I'm looking for a car for about 11k

You could get a really nice 944 Turbo... Probably a pretty dang nice 928 S... No 911's worth having at that price and probably no 928's later than '86 worth having for $11k.

You already mentioned M3's, that would be FUN! I would love to have one, but would prefer the most recently retired M3. C5 vette, but you said you are 18???? Good luck finding an insurance company that will sell you a policy for ANY PRICE on a C5 Vette at your age... I don't suspect your operating costs would be much different among the three listed German cars. Much more room (but much less speed) in the M3 than those other two. Don't get me wrong though, I have seen some M3's of that model SCORCH a race track...just talking grunt off the line, the 928S and 951 have more of it.

Keep us posted on what you find...

James

 

100+ Thousand miles on the E36 Bimmers is actually considered as nothing if the car was kept up properly! I'd look for records when considering used BMW's or any car for that matter. Generally, the E36's US spec M3's were watered down versions of their euro counterparts but none the less a potent street/track machine. My '96 US version M3 (which I handed down to my little sister) currently has 240+ thousand miles and is still running just as strong as it did after break-in period. Just try to get the best that your budget could afford and save up for the aftermarket parts for when you get "bored" with it in the future. Good luck and keep us updated with your progress!

 

At 17, you might be able to afford the sports car, how about insurance?

When I was 18 I was in the same position, and looked around at all the cool cars of the time I could afford. One that I wanted so bad was a 5 year old Alfa Romeo Spyder for $6k. Insurance for it though was $3k/year, so scratch that.

 

Forget insurance, think of all the hot 17yr. old chicks he could attract at the local Dairy Queen in a Bimmer!

 

Might I make a little different suggestion?

How about going a little bit down market? I purchased a clean, sorted 01 jetta, loaded, with a vr6, for 6900. if you looked instead at the 8 to 9k market you''ll be able to get a clean well sorted car like a civic, or a jetta, or a mkiv Gti, or a mustang, heck it might even get you into an mr2 etc. And still have cash left over to make it yours.

IMHO at the age of 21 (which I am) I want a solid, reliable, and, most importantly FUN TO DRIVE vehicle that I can drive while I save for my next upgrade in cars. I hope that in a few years the money I'll have saved maintaining an older sports car now will actually help me in my journey towards the destination I WILL reach one day: Ferrari ownership.

Bottom line: don't short yourself now, get a car you'll have fun with. But don't spend 11k cause that's how much money you have. Spend as little as you can finding a car you'll love and want to drive.......every penny you save on this purchase gets you a penny closer to the next upgrade.... good luck!

 

Didn't realize 16 was the age... Good luck getting insurance for anything sort of sporty even for a reasonable rate. Keep in mind if you buy the car outright you can drop the collision coverage, but then if you wreck it and its your fault, you will have to foot the repair bill! That is what I did on my first car (1980 Triumph Spitfire...this was back in 1983, so the car was still quite new) and when I bumped a truck and dinged my hood (did nothing to his bumper of course) I paid out of pocket to have it fixed.

When you know YOU are on the line for battle damage repair you tend to drive much more sanely.

Best of luck and keep us posted.

James

 

An 03 Camry automatic boring? Impossible. In January, I mentioned to Benoit, my cab driver in Montreal, I was late for a flight. Ever shoot down the bobsled run at Lake Placid or go over Niagara Falls in a barrel ? I did, and it was in a beige Camry.

Forget the M3, if you want excitement, just tune the Camry as per Benoit; replace your current rubber using snows scrubbed in with 95,000 miles on them and pocket half the lug nuts when re-installing...

 

Try to get some extra 2k and get a 99 Boxster http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1999-Porsche-Boxster-Convertible-5spd-105k-17-HoustonTX_W0QQitemZ220236048060QQihZ012QQcategoryZ6015QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem or a SLK http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/THINK-SUMMER-AND-SAVE-ON-GAS-GREAT-CONVERTABLE_W0QQitemZ110252674639QQihZ001QQcategoryZ31855QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

Acura Integra or RSX Type S, Toyota MR2 Spyder, non-M 3 series (325, 328, etc), or a Miata (unless your friends are knuckleheads and think its a chick car...if so, show them some youtube clips of the Miata Spec Racing Series)

 

If he's paying the insurance then he is still on the line for repairs. The rise in premiums from claiming a big wreck would be killer. But that is an interesting idea.

 

I would defiantly be looking at an E36 M3, just keep it in mind that those things are rockets! Don't let it get away from you, take it easy and learn. Don't forget that it only takes one slip to fall. . . . Just keep on learning, don't get too throttle happy.

