Cool Car for $7K or less.

[enkeivette]

So far I am considering:

Mitsubishi Eclipse GS-T or GSX
LT1 Camaros and Firebirds
3000GT/ Dodge Stealth
94-98 Mustang

But I am very open minded. Would definitely prefer a manual, but will consider automatics.

[Vettezuki]

This is now the entry level LS1 F-Body territory. As it get's closer to X-mas, you may find more people willing to sell quite low. ls1z28 can help check them for common problems. This may be more power than you were thinking, but they're pretty reliable and have TONS of aftermarket goodies when the time comes.

[enkeivette]

...but they're pretty reliable and have TONS of aftermarket goodies when the time comes.

LS1s? Nah.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, find me a decent LS1 car for $7K or less. Really the limit is $6K but for something nice enough I'm sure up to an additional $1K would be considered.

[Vettezuki]

LS1s? Nah.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, find me a decent LS1 car for $7K or less. Really the limit is $6K but for something nice enough I'm sure up to an additional $1K would be considered.

You might be surprised, and I expect there to be considerably more as we get closer to to X-mas.

This one may not be so "nice", but took 2 seconds to find.
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/cto/934299341.html

You could look for "nice" ones in the $9-10k range and hard ball them. Nothing ventured, nothing gained . . . find the right seller and flash $7k cash and it's a done deal.

[BRUTAL64]

find the right seller and flash $7k cash and it's a done deal.


It is surprising how the color green flashed at the right time will change a sellers mind about the price. :truestory:

[SeanPlunk]

You might be surprised, and I expect there to be considerably more as we get closer to to X-mas.

This one may not be so "nice", but took 2 seconds to find.
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/cto/934299341.html

You could look for "nice" ones in the $9-10k range and hard ball them. Nothing ventured, nothing gained . . . find the right seller and flash $7k cash and it's a done deal.

That car has a salvage title...

[Vettezuki]

That car has a salvage title...

Focus on what you can't do and you won't do much. THAT car has a salvage title, which could mean a lot of different things, not all of them so bad. The real point is look in the $9-10k o.b.o. range; you could probably haggle down to $7k. There are distress sales, especially now.

[SeanPlunk]

You're right of course, here is a list of LS1's under 8k. (http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/searchresults.jsp?num_records=25&search_lang=en&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&search_type=both&distance=300&address=92807&marketZipError=false&style_flag=1&make=CHEV&model=CAM&make2=&start_year=1998&end_year=2009&min_price=&max_price=8000&seller_type=b&transmission=&engine=8+Cylinder&drive=&doors=&fuel=&max_mileage=&color=&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&keywords_display=&sort_type=priceDESC&body_code=0&certified=&advanced=y&highlightFirstMakeModel=&showZipError=n&default_sort=priceDESC&awsp=false&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&systime=&rdm=1227726323109)

[Vettezuki]

You're right of course, here is a list of LS1's under 8k. (http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/searchresults.jsp?num_records=25&search_lang=en&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&search_type=both&distance=300&address=92807&marketZipError=false&style_flag=1&make=CHEV&model=CAM&make2=&start_year=1998&end_year=2009&min_price=&max_price=8000&seller_type=b&transmission=&engine=8+Cylinder&drive=&doors=&fuel=&max_mileage=&color=&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&keywords_display=&sort_type=priceDESC&body_code=0&certified=&advanced=y&highlightFirstMakeModel=&showZipError=n&default_sort=priceDESC&awsp=false&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&systime=&rdm=1227726323109)

Exactly, this would be my area of operation. :bigthumbsup:

[enkeivette]

I'm going to check out the blue 6 speed in an hour, thanks Sean.

[Vettezuki]

I'm going to check out the blue 6 speed in an hour, thanks Sean.

Your welcome. :sm_up_there:

[SeanPlunk]

I'm going to check out the blue 6 speed in an hour, thanks Sean.

No Problem. I bet it sounds nice with the Borla :bigthumbsup:

[BRUTAL64]

Focus on what you can't do and you won't do much. THAT car has a salvage title, which could mean a lot of different things, not all of them so bad. The real point is look in the $9-10k o.b.o. range; you could probably haggle down to $7k. There are distress sales, especially now.


