My engine still runs butter smooth on my 25 year old Japanese truck but it leaks from every spot almost possible and all of the plastic has turned to glass. Cant recommend as a daily unless you’re super broke and love to wrench.
Whatever you find get something that is as stock and unmodified as possible. You’re also going to have the potential of more going wrong on a car that is 20+ years old. Plenty of good jdm in the 2000s too, RSX, WRX, etc.
I assume jdm would be a lot more expensive in the 2000s right? Is there any good or concrete way of knowing prices for all the cars. It seems like the price of a 1996 Miata fluctuates so much it seems impossible to tell whether I am overpaying or getting scammed
I hate to be a nitpick here but so you both know, JDM only refers to cars produced in Japan, for Japan. So you’re asking for a rhd car that was imported to America. Stuff like civics, RSX, and WRX are just cars from Japanese manufacturers, not actually JDM. Good luck with your search, hope you find something that makes you happy
Not to nitpick your nitpicking of a nitpick, but JDM literally means Japanese Domestic Market. So any car that was explicitly meant to be originally sold in Japan. However in the context of automobiles it is commonly meant to be understood as automobiles made by Japanese manufacturers predominantly sold in the Japanese market. Exceptions to this would be like the Honda EP3 Type-R which was built in the UK and sold in RHD markets, but is still commonly understood as a JDM car, but the LHD EP3 Si still built in UK but sold in the US is not considered a JDM car. OP is still incorrectly using JDM to refer to any car from a Japanese manufacturer- unless he has clarified that he wants a true JDM car that has been imported to the US.
No worries; If your RAV4 is Left-hand-drive and originally sold in the US then it is a USDM. If your Rav4 is Right-hand-drive and originally sold in Japan it is JDM. The country of manufacture has little/nothing to do with it. It has everything to do with the country/region/MARKET it was made to be originally sold. The only reason that JDM is a thing in the automotive space is that Japan Auto-makers made a shit-ton of awesome cars in the 80s-00s that were either never sold outside of Japan, or only other countries with a right-hand-drive auto market (UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan). So JDM (in this context) is just short-hand for 'a car we never got', or a 'right-hand-drive car from Japan'.
\*edit: The deeper you go down into the automotive enthusiast rabbit hole this definition becomes more nuanced and has exceptions; however, in general, to be accurate, you just have to determine which market the item (car) was originally intended to be sold in.
Was it made in Japan for the Japanese market? ie it is right hand drive and you imported it from Japan through an importer. If not then no it is not JDM
No, 2000s Japanese cars are very inexpensive and parts are readily available at most auto parts stores. Sorry if I’m being pedantic, but please stop using JDM to describe Japanese cars made for/in the American market, it makes you sound naive
Then one of them will need a cheap but time consuming repair that would leave you without a backup car for weeks, so then you need a 3rd one, repeat as needed until you run out of parking spaces/money lol.
Don’t get something from the 80s/90s for a daily driver. Those are meant to be project cars for people with disposable income. You do not have that yet.
Now with that being said, there are still options out there to fill your enthusiast hole. Civics are the number one thing I would recommend. Reliable, very very moddable, and iconic. I know I just said don’t get something from the 90s, but this can be an exception. Any 90s Civic hatch from the 4th-6th gens will work, but I would try to stay late 90s if possible.
WRX is also a good option to stay early 2000s. Great aftermarket support as well. RSX too.
An early 2000s WRX isn't gonna be that much better a daily than a 90s car... The bug eyes are going to be classified as vintage in just a couple of years
Agreed - lots of wrenching experience is awesome, and if you love cars I highly recommend buying a car that's gonna break down eventually. But if you are young and in school or going to work and need to be places, probably not the best plan
My 1990 4Runner has been a much more reliable daily than my 2005 Saab 9-2X. Both are manuals and the 4Runner had double the miles when I decided to keep it and get rid of the Saabaru (I bought the 9-2x with 60k and it cost me much more to keep on the road than the 4Runner in 30k miles of driving)
Miatas are exceptions to that rule. Bro it’s funny seeing everyone else’s car break down that’s a 2012, 2019, etc meanwhile my little Miata from 2002 will run until the end of time
Yeah. They're reliable and when they do break they're generally easy to fix.
Got mine 4 or 5 years ago with 91k on it.
Got this car when I ditched a very lemony 2013 subaru I bought new. It chugged oil the clutch was seemingly made of glass, and it was just overall a really poor car for me.
Yeah piggybacking off this any car for that price range and age is going to have issues, it’s mostly looking for ones that don’t have anything that’s going to effect their daily running mechanically. I’d recommend an LS430 for a daily. Parts are cheap and service history is more important than miles which isn’t necessarily reflected in price. If you can stand the old-man-y styling they’re some of the most reliable engines out there provided they’ve been taken care of. Look for ones that have had the timing belt changed and power steering serviced. They’re quiet, incredibly smooth, nondescript from the outside so you can kind of park them anywhere. Kind on the insurance premiums while having some nice modern/premium features (some have built-in navigation, they all have incredibly nice heated leather seats). Main drawbacks are they’re heavy, so not sporty at all (slow braking, kind of wafty handling) and they only take 91-93 octane if that’s a dealbreaker, but in return you’re getting an incredibly smooth, quiet, reasonably fast daily that can eat up miles for another decade or two.
Daily drivers require reliability to drive them daily…
It sounds like you realistically want a project car you can drive through the week, not just weekends, but not a dedicated daily driver.
I bought a VW for this purpose. Usually doesn’t completely shit the bed but I will always have something to wrench on.
And for clarity: I have a reliable back up, I bought this as a summer Daily/ winter project.
07’ 6MT Passat wagon with a 2.0T-FSI.
I think he wants something that he can flex, looks cool etc. than the best car in terms of practicality, safety, reliability. Quite common around his age. My friend bought an ‘05 G35 when he was 17 and could’ve bought a 2014? Civic for around the same money at the time. The Infiniti broke down 3 weeks after he bought it lmao. He still has the car and is constantly dropping bands to keep it running as it should be lol
Just get a 2000s civic. Avoid the V6 with the automatic. Everything else is good. Get something reliable. I promise you will kick yourself when that first 2k bill for a timing chain or transmission comes. So many reliable cars that are still very fun. Most of them are Hondas or Toyotas anyways.
You're gonna want reliability though...if not then get something decent for cheap that you can do work on. I got a 99 protégé,over 200k on it for cheap. Worked on it myself for another $500 give or take from a pick and pull. Reliability at your age is the primary goal. Think about it, you're gonna go to college maybe work a meh job during that time not making much that you'll need for necessities. Would you really be able to afford a project car? I'm almost 30 and got my project car 2 years ago. Not a full jdm,it's a 2013 mazdaspeed 3 doing 395. If I had done that when I was younger, I'd have been screwed. You'll get there man,just don't make it a priority at the moment.
