A cheap Car... Up to $6k

[mowog]

I have been looking at some cheap cars in the up to $6000 bracket...

I want another car for the kids to drive but I dont want to spend to much again as the little monsters dont look after the Fiesta XR4 I brought.

I have been looking at things like a Mazda MX5 or other small sporting style cars.

So what other cars would you guys look at in the suggested price range?

Requirements: Manual 4 or 6 cyl Turbo ok because the kids got their license before the new P plate laws.

[Scott]

Eunos 30x is a lot of car for that bracket. Maybe Intergra or Prelude might fit the bill too.

Intersetingly (though obvious atm) is that the bottom end cars seem to have rallied strongly in pricing lately. Cars that should have been selling for $X hundred are now moving at auction in QLD for several thousand whilst the mid range (say +$10k) cars have taken a dive. It seems we have everything from a VK to a BA filling the $4k-$8k range atm.


Eunos 1

Eunos 2

[XR6_661]

300ZX?

Although they aren't reliable. haha.

[Daymoe]

EL Falcon XR6 in manual ;)

[sleekism]

I have been looking at cars in that bracket myself recently:

I would go towards a Ford Laser TX3 NA. It may be FWD and non-turbo but the turbo models would be getting fairly rough by now and the NA TX3 still puts out a reasonable 94kw@6500rpm in a sub 1000kg car giving good performance and fuel around 7L/100km. The Laser genetics also makes parts cheaper.

An MX5 would be good but are not very practical. A Honda Premature is better but parts are expensive. Stay away from the Paseos.

You might be able to scrape in an S13?? If not go for a tried and trusted XR6 or even an XR8.

[73gscoupe]

Originally Posted by mowog

the little monsters dont look after the Fiesta XR4 I brought.

why buy something nice for them if they are not going to look after it?

If they didnt look after the XR4 why would they look after an MX5 - or are you thinking more of a throw away car?

I started out in a 20 year old corolla, i would have been wrapped to have something like an XR4!

[robjh80]

Originally Posted by mowog

I want another car for the kids to drive but I dont want to spend to much again as the little monsters dont look after the Fiesta XR4 I brought.

"They don't look after the XR4" ...... so your buying them another car? ..... presumably not to look after one either?

I'd make em look after the one they got personally.

Failing that, sell the XR4 and get them something like a reasonable mileage and maintained Corolla, Pulsar, Laser or Lancer,..... "all the usual suspects."

[Powdered Toast Man]

Wow your kids get a car bought for them to drive. Lucky little blighters. I had to buy and look after my own.

Barina maybe or you could always try the plethora of Korean stuff on the market. I would think you should be able to pick up something decent with low kays for 6K. Not sporty though lol.

[mowog]

The XR4 is just the light car in the fleet at home if its not in use then the kids get to use it. During the week its a delivery and pickup car for the wifes business.

There is another side to the cheap car.... I also wouldn't mind another project car that is a bit of fun but also something the grubs can drive. Thats why the MX5 appeals to me... I might have problems with my fat *** in the MX5 but.

[BlueKoop]

I picked up a TX3 turbo for 2200 (motor with only 40000ks) needed a few things -CVS, Oxy sensor, brakes, but all up ended up being a cheap fast fun car, good on fuel once the oxy sensor was replaced.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Tell em to buy their own...

[Daymoe]

Originally Posted by mowog

The XR4 is just the light car in the fleet at home if its not in use then the kids get to use it. During the week its a delivery and pickup car for the wifes business.

There is another side to the cheap car.... I also wouldn't mind another project car that is a bit of fun but also something the grubs can drive. Thats why the MX5 appeals to me... I might have problems with my fat *** in the MX5 but.

I'm 6 foot tall and weigh 103KG so I'm a fat-*** and I could get inside and sit in my cousins MX5 with no problems, was a bit small on the leg room though.

[SVD]

Nissan Pulsar? GTi-R's can be had pretty cheapish now, and a turbo pulsar is not hard to do anymore...

[WPN XR6T]

Datsun 120Y. Lets see them break one of those. A Hilux has nothing on a 120Y. They are at least 7 times stronger and resiliant than a cockroach, proven fact.
And if you want to do a bit of work on it, they are absolute little screamers, and thanks to an eternaty in the rally scean, proformance parts are cheap and plentyful, and the kids can get involved due to them being dead simple to work on. And if they do happen to break it (i.e crushed by a Tank) they are cheap as chips and good rust free panels can be found everywhere.

