Best "fun" car for under $35k? Under $20k and under $10k

[rulaxin12]

Interesting to see what others would buy as their "side" car or fun car to keep in addition to the s4. Everyone's criteria is different but I would want something that is: fun to drive, convertible and has some wow factor.

I have a 2013 that is apr stage 2 with all ecode suspension mods, short shifter and it is an awesome car that does everything great. I still get excited to drive it everyday...even after 3 yrs! I recently drove my buddies old nissan 300z twin turbo and it was quick and fun and it made me want to get something as a side car. The digital and surgical nature of the s4 vs the analog and visceral feeling and feedback of older cars is what is haunting me.


I think for $35k range, first gen Dodge viper, c5 corvette, or rs4 convertible would be at the top of my list.

For $20k e46 m3, e36 m3! prices are increasing on these cars?!? or even v8 s4.

For $10k a lot of car people i talk to swear by the miata... I haven't driven one, but I've heard great things.

What would you get at those price points?

[infinkc]

10k b5s4
20k s2k
35k b7 rs4

[rtl5009]

B5s4 for all categories depending on how fast you want to go and additionally how often you want to do it.

[JoshDub]

E30

[derek.kritz]

10k-Porsche 944 turbo (cause I got one...). Bought mine for cheap. But can go up in price quick depending on condition and maintenance done. Rwd...turbo....blast to drive.

20k VW mk4 r32. Cause it's a rocking car and the mk4 body is pure sex.

35k Porsche Cayman S. Drivers car. Perfect balance.


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[Dirt]

My fun car is a Procharged 2013 Boss 302. :)

.

[968Reckless]

B5s4 if you want to work on it all the time. I'll take the e30 all day long....have a few of them.


Sent from my beeper

[MrFunk]

Jeep Wrangler
Great fun - completely different performance category which is a nice change - great aftermarket scene with endless options - summer fun & winter fun...

[johnstah]

a modded MR2 turbo is fun too. I had one that put down 300whp. When boosts kicks in, all you can do is smile :)

[mmm def]

Cayman S, S2K, Miata.

[doug97gxe]

E30

with an M5 engine

- - - Updated - - -

My fun car is a Procharged 2013 Boss 302. :)

.

bet this sounds like pure sex

[Dirt]

It definitely makes all the right noises.

[adganga]

Kind of a crazy thought is for around 35, you can get a new Mustang GT. Procharged 5.0 would make a fun side car!


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[golfinz]

$35k: c6z06
$20k: c5z06
$10k: 4Runner

[rulaxin12]

10k-Porsche 944 turbo (cause I got one...). Bought mine for cheap. But can go up in price quick depending on condition and maintenance done. Rwd...turbo....blast to drive.

20k VW mk4 r32. Cause it's a rocking car and the mk4 body is pure sex.

35k Porsche Cayman S. Drivers car. Perfect balance.


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944 turbo! Didn't know which Porsches are in that low cost category. This sounds great!

[rulaxin12]

a modded MR2 turbo is fun too. I had one that put down 300whp. When boosts kicks in, all you can do is smile :)

Those look great! Look like a small futuristic car for its time!

[mpatels4]

Honda S2000

[bhvrdr]

Fun question and I think it would change every week for me but today i'll say...

35K.... 996 turbo
20K.... Camaro SS with Supercharger (mines in for surgery right now for a TVS1900)
10K.... I'll go Miata with a turbo or Civic SI with a supercharger

Mike

[CELison]

B5 s4

[Shimmy]

e9x M3

[z_curtis_s4]

35k-Porsche 911
20k-Another B8 S4 beater
10k-Mk4 R32 (best sounding car ever)

[mr shickadance]

35k-Porsche 911
20k-Another B8 S4 beater
10k-Mk4 R32 (best sounding car ever)

no.


as for the question

10k - miata spec'd out

20k - S2000

35k - 911 or c6 vette, both are insanely fun.

[fesmail]

10K - B5 S4 or some sort of import turbo charged drifter
20K - BMW Z3 M Coupe
35K - Classic muscle car or some sort of newer American muscle car i.e. New Mustang, older vette or viper

[S4 00 2.7]

Interesting to see what others would buy as their "side" car or fun car to keep in addition to the s4. Everyone's criteria is different but I would want something that is: fun to drive, convertible and has some wow factor.

I have a 2013 that is apr stage 2 with all ecode suspension mods, short shifter and it is an awesome car that does everything great. I still get excited to drive it everyday...even after 3 yrs! I recently drove my buddies old nissan 300z twin turbo and it was quick and fun and it made me want to get something as a side car. The digital and surgical nature of the s4 vs the analog and visceral feeling and feedback of older cars is what is haunting me.


I think for $35k range, first gen Dodge viper, c5 corvette, or rs4 convertible would be at the top of my list.

For $20k e46 m3, e36 m3! prices are increasing on these cars?!? or even v8 s4.

For $10k a lot of car people i talk to swear by the miata... I haven't driven one, but I've heard great things.

What would you get at those price points?

c5 corvette is not $35k LOL

e46 m3 with supercharger

[Okan509]

why people recommend a b5 s4 is beyond me.

understeer
awful reliability

both of those those things should top the list for this type of question IMO.

[importraceram]

why people recommend a b5 s4 is beyond me.

understeer
awful reliability

both of those those things should top the list for this type of question IMO.

The way I see it in this thread, a "fun" car is not a DD but rather a weekend toy thus reliability is less of a concern.

[car_guy81]

I'm not a Chevy nuts winger, but this question has been asked many times and the resounding answer around the Internet is:
Under $35k- C6 Z06
Under $20k- C5 Z06
Under $10k- Miata although I might also recommend a 2nd Gen Eclipse because I love the 4g63 motor and awd drive train.

