SethMax

My lease is up in a few months and it's time for me to start thinking about what do get next... I'm not keeping the Maxima 'cause it's been BEAT and I've really had my fun with it.
I recently bought a sportbike and since then have decided that cars are definitely taking a back seat to bikes from now on, so I'd like to stay in the sub-$20,000 range for cars, preferably used. It's gotta be sporty, faster than a 5spd Max and CHEAP. Remember, I went from driving 3K miles a month to less than 500... so we don't have to go too crazy here. Here's a couple ideas I had, please feel free to throw out suggestions; no "buy a '95 5spd and SC it" 'cause I'm not going to drive a Max for another 3 years (as fun as it has been).
-Drove a '98 Volvo 850R (17" wheels and 246hp version) and LOVED it. Rock hard suspension, torque-city. IPD makes a chip for 'em that takes it to just over 300hp. That's an idea. This is the maximum I want to spend (around $20K)
-Suburu is bringing some form of WRX to the states? Any idea when or how much? This would be bad-*** but I think they're going to be in the mid twenties or more.
-Supra Turbo? Wonder if I can find one of these for under 20? Hmmn.. doubt it.
-Used 300ZX TT... this would be a very inexpensive option. Maybe I could find one that needed turbos and do a Stage 4 Stillen package on it. Whooohooo!
-RX7 TT? Damn I wish. Kaboom goes the motor.
-BMW 840/850? Have to go high mileage but damn what a car. I wouldn't want to pay for repairs but if I only drive 10K a year or less I may get lucky...?
-Porsche 968? Hmmn, another fun car with hefty repair bills
-New Mini Cooper... this one's way off the wall but I heard they were going to do a 160hp version. THIS would be a fun car.
TOO bad the NSXs and S2000's haven't dipped that far down the food chain yet. Either would be a VERY fun ride.
Okay, those are some ideas. I'm horribly confused; luckily I have a few months to sort it out.

vapors smx

i currently own a volvo 850 turbo and love the car. in fact looking at buying another one(for business). it is the ultimate sleeper. if you throw on the chip and exhaust from ipd you are doing 1/4 miles in 14.2. in fact i beat a 91 supra turbo from the light to 100 buy 1 car length, and he was stick. he couldnt believe it. as for the other cars it is hard to find a supra tt that hasnt been beaten on for that price.

i love my volvo and it rides like it is on rails. if you want sleeper, get the volvo. it also could save your life with its safety oriented engineering.

btw, you can find a highly modded 96 with low miles, well under 20k. there is also a buddy of mine who upgraded his turbo and ran custom chip. broke into 12's haha.

emax02

iTrader: (1)

Just to let you know I am a EX Volvo MAn haha,But I would have to go with the Volvo S70 T5 with a 5sd,with IPD's chip and exaust it did 0-60 in 5.9 which is pretty impressive for the money.If you have about 20Grand for a car then go with a S70 rather then a 850R,don't get me wrong they are both great cars but the 850's styling and because it is only available with Auto tranny in turbo form it is a let down.Just a side note I wanted a 850 Turbo rather then the Max but they were about 3 grand more for the same year and mileage.Good Luck

LeoB

wait till the spring and try out the new Austin Mini-Cooper. It'll come with 150 hp, basically an engine built by BMW. cant wait to test drive one!!!

Dany

iTrader: (1)

He chipped it, and added exhaust, damn the car is fast.
He added springs and nice 18 wheels. The car looks classy and fast as hell.

kratz74

Don't own a Volvo but have raced em on the hwy. They are damn fast. They leave me out to dry especially over 80-90. Yet they still look sreine doing it. Get the Volvo

fivelitrekiller

iTrader: (1)

88/89 Porsche 944T/TS
88 M3
88 M5
88 M6
90-95 M5
93-96 M3
90 Porsche 928S4
9-98 Saab Aero
90-93 Porsche 968
90-95 850il
97 Merc C36
92-94 Audi S4
92-95 540i

I'll take any!

