper.

 

Great cars, I've owned a few of them. Sold one not too long ago, kind of wish I had it back.

 

How's this for timing...yesterday's Hemmings Find of the Day 1973 Datsun 240Z | Hemmings Daily

 

I think you would do substantially better selling it yourself.

 

Now I can't get the guy that offerred $27k to even call me back....figures, now that I've found a car I wanted to buy.

I had it up for sale for a week this Spring and the tire kicker low ballers drove me crazy....Oh, so you're offering $15k AND you want me to finance you....um let me think about it.

 

"is there anything exciting that is still a bargain?"

Well, it depends on what's important to you.
What do you like most about your current ride?
Looks, handling, sound?
Break it down; if it's sound, Matra V12 or Chev BB?

There's lot of interesting stuff out there.
Jag XK coupe, AudiTT, Elise, TVR Chimera; all < $30, all interesting.

I could think of 100 cars that would fit your criteria (which is probably why I own 6!)

 

I'm 6'2" and I fit fine.

Getting in and out, however, is a different matter.

I literally can't drive either car when I have bouts of back pain because I won't be able to get out of the car.

 

Man you guys are lucky, all these cars mentioned in this thread are 50-150k here...

 

They are a bargain-putting mine away for the season tomorrow. If I lived in a warmer climate I'd figure out a way to daily drive it

 

Speaking of seasons and daily drivers and especially bang for the buck--has anybody driven a BMW 1 series in the snow?

There is one on here that will move for very low $20s-they weigh about 3500 lbs-anybody done it?

 

Not sure if anyone's said this or not yet, or even if it fits the criteria, but I had to mention the Scion/Toyota/Subaru FR-S/GT-86/BR-Z.

 

E46 M3 with 3 pedals. Bought new 10 yrs ago and it is still rock solid.

A brilliant car. I enjoy driving it more than my 360 spider (also 3 pedals)...

 

Maserati CC Coupe.

 

I was after a bargain dd that would be fun to drive but not suck fuel or be a chore to drive (or break the bank)....

I picked up an '86 944 Turbo (951), modified with modern fi parts, much larger Turbo and some suspension mods. For $3500. Lots of fun when it only makes 5lbs of boost until it hits 3k rpm and then rockets up to 20psi. All that '80's Turbo lag fun but with modern enough fi to keep it from blowing itself up and in a car that handles and stops, well, like a Porsche. They can be had for under $10k all day and upgraded for around $2k to the rogue setup, which replaces the afm with a modern MAF, adds a MAP sensor and programs the ecu to use them along with overboost protection. I'm not really a Porsche guy, but this thing is fun.

 

6' 3" here and I fit in my Elise and Exige fine too.. There's actually a decent amount of headroom, and if all else fails and you don't fit, just take the roof off...

 

fiat 500 abarth....so many 2013s left over they're going for well under 20k in some cases haah

 

My first thought when I read the thread title. Crude chassis, lots of presence, good horsepower, engine will last forever with low maintenance, no ABS or traction control.

Exciting might not be the word, scary (early ones) might be better...

 

Yes early lotus Elise.


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Brand new Jeep Wrangler.

 

If you are looking for classic to appreciate then for under 30k its pretty much Alfas as the british stuff is flat or climbs really slowly, whereas older lafas are hot and the ones from the late 50's can easily top 100k whereas they were 35k cars nott oo long ago, which means the enxt in line move up.

Not alll Alfas are created equal. In a spider you need a pre 74. But the real money ticket is if you can get a great GTV stepnose.

For driving and having fun its elise all the way, and as there were maybe 2500 sold in the USA and no more comming in a good one will certainly hold its value and in the the long term be a car considdered THE classiic just as Giulettas are today. An elsie embodies evryhting that made the old britsh and itaian stuff so appealing, great lines light lithe small and charismatic. Its minimalist in a way that we have not otherwise seen in decades, but the formula is updated for the 21st century so its mid engined handles like no other car (excpet maybe an R5 turbo 2, ) and being a modern is stone cold relaible with a yamaha built toyota badged motor of more than 100hp per liter.

Those advocating for the E46 M3 know of which they speak. The E36 was a better more lively chassis but here int he USA came with a regular motor. The E46 was the last of the classic hi rev NA inline 6s. Breadvan M coupes witht he 321 hp motor may go down well too.

Going out on a limb, trans ams from the 70's particularily early 70's are a great buy, once again you need to find a good unmoletsted one to have any possibility of appreciation.

And yeah once the current wrangler goes out of production it will be a classic.

 

what makes you say the current wrangler will be a classic? I've got one that I love, but i'm PILING miles on it. Tons of fun in the snow and fun in the sun without the ***** factor that comes with more expensive cars - gets driven a lot haha.

 

Dbw CR S2000 doesn't redline at 9k the original S2000 with 2 liter did. The CR has the 2.2 and redline is 8k


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