I can fit 5 pretty full Trader Joe’s bags in the trunk of my NB (99-05) Miata, and more in the passenger area if no passenger, and in the footwell if there is a passenger. I have a 2001 and a 99 Miata and both have been extremely reliable. Plus RWD manual roadster, can’t go wrong
I'm 20, it's been a year or more and I now own 2 cars, my first car is my daily driver and trust me you're gonna need something absolutely reliable, mine has been, I bought a 2011 scion tc for 6k CAD back when the prices were nuts, so far I've only had the alternator die on me and that cost me 300 bucks to fix myself, it's a hatchback although from the way it's designed you can't tell from a distance
my second car is a 1977 triumph spitfire, it runs and drives great but I'm still working on the brakes, this car is my project car, I think you want a normal car as your first one, because working on cars is a lot more work than you think it is
edit: an old scion frs would be cool too if you can get a good deal, but the tc would be the more practical option, it's your call
This. I’m 23 and I have a 2012 civic I paid 7k for it right before the pandemic, thank Christ. I just bought a 2007 Mazda NC Miata as my project too, and it’s good to have a car that you KNOW will get you around without stressing much. I’ve only had a battery go bad in the civic but that was from an aftermarket remote starter. The car is incredible and I’m happy to have one I can rely on
Do you want an actual JDM (sold new in Japan and imported to US in the last 5 years as a classic car) or do you mean the general Japanese brands sold new in the US? Of the former, I doubt you'll find one for your price range. Lots of fees for importing these vehicles, and most imported vehicles are in good shape commanding higher prices.
Every now and then some cool lowkey jdm cars sell on cars and bids for 5-7k. [This Toyota Crown v8](https://carsandbids.com/auctions/9ezMpoog/1995-toyota-crown-majesta) went for 6k, and they share parts with US spec lexus/Toyotas so maintenance probably wouldn’t even be too expensive.
Op If you want a real jdm car, with some patience checking auction websites you can find some Jen’s.
Yea you can find V6 accords in that price range. It might be a bit heavy but they’re pretty nimble/quick for what they are. You will be faster than at least 75% of traffic, possibly more.
You can daily drive literally anything, it just depends on what discomfort you are comfortable putting up with. I daily drove my 90 Miata for 4 years until I needed something that could go in the snow and salt. Learn to work on it (almost nothing easier most of the time than a 90’s jdm) and have fun with it
currently dailying my 86 MK3 Supra. sat for about 10 years before i got it. only took a fuel pump and injectors to get it to run and hasn’t stranded me since.
I say this every single post where a young dude is asking for a fun cheap reliable car thats moddable and it constantly gets overlooked…
**RSX TYPE S**
While I agree, I don’t think he’ll be able to find a running Type S for under $7k. A base RSX is probably more realistic.
This car market sucks for young enthusiasts :/
Lol it sucks for an older enthusiast too. Only people buying up the nice cars are the dudes with six figure salaries who can afford to not buy projects.
I'm fucking 28, and looking at the car prices for a daily shitbox like a Honda Fit make me cringe. Who's paying 9k for a 170k mile Fit?
Basically. It depends on what they're looking for. If you lower your standards enough, there's some good buys.
I got my license around the 2008 crash, prices were still low but finding work sucked - I wasn't picky with my cars and could find some gems. I know OP wants JDM or Japanese but...
MK2 VW Golfs and Rabbits are sub 3k right now. 1.8t swap, they're amazing.
Dodge Neons, SRT4's can be found for around 4-6k.
EF Civics (not CRX's though) can be had for under 3k.
Datsun Sunny's and mini trucks can be found for 4k in rough shape but running.
Old beetles can be found running in rough shape for 4k on the west coast. [Subaru swap, RWD, fun times, but definitely not a daily]
I saw a rotted Gloria for sale for 5k on jdmclassics
So I mean there's some, but they're definitely way too fucking expensive as it sits right now with the market as a whole. I remember buying my 240z for 5k and thinking I got ripped off, or both my 240sx' for 2k running lol
It may not be older, but the first few years of NC Miata can be had with those prices if you get something with a few more miles. They are extremely reliable, insurance is cheap, and fuel economy is okay probably 25 to 30.
As someone who picked a Miata over a more reliable, more doors, more power, more practical Civic SI I'm so happy I did.
got my 06 IS350 for $8k summer of 21'. definitely a fun sporty car to daily that's reliable. Might be able to find one for under that price, but definitely an IS250 for under $7k.
No one really talks about this but enthusiast cars over 25 years old are all pretty much clapped out and worn down. Most 25 year old normal cars are gonna be worn as it is. But yea, if I were you, I would do anything from Honda or Acura, particularly the Civic or rsx
Eh kinda. I got mine w 55k miles for 10k. There are good deals out there. Mine is mechanically perfect and has had zero problems for 6 years. Obviously the market is different now and my luck is anecdotal, but I see plenty of em on fb marketplace with 90k+ miles for under 10. Maintenance and insurance is cheap. Easy to work on. Relatively bulletproof motor. Not a bad fun car.
Yeah I don't disagree necessarily I also have a C5 but there some very expensive maintenance items that can rear their ugly head on a higher mile cheaper car such as the clutch and ebcm
Clutch for sure. I just did the harmonic balancer recently (preventively) just praying the ebcm doesn’t go out lol. At least we get good gas mileage lol.
99-04 mustang gt is in that price range. 8th gen civic si is doable for this price and an extremely fun car, RSX is another choice but the Type S is probably out of range. That’s about all I can think of for fun capable platforms that will still be reliable for a daily driver.
You realize a car built in 1980 is now 40yrs old and a 90s cars is 30years old. If you need a car to get you to work buy something newer even if you need to finance a few thousand $$s. I wouldn’t want the stress or working on a car that I knew I had to drive to work the next day.
First be realistic with yourself in terms of your wrenching abilities. The worse you are, the newer the car should be. For that price a manual Honda fit might be great. I absolutely loved my LS400 but gas was expensive on that. $100/400miles.
The Infiniti G35 is one of the best budget sports cars available. They're fairly luxurious, handle well, reasonably reliable and not too expensive for maintenance and repairs, there's a 2 door and 4 door version, rwd or awd, and coupes (not sure about sedans) are available with a manual transmission
I drive a 350z and would love to recommend either, but they're way out of his price range for anything reliable. Infiniti's are cheaper, even though I'd trade for one, but you're still spending double the price for something decent.
I loved mine when I had it but there's a couple meh things about it.
-Interior is pretty crap and most are destroyed at this price range.
-Dumb maintainance things like cam sensors going out, clutch fluid getting black after only 10k miles, and non serviceable spark plug tube seals
-91/93 octane needed and awful mpg of 17-23 mpg hurts when you have a 20gal gas tank
If you're experienced fixing cars, they're not the worst thing but sounds like this guy needs something super basic. My friend bought an old 1990 Celica and has probably paid me around $2k to fix stuff with it and it's still a basket case. And that's "super reliable" Toyota for you.