MightyMax

They said that the price should be competitive with the new Acura Integra which should be around mid 20s. Its got the euro spec engine tho but still fast.

fivelitrekiller

iTrader: (1)

MightyMax, is that an upper bra or a hood deflector?? It looks good but I was wondering if it is a Hood Deflector, how much was it and where did you get it? Is it durable?

cheers,

five

MightyMax

made by AVS?? or something like that for $35. GTS also makes one. You can goto Pepboys or NAPA and special order it for the Maxima. You have to drill couple holes under the hood for the install. Its really easy 15 min job. I got it because my hood paint was chipping badly. I must say I regret not getting it earlier because it really does work. As for durability, I've been thru more than 20 car washes, rainstorms, snowstorms, mud, bugs and it still looks the same. The only prob I had was that it vibrated a little when new, but after a week it formed to the hood and no more vibrations. Don't worry, there are soft rubber buttons to keep the deflector from scratching the hood. I definitely recommend it for all Maxima owners, who wants to keep the paint from chipping.

WoodEar

dude more than half of the cars on your list can't be had for $20k.

fivelitrekiller

iTrader: (1)

Interesting....where is your information coming from? I live in Toronto and almost ALL of these cars can be bought easily within 20k American, or 30k Canadian! You need to get quotes from up here if you can't find half of these for under 20k American. I'd hate to see what other cars are seriously overpriced then!

five

WoodEar

Some of them I knew already, some of them I checked bluebook. Of course we assume all cars are in reasonable shape with reasonable milage.
Let's see:

>>> 88/89 Porsche 944T/TS
88 M3
88 M5
88 M6

Doable.

>>> 90-95 M5

1st of all, in US there were only '91-'93 M5, and they are worth more than $20k.

>>> 93-96 M3

again, no '93-'94 M3 in US, '95 M3 is more than $20k.

>>> 90 Porsche 928S4

doable.

>>> 9-98 Saab Aero

9?
'95 and under 9000 aero, doable.
'95+, not.

>>> 90-93 Porsche 968

There was no '90-'91 968, '92 and '93 are possible to get for $20k.

>>> 90-95 850il

8 series did NOT exsit in '90 in US, '91+ 850 is WAY more than $20k.

>>> 97 Merc C36

No way, still worth near $40k.

>>> 92-94 Audi S4

'92 doable, '93+ questionable.

>>> 92-95 540i

Ughh.. no '92-'93 540i, only 525, 535 and M5 for these two years. '94-'95 540i are more than $20k.

focker2889

I'll definitely take a 98 850 turbo wagon if I can find one at sub-20,0000.

Like Chris said, 850i can't be had for 20k. (saw one in the newspaper asking for mid-30k.)

The rest of those tt Japanese cars are good if you plan to restore the engine and get a new turbo.

The last thing you may want to do is go the Honduh way. Get a 95-96 Integra, swap the motor, turbocharge it....

Lordrandall

iTrader: (4)

Sorry, not a BMW engine... The engine was outsourced to Chrysler before the merger w/ Daimler Benz. But there is a Cooper version w/ more HP. Check out the latest issue of SCC, there is a great article on the new Mini.

Chebosto

iTrader: (1)

A4 1.8T! chip the ****. and then go woooyea!

Stillnmax

spend 10G on a 88m3 - youll have to comb around for this( wont be in the best shape but its do-able) next... buy a stroker 2.4L 4cyl engine which makes 240ish HP .... now your ready to rock and roll - the stroker engine is 15G - your still close to the 20G range... hehe

and you have what alot of mechanics and drivers consider to be the best handling m3 - the e30 m3 .....

Lordrandall

iTrader: (4)

Buy a BMW 318 and throw in a worked M engine. Then compete in The one lap of America...

