Foo - The "budget I'm a car guy" club.

This is a thread for car guys/gals, who appreciate and respect their cars, but don't have unlimited resources to obtain/care for them.

The word budget is emphasized because I know there are tons of people who have $4,500 cars with $25,000 of mods, but I want to see budget builds and/or budget performers and quirky non-performance cars.

The car's price should be under $10k. Mild exceptions can be made for cars that have more than that in them, but was built quite thriftily compared to average because of ingenuity. Exceptions will not be made for $30,000 cars that were were obtained for $2000 because your parents spoil you. Also, no older exotics.

Trucks and older luxury cars are also welcome.

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/31952_1477500065580_1476102765_1219258_2052778_n.jpg


Car: 89 Volvo 760ti
Mileage: 136,000
Cost: $1,000
Status: daily driver
Upgrades (if any): Kuhmo tires, drilled/slotted rotors for the front, IPD front and rear sway bars, Jacobs ignition, boost/temp/oil pressure gauges, Sony stereo
What you like about it: Magic carpet ride, while still having a firm reassuring feel, Minimal body roll, superb braking, a nice 'whooshy' kind of fast feeling with accompanying pleasant turbo sound. It do a one-point turn on almost any street with ease. Very reliable engine, especially for a turbo car. All in all, it drives like most cars that are a lot newer and more expensive.
What you don't like about it: The electronics and plastic interior pieces should have been done by the Japanese. The turbo engines (only one worth getting, imo.) are challenging to source, and the turbo costs about the same as the whole engine.

99 BMW M3. Pretty much stock. Wife paid about $10,000 for this when I was in Iraq in 2008. I think she paid a little too much for it. Had to get new tires immediately and invest about $1000 to fix the convertible roof. It's an awesome car. Street value right now is probably about $6,000 (I've put A LOT of miles on it since 2008, currently at 145,000 and still going strong).

http://i898.photobucket.com/albums/ac183/pgjackson/_1020498_2.jpg

Hmm... That is debatable. More info will be necessary.

Not a fair thread.
The way the city bafoons spew frame eating salt around here cars are crap after 5 years.

99 BMW M3. Pretty much stock. Wife paid about $10,000 for this when I was in Iraq in 2008. I think she paid a little too much for it. Had to get new tires immediately and invest about $1000 to fix the convertible roof. It's an awesome car. Street value right now is probably about $6,000 (I've put A LOT of miles on it since 2008, currently at 145,000 and still going strong).

http://i898.photobucket.com/albums/ac183/pgjackson/_1020498_2.jpg

My eyes keep getting fixated on that door ding.
Sorry

My eyes keep getting fixated on that door ding.
Sorry

I know :o. Got to get that fixed. Got a couple of dings on the trunk as well. They are character marks. This is the "budget car" thread afterall.

2001 Ford Windstar.
Purchased in 2003 for $8000 with 70,000 miles
Currently at 185,000.

Windstars are rated at mediocre quality. I guess I got a good one. Purchased almost 9 years ago off Ebay. Flew out to Dallas, picked it up and drove it back. Only thing that's gone wrong is a metal y coolant fitting sprung a leak. Oh, and a window regulator and climate bypass flap went bad, but fixed those myself on the cheap. Other than that, just basic maintenance and two sets of tires. What a great car.

Will be sad to get rid of it this year. :(

Other car is a 2008 Highlander that we got a year old. $30K new, got it for $20K. Expect another ten years out of it. Doesn't meet budget criteria of this thread, but a decent deal on a very desireable model. BTW, buying new is for chumps - don't do it!

239481$3500, 55,000 miles bought in 2008

2000 mazda miata with hardtop and hard s suspension/ limited slip/ chassis bracing package
purchased jan 18, 2008 with 30,000 miles
paid $8800
now has 102,000 miles

love: it handles like a miata. only has 2 seats (was great in high school. no big groups asking me for rides across town).
hate: it has the horsepower of a miata. i also dislike the fact that it's a convertible. it's the only 2 seat, <2500 pounds, FR car on the market without getting in to older or really expensive stuff. have a renesis powertrain swap in the works to take care of the HP deficiency and hopefully drop a few pounds. they went to all the trouble of making the hood aluminum and using extra thin steel for the rest of the body work... then went and put a cast iron block in the thing.

