OT: Talking Cars Tuesday

I take a used old Honda Civic, four door. For $10K I take an older Honda Accord. For $15K I will take a used CRV. I love Honda

In the 5000 range, a crappy old 1950s unimog.

In the 10 and 15, a less crappy but still kinda crappy 1960s unimog.

$5K - 2001 Lincoln LS V8

$10K - 1990 RX-7 Coupe

$15K - 2003 Ford Lightning

$5K - '98-'02 F-body LS1

$10K - '03-'04 Mustang GT

$15K - '05-'06 GTO

for 5K I buy a peddle bike and use the leftover cash to buy meth

for 10K I buy a peddle bike and use the leftover cash to buy coke

for 15K I'd end up dead. 

$5k - 70's Honda CB350+

$10k - $15k - 2015 Triumph Bonneville 

I work about 2 1/2 miles from where I live. With good surface roads, I'd like to get a Vespa. Or a really nice combo electric bike / pedal bike.

If money was unlimited, I'd be interested in a Swiss electric motorcycle called a Zerotracer. Or something like that.

I'm happy with my cars, so things like this would be for fun.

If 4 wheels, probably some kind of souped up Gator?

Or, I'd love to get a nice Hobiecat with a trailer.

...so this thread isn't about the Ric Ocasek band?

For $5K, I guess an older Miata may be the best choice.  Might be able to find a decent old 'vette, but not sure about that.

For $10K, I already own one of those.   I have a 2001 BMW Z3 2.5 convertible that I bought back in 2003 when it came off lease and was traded in.  It's the "nice day, have fun" car.  My wife tends to get dibs on it, though.  I enjoy driving it because it's like driving a go-cart.  I just replaced the CD player that constantly skipped with a new Pioneer head unit that has bluetooth audio and USB/iPod connectivity along with handsfree phone.  System sounds much better and is more powerful than the old BMW Business CD system that was in there.  Not sure why I waited so long to make the change.  Next up is some paint work to clean up years of scratches and a new rear window.  I guess all that would push the total over $10K, though.  Last service appointment was a bit pricey.  Needed a new battery, fixed a leaking power steering line which explained some spotting on the garage floor, and an air intake hose that had a small hole in it but wasn't big enough (yet) to trip up the engine computer, but that's what happens with 14 year old cars.

For $15K, I guess I'd go Boxster shopping or find an old 944 in reasonable condition.  Saw a really nice guards red 944 the other day and got me thinking about how much I used to lust for that car when it first went on sale in the early 80s.

$5000 - I'd probably pick up a 2002 WRX. I already own a 2005 as my daily driver, so the 2002 would be my rally project.

$10000 - Same as above, but I could start with the 2005 WRX instead.

$15000 - Same as above, but I could start with the 2005 STi instead.

Note - all of the above is generally around the 'good condition private party' sale prices from KBB.

and I cheated by looking for what's available in those price ranges on Craigslist in metro D.

5k - 01 Mercedes C320.  Or 85.5 Porsche 944.

10k - Mid 00's BMW 3-series.

15k - 72 Buick Skylark convertible.  Or 71 Corvette.

For 15K I'd buy a used R32 Skyline

For 10K I'd buy a used 944 Porsche

For 5k I'd get a 1972 stingray as my project car since for 5k that thing won't be running

$5,000 - 1990 Lincoln Town Car

$10,000 - 1990 Lincoln Town Car with rebuilt engine/tranny and paint

$15,000 - 2015 Harley Davidson Fat Boy

5k - mid-80s 944

10k - 1996 Honda Prelude VTEC (probably buy for 5-6k and spend the rest gussying it up)

15k - BMW M3

You can tell the generation in which i grew up...

5k - used Miata with budget for suspension, wheels, tires, engine mods, hard top, catback exhaust

10k - 1993-1995 Toyota MR2 Turbo, either bone stock or lightly to moderately modded; no track cars or drag cars; something like new shocks/springs, 16" lightweight wheels, exhaust, turbo timer, boost controller, maybe a clipped or upgraded turbo (e.g. CT20B or another slightly larger turbo - don't need anything massive), etc. Then again, I've seen one with a supercharged V6 swap and it was SICK.

15k - Maybe a 90's RX7 that needs a little work. I love those cars. Can you imagine one of these with a modern V6 swap? Lightweight engine providing good balance, power, handling. Or if there were such a thing as a reliable and relatively low-maintenance wankel of that generation. 

I've also always been partial to E80 M3's, although a V8 E36 would also be pretty darn sweet. 

Someone say something about a sidecar?