Most fun car under $6000

[HULK_I6T]

You could pick up a Holden vt or vx commodore with the Gen3 v8 with a few extra km for about $5000.. Chuck a tune in it and nothing in that price category will go near it..

Otherwise a convertible manual car would be fun too. Mx5 or maybe those convertible mg from the mid 2000s.

[XD ESP! XELR8]

Originally Posted by Nikked

How? That's a great price!

Right place right time..

It's blueprint with 223tho ks..

Boosted BA will rip the balls of a gen3 Ben..

But stock vs stock I agree vt or vx for sure..

[nstg8a]

I'd be real hesitant about a xr6t for that sorta money.... Fun while it lasted no doubt

[Crazy Dazz]

Depends what you mean by “fun to drive”…

$6k will get you a reasonable AU XR8. That’s plenty of fun right there

[Foylema]

S13/180sx with a few bolts on and coilovers = Fun

[Uncle Niceguy]

EG Civic with the change do suspension and wheels or a few nice upgrades and bam fun vehicle.

[XD ESP! XELR8]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

I'd be real hesitant about a xr6t for that sorta money.... Fun while it lasted no doubt

Had a good look over it and if he didn't buy it I would have..

Same shaft play as both my turbos, even had leather..

Changed the turbo filter straight away and it was as clean as a new one..

Touch wood it will have some valve springs put it and tuned..

Bucking bargin!!!

Back on topic..

BA xr6t for sure under 6k lol

[malazn mafia]

Would a $500 EA/EB with a BA 6cyl or even turbo motor and box be achievable for about 6k? Would make an awesome runabout. Seen one done on fordmods before and the BA interior even bolted in quite nicely.

[baboon]

Toyota Echo. Cheap to run too, high 4L/100Km.

[ILLaViTaR]

XR6T or SUZUKI SIERRA

[Rob 351]

Originally Posted by jamies

In 2002 I bought a genuine matching number XE Esp 302 four speed for $2,800. I drove it around for a while before I did it up.

Nice car but you won't get that car for any where near 6 grand in 2013. You would be looking at 20 grand for a matching no's 302 4sp XE ESP. Only 100 made iirc.

[lincoln66]

Originally Posted by Grippy

I picked up my current manual AU3 XR6 for $3,200 with a RWC a couple of months ago, it just needed rego paid a couple weeks after I picked it up. It's heaps of fun now i've installed bilsteins all round and being an AU they're bloody reliable and parts are cheap.

that's a bloody good buy.

[Xauterus]

Could find a Ford Escort for that money, would be a fun car to drive.

[XP6]

Yep Xauterus old school... Id be looking for a 250 crossflow 4 speed Cortina way more real fun than 99% of the cars listed above. Doesnt take much to get one of these into the 13's and below... very simple and cheap to fix too!

[superfly]

For just a fun car, I'd go for the best WRX 6 grand could get me. It will be fun to drive in any weather, race track or street.

[nstg8a]

Every cortina ive looked at has either been rusty or over priced.
An escort would be nice but also scarce

Wrx is an interesting option even though I like high high revving small na motors.

[Vesper Martini]

For under 6 grand you cant go past a WRX , RS legacy/Librity. or a skyline GTSt.
any 90's Vtech honda if you find one that hasn't rusted away
but I think im a bit passed wearing a cap backwards and id probably have more fun going bush bashing in a grand Vitara

[jpblue1000]

Originally Posted by Xauterus

Could find a Ford Escort for that money, would be a fun car to drive.

Damn right!

Most fun car I have ever had was a standard 1979-80 Mk2 Escort 2 door. Would slide, understeer, ovrsteer, roll, porpoise, brake fade and screech the tyres at 40 around corners that the 'good car' was stuck planted at twice++ that speed.
The fun was knowing if it did go wrong in this it would reult in a red faced spin, in the other car it would result in death.
And racing another boggo escort down the old adelaide devils elbow road was a hoot of slow preportions.
Though for 6 k these days thats all youd get a mildly modified (wheels exhuast webber and maybe stereo and tints) registerable Mk2 escort 4 door

JP

[Xauterus]

The WRX is indeed a capable car but tends to have a tarnished reputation due to the nature of the way they are modified.