SethMax

Thanks for the tips guys. I had thought of doing a motor-swap and/or turbo Honda but I'm SO tired of that whole trend. My (asian) girlfriend has a gorgeous, tasteful '99 Civic Si that's lots of fun and looks/sounds cool but it just doesn't do it for me, ya know? I've been comparatively bathed in luxury with the Max and I don't wanna go back! I really would like to make the jump to a European car. I want that personality and solidity even if it comes with the Euro quirks.
I think the chipped 850 Turbo wagon is the way to go. Talk about a sleeper plus I'd (finally) have room for my mountain bike. I did consider an A4 1.8T with the chip/exhaust maybe sport turbo but my co-worker has a '00 A4 1.8T and it's just bland to me. And VERY small inside. I'm accustomed to stretching my big *** out in the Max. At any rate, I'll have a chance to drive a Mini and the WRX (along with countless other cars) before I make the step to a new car. The first thing I'm going to do when my lease is up is cruise over to the Suzook dealership and pick up a new GSX-R1000. Whooohaa! 147hp at the wheel on a 360lbs bike, all for the discount price of $10,300! Now THAT's performance for the dollar!
BTW, Woodear: You're right, a few of those cars a blue-bookin' for quite a bit more than the magic 20K. I have seen a couple of 840's for 22-23K but they're 65K miles or better which is scary. There were two '95 M3's in the trader here a couple weeks ago for $18K but once again they were pushing 70K miles which is nutty for an M car that's out of warranty!

Matt_P

than 20k. Won't the swap itself cost 16k ?

Matt P.

Kenneth

iTrader: (8)

toyota mr2 turbo, pocket leftover dough

WoodEar

Believe me, NEVER buy a BMW that's out of warranty

Stealth Max

Hey you might pay a little more but they will give you a factory warranty on the Pre-owned certified BMW. I personally think if it is not like $5000 more then it will be worth it to buy it used from a reliable BMW dealership.

Ken

Stealth Max

Hey you might pay a little more but they will give you a factory warranty on the Pre-owned certified BMW. I personally think if it is not like $5000 more then it will be worth it to buy it used from a reliable BMW dealership.

Ken

Kenneth

iTrader: (8)

try the ducatis

SethMax

I considered (still considering I suppose) the new Monster S4 (916 engine) and the 996 biposto. Both bad *** bikes of the first order but my concern is that I ride too many miles and I'd kill 'em. Like 25,000miles a year. That's tough on a Duke and expensive to keep those wacky desmodronic valves in adjustment. I also considered the MV Agusta F4. The deal with these Italian bikes (though they're all super sweet, rare and VERY capable) is that they're all slower than their Japanese competition. The '01 GSX-R750 spanks EVERYTHING from Italy except for the Aprilia Mille SP and it's $35,000... for $8999 all day long at the local dealership. I can only imagine what a wallop the Gixxer 1000 is going to put on the market when it comes out in a couple months. It'll be like an R1 but with bigger ***** and less of a beer gut (as if the R1 had one anyway!)
Truth of the matter is I'd have tons of fun on anything more modern than my wrung-out F2.. and the fact that I keep up with all my buddies on Aprilias and R1's and Gixxer 7's now tells me that I don't really NEED the extra horsepower, but I damn sure want it! Aaahhh, it's great to be an American living in a country without a president. Err... except for that no president part.

philpoe

iTrader: (4)

Don't forget the Golf/Jetta 1.8Ts. Can be had new for under $20K. Chips is hundreds more.
Mountain bike might fit in the Golf, and I could put a bike in the trunk of my old (86) Jetta.
Used Passat sedan/wagons + chip/exhaust (possibly turbo upgrade) available in target range. As much as I like the V-Dubs, the Volvo looks nicer and the R is certainly more rare.
If you ever get tempted to do a motor swap, wait until an S4 or A6 2.7T wrecks and plant it (and its transmission?) into the Passat! Wouldn't work on golf/jetta though.
Saab 900 turbos are certainly an option as well, and they depreciate oh-so-fast.