What's left as used RWD compacts?

[Pesca]

Hi guys,

For some time now, I am looking at RWD manual cars to get more fun in my life.

My problem is that I don't know the big 3 offering in that type of choices, so I might have not seen more affordable but still interesting possibilities. I need your help here as web searching is not easy when you don't know what to look for.

What is available in compact size (small gas sipping engine), fun to drive, RWD with manual out there?
My budget will be ideally around 5.000$, but could go up to 10.000$ to avoid big maintenance (I am not that mechanically inclined).

As you can understand, even if that would be a lot of fun, I am not looking in any V6 or V8 sport cars (fuel), or any german cars (expensive maintenance).
I am looking for something low maintenance and affordable, so was more thinking American or Asian.
My only find so far is the 01-05 Mazda MX-5, but there are quite expensive out there.

Since it is for summer time, a convertible would be nice, but if there are interesting 4-doors sedans, that could be a good choice too, as I would keep the possibility to sell the Rogue and save some money overall.

Thanks for the help.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I really don`t know what cars are RWD anymore except sports cars and trucks. I absolutely hate FWD! Are Dodge Chargers RWD? I rented one a couple of years ago and was thinking that when I popped the hood,that the engine was facing the correct way (pointing to the front and not sideways).

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_240SX

And an early S2000 can be had for ~10k

 

[cos]

aquariuscsm,

You wouldn't hate FWD if you had to drive in the snow.

 

[JHZR2]

Really the best and only option is an E30 or E36 BMW 318i/is/ti. Wonderful cars, though you'll need snow tires.

I'd try to buy one in California and import it if you're serious.

Otherwise I wonder if you could find a NA MT late model Toyota supra...

 

[dtt004]

Meh I personally would pass on all the 240 series that were sold in America, mainly because they lack the beef of the ones sold in Japan. That is...if you are looking at 100% stock vehicles without engine swaps.

The S2000 is one of Honda's greatest, although I have never owned one. I think it's probably because I have a motorcycle, and the S2000 is like a 4-wheeled motorcycle, except half the fun because it's got twice as many wheels. hahaha. but that's up to you.

All the cars I own are RWD. And yes, driving in the snow is easier with FWD. Actually in any given off road condition, FWD will beat RWD.

 

[k24a4]

M I A T A..!!

You will not regret it, trust me. Really.

The first gen (often labeled NA) is a blast to drive, bulletproof in terms of reliability, and inexpensive to operate and insure. Mine gets 32mpg in mixed driving with an overall best, by far, of 37mpg on a trip to Maine...must have had a tailwind. The manual 5-speed is one of the best, with a mechanical linkage and rifle-bolt action.

They are easy to work on as well. You could take apart the entire car with a 10mm socket. OK, I exaggerate, but only slightly.

The difficulty, of course, is finding one. I happened to luck out a few years ago when I replied to a Craigslist Ad and found this, a garaged, pampered '93 with records whose owner did not take it out in the rain, in Vermont, of all places:

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/lets-see-the-cars.103262/

You have to scroll down the page a bit.

There is an incredibly friendly forum as well, Miata.net.

 

[fsdork]

Lexus IS?

 

[Kuato]

They're older, but Toyota's MR2 are pretty sporty. Great drive if you can fit into it...my brother owned one for awhile.

The Charger is RWD (or AWD) but is automatic transmission only.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Miata and S2000 are the only two that come to mind.

 

[dparm]

S2000. They'll run forever. I had one, absolutely loved it.

 

[Spazdog]

Solstice and Sky.

GM killed both of their marques, but you should still be able to get them repaired.

$10,000 won't get you a Redline or a GXP though.

You need Doc Brown to take you back to 1985 to get a RWD Celica.

There was a shop somewhere in the Northwest doing turnkey SR20DET 240SXes for $10K. Don't know if they are still doing that or if it's still $10K.

 

[whip]

I always hoped that GM would make a sedan based on the Solstice platform. A small RWD, four cylinder, sporty sedan would be a blast to own.

 

[Pesca]

Thanks guys for all the help.

From what I read, I, UNFORTUNATELY, did not forget anything in my search.

Miata: That is what I am more willing to get, especially, after reading Edmunds review of the car, comparing it to Go-Kart type of driving. My flavor, would probably be the second generation though, and if lucky, a Mazdaspeed (strangely not more expensive than the NA version, did they get reliability problems?). As for now, a 2001-2004 Miata is from 9 to 13.000$ around here.

Lexus IS: That was what I was after at the beginning, when I wanted to sell the Rogue, and only keep one car garage. It is strangely, for me, more expensive than an equivalent 325, but after crushing the numbers, it is definitively not financially smart (and winter smart either where I live), to sell my current car. So Lexus IS is out as too expensive for now (20.000$ and up).

S2000: Too expensive for my budget, the cheapest ones are at least 13.000$ and up for a 2000-2001 model, in my area.

Toyota MR-2: Not the best name when said in french ;-) , and not the best looking car, but seems to compare financially to the Miata. How is the handling compare to the Miata? Reliability, I suppose it is quite good as it is a Toyota. I may keep an eye on it.