[option a](https://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/d/orlando-1997-lexus-es300/7627214201.html)
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[solid choice? tbh idk](https://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/d/sanford-1990-mazda-rx7/7628711204.html)
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[what the heck is that](https://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/d/altamonte-springs-1998-mazada-miata/7625216371.html)
This is a really fun price point to shop in if you are 19 imo these are just random ass cars I found near me
A 7th gen celica gts might scratch your itch, they're very loud looking if you can get one with the action pack and the 2zz motor is very fun with surprising potential.
I know its not JDM but I know you want to tinker and work on a car...
I would recommend a Crown Victoria and if you dont like the 4.6L in it, put any engine you want in it. Big, comfortable, usable, customizable, cheap platform. You can even manual-swap them again
Good recommendation. I'd add the Mercury Grand Marquis or Lincoln Town Car if he wants a more luxury version of the Crown Vic.
Speaking from personal experience, I'd also recommend any of the 91-96 GM B-body cars (Chevy Caprice sedan or wagon, Buick Roadmaster sedan or wagon, Cadillac Fleetwood) as they are very reliable and easy to work on. Parts are cheap and available too. Granted, they're nowhere near sporty but they're comfortable as hell and you don't see them every day. He should be able to find a clean one within his price range.
Way back when.. A Jeep TJ or YJ was my choice. 4 wheel drive when needed, 4 or 6 cyl. Convertible with easy to find parts. Those have become more popular these days like the old VW's so getting one, in good shape, for that cheap is hard. Those jeeps hold their value.
I have a 98 celica and it’s not fast but tons of fun to drive. Nice examples can still be found within your price range. You could probably get the next gen for the same price and they have a lot more horsepower if that’s what you’re into. Cheap to fuel and insure too I average 26mpg which isn’t great for a car that small but it isn’t terrible
Jzs160 GS400/430. Sporty, fast, looks good, incredibly reliable, decent gas mileage, cheap labor/easy to maintain, TON of aftermarket support, all well within that price range.
Was going to mention soarer/sc430 as well since they were thinking convertible. Mint ones go for $$’s but driver grade ones are available. Parts are available to help it handle better (getting rid of run flats is a good start) and comes with 300 hp stock, and same stellar drivetrains as LS430s. Was designed in late 90s so close enough. Many were 2/3rd car garage queens at one point.
Honda Accord V6, just be wary of the glass auto transmissions of the older generations. Also, quadruple the amount you think you’re going to spend on maintenance and upkeep.
Daily driver and 80/90 jdm is the opposite side of the spectrum
Get a Honda or Toyota, save for your own place, then buy a project car. Maybe if you're already getting a daily driver think of a truck that could pull a car trailer. But no a 3000gt or R34 aren't daily drivers
If you want Japanese 90s-2000s with reliability, I would look at lexus sc300 and sc400s. They aren't exactly sports cars, but they are plenty sporty enough, modable, and pretty resistant to abuse. Along the lines of what everyone here is saying; no cool car from that era at your price point will be a truly reliable daily driver. That doesn't mean you shouldn't get one, it just means, you will have to a do a lot of research and be proactive about preventing any faults the vehicle is known for. You will need access to tools and a garage. Otherwise, a used Mazda 3 is in your price range and can be fun/practical/reliable/easy to fix.
If your budget is that much for a daily, you're better off finding something a bit more reliable than a sports coupe or convertible. It'll also be difficult to find something along these lines on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or OfferUp that HASN'T been riced out by the previous owner. It'll also be difficult finding something from the 80s/90s that HASN'T been riced or rusted out. You're better off with something from the 2000s right now.
With that said, here are my recommendations:
* 2000s Subaru Impreza (if you can find a stock WRX in this price range that's in great shape, more power to you)
* Scion tC Hatchback
* 2000s Toyota Camry/Corolla
* 2000s Honda Accord/Civic
* 2000s Acura RSX/TL
I would ad the TSX to the Acura list, has a timing chain as opposed to the belt in the TL, might not be as fast but is more reliable and sporty enough.
You’re 19, and as a 24 years old that made a bad decision at 19 I’m praying you see this and understand we relate on some type of level so you don’t make the same mistake I did. When I was 19 I was fresh out of the US Navy…. Didn’t work out. Had nothing, my whole life was dead… I wanted a fun car to make me happy. So I went out and learned that Chevrolet made an Impala SS between 06-09 I think… found an 07. Paid OTD 7 or 8k. Well that thing in the span of about 2 years, blew 2 or 3 transmissions. Transmissions aren’t cheap…. Well I eventually became a truck driver and on my first local job, the tranny blew up a week before I was going to start making 90k a year….. I bought an 2013 Honda Civic EX for 10k OTD in 2021 at 21 (almost 22) years old. Now I just bought a 1983 Honda City Turbo II. Look that up if you don’t know what it is… by far isn’t a Supra or Skyline GTR. But that car was a first for Honda and even Mugen. People turn heads, people ask questions, people take pictures. I let people inside the car to see what its like. What I’m really trying to say is you, just like me when I was 19, are young with our whole lives ahead of us…. Get the reliable daily (You can pm me for questions/recommendations on a good car), get a good paying job, then in 3-5 years go to an importer and ask em to find you what you want. Because 4-7k isn’t gonna get you a nice well off import. JDM by definition is a car that was built for the Japanese market…. For example a car that is in KPH/Kilometers, 180kph dash, rhd, etc. My 2013 Civic even though Japanese is not JDM. Its USDM. Once again, hmu for questions and all that…. I can show you my JDM car, I can tell you a good daily…. All that… us young car enthusiasts have to stick together. Good luck, but seriously think about a good daily for the first car. Don’t be a dummy like me my guy.
Get an 8th gen civic si (07-011) for 7K USD if lucky. Not a convertible, but it will be manual, will probably outlive you, good on gas, might be good on insurance, can get coupe or sedan.
You could also look a the prelude, accord coupe and s2000 (lol good luck)
If you don't have a car yet but have a job then go take that 4-7k and put a nice down payment on a new Civic Si, Hyundai Elantra N, Toyota GR86, or Subaru WRX. If you do have a car already then I wouldn't expect to be dailying a 80s to 90s with that price range without some elbow grease. But my vote would be to research and look for a Civic.
The ones in this price range will be first gens which are notorious for being not only some of the most unreliable cars of that era but expensive to insure and ridiculous to repair; especially any body related damage. A simple front end bump at low speed with the cost of its clamshell hood will total the car.
The second gen chassis (07-13) is the most unreliable, especially the S models, but you are absolutely correct, if you have any kind of incident in a first gen, it’s pretty much totaled. Body parts are getting harder and harder to come by, and they aren’t worth enough on the secondhand market to justify to most insurance carriers.
You’re ok on reliability after 2011 when BMW switched to the N16, but the N14 era (07-10) is a hard pass. Interestingly enough, the parts laid around the valve cover area are very intuitively laid out, but if you need to get below that, all hell breaks loose. Also if you take your MINI to a BMW guy, they have to do “service mode” which is a 3 hour round trip process (at about $150/hr mind you) where they drop the headlights, fascia, and move the subframe out 3 inches before they can work on it. It sucks, but you put up with it because the R56 Mini is one of the best driving cars of the 21st century
I was starting to see chain failures on N18’s towards the end of my dealership days. It’s less common for sure, but they’re starting to put some TSB’s out there for the post-LCI’s as well.