[GT0132]

Originally Posted by mowog

Requirements: Manual 4 or 6 cyl Turbo ok because the kids got their license before the new P plate laws.

If you can wait another few months you should be able to pick up BA Mk1 XRT's for around that price range if the depreciation continues at the rate it has been the past few months

[xurbanx]

How about an early series RX7? The savannah or something. Wouldn't know much about them. For some reason the words Turbo, 4cyl or 6cyl brings up Japanese cars.

Nissan Exa perhaps?

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by mowog

I have been looking at some cheap cars in the up to $6000 bracket...

The way the secondhand car market is at the moment that probably covers any falcon including BF....??!

[Marduk]

If they're old enough that they got there Ps before the high power restrictions then let them buy there own car.

[73gscoupe]

never liked the Exa, pulsar or Cordia's.

The usual suspects:

Toyota Supra (1989) - 3 litre twin turbo
Toyota Soarer (89-90) - 2.5 twin turbo
Nissan 180 SX - 2.0 litre turbo. maybe also 200 sx (more like $8k)
Mitsubishi starion - (82) 2.0 litre turbo (pretty antique now though)
mazda RX 7 (89) - 13BT (series 5 i think?)

You could also go porsche 944 if you were so inclined. not my taste but..
Could also get in to a mid 90's honda integra (just) for those dollars.

I guess the MX5 is not a bad choice.

[Airmon]

Mazda MX6 arn't too bad, FWD, 2.2lt 4cyl Turbo (or N/A) and 4WS. 2 door sporty lookin thing, and cheap as chips, should fit the bill.
N14 Pulsar Q or SSS would be great fun aswell.

[vztrt]

If your going a SSS then you could look at the NXR coupe (has targa top). Same drivetrain as the SSS but is lighter. I;ve driven a manual and they actually are pretty good for a small car. They also get ABS and power windows.

[mowog]

there is some great input here...

I have been looking on Unique Carsales today there are some good picks in the price bracket. And just below $10k are some interesting cars.

mmmmm Choices...

As for them buying their own... The car will always be mine anyway they can use it when they dont give me the sh#ts which isnt that often now-days.

[xurbanx]

Or if they want a 4dr, perhaps the Celsior, Cefiro or Chaser? (Toyota and Nissan I think).

Are they into cars for power? Or cruising or just A to B driving?

[Rob's 76 Effy]

Buy them a Lada that will teach them LoL

[atec77]

Originally Posted by mowog

I have been looking at some cheap cars in the up to $6000 bracket...

I want another car for the kids to drive but I dont want to spend to much again as the little monsters dont look after the Fiesta XR4 I brought.

I have been looking at things like a Mazda MX5 or other small sporting style cars.

So what other cars would you guys look at in the suggested price range?

Requirements: Manual 4 or 6 cyl Turbo ok because the kids got their license before the new P plate laws.

Go to the auctions , a late model camry or similar jap stuff 6 years old with a couple of dents will be under 1500 so 3k on the road give or take ( if you have basic tools and some skills)

[phillyc]

Go the N14 2L Pulsar Q or SSS with manual. Great little car.

Owned one before I bought the XR6 and I reckon it was a great car. They have a racing pedigree to them too.

[ehast13]

xc falcon. Three on the tree. Put mag wheels on it. It'll be as sporty as hell

[robjh80]

They'd be lucky to get a "Bus Ticket" if they were my kids.

Brand new XR4 and they "can't be bothered" to look after it!

When I was a young fella I had to work and pay for everything I got, it sure made me appreciate and look after the things I had that's for sure.

[Turbotory]

Want to buy a 94 celica SX?? And what the hell is with the second hand market at the moment!! A few months ago I could have got close to 8G for it and now I cant even get $6500! All I get is morons sending me texts at all hours offering to come round the next day with $4000 cash. Ill tell you where they can stick that....

The next one to do it is going to get sent on a wild goose chase to geelong...

[Rev28K]

How about widening your search criteria? As well as an MX5 how about a 91 EF Honda CRX. They are fun little cars if you can find one that hasn’t been thrashed or riced out. They can carry large items in the back and although they need to be maintained pretty well they will reward you with years of fun.

There are also Toyota AW11 MR2’s for around that money. Fun cars. Not as practical as a hatchback but fun. If you are contemplating a turbo FWD Laser or Mazda 626 you could also look at Ford Capris and Probes – there might still be a few good ones out there?