Darlene's Thunderbird is a Salvage title. It's up to 170,000 miles and still going strong. No matter what she does to it.:nuts:

[enkeivette]

Awww, thank you too Ben! :violin::drink:

I've got no problem with salvage titles, but the insurance will be more expensive, and I'm not sure if my parents are cool with that. Not to mention that most body shops suck, and will most likely have done a sh*tty job.

I have fun everyday picking out the cars that have had body work done to them.

[SeanPlunk]

Are you going to look at this one? (http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=249490542&dealer_id=63111467&car_year=2002&rdm=1227726323109&model=CAM&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1998&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&engine=8+Cylinder&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=300&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=n&make=CHEV&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=92807&advanced=y&end_year=2009&doors=&transmission=&max_price=8000&cardist=29)

[Vettezuki]

Awww, thank you too Ben! :violin::drink:

I've got no problem with salvage titles, but the insurance will be more expensive, and I'm not sure if my parents are cool with that. Not to mention that most body shops suck, and will most likely have done a sh*tty job.

I have fun everyday picking out the cars that have had body work done to them.

No no, I meant for pointing out that LS1 F-Body's were a real possibility, to which you were quire literally a nah-sayer, not that particular salvage. Jeesh you guys get stuck on details. Whatever you do, hope it works out for the best. :thumbs_up:

[enkeivette]

My mom just decided to cut a couple grand off the budget, and my Dad is against getting a manual. He fears that a stick shift will be more prone to accidental clutch drops and fish tailing.

Ugh. :suicide:

If my little brother weren't such a little hell raiser and had earned himself some credibility over the past few years, this wouldn't be so difficult.

[SeanPlunk]

My mom just decided to cut a couple grand off the budget, and my Dad is against getting a manual. He fears that a stick shift will be more prone to accidental clutch drops and fish tailing.

Ugh. :suicide:

If my little brother weren't such a little hell raiser and had earned himself some credibility over the past few years, this wouldn't be so difficult.

What is the new budget?

[Vettezuki]

What is the new budget?

A couple G off the original $6k is ball park $4k . . . ouch.


I ain't gonna lie, I'm kinda a fan of the Gen II Camaro/Firebird. Maybe something like this is possible at $3,900.
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/931526866.html

If I were dripping play cash, I'd probably have a 1970 Formula 400 in my garage somewhere.

[enkeivette]

$4-5K, so... $5K.

I found a cool Saleen Mustang actually for around that price, I'm going to check it out.

Those 2nd gens are cool. I was looking at a few, but to get one with decent paint and body they're out of the price range. But yeah a 400sbc would be cool, maybe a later year like a 78 Trans Am.

[enkeivette]

V8 5 Speed with over 90K miles. http://images.autotrader.com/scaler/240/180/images/2008/10/9/253/001/8885240767.253001287.IM1.03.240x180_A.240x180.jpg

[Vettezuki]

$4-5K, so... $5K.

I found a cool Saleen Mustang actually for around that price, I'm going to check it out.

Those 2nd gens are cool. I was looking at a few, but to get one with decent paint and body they're out of the price range. But yeah a 400sbc would be cool, maybe a later year like a 78 Trans Am.

I just like the earlier ones for the free hand with smog. Plus I quite like the front end on the 72' Camaro.

[BRUTAL64]

If I were dripping play cash, I'd probably have a 1970 Formula 400 in my garage somewhere.

The is a very GOOD call. Had a 72 Formula. Great Car!:thumbs_up:

[D.denly]

As title states I want to buy a dependable daily driver for 1k or less, let me know what you have.

[SeanPlunk]

As title states I want to buy a dependable daily driver for 1k or less, let me know what you have.

Just to clarify, is your budget 7k, or 1k?

[enkeivette]

And just to clarify, are you looking for a cool car or a dependable car?

[enkeivette]

And I hope you meant 7K, because you won't find either for $1K. Maybe a long term cool car project that doesn't run for $1k... if you're lucky.