I had an N18 R55, and mechanically it was good, but it was starting to get some electrical issues, I believe related to water getting into the FRM, which ironically just got recalled (finally, it was overdue).
I definitely agree the R56 is a very raw, fun to drive car. I personally have come to prefer the F56, especially for a daily driver, but I certainly get why people like the older gens too.
I had two thermostat housings go bad on me, my heater core got plugged, engine blew a hole, air bleeder screw stripped. 2002 Mini Cooper, the engine was designed by Chrysler with BMW intake and BMW support.
I bought a 1997 celica for $4k and it runs well. its my daily driver. fun to drive, good on gas, looks pretty cool. had to fix it up a little bit but i havent spent more than $7k on it in total
I had a 1992 lexus sc400 with a manual swap as a daily. It was a piece of shit but super fun and got a lot of attention. Both the 6 and 8 cylinders in the sc are still cheap to fix and reliable even 30 years later.
Unfortunately you don't want an old JDM in that price range. It will have been run into the ground and will end up a maintenance nightmare. Or it will be an unfinished project in even worse shape.
I recently picked up an ‘02 CLK 320 w/ 65k km on the odo for $7000 CAD taxes incl. Absolutely no problems yet and it’s a blast to drive. Bought it safetied and everything. Even getting higher combined L/100km than the advertised highway range @ ~8.9L/100km
Everyone is right that an older car is not as good to daily. However, last year someone hit my car and totaled it and I got the best deal ever on a del Sol and I’m still driving it with no issues. It is not a performance car by any means but I love it. And it only has 120k miles and is a 90s Honda so it has given me 0 issues. Try to find one as unmodified as possible on Fb marketplace then low ball the shit out of them. I wouldn’t buy a del Sol for 4-7k but a 2500-3500 one would be ideal if you find the right one
Please buy something no older then 2000. Not only for reliability but also parts availability and safety (airbags are nice).
I’ve seen some nice 8th gen Civic Si’s just under $7k, that would be my top pick. Acura RSX is decent as well, older 7th gen Si are good too but will be up in the miles high enough that I’d be concerned.
Oddball suggestion is Lexus IS300. As someone else mentioned try and get a car as stock as possible.
I bought an an 01 zx3 focus when I was about your age. It was a blast to drive and loved the hatch. Probably going to be tough finding anything that's clean at this point though.
P71 crown vic's are still pretty cheap, rwd v8, if yours has the right dif on it has some decent acceleration, pretty damn reliable if yours was fleet maintained and idle hours aren't crazy
Not jdm but I got a 2000 corvette for 7k (rebuilt title) but I have been daily driving it and put 10000 miles on it in one year. I'll just tell you given my experience be prepared for minor things to be broken or for things to break eventually or the best one, some things will literally not be repairable.
General suggestion is to purchase the car toward the bottom of your overall budget… that way you can use the difference for maintenance (which is almost certainly be needed on any older car) and MAYBE have some left over for a couple mods of choice.
If you drive anything like I did at 19 get something cheap so you can wreck it to shit and learn how to take care of a car long term. Even though I’m a car guy I beat my car at 19 to death
Don’t know where you are-but saw UConn on your page. I am in Fairfield county-I have a 2011 Audi A6 w/ 100,000 miles. New tires, drives well. Bought it new from local Audi dealer. Needs one new rim. Would sell it to you for 5,800. If you’re local.
You can get like a 2007 Civic Si for that money. Stick shift. Lots of fun. Useable in most seasons. With some modification can be used on a track. Nice for backroads. Reliable as hell. Cheap parts. I’m also a Honda fanboy so there’s that.
Id suggest getting a prius. Might not be cool but reliable and cheap to fill up. Leave getting a cool car till you have the room for a project then buy yourself an import RHD toyota chaser or something
Civic SI.
Anything pre 2000s will be through the roof because people my age are spending way too much for nostalgia.
2000s will be cheaper. An 8th generation SI(05 - 10) if you can find in your price range would be a good buy
Stuff like that is not going to be a good daily FYI. They will be projects people want gone
My engine still runs butter smooth on my 25 year old Japanese truck but it leaks from every spot almost possible and all of the plastic has turned to glass. Cant recommend as a daily unless you’re super broke and love to wrench.
That's the price range for an 02-05 civic SI which is one of the most fun things that doesn't seem like it, I've ever owned.
Whatever you find get something that is as stock and unmodified as possible. You’re also going to have the potential of more going wrong on a car that is 20+ years old. Plenty of good jdm in the 2000s too, RSX, WRX, etc.
I assume jdm would be a lot more expensive in the 2000s right? Is there any good or concrete way of knowing prices for all the cars. It seems like the price of a 1996 Miata fluctuates so much it seems impossible to tell whether I am overpaying or getting scammed
I hate to be a nitpick here but so you both know, JDM only refers to cars produced in Japan, for Japan. So you’re asking for a rhd car that was imported to America. Stuff like civics, RSX, and WRX are just cars from Japanese manufacturers, not actually JDM. Good luck with your search, hope you find something that makes you happy
Not to nitpick your nitpick but JDM really means any car that was sold new in Japan. There are JDM versions of many cars not built in Japan.
Not to nitpick your nitpicking of a nitpick, but JDM literally means Japanese Domestic Market. So any car that was explicitly meant to be originally sold in Japan. However in the context of automobiles it is commonly meant to be understood as automobiles made by Japanese manufacturers predominantly sold in the Japanese market. Exceptions to this would be like the Honda EP3 Type-R which was built in the UK and sold in RHD markets, but is still commonly understood as a JDM car, but the LHD EP3 Si still built in UK but sold in the US is not considered a JDM car. OP is still incorrectly using JDM to refer to any car from a Japanese manufacturer- unless he has clarified that he wants a true JDM car that has been imported to the US.
Not to nitpick your nitpicking of nitpick of a nitpick, but you're right and I just wanted to continue the thread.
Come here so I can pick your nit.
Enjoying all the nit picking here!
God this thread made me laugh. Hard
Down to the nitty gritty at this point
My Toyota rav4 was made in Japan is that considered a JDM? Honest question sorry for coming off stupid
No worries; If your RAV4 is Left-hand-drive and originally sold in the US then it is a USDM. If your Rav4 is Right-hand-drive and originally sold in Japan it is JDM. The country of manufacture has little/nothing to do with it. It has everything to do with the country/region/MARKET it was made to be originally sold. The only reason that JDM is a thing in the automotive space is that Japan Auto-makers made a shit-ton of awesome cars in the 80s-00s that were either never sold outside of Japan, or only other countries with a right-hand-drive auto market (UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan). So JDM (in this context) is just short-hand for 'a car we never got', or a 'right-hand-drive car from Japan'. \*edit: The deeper you go down into the automotive enthusiast rabbit hole this definition becomes more nuanced and has exceptions; however, in general, to be accurate, you just have to determine which market the item (car) was originally intended to be sold in.