I would also have to go with James on the P-cars. I have a 924S which I have come to advance my experience of driving manual in. These cars are really made of excellent quality and are great fun to drive. Mileage isn't a big deal, condition is. With any car you may be considering, make sure it has been maintained well and taken care of. Little exterior paint chips would be the very least of a problem. I'm around your age as well. . . . Be sure look around on cars.com. You'll find a nice selection there. Good luck

 

If you have to pay for repairs and maintenance, I'd stay away from the BMW/Porsche/Mercedes type of car. There's a reason these great cars cost so little
A "normal repair" that isn't anything unusual could set you back a grand without a sweat. If something leaks it may cost you six or seven hundred bucks to replace an eighteen dollar seal. And with high mileage parts are simply due to go out. But if that's no concern then by all means go for it.

I would also suggest an Acura RSX Type-S or even a Civic Si. These are great cars, lots of fun and practically zero maintenance, 30 highway mpg easy. Great stick shift to learn on also.

 

S2000 is right up your alley.

 

For 11k ? Jump on it.
Audi S4 twin turbo's are sleeper M3s.

 

+1000

There is the proper pronunciation of Porsche, and it is not pronounced Porsch-ah as many believe......

It is properly pronounced PoorSh!t...

You will learn this proper pronunciation the first time you go into the parts department and the guy behind the counter says... "oh you PoorSh!t, do you realize what that's going to cost you"...

If you have a lot of money the Bimmer and the Porsches are fine cars, but the upkeep is always going to be pricey. If you are trying to squeeze one into you budget, the cost of maintenance on an older one can and likely will eat you alive....

 

You can get a new Smart for just a little more than that amount...www.smartusa.com

 

You may be able to find a Boxter for $11k but there will be a reason for that price.
Expect to pay $15k if you can stretch that far for a decent one. Shop around now and expect to pull the trigger fast when the right one appears. Road and Track did a used Boxer buyers guide a bit ago. Research that first.

If indeed S2000's are $11k ; Drive one. They tend to appeal to a different audience than the ricemobiles. And its a Honda. A razor sharp 9000 rpm Honda.

 

With only 11,000 dollars, be afraid of high mileage sports cars, even if they've been well kept {documents will only prove this}. Motor or transmission work will be costly and depending on the car, regular suspension or brake components can be very expensive relative to the year of the car.

I would pass and suggest you save some money so you can buy a newer sports car that won't need so much work in the coming years and the work that will be coming is regular stuff, now weird hard to reach, costly repairs.

Just my opinion.

If you are going to get an older sports car, look around town and find a shop that can repair the car {your looking to buy} for a reasonable price. I recently bought and sold a Plymouth Breeze and spent $96.00/ hour to replace the steering pump lines. No big deal of course but if you buy a car that has a 9 hour clutch replacement time and you burn yours up, that could be $1,000 labour and $3,000 for the parts.

Just and FYI, look around to make sure the car can be insured and repaired for a reasonable cost. I'm into my little dumpy 924 for well over $20,000 and I still have to rebuild the motor.

 

As much as I hate to say it, the S2000 is a match for nearly any car in the turns. It's a very nice handling car.

 

Get a 6 speed Z28 and spend money on mods.

 

What year is your 924??? That is crazy money to spend on a 924, but I like the 24's. I had a friend with a '77 924 and he was always spending money on it and it still never ran right. I think the later S's are pretty cool...

Thanks for preserving another 924! Like early 928's they get left behind more often than not, so my hat is off to you for your efforts! Reminds me of my race car... I don't have enough money to pump into that thing! Still fun to drive though! Been pretty reliable so far too *knocking on wood as I type*!

Best,
J

 

Have you looked at any Volkswagen Jettas? (1999-2003's are in your price range)
I have a 2003 Wolfsburg Edition Jetta with the 1.8T and a 5-speed trans and I absolutly love it. And it's plenty sporty.

The car rides good and gets really good gas mileage (about 31-32 mpg highway) as long as you don't get the turbo spooled up. Once it gets spooled you can count on the mpg to go down fast though.

Reliability is excellent on these cars. I havent had a single mechanical issue in the 79,xxx miles on the car.

The only drawback for me is that the maintenance isn't the cheapest. For example, when my battery crapped out on me it ran me $145 and my new rear brakes ran $399(pads and rotors). Expect to pay about $60-$70 for oil changes too( It takes 5w-40 full synthetic). I have all my work done at a VW dealer so I'm pretty sure I'm paying a little more than necesary though.

If you only have $11,000 to spend I wouldn't spend it all on just the car. I would save about $2,000 for some unexpected maintenance cost or some upgrades if you wanted them.

I also looked at getting a M3 but after looking at some of them in the $10,000-$13,000 range, I was not happy with what I saw(high mileage, most had alot of engine modifications which probably means they were run pretty hard, and cosmetically none of them looked close to being decent). So i would stray away.

The power that the turbo jetta offers will be plenty for you. And it will probably be the easiest manual you will ever drive.

Todd