Need a new daily drive

[sorealsosurreal]

Well let me start off by saying I don't make very much money. I need a new daily driver because the payments and insurance on my RSX are rediculous, But I'm not sure what to get. I can afford something in the $3000 range, I'd like rwd, something fun, dependable, and simple to work on (as well as inrxpensive), as well as good gas milage. I've thought of a 240sx or miata. Anyone have any other suggestions?

[crazyoctopus]

91 civic crx hx 50 mpg! not rwd, but super awesome.

[xonix_digital]

For dependable rwd AND cheap your choices are super limited.

I was faced with the same situation and bought my 240z!

Only I didn't have to DD it.

 

If I were to go for a DD I'd be on the Z31 boat all day long.

 

[jacob80]

I would define the perfect daily driver as something that is cheap, easy to maintain, and availability of parts. Often times, a Honda comes to mind, or perhaps a Chevrolet Cavalier. My friend had a Cavalier that never died on him, and he beat the hell out of that thing!

[sorealsosurreal]

Well I got the 240z which is the project that's not currently running and after I get rid of my RSX-type S i hope to be done with FWD for a while. I was possibly thinking a z32, i may gave to look more into a Z31 but I have a feeling that would turn into another project car really quick.

[BRAAP]

RWD, daily driver, $4000 budget... my vote is E-36 all the way!

 

 

http://forums.hybridz.org/index.php?/topic/76950-the-bmw-daily-driver-thread/

 

 

... great daily drivers, RWD, priced right, stellar handling with some M parts thrown at it and with the ability to convert it to V8 and retain 25-30+ MPG on the freeway, I see it as a no brainer. I sold my Z-32 and purchased and M variant with money left over. The M car bone stock flat out killed my Z 32 in a straight-line and even withe modest suspension upgrades, (adjustable struts, strategic poly bushings, etc) to the Z-32, the M car handles much better, crisper, more pleasant to live with on a daily basis and it seats 4 comfortably. It may not have that "hey look at me" wow factor the Z cars have, but it more than makes up for it everywhere else. By the way, JTR is currently working on traditional SBC and LSx conversion kits for these cars. I am prototyping the LSx conversion in my car.

http://www.jagsthatrun.com/BMW_Order.html

There is even a Ford small block conversion available.

[sorealsosurreal]

Hahaha that's a pretty good choice but in my area most of te e36 have motors beat to sh*t, but I suppose if I look hard enough I could find one. I'll keep that in mind thanks BRAAP

[19762802+2]

What about a motorcycle? that is RWD easy to work on simple fuel effiecent and fun.

[sorealsosurreal]

Well I live in socal and we have to many stupid drivers on the road and I drive 50 miles a day on the 5 freeway, I've seen enough fatalities to not want a motorcycle.

[sorealsosurreal]

Anyone have any input previously or currently owning an eclipse GSX or Talon TSI?

I like the motors they are Honda simple =)

[Lazeum]

I've chosen the S14 route for DD except that in Europe, it comes with the SR20DET

It is a good car that requires some handling mods to become nice. It has loads of aftermarket support, prices are decent compare to my previous DD (Lancer EVO8)

regarding reliability, I don't know how the KA24 is really but SR20 is quite ok (except VVT sprocket that rattles!)

 

Regarding Paul's comment (kind of off-topic now), but V8 conversion kit for E36 already exists. My boss did it with the coupe, then the compact version and finally the convertible JTR is late with Braap

http://www.nash8503.com/

[crazyoctopus]

if you HAVE to go rwd, and since you live in so cal, there are tons of sub 3k miatas around, And any extra money can be put into the tune-up. The only thing that I would recommend is that you get the 1.8L, and not the 1.6L; the 1.8s are vastly superior.

 

examples of sub 3k miatas...

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/ctd/1695579190.html

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/cto/1696184003.html

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/cto/1701443731.html

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/1701494501.html

 

I am really close to selling my Fit and getting a miata... but it is really hard to pass up on super storage space and 33mpg.

[sorealsosurreal]

Yeah I'm really leaning to a miata because of the go kart like handeling. Aside from The slight diffrence in power what's the plus side to the 1.8?