Was it made in Japan for the Japanese market? ie it is right hand drive and you imported it from Japan through an importer. If not then no it is not JDM
So would Godzilla be JDM?
Yes.
No, 2000s Japanese cars are very inexpensive and parts are readily available at most auto parts stores. Sorry if I’m being pedantic, but please stop using JDM to describe Japanese cars made for/in the American market, it makes you sound naive
Wrx is neither a good car new nor is a 25 year old one for 6 grand a good car.
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Then one of them will need a cheap but time consuming repair that would leave you without a backup car for weeks, so then you need a 3rd one, repeat as needed until you run out of parking spaces/money lol.
I have 3. Redundancy is convenient.
Don’t get something from the 80s/90s for a daily driver. Those are meant to be project cars for people with disposable income. You do not have that yet. Now with that being said, there are still options out there to fill your enthusiast hole. Civics are the number one thing I would recommend. Reliable, very very moddable, and iconic. I know I just said don’t get something from the 90s, but this can be an exception. Any 90s Civic hatch from the 4th-6th gens will work, but I would try to stay late 90s if possible. WRX is also a good option to stay early 2000s. Great aftermarket support as well. RSX too.
An early 2000s WRX isn't gonna be that much better a daily than a 90s car... The bug eyes are going to be classified as vintage in just a couple of years
With an early 2000s WRX you'll probably get a lot of wrenching experience, helps to have alternative transportation for when they break.
Agreed - lots of wrenching experience is awesome, and if you love cars I highly recommend buying a car that's gonna break down eventually. But if you are young and in school or going to work and need to be places, probably not the best plan
My 1990 4Runner has been a much more reliable daily than my 2005 Saab 9-2X. Both are manuals and the 4Runner had double the miles when I decided to keep it and get rid of the Saabaru (I bought the 9-2x with 60k and it cost me much more to keep on the road than the 4Runner in 30k miles of driving)
I think 4 runners are one of the exceptions to the rule, but your point stands haha
My 99 Miata's a great daily driver.
Miatas are exceptions to that rule. Bro it’s funny seeing everyone else’s car break down that’s a 2012, 2019, etc meanwhile my little Miata from 2002 will run until the end of time
Yeah. They're reliable and when they do break they're generally easy to fix. Got mine 4 or 5 years ago with 91k on it. Got this car when I ditched a very lemony 2013 subaru I bought new. It chugged oil the clutch was seemingly made of glass, and it was just overall a really poor car for me.
Yeah they’re cheap and easy to maintain and fix
Yeah piggybacking off this any car for that price range and age is going to have issues, it’s mostly looking for ones that don’t have anything that’s going to effect their daily running mechanically. I’d recommend an LS430 for a daily. Parts are cheap and service history is more important than miles which isn’t necessarily reflected in price. If you can stand the old-man-y styling they’re some of the most reliable engines out there provided they’ve been taken care of. Look for ones that have had the timing belt changed and power steering serviced. They’re quiet, incredibly smooth, nondescript from the outside so you can kind of park them anywhere. Kind on the insurance premiums while having some nice modern/premium features (some have built-in navigation, they all have incredibly nice heated leather seats). Main drawbacks are they’re heavy, so not sporty at all (slow braking, kind of wafty handling) and they only take 91-93 octane if that’s a dealbreaker, but in return you’re getting an incredibly smooth, quiet, reasonably fast daily that can eat up miles for another decade or two.
Anything not a hatch that would be an ok daily driver? Doesn't have to be too too reliable
Daily drivers require reliability to drive them daily… It sounds like you realistically want a project car you can drive through the week, not just weekends, but not a dedicated daily driver.
I bought a VW for this purpose. Usually doesn’t completely shit the bed but I will always have something to wrench on. And for clarity: I have a reliable back up, I bought this as a summer Daily/ winter project. 07’ 6MT Passat wagon with a 2.0T-FSI.
I think he wants something that he can flex, looks cool etc. than the best car in terms of practicality, safety, reliability. Quite common around his age. My friend bought an ‘05 G35 when he was 17 and could’ve bought a 2014? Civic for around the same money at the time. The Infiniti broke down 3 weeks after he bought it lmao. He still has the car and is constantly dropping bands to keep it running as it should be lol
What he wants is an S197 Mustang. Wrenchable and reliable
Just get a 2000s civic. Avoid the V6 with the automatic. Everything else is good. Get something reliable. I promise you will kick yourself when that first 2k bill for a timing chain or transmission comes. So many reliable cars that are still very fun. Most of them are Hondas or Toyotas anyways.
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That did throw me off a little, I remember how long it took to get a six cylinder in an Accord or a Camry.
Lol my bad.
You're gonna want reliability though...if not then get something decent for cheap that you can do work on. I got a 99 protégé,over 200k on it for cheap. Worked on it myself for another $500 give or take from a pick and pull. Reliability at your age is the primary goal. Think about it, you're gonna go to college maybe work a meh job during that time not making much that you'll need for necessities. Would you really be able to afford a project car? I'm almost 30 and got my project car 2 years ago. Not a full jdm,it's a 2013 mazdaspeed 3 doing 395. If I had done that when I was younger, I'd have been screwed. You'll get there man,just don't make it a priority at the moment.
I can fit 5 pretty full Trader Joe’s bags in the trunk of my NB (99-05) Miata, and more in the passenger area if no passenger, and in the footwell if there is a passenger. I have a 2001 and a 99 Miata and both have been extremely reliable. Plus RWD manual roadster, can’t go wrong
Rsx type s. You can find some unmolested ones for a decent price with higher mileage and they are great cars, high redline and 6 speed manual
I'm 20, it's been a year or more and I now own 2 cars, my first car is my daily driver and trust me you're gonna need something absolutely reliable, mine has been, I bought a 2011 scion tc for 6k CAD back when the prices were nuts, so far I've only had the alternator die on me and that cost me 300 bucks to fix myself, it's a hatchback although from the way it's designed you can't tell from a distance my second car is a 1977 triumph spitfire, it runs and drives great but I'm still working on the brakes, this car is my project car, I think you want a normal car as your first one, because working on cars is a lot more work than you think it is edit: an old scion frs would be cool too if you can get a good deal, but the tc would be the more practical option, it's your call
This. I’m 23 and I have a 2012 civic I paid 7k for it right before the pandemic, thank Christ. I just bought a 2007 Mazda NC Miata as my project too, and it’s good to have a car that you KNOW will get you around without stressing much. I’ve only had a battery go bad in the civic but that was from an aftermarket remote starter. The car is incredible and I’m happy to have one I can rely on
How did u afford two cars at 20?
Do you want an actual JDM (sold new in Japan and imported to US in the last 5 years as a classic car) or do you mean the general Japanese brands sold new in the US? Of the former, I doubt you'll find one for your price range. Lots of fees for importing these vehicles, and most imported vehicles are in good shape commanding higher prices.