I know :o. Got to get that fixed. Got a couple of dings on the trunk as well. They are character marks. This is the "budget car" thread afterall.

Yes but that's not a budget beater car plus it's a convertible!
Standard equiptment out that way right?

1997 Subaru Outback Sport AWD
80,000 miles
Runs and looks a little better than new, always garaged, still is at my house.
$39 (inherited)
Put about $1200.oo into it.
Sedan version held World Championships in European road ralley racing. 1996,1997,1998. But this one is a wagon.
Possibly the best AWD system on the planet.

http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/2424/superroo003noplate.jpg

239481$3500, 55,000 miles bought in 2008I all kinds of approve. 1600 or 2000?

2000 mazda miata with hardtop and hard s suspension/ limited slip/ chassis bracing package
purchased jan 18, 2008 with 30,000 miles
paid $8800
now has 102,000 milesI paid about the same amount for about the same year car with about the same mileage at about the same time. No hardtop or modifications to mine, and I've put far fewer miles on it.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/car/img_4342.jpg

I find that it has plenty of power to get me into plenty of trouble. I can't say I'd complain if it were a GT body style instead of a convertible. I think my bicycle holds more than the trunk of the car... :lol:

I know :o. Got to get that fixed. Got a couple of dings on the trunk as well. They are character marks. This is the "budget car" thread afterall.

Paintless dent repair. If it's just 3 dings, will probably cost about $100. One of the most satisfying investments I make in my cars every couple of years. Nice car BTW.

I all kinds of approve. 1600 or 2000?

1600

1600

Awesome. My cousin had one not long ago. I never got to see it move.

Hands down, best bang for the buck I've ever owned. 2001 VW GTi :love:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iC_8fwPjR14/Rzl8t_ByY5I/AAAAAAAAAQs/F6f3ZYj-g1g/s912/Picture%2520098.jpg

My second 1990 Mitsubishi Montero. Practically the Volvo of trucks, reliability-wise. Torquey V6 on a 3/4 ton frame, giant 9.5" rear limited-slip differential. 30x24" sunroof. Has 160kmiles, and doesn't burn or leak a single drop of oil. Best part: I didn't pay anything for it. I found it in rural Indiana and traded my Subaru for it straight up. Drove it home three hours and haven't done a thing to it since except wash it and install new speakers.

All stock, but I'll be putting some 33x10.5 tires under it and some other stuff here and there.

http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lybneqIqLg1qzduv1o1_500.jpg

Just purchased:

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l156/Wordbiker/IMAG0199-1.jpg

1989 Corolla GT-S. 245K but only $1200 with a new battery. It belonged to a mechanic's daughter so it's been very well maintained.

2001 Subaru Outback wagon.
135,000 miles.
Bought in 2007 for $4600.
Cheap because the factory paint job has "crackling" all over it. Looks fine from a few feet away.
Check engine light comes on frequently.
5 sp transmission makes a noise in reverse, but it hasn't gotten worse in a few years so I haven't bothered to get it fixed.
It's reliable enough to take anywhere. I plan on keeping it for several more years.

My SO has a 1996 Toyota Tacoma 4wd excab truck with a topper.
Bought a couple of years ago for $6400.
140,000 miles
He put in new timing belt, clutch, shocks, brakes.
It's a good reliable truck for any road trip.

My second 1990 Mitsubishi Montero. Practically the Volvo of trucks, reliability-wise. Torquey V6 on a 3/4 ton frame, giant 9.5" rear limited-slip differential. 30x24" sunroof. Has 160kmiles, and doesn't burn or leak a single drop of oil. Best part: I didn't pay anything for it. I found it in rural Indiana and traded my Subaru for it straight up. Drove it home three hours and haven't done a thing to it since except wash it and install new speakers.