Solstice and Sky: My future ex-FIL has one, and yes it looks good, engine quite on the big size (What is the Fuel ratings on it?), but they are still a bit young (2006 and up) so still quite too expensive for me (about 15.000$ and more in my area).


From what I research, for more choices and less $$, I better take a flight south and bring back the car to Canada, as they are almost 5.000$ cheaper when I looked for one in Florida (and they were 3 Mazdaspeed in the Tampa Area!!). Do you think it could be a good idea to do that?

So, it looks like it won't be for this summer, anyway, too expensive yet, and no much free time to search except on the internet.
But at least, the basic search is done, just have to check from time to time if a deal arises.

Still, I have a technical question for you:
From the 4-5 cars listed above (excluding the Lexus), which one would you prefer getting and why?

As for me, right now, the Miata has the lead (still needs to see if my 6'1" frame can get in there), with the S2000 close second.

What will be your choice?

 

[Pesca]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Really the best and only option is an E30 or E36 BMW 318i/is/ti. Wonderful cars, though you'll need snow tires.

I'd try to buy one in California and import it if you're serious.

Otherwise I wonder if you could find a NA MT late model Toyota supra...


Even if I said I was not inclined to get a german car, since you got at least one if I remember correctly, could you tell me more about them?

Those I have seen on sale have a lot of work to do on them, but are crazy cheap for a BMW. Are they easy to work on them? Remember I am mechanically challenged ;-). Are they complex technologically (lot of stuff to go wrong)?
And more important as anything else, how is the handling, driving impression compare to a Miata or a S2000?

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Pesca

Lexus IS: That was what I was after at the beginning, when I wanted to sell the Rogue, and only keep one car garage. It is strangely, for me, more expensive than an equivalent 325, but after crushing the numbers, it is definitively not financially smart (and winter smart either where I live), to sell my current car. So Lexus IS is out as too expensive for now (20.000$ and up).

I seriously don't see what the big deal is with driving an RWD car during winter up north. My 530i has now been through 3 winters in the chicago burbs and is perfectly capable of getting in an out of anything that a FWD would. There wasn't a single instance when I was wishing I had a FWD. The key is proper winter shoes.

So, ditching the Rouge and getting a performance RWD sedan like the IS or Cadillac CTS may not be such a bad idea, IMO. However, they will not be as nimble and tossable as a Miata, that's for sure. But just the fact that you'll be able to row through the gears by yourself add quite a bit of fun.

Also, have you looked into insurance rates. A sporty convertible like the Miata or S2000 is probably not cheap to insure... Any money you'll save on driving this small 4-cylinder vehicle may get eaten up by your insurance premiums.

 

[Astro14]

Originally Posted By: cos
aquariuscsm,

You wouldn't hate FWD if you had to drive in the snow.


FWD performs well in the snow principally because of weight distribution (more weight over the driving wheels) but I drove a RWD in Vermont and Colorado...and the key to snow driving is SNOW TIRES. Mount 4, never just 2.

And yeah, RWD is way more fun, cleaner, more communicative steering, the balance in corners...I own a FWD right now, and though it has lots more power and grip compared to its predecessor, it is missing something...

 

[fdcg27]

The Miata is reliable and durable, and you can find them at all price levels.
A BMW e30 or e36 is also durable and reliable, and 5K will buy you a pretty decent one.
I have an e36 (a 318i), and I'm very pleased with it.
You can take weekend trips with your wife and your gear, as well as do all of the weekend shopping; not as easy with the tiny Miata.
You can also find old MB W201s and W124s in decent shape, and 5K will buy you a pretty nice one.
We had an '88 190E 2.3, and we really liked it.
It was quite durable and totally reliable, despite its being eighteen years old when my older son wrecked it.
We had driven the car about 35K prior to this unfortunate event, and the only repair I did was to replace the blower motor fuse.
Other than that, all I did was change the oil.
Even the airbag still worked, as my older son learned the hard way, and the car protected him from injury as well as a BMW would, and as a Miata couldn't.
So, there are some choices out there that would fit your budget.
WRT maintenance and repair, there are good sites out there for Benzes, BMWs and Miatas, which can guide you in learning how to keep any of the three running well.
Mechanical skills are learned and earned.
You learn to fix things by diving in and fixing them.
If you really don't want to, find a good indie who specializes in whatever car you buy.
Avoid generic repair shops and dealers like the plague.

 

[javacontour]

Outside of your budget, but I like the looks of the BMW 1 series. It seems to be closer to the size of the BMW 2002, but with some fun 6 cylinder engines.

The Miata/MX5 is as others have said, a good bet, as well as the S2000 and perhaps even the GM sports cars the Sky/Solstice. But I suspect other than the Miata, the good examples will be at the high end if not over your stated budget.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
I really don`t know what cars are RWD anymore except sports cars and trucks. I absolutely hate FWD! Are Dodge Chargers RWD? I rented one a couple of years ago...


Sorry to pick on you, but if you hate FWD with such passion, you should be able to tell if a vehicle is RWD or FWD simply by driving it. They feel very different.

And yes, Chargers are RWD.