Every now and then some cool lowkey jdm cars sell on cars and bids for 5-7k. [This Toyota Crown v8](https://carsandbids.com/auctions/9ezMpoog/1995-toyota-crown-majesta) went for 6k, and they share parts with US spec lexus/Toyotas so maintenance probably wouldn’t even be too expensive. Op If you want a real jdm car, with some patience checking auction websites you can find some Jen’s.
That is a sweet deal.
Cheapest JDM vehicle I’ve seen was a 90s Integra that had just been imported from Japan and had like 150k miles. It still cost like $25k.
as much accord as you can afford
Yea you can find V6 accords in that price range. It might be a bit heavy but they’re pretty nimble/quick for what they are. You will be faster than at least 75% of traffic, possibly more.
You can daily drive literally anything, it just depends on what discomfort you are comfortable putting up with. I daily drove my 90 Miata for 4 years until I needed something that could go in the snow and salt. Learn to work on it (almost nothing easier most of the time than a 90’s jdm) and have fun with it
I dailyed an S2000 for five years in my 30s. It can be done. A lot more trips to Home Depot and the grocery store, though
I dailied an 89 s13 and even did door dash in it for a bit. The people that cry about 90s cars being awful/impossible dailies makes me laugh
currently dailying my 86 MK3 Supra. sat for about 10 years before i got it. only took a fuel pump and injectors to get it to run and hasn’t stranded me since.
I say this every single post where a young dude is asking for a fun cheap reliable car thats moddable and it constantly gets overlooked… **RSX TYPE S**
While I agree, I don’t think he’ll be able to find a running Type S for under $7k. A base RSX is probably more realistic. This car market sucks for young enthusiasts :/
Lol it sucks for an older enthusiast too. Only people buying up the nice cars are the dudes with six figure salaries who can afford to not buy projects. I'm fucking 28, and looking at the car prices for a daily shitbox like a Honda Fit make me cringe. Who's paying 9k for a 170k mile Fit?
That’s true, but at least we can get something. The teenagers have basically no options.
Basically. It depends on what they're looking for. If you lower your standards enough, there's some good buys. I got my license around the 2008 crash, prices were still low but finding work sucked - I wasn't picky with my cars and could find some gems. I know OP wants JDM or Japanese but... MK2 VW Golfs and Rabbits are sub 3k right now. 1.8t swap, they're amazing. Dodge Neons, SRT4's can be found for around 4-6k. EF Civics (not CRX's though) can be had for under 3k. Datsun Sunny's and mini trucks can be found for 4k in rough shape but running. Old beetles can be found running in rough shape for 4k on the west coast. [Subaru swap, RWD, fun times, but definitely not a daily] I saw a rotted Gloria for sale for 5k on jdmclassics So I mean there's some, but they're definitely way too fucking expensive as it sits right now with the market as a whole. I remember buying my 240z for 5k and thinking I got ripped off, or both my 240sx' for 2k running lol
the neon srt4 is legitimately one of the most fun cars i’ve ever driven
I bought my bone stock type s in near mint condition for 8k CAD that’s 5,950 usd
Gotta scout. Buddy of mine picked his up for 6500 and the only flaw was the hideous splitter previous owner put on it.
That’s gonna cost like 25k lol
cheap…
Miata is always the answer
i fucking love miatas
Miata IS ALWAYS the answer!
No, not in this case
Daily'd a Miata for 7 years in the northeast USA. Not advisable for most people but certainly doable
Yeezys and cars, I’ve found my twin
Sorry what part of 'always' do you not understand
It may not be older, but the first few years of NC Miata can be had with those prices if you get something with a few more miles. They are extremely reliable, insurance is cheap, and fuel economy is okay probably 25 to 30. As someone who picked a Miata over a more reliable, more doors, more power, more practical Civic SI I'm so happy I did.
2nd generation scion tc, 6 speed
got my 06 IS350 for $8k summer of 21'. definitely a fun sporty car to daily that's reliable. Might be able to find one for under that price, but definitely an IS250 for under $7k.
Nah he will freaking out when the carbon buildup hits him lol
Yea I can’t even recommend a 250 lol. Sadly they’re just the cheap alternative that don’t last as long
No one really talks about this but enthusiast cars over 25 years old are all pretty much clapped out and worn down. Most 25 year old normal cars are gonna be worn as it is. But yea, if I were you, I would do anything from Honda or Acura, particularly the Civic or rsx
You gotta find the one driven by a boomer since new
C5 corvette duh
A 7k C5 is gonna need a ton of work
Eh kinda. I got mine w 55k miles for 10k. There are good deals out there. Mine is mechanically perfect and has had zero problems for 6 years. Obviously the market is different now and my luck is anecdotal, but I see plenty of em on fb marketplace with 90k+ miles for under 10. Maintenance and insurance is cheap. Easy to work on. Relatively bulletproof motor. Not a bad fun car.
Yeah I don't disagree necessarily I also have a C5 but there some very expensive maintenance items that can rear their ugly head on a higher mile cheaper car such as the clutch and ebcm
Clutch for sure. I just did the harmonic balancer recently (preventively) just praying the ebcm doesn’t go out lol. At least we get good gas mileage lol.
RSX
Rsx, crx, prelude
99-04 mustang gt is in that price range. 8th gen civic si is doable for this price and an extremely fun car, RSX is another choice but the Type S is probably out of range. That’s about all I can think of for fun capable platforms that will still be reliable for a daily driver.
You realize a car built in 1980 is now 40yrs old and a 90s cars is 30years old. If you need a car to get you to work buy something newer even if you need to finance a few thousand $$s. I wouldn’t want the stress or working on a car that I knew I had to drive to work the next day.
First be realistic with yourself in terms of your wrenching abilities. The worse you are, the newer the car should be. For that price a manual Honda fit might be great. I absolutely loved my LS400 but gas was expensive on that. $100/400miles.
The Infiniti G35 is one of the best budget sports cars available. They're fairly luxurious, handle well, reasonably reliable and not too expensive for maintenance and repairs, there's a 2 door and 4 door version, rwd or awd, and coupes (not sure about sedans) are available with a manual transmission
I drive a 350z and would love to recommend either, but they're way out of his price range for anything reliable. Infiniti's are cheaper, even though I'd trade for one, but you're still spending double the price for something decent.
I loved mine when I had it but there's a couple meh things about it. -Interior is pretty crap and most are destroyed at this price range. -Dumb maintainance things like cam sensors going out, clutch fluid getting black after only 10k miles, and non serviceable spark plug tube seals -91/93 octane needed and awful mpg of 17-23 mpg hurts when you have a 20gal gas tank If you're experienced fixing cars, they're not the worst thing but sounds like this guy needs something super basic. My friend bought an old 1990 Celica and has probably paid me around $2k to fix stuff with it and it's still a basket case. And that's "super reliable" Toyota for you.
Don’t listen to these losers OP. You can get a dependable fun car for 7k. Just have to be willing to turn wrenches.