All stock, but I'll be putting some 33x10.5 tires under it and some other stuff here and there.

http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lybneqIqLg1qzduv1o1_500.jpg

I love old Monteros. Actually, any old Japanese SUV does it for me. Montero, Trooper II, 4Runner, Pathfinder. Oh yes.

2000 Audi A6 Avant

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6048/6346813113_b5056a9d53_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nowensby/6346813113/)

Indeed! Such workhorses. I've looked at/owned/driven/worked on a few of the "others" but I just keep coming back to Monteros -- they seem to be the most solidly built (stock configuration) of the lot IMHO.

That is the cleanest old Montero I've ever seen. Nice! It's good to read that they have a rep for reliability as well. I will have to keep an eye out for one.

The Corolla GT-S is real nice, too. Is it stick?

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/31952_1477524626194_1476102765_1219349_8069262_n.jpg


Car: 75 Chevrolet Camaro
Mileage: 240,000
Cost: $250
Status: gone, but not forgotten. I bought that car with my own money when I was 14.
Upgrades (if any): warmed over 350ci with cam, Hedman headers, glasspacks, cast aluminum valve covers that say Camaro on them, American racing forged wheels, Mallory distributor, BF Goodrich Radial T/As, a train horn (seriously), Sony/Pioneer/Audiobahn/Alphasonik stereo, Hurst shifter.
What you like about it: Everything.
What you don't like about it: That I don't have it anymore, and that I never got to do all the stuff I wanted to do to it.

The Corolla GT-S is real nice, too. Is it stick?

Yes, a 5-speed.

I was ripping around in it earlier. Man, it is impressive for a 4-banger.

1995 bronco xlt- daily (purchased very cheap)
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk177/thirdgenbird/bronco/030.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk177/thirdgenbird/bronco/033.jpg
these are the sellers pics from last summer. the steps have been removed, and a cd player and warn hubs were added)

1987 924s- toy (purchased cheap, lots of mods, but still within this threads budget)
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk177/thirdgenbird/black%20friday/DSC00766.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk177/thirdgenbird/sabelt/2011-11-04163452.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk177/thirdgenbird/porsche%20pars/img1278769728525.jpg

I paid about the same amount for about the same year car with about the same mileage at about the same time. No hardtop or modifications to mine, and I've put far fewer miles on it.

I find that it has plenty of power to get me into plenty of trouble. I can't say I'd complain if it were a GT body style instead of a convertible. I think my bicycle holds more than the trunk of the car... :lol:

i come from a motorcycle background, so i find it painfully slow if it isn't making tires beg for mercy in a corner. if the BRZ/ FR-S from subaru/ toyota/ scion turns out to be halfway decent, i might swap the miata for one of them here in a few years instead of going through the trouble of a complete powertrain swap.

Love the 924S. I worked a Porsche dealership for years and almost bought one (all black) off the lot for around $3k with 70k on it. I really should have.

Love the 924S. I worked a Porsche dealership for years and almost bought one (all black) off the lot for around $3k with 70k on it. I really should have.

they are great little cars. mine has about the same milage.

2002 Miata Cost me about $10k with 35,000 miles.
Modifications: Wilwood brakes, Jackson Racing headers, K&N breather, adjustable shocks, new springs, Borla exhaust, trailer hitch for the bike rack (all total it adds another $3k ish to the price). It has about 65k miles on it now. Next mod will be a new supercharged engine (add $6k).

1997 Subaru Outback Sport AWD
80,000 miles
Runs and looks a little better than new, always garaged, still is at my house.
$39 (inherited)
Put about $1200.oo into it.
Sedan version held World Championships in European road ralley racing. 1996,1997,1998. But this one is a wagon.
Possibly the best AWD system on the planet.

http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/2424/superroo003noplate.jpg

Great cars. 5MT or auto? The automatic is a variable split, the manual is full time 50/50.



2001 Subaru Outback wagon.
135,000 miles.
Bought in 2007 for $4600.
Cheap because the factory paint job has "crackling" all over it. Looks fine from a few feet away.
Check engine light comes on frequently.
5 sp transmission makes a noise in reverse, but it hasn't gotten worse in a few years so I haven't bothered to get it fixed.
It's reliable enough to take anywhere. I plan on keeping it for several more years.

