What are your favorite cheap fun cars?

Miata....

 

2000-2002 E55. Best car I've ever owned. Not a day goes by that I regret selling it. Other than that? An E36 325 or 328 are great fun. Yeah, those are a bit above your $1-5k price, but well worth it. All of those cars can be had for under $7k.

 

R53 Mini Cooper S. Absolutely love mine

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I would say the e30 325i would be the perfect car for this. I have friends that use them from chump car to rally cross.

 

2004 jeep rubicon, 5 speed. Great winter car. Take the hardtop and doors off in the summer.

 

Without a doubt the most fun I've ever had in an inexpensive car(and still have) is with the Shelby GLHS. Still tearing up track events with it(SAAC, PCA,etc).

The black one I still own, the green one now belongs to my friend, but it shared my garage with some sportscar legends with its head held high.
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Lotus elise. Open.top, manual steer, 8000 rpm, 2000 lbs, mid engine.

 

I picked up a modified 944 turbo (951) for $3500. Put another couple hundred in in little fixes and use it as a DD. Lots of fun with all of that '80's turbo lag goodness and it's currently set up to push 20psi of boost, which makes it a bit of a handful...

 

If by cheap you mean both acquisition and maintenance, then Miata is it IMO. Just wait until something major breaks on one o them thar German jobs.

 

1991-1994 Nissan Sentra SE-R. Had one a long time ago.

Very cheap and hardly anyone knows of them. But those that do know they're a great car.

 

I had a Civic Si that was very fun. Very slow, but it was spirited.

I'd probably pick a high mileage S2000 over a miata, MR2, etc.

Too bad Honda doesn't make anything good anymore.

 

Nissan 240sx as well, rwd and easy turbo engine from Japan. E30 3 series is a given for the price.

 

Yup, I had an S14 with a JDM sr20det in it. Upgraded turbo and bunch of other stuff. Fast car was fast.

 

E36 M3 for me. I love those GLH Omnis, I wish there were more of them still around. Growing up a friend of mine had a new 89 IROC with Yokohama tires, I swear that thing was pulling a g in corners.

 

I have to go with a Gen II Miata (NB) or a Gen I or II MR2 as parts are cheap and abundant and I have owned all three. I would mention the AE86 Corolla GTS (my first Toyota) but they are rare and are no longer cheap.

 

Certainly can't forget camaro or 5l mustangs!

 

I had a girlfriend that owned a Miata. I think I liked it more than she did.

I just bought a 1987 Mercedes 190 2.3 16V. It has a couple of things that need attention, but its coming along. I like the 4 doors, dog leg 5 speed (just like my TR) and boy is it comfy! The wife even likes it!

I would get a 86-91(?) M3 but prices are out of the thrasher range.

 

Ah the good ol' 190 massaged by Cosworth, love those cars, bucket list. Yes with just under 5K E30 M3's built they are rather rare and in reality never were or will ever be a $5K car. A friend of mine has owned a '86 M3 since new and wants to be buried in it.
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A past neighbor owned a GLHS that he bought new and it was immaculate. Sadly I never asked so I never got to drive it, love those cars though.

 

Nissan 200SX S13 and S14 (240SX in the States, but they come with a horrid engine there.

Sub 2k for a decent one of either shape.

spent a grand on some decent coilovers and poly bushes

1500 on engine to run ~270-300hp (S13 comes with CA18DET, and the S14 with more modern SR20DET).

Another 500 on some bucket seats.

Weld the diff (find a friend with a welder, buy him some beers and lunch).


Enjoy.

Other fun cars...

Friend of mine imported a few years ago an R33 GTS-T from Japan, was running around 350bhp at the time, came with coilovers, bushes, roll cage, LSD and a few other bits. Landed and tax paid it came under £4500. First quick car I drove myself. It now runs around 550bhp and he has less than 10k in it all in!

Plenty of them around these days, all for cheap money.

 

Sadly all the we (the US) got in the 240SX was a truck engine, the KA24DE. A very robust engine in it's own right but swapping a SR20DET would be less hassle and money than building the KA engine. I have seen KA's put down 400rwhp but...

I love the R32's and R33's but the RHD aspect is a huge deterrent for me and the cost of a LHD conversion exceeds the cost of the car and its shipping.

 

A lot of the cheap fun cars aren't cheap anymore..try to find a straight solid CRX Si... They want an arm and leg...however a tatty hi mileage AP1 s2000 can be had cheap and can be driven hard till the wheels fall off...they are out there....( a miata is about as fun as an mg B for crissake.....)

 

high mileage E36M3
high mileage C5
986 Boxster
'98-'02 F-body, LS1/T56
BMW 2002
WRX