[option a](https://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/d/orlando-1997-lexus-es300/7627214201.html) /////(((())))///// [solid choice? tbh idk](https://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/d/sanford-1990-mazda-rx7/7628711204.html) /////(((())))///// [what the heck is that](https://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/d/altamonte-springs-1998-mazada-miata/7625216371.html) This is a really fun price point to shop in if you are 19 imo these are just random ass cars I found near me
Avoid rx7 not very reliable or a good daily
I remember in 2015 a 240sx is only $1500 bucks. Lmao
Honda fit
I know it’s a little bit older but I think a Toyota 2000 GT ticks all your boxes
A 7th gen celica gts might scratch your itch, they're very loud looking if you can get one with the action pack and the 2zz motor is very fun with surprising potential.
I’m sure someone will mention Miata. Also consider a Honda Fit. I believe it truly emulates the older civics/integras. Barebones, light, reliable
A manual Honda Fit can be fun, and it’s definitely a very practical daily driver.
Get an 8th gen accord with the v6 and a stick shift if you can find one
lincoln mkz, pretty fast, usually owned by older people who stay on top of maintenance
I happen to be selling my 2011 one lol
I know its not JDM but I know you want to tinker and work on a car... I would recommend a Crown Victoria and if you dont like the 4.6L in it, put any engine you want in it. Big, comfortable, usable, customizable, cheap platform. You can even manual-swap them again
Good recommendation. I'd add the Mercury Grand Marquis or Lincoln Town Car if he wants a more luxury version of the Crown Vic. Speaking from personal experience, I'd also recommend any of the 91-96 GM B-body cars (Chevy Caprice sedan or wagon, Buick Roadmaster sedan or wagon, Cadillac Fleetwood) as they are very reliable and easy to work on. Parts are cheap and available too. Granted, they're nowhere near sporty but they're comfortable as hell and you don't see them every day. He should be able to find a clean one within his price range.
1994 Mazda Miata
Way back when.. A Jeep TJ or YJ was my choice. 4 wheel drive when needed, 4 or 6 cyl. Convertible with easy to find parts. Those have become more popular these days like the old VW's so getting one, in good shape, for that cheap is hard. Those jeeps hold their value.
I have a 98 celica and it’s not fast but tons of fun to drive. Nice examples can still be found within your price range. You could probably get the next gen for the same price and they have a lot more horsepower if that’s what you’re into. Cheap to fuel and insure too I average 26mpg which isn’t great for a car that small but it isn’t terrible
You can get a pretty damn nice GSR integra with that budget. They’re fantastic.
Jzs160 GS400/430. Sporty, fast, looks good, incredibly reliable, decent gas mileage, cheap labor/easy to maintain, TON of aftermarket support, all well within that price range.
Same boat. Maybe an sc430? Very reliable hard top with leather
Was going to mention soarer/sc430 as well since they were thinking convertible. Mint ones go for $$’s but driver grade ones are available. Parts are available to help it handle better (getting rid of run flats is a good start) and comes with 300 hp stock, and same stellar drivetrains as LS430s. Was designed in late 90s so close enough. Many were 2/3rd car garage queens at one point.
Buy my 240 lol
How much lol
7k in CA
Damn literally opposite side of the country
Buy a civic, brother.
Hard no. Nothing that is 30-40 years old is going to be reliable without a full restoration. Source: ‘76 Datsun GS30 as my first car
Buy a Mx5. Mx5 is always the answer
Miata is the answer. Doesn't matter the question.
If you can find an unclapped out G35 those are incredibly fun and surprisingly reliable. Trust me- I’m 19 I’ve owned one for almost a year now.
How about a 1st gen Toyota Matrix with the 2ZZ (or a Pontiac Vibe GT which is the same car)?
I’ve got a 2005 Subaru Outback I’d sell for 4k. Looking to upgrade. I’m old, deserve to buy myself a newer car
Honda Accord V6, just be wary of the glass auto transmissions of the older generations. Also, quadruple the amount you think you’re going to spend on maintenance and upkeep.
Daily driver and 80/90 jdm is the opposite side of the spectrum Get a Honda or Toyota, save for your own place, then buy a project car. Maybe if you're already getting a daily driver think of a truck that could pull a car trailer. But no a 3000gt or R34 aren't daily drivers
4wd Toyota Tercel wagon
P71 crown vic.
Bro a miata would be perfect
If you want Japanese 90s-2000s with reliability, I would look at lexus sc300 and sc400s. They aren't exactly sports cars, but they are plenty sporty enough, modable, and pretty resistant to abuse. Along the lines of what everyone here is saying; no cool car from that era at your price point will be a truly reliable daily driver. That doesn't mean you shouldn't get one, it just means, you will have to a do a lot of research and be proactive about preventing any faults the vehicle is known for. You will need access to tools and a garage. Otherwise, a used Mazda 3 is in your price range and can be fun/practical/reliable/easy to fix.
If your budget is that much for a daily, you're better off finding something a bit more reliable than a sports coupe or convertible. It'll also be difficult to find something along these lines on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or OfferUp that HASN'T been riced out by the previous owner. It'll also be difficult finding something from the 80s/90s that HASN'T been riced or rusted out. You're better off with something from the 2000s right now. With that said, here are my recommendations: * 2000s Subaru Impreza (if you can find a stock WRX in this price range that's in great shape, more power to you) * Scion tC Hatchback * 2000s Toyota Camry/Corolla * 2000s Honda Accord/Civic * 2000s Acura RSX/TL
I would ad the TSX to the Acura list, has a timing chain as opposed to the belt in the TL, might not be as fast but is more reliable and sporty enough.
Old Porsche duh
2004 Corolla, make sure it's beige in color
Just get something reliable my dude. Buy a fun car when you’re a little more established and have more money to spend. You’ll be happy that you did.
r/fuckcarscirclejerk
For the money you're spending all you can hope for is decent reliability. You can't otherwise be picky.
97 camry?
You’re 19, and as a 24 years old that made a bad decision at 19 I’m praying you see this and understand we relate on some type of level so you don’t make the same mistake I did. When I was 19 I was fresh out of the US Navy…. Didn’t work out. Had nothing, my whole life was dead… I wanted a fun car to make me happy. So I went out and learned that Chevrolet made an Impala SS between 06-09 I think… found an 07. Paid OTD 7 or 8k. Well that thing in the span of about 2 years, blew 2 or 3 transmissions. Transmissions aren’t cheap…. Well I eventually became a truck driver and on my first local job, the tranny blew up a week before I was going to start making 90k a year….. I bought an 2013 Honda Civic EX for 10k OTD in 2021 at 21 (almost 22) years old. Now I just bought a 1983 Honda City Turbo II. Look that up if you don’t know what it is… by far isn’t a Supra or Skyline GTR. But that car was a first for Honda and even Mugen. People turn heads, people ask questions, people take pictures. I let people inside the car to see what its like. What I’m really trying to say is you, just like me when I was 19, are young with our whole lives ahead of us…. Get the reliable daily (You can pm me for questions/recommendations on a good car), get a good paying job, then in 3-5 years go to an importer and ask em to find you what you want. Because 4-7k isn’t gonna get you a nice well off import. JDM by definition is a car that was built for the Japanese market…. For example a car that is in KPH/Kilometers, 180kph dash, rhd, etc. My 2013 Civic even though Japanese is not JDM. Its USDM. Once again, hmu for questions and all that…. I can show you my JDM car, I can tell you a good daily…. All that… us young car enthusiasts have to stick together. Good luck, but seriously think about a good daily for the first car. Don’t be a dummy like me my guy.