You make knock the Vette for fit and finish or interior quality but that isn't really criteria for a "fun" car. It's been proven many times that stock for stock the Vette will outpace the comparable generation M3 everytime in straight line or track/canyon carving performance . And it's cheaper to repair and easier to get parts.

[hotleadsingergu]

10k-Porsche 944 turbo (cause I got one...). Bought mine for cheap. But can go up in price quick depending on condition and maintenance done. Rwd...turbo....blast to drive.

20k VW mk4 r32. Cause it's a rocking car and the mk4 body is pure sex.

35k Porsche Cayman S. Drivers car. Perfect balance.

We have very different ideas of "pure sex". I would have bought a VW Golf years ago if they had done away with that stupid bodystyle. It's one of the ugliest cars on the market, in my opinion, which is a shame because of how great it is to drive.

[rulaxin12]

These are great suggestions!

b5 s4. From what i've heard, they will always be something wrong with them once you start heavily modding them. That being said, I do know how fast they can be.

Corvette's keep coming up and the zo6 versions always catch my eye.


Wow e46 supercharged... that would be insane.

[AudBoost]

Under 20k - a 2008-2010 BMW 135i

[jokingjimmy]

35k - Something convertible.
20k - Something convertible.
10k - Something convertible.

Or did you mean like track fun? In that case:

35k - Cayman
20k - S2000
10k - Miata

[Fourcircle]

Scion FR-S. My son reviewed it here. He was really impressed with the thrill for the dollar. And you know it'll last forever and hardly cost anything to maintain, being a Toyota/Subaru and all ...

https://youtu.be/-pRdK64jk9E

[Strief]

10K - My Mk2 TT roadster I just traded in for my S4 =(. Would do some fun modifications.

Also, as others mentioned, with a side car I'd get a RWD ... maybe old Porsche / JAAAAG.

Miata would be great value too, and probably a joy to modify.

How about a honda s-2000?

[S4 00 2.7]

These are great suggestions!

b5 s4. From what i've heard, they will always be something wrong with them once you start heavily modding them. That being said, I do know how fast they can be.

Corvette's keep coming up and the zo6 versions always catch my eye.


Wow e46 supercharged... that would be insane.

one more vote here for a 2008+ 135 as well

from my HTC 10

[rulaxin12]

one more vote here for a 2008+ 135 as well

from my HTC 10

That was awesome...The touch screen computer in the air vent was super cool. I've always loved e36 and e46 m3's. Before I bought my 2004 s4, i test drove an e46, the thing was mean! The reason I didn't buy it and went S4 was that I felt like it was trying to kill me. This was about 5 yrs ago. What's also crazy is that the prices on E36 and E46's have gone up in the last couple years...! I think RS4's are still holding their value but I don't know if they will ever go up as the BMW's did.

Also did you love your 2003 z06? Why did you get rid of it?

[rulaxin12]

Scion FR-S. My son reviewed it here. He was really impressed with the thrill for the dollar. And you know it'll last forever and hardly cost anything to maintain, being a Toyota/Subaru and all ...

https://youtu.be/-pRdK64jk9E

Give your son some props! He edited and did a great job on the videography! Very professional!

[LINDW4LL]

$35,000- B7 RS4 or E9X M3. Both available with both convertible/hardtop body styles, and 6MT. Maybe a 997.1 C2S/C4S if you can push that budget a little higher and don't mind some miles.

$20,000 and $10,000- I'm grouping these together as the number of cars under $20k that interest me is so small.

E46 M3- Race-bred 8000 RPM engine, a great chassis, analog inputs, and looks that have held up well.
B5 S4 (preferably stage 3) - Still looks great when properly done, and a powerhouse. Sounds awesome, too. No better value at current prices if you can find a clean one.
I'll also second Alex's recommendation of the 335i[x] and 135i as something to toy with. Lots of potential there and a solid chassis.

why people recommend a b5 s4 is beyond me.

understeer
awful reliability

both of those those things should top the list for this type of question IMO.

Meh, it gets an unfair reputation because people neglect the car, and then wonder why it broke, and complain about it being unreliable. It's actually quite a stout powertrain when properly maintained, in my experience. I've owned two 2.7T cars, in addition to a 2.7T A6 that my dad had when new. Have put a lot of miles on them with no real issues, because maintenance is not neglected.

You're right on the understeer of course- no arguing the physics, but a rear sway bar, coilovers, and 4:1 diff do wonders in comparison to stock, and it's still one of the best values out there IMO.

[S4 00 2.7]

That was awesome...The touch screen computer in the air vent was super cool. I've always loved e36 and e46 m3's. Before I bought my 2004 s4, i test drove an e46, the thing was mean! The reason I didn't buy it and went S4 was that I felt like it was trying to kill me. This was about 5 yrs ago. What's also crazy is that the prices on E36 and E46's have gone up in the last couple years...! I think RS4's are still holding their value but I don't know if they will ever go up as the BMW's did.

Also did you love your 2003 z06? Why did you get rid of it?

agree that e46's hold their value! I think they are solid as far as quality and that motor loves to rev! +1 loved that touch screen vent computer

the vette was lots of fun. I had it for about 7 years and wanted a change. when I had it all my friends had German cars and it made me sick how quickly my vette was dropping in value. e46 m3's from the same year were doing really well in value back then -- and like you said, they are still doing it now.

it would be awesome to get one with a blower on it. you should go for it

from my HTC 10

[LordMagnet]

Honda S2000, no question. Closer to 10k would get you a decently high mileage car, closer to 20k decently low. Near 35k you can get a crazy low mileage s2000 and have some cash for some mods.

[S4 00 2.7]

e46 for handling



from my HTC 10