[FlatBlack]

Having two 2WD cars is daft. Ask me how I know.

 

Go with a Subaru

 

You can pick up an Impreza for pretty cheap, they come in 5 speed, and you can go play on the dirt/off road when you are bored or it is raining.

 

They are light [first gen Imprezas - 93-01 weigh ~2700 lbs] and are VERY easy to work on. They have a rear diff that is a miniature version of our R200s, have clip in axles, etc etc. The motor is right up front and can be pulled in no time if need be.

 

You could probably get a 2.5 RS for $3k. They handle really really well on tarmac. The RS's have LSDs as well

 

Edited April 20, 2010 by flatblack280

[datsun723]

Personally I've heard that Z32's can be troublesome electrical-wise and that the vg30's are hard to work on but that's just my $.02.

[BRAAP]

 

Regarding Paul's comment (kind of off-topic now), but V8 conversion kit for E36 already exists. My boss did it with the coupe, then the compact version and finally the convertible JTR is late with Braap

http://www.nash8503.com/

 

3 cars converted! Cool..

 

Don't forget the other 2 currently available E-36 conversion kits;

New-Age Hotrods;

http://www.nahrods.com/

 

Vorshlag;

http://www.vorshlag.com/index.php?cPath=0_1_4_63

 

 

Personally I've heard that Z32's can be troublesome electrical-wise and that the vg30's are hard to work on but that's just my $.02.

 

YES! The Z-32 is maintenance intensive and engine maintenance is difficult at best. When reliable/dependable is one of the criteria for a car that is to be used as a daily, my not so humble opinion is the Z32 should not be on that list! Of course there are the few that have trouble free Z-32, but you will find many others that have not and that ratio of reliable vs unreliable Z-32 is going to be biased more on the not so reliable vs other cars listed already. It is a fun and neat toy, reliable/dependable daily transportation it is not. It does require lots of TLC, especailly one in the $4000 range.

[crazyoctopus]

2 door 2.5 RS are still going for 5-6k in cali, or that is what I was seeing them for while i was looking for the 240z.

 

1.6s and 1.8s usually go for nearly the same price, and yeah 1.8s do have a minor power bump, but if you ever mod the engine the 1.8 is far cheaper to get power than the 1.6.

[19762802+2]

We just bought my mom a 2003 ford focus zx3 with 70 some thousand miles with 130 HP stock 5 Speed. It cost about 3500 bucks. Its FWD but it is the 2.0 DOHC Zetec engine gets around 30 miles a gallon and beat a Old turbo talon off the line.

Edited April 20, 2010 by 19752802+2

[MAG58]

I'll vote german...

 

A nice E36 would be quite the neat little gadget. They always seem to be just out of my pay-grade, but one cant deny the competence of the E36 chassis.

 

 

I just picked up a 93 190E 2.6 sportline, which I must say is a great little car to DD. Leather reacaro's (sourced from the 16v), buttery smooth I6 (26-27mpg roundabouts), and suspension/brake upgrades consist of pillaging bigger E classes. For a 2900lb 4 door luxury car, well, it's light (for a benz) and it's pretty nimble on its feet. They can be had in 5 speed manual or 4 speed auto, which is nice too. Keep the oil changed (in the trans too if it's and auto) and do the scheduled maint (which is surprisingly simple and striaght forwards) and it will most likely run until Jesus show's up for a second go-round.

 

Mine is red, but imo it's a handsome little devil for a taxi company

 

Edited April 20, 2010 by MAG58

[sorealsosurreal]

Thankyou everyone for all your input! I started this thread in hopes of narrowing my search but I think it's expanded! I will say I've crossed a Z32 of the list.

 

As for German cars those I doubt I will consider, my neighbor was a Mercedes mechanic for a number of years and has told me to stay away from them, he now works on Porsche race Cars at Vision Motorsports and he had a 944 that I wanted so bad but he wouldn't sell it to me Because of the cost of maintanance, I thank him now.

 

I'm still thinking a miata or 240sx but the Subaru or eclipse does seem like an option if one can be found at the right price. Or I may just beak down and buy another Honda (vtec is just plain cool). If anyone else has any other ideas let me know.