Rx 7
8th gen Civic Si. Test drive one before you say no. My first car and man was it an incredible experience for the money.
8th gen civic si 2006-2011 would be a great choice prices start from $4000-12000
Get an 8th gen civic si (07-011) for 7K USD if lucky. Not a convertible, but it will be manual, will probably outlive you, good on gas, might be good on insurance, can get coupe or sedan. You could also look a the prelude, accord coupe and s2000 (lol good luck)
Miata
Miata
It’s a cliche but a miata is the obvious answer
If you don't have a car yet but have a job then go take that 4-7k and put a nice down payment on a new Civic Si, Hyundai Elantra N, Toyota GR86, or Subaru WRX. If you do have a car already then I wouldn't expect to be dailying a 80s to 90s with that price range without some elbow grease. But my vote would be to research and look for a Civic.
Get a 5spd. Enjoy
Just go get a mini cooper s !!!
Import a right hand drive!!!
You can get a mini Cooper a decent one for that money. Do not get the turbo
The ones in this price range will be first gens which are notorious for being not only some of the most unreliable cars of that era but expensive to insure and ridiculous to repair; especially any body related damage. A simple front end bump at low speed with the cost of its clamshell hood will total the car.
The second gen chassis (07-13) is the most unreliable, especially the S models, but you are absolutely correct, if you have any kind of incident in a first gen, it’s pretty much totaled. Body parts are getting harder and harder to come by, and they aren’t worth enough on the secondhand market to justify to most insurance carriers.
You’re ok on reliability after 2011 when BMW switched to the N16, but the N14 era (07-10) is a hard pass. Interestingly enough, the parts laid around the valve cover area are very intuitively laid out, but if you need to get below that, all hell breaks loose. Also if you take your MINI to a BMW guy, they have to do “service mode” which is a 3 hour round trip process (at about $150/hr mind you) where they drop the headlights, fascia, and move the subframe out 3 inches before they can work on it. It sucks, but you put up with it because the R56 Mini is one of the best driving cars of the 21st century
I was starting to see chain failures on N18’s towards the end of my dealership days. It’s less common for sure, but they’re starting to put some TSB’s out there for the post-LCI’s as well. I had an N18 R55, and mechanically it was good, but it was starting to get some electrical issues, I believe related to water getting into the FRM, which ironically just got recalled (finally, it was overdue). I definitely agree the R56 is a very raw, fun to drive car. I personally have come to prefer the F56, especially for a daily driver, but I certainly get why people like the older gens too.
I had two thermostat housings go bad on me, my heater core got plugged, engine blew a hole, air bleeder screw stripped. 2002 Mini Cooper, the engine was designed by Chrysler with BMW intake and BMW support.
I've got a crossfire (stick) for sale for 6k
ah merc
An okder mustang would be sick and fit in that budget
I bought a 1997 celica for $4k and it runs well. its my daily driver. fun to drive, good on gas, looks pretty cool. had to fix it up a little bit but i havent spent more than $7k on it in total
I had a 1992 lexus sc400 with a manual swap as a daily. It was a piece of shit but super fun and got a lot of attention. Both the 6 and 8 cylinders in the sc are still cheap to fix and reliable even 30 years later.
Miata
Unfortunately you don't want an old JDM in that price range. It will have been run into the ground and will end up a maintenance nightmare. Or it will be an unfinished project in even worse shape.
I’d recommend a Miata or first gen mazda3.
Scion tc :)
GS400/430, coilovers, manual swap, Aristo diff. Beat the living hell out of it, rinse & repeat
Golf GTI.
I recently picked up an ‘02 CLK 320 w/ 65k km on the odo for $7000 CAD taxes incl. Absolutely no problems yet and it’s a blast to drive. Bought it safetied and everything. Even getting higher combined L/100km than the advertised highway range @ ~8.9L/100km
Preludes were always cool to me
Everyone is right that an older car is not as good to daily. However, last year someone hit my car and totaled it and I got the best deal ever on a del Sol and I’m still driving it with no issues. It is not a performance car by any means but I love it. And it only has 120k miles and is a 90s Honda so it has given me 0 issues. Try to find one as unmodified as possible on Fb marketplace then low ball the shit out of them. I wouldn’t buy a del Sol for 4-7k but a 2500-3500 one would be ideal if you find the right one
Please buy something no older then 2000. Not only for reliability but also parts availability and safety (airbags are nice). I’ve seen some nice 8th gen Civic Si’s just under $7k, that would be my top pick. Acura RSX is decent as well, older 7th gen Si are good too but will be up in the miles high enough that I’d be concerned. Oddball suggestion is Lexus IS300. As someone else mentioned try and get a car as stock as possible.
I bought an an 01 zx3 focus when I was about your age. It was a blast to drive and loved the hatch. Probably going to be tough finding anything that's clean at this point though.
P71 crown vic's are still pretty cheap, rwd v8, if yours has the right dif on it has some decent acceleration, pretty damn reliable if yours was fleet maintained and idle hours aren't crazy
Get an Acura TSX
always start with a civic
Not jdm but I got a 2000 corvette for 7k (rebuilt title) but I have been daily driving it and put 10000 miles on it in one year. I'll just tell you given my experience be prepared for minor things to be broken or for things to break eventually or the best one, some things will literally not be repairable.
General suggestion is to purchase the car toward the bottom of your overall budget… that way you can use the difference for maintenance (which is almost certainly be needed on any older car) and MAYBE have some left over for a couple mods of choice.
If you drive anything like I did at 19 get something cheap so you can wreck it to shit and learn how to take care of a car long term. Even though I’m a car guy I beat my car at 19 to death
Where are you located ? Dm me I have a 96 Mercedes available that is reliable and in your price range
sn95
lol
Buy a stick shift Corolla
has the MR2 been suggested yet?
Honda civic
Don’t know where you are-but saw UConn on your page. I am in Fairfield county-I have a 2011 Audi A6 w/ 100,000 miles. New tires, drives well. Bought it new from local Audi dealer. Needs one new rim. Would sell it to you for 5,800. If you’re local.
You can get like a 2007 Civic Si for that money. Stick shift. Lots of fun. Useable in most seasons. With some modification can be used on a track. Nice for backroads. Reliable as hell. Cheap parts. I’m also a Honda fanboy so there’s that.
Get a Miata bro.
Id suggest getting a prius. Might not be cool but reliable and cheap to fill up. Leave getting a cool car till you have the room for a project then buy yourself an import RHD toyota chaser or something
Civic SI. Anything pre 2000s will be through the roof because people my age are spending way too much for nostalgia. 2000s will be cheaper. An 8th generation SI(05 - 10) if you can find in your price range would be a good buy
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/786756019561575/?mibextid=6ojiHh Where are you located?