My SO has a 1996 Toyota Tacoma 4wd excab truck with a topper.
Bought a couple of years ago for $6400.
140,000 miles
He put in new timing belt, clutch, shocks, brakes.
It's a good reliable truck for any road trip.

All the GC/GM/GF chassis Impreza's basically make noise in reverse. They all grind too.

So, here's mine.
2000 Subaru Impreza TS 5MT
2.2 liter boxer 4 (same engine as the OBS)
Paid $2200 with a little rust and a CEL (It's the OBD2 sensor.)
Fixed rust with brand new quarters, repaint, new roof skin, basically a new car.
Suspension work, mainly refreshing mounting points

All told I'm in it around 4. Fun car to drive, torquey enough to be fun, reliable, handles nicely even on logging roads. I take this thing where my friends take their pickups a lot of the time. Burns a lot of oil though and runs rich due to the OBD2 sensor.

Great cars. 5MT or auto? The automatic is a variable split, the manual is full time 50/50.


My 97 is 4sp auto. I have stomped hard on the gas on snow, ice, and pavement, just to see what happens. It spins all four just the way I think it should. I like variable split. It corners as nice as a couple of sports cars I have owned. The four speed is not always in the right gear the way an MT is, but I can hold it in gear longer If I want to. This is my third Subaru wagon. It's seems to have a little better traction than the other AWD and as much as the 4WD. Knowing now that it was in a dry garage and driven gently by my parents is really nice. Once in a while I think about a new Subaru. But I like this one too much to lose it. Knowing my father wanted me to have it (and the Four digit vanity plate), makes it even nicer.

I think having $4,000 into yours is still a fair value for a car that nice. Do you have a digital camera? :)

Car: 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder
Mileage: 132,000
Cost: $5,800 (+1300 for motor, +500 for top, +600 in suspension)
Status: daily driver
Upgrades (if any): koni yellow shocks, meagan racing coilover sleeves, dunlop direzza dz101 205-50-15 all around, yellow headlights (because racecar lol), red top, replaced motor with one out of an '03 due to rod knock
What you like about it: street legal go-kart, 32mpg consistently, some people confuse it as a porsche lolol

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7012/6750982289_75a359233f_z.jpg

Car: 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder
Mileage: 132,000
Cost: $5,800 (+1300 for motor, +500 for top, +600 in suspension)
Status: daily driver
Upgrades (if any): koni yellow shocks, meagan racing coilover sleeves, dunlop direzza dz101 205-50-15 all around, yellow headlights (because racecar lol), red top, replaced motor with one out of an '03 due to rod knock
What you like about it: street legal go-kart, 32mpg consistently, some people confuse it as a porsche lolol


I dig it, nice car.

Did you do the mechanical work yourself?

dunlop direzza dz101 205-50-15 all aroundI have those in 195/50R15 on my Miata. Dang. It takes a lot of throttle and/or tomfoolery to break those things loose.

Nice car. Toyota discontinuing the MR2 was pretty much a sin. Hopefully the Toyota 86 will help them atone for their misdeeds.

I dig it, nice car.

Did you do the mechanical work yourself?

Thanks :D

unfortunately yes. lol My dad owns an auto shop so I have access to a lift, alignment rack, air compressor, and pretty much any tool I could ever need. Since my dad knows that I am mechanically inclined I have to do pretty much everything although he did help with the new top. My younger brothers and sister just get to drop their car off. lol

I have those in 195/50R15 on my Miata. Dang. It takes a lot of throttle and/or tomfoolery to break those things loose.

Nice car. Toyota discontinuing the MR2 was pretty much a sin. Hopefully the Toyota 86 will help them atone for their misdeeds.

agreed! I love them. really hard to beat for the price. I'd love to see what the car is capable of with some 225-45-15's though

ehhh, as much as I love the car, I can definitely why they would discontinue it. It just doesn't make sense as a daily driver. The frunk can hold a backpack and a pair of shoes. that's it haha

porsche cargo room:
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk177/thirdgenbird/tommasini/img1281839177394.jpg

NVM I can't read