With the escort I was thinking something like a Toyota beams engine swap with the 6 speed. 2 litre NA screamer.

[jpblue1000]

Originally Posted by Xauterus

The WRX is indeed a capable car but tends to have a tarnished reputation due to the nature of the way they are modified.

With the escort I was thinking something like a Toyota beams engine swap with the 6 speed. 2 litre NA screamer.

Not for 6K though

JP

[ebv8]

if you get an XR8 for under $6k its an auto and don't bother they are pigs, my pick is a 99-02 AU XR6 HP with manual and live axle, its can drift, it can do burnouts and they are predictable. my old AU3 XR8 auto couldn't spin the wheels unless it was wet and same with my modded AU1 XR8 auto.
$3-4k on the XR6 and spend the rest on brake pads and new shocks it will be fun...
if you spend all your $6k up front it won't be fun when it breaks least you will have change from an xr6 to fix it up

[Vesper Martini]

I had a Mk1 with a toyota 2TG twin cam and close ratio 5 speed gearbox, not the most powerful engine but it would scream to 8000 rprm. it was a lot of fun
only worth 3 grand at the time

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by ebv8

if you get an XR8 for under $6k its an auto and don't bother they are pigs, my pick is a 99-02 AU XR6 HP with manual and live axle, its can drift, it can do burnouts and they are predictable.

I have fun driving my auto XR8...



and just quietly, I've done a few sneaky skiddies...

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by ebv8

if you get an XR8 for under $6k its an auto and don't bother they are pigs, my pick is a 99-02 AU XR6 HP with manual and live axle, its can drift, it can do burnouts and they are predictable. my old AU3 XR8 auto couldn't spin the wheels unless it was wet and same with my modded AU1 XR8 auto.
$3-4k on the XR6 and spend the rest on brake pads and new shocks it will be fun...
if you spend all your $6k up front it won't be fun when it breaks least you will have change from an xr6 to fix it up

I know of at least three au 220 manual xr8s that have been bought for less than 6k in the last few weeks, one was nearly half that amount...
The enthusiasts that have them all want 10k but to any normal joe they're just an old v8 falcon and nothing special.

But, I already have one v8 barge, hence why I was thinking something smaller and agile.
A MR2 would be all right too.

[ZA-289]

Being poor im a bit of an expert on this price range so heres my list. Most have been mentioned allready. You can get all the following cars for under $6000 they just may need minor work.

S13 silvia
S14 200sx
R33
Au xr8
Ba xr6t
Ls1 commodore

All must be manual

[XR6TCraig]

Have you ever driven an MX5?

[K_Man]

Would also pick up a neat Mk2 golf gti for that money, see them pop up from time to time. Even a clean Mk1 4 door, the 1.6 is a great motor that is damn easy to tinker with.
I was never that great with spanners and new nothing about vws, still managed to change the motor, gearbox, fit new carby and exhaust without too much assistance. Absolutely flies with a 45dcoe weber hanging off the side

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by XR6TCraig

Have you ever driven an MX5?

Me? Yup, cool wee cars.

[flooded one]

I reckon the S13 is one of the best cars to drift with if your into that stuff. I've driven a few even the non turbo ones I've had fun in. Any Ford Falcon under $6000 with healthy running gear is fun as well. good note from both 6 cylinder and V8 versions. So easy too light up. Most have bloody awesome response when it comes too acceleration!!. Utes are very easy too slide around not just in wet!!! even the sedans are great too slide around with!! V8 Commodores are good too, VN-VS I wouldn't bother with the V6 unless its a manual. A mate of mine picked up a RB-30 powered VK for $3000 a few years ago and I know from personal experience that thing ******* flys!!!! I don't know of other VB-VKs for sale that have had that conversion for under $6000 but if you find one!!! they are fun. I did see a V8 Triton for sale ages ago for $2200 but had no road worthy. I reckon that would be fun!!!

[Yellow_Festiva]

What do the old model Turbo MR2's go for these days? I remember my mate taking me for a spin in one and the thing bloody flew!