Fun to drive car less than 10,000 ?

heres mine the first winter I bought it....since then I have done body and paint..a small lift and 33" mud tires. it does way better in the deep sonw now

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I agree on the GTP. I saw one for sale in this weeks auto trader for $2700. Another option would be an AWD turbocharged eclipse/talon. They would be good on gas and great in the snow. Keep it lightly modified so it wont break.
 
I agree on the GTP. I saw one for sale in this weeks auto trader for $2700. Another option would be an AWD turbocharged eclipse/talon. They would be good on gas and great in the snow. Keep it lightly modified so it wont break.

It will break regardless.

VWs aren't reliable, either. I have friends with them, and the new ones plain suck.

Late 90s-present Nissan Maximas are a great purchase. The engine will go forever on routine maintenance, and they are priced well. Go for a 20th anniversary edition with a manual.

Pontiac GTPs tend to pitch transmissions easily, and the exhaust rots quickly. Lots of other issues I've heard of, too.

You might be able to find a high mileage Lexus IS300 for under $10000. With a manual and snow tires it would be a good all-season car.

Last, you don't NEED all wheel drive. I get by in one of the snowiest places on FWD with snow tires, easily.
 
I was thinking about these... How's the reliability? I've heard Nissan's had some reliability issues with those cars, especially the ones closer to 2000.
I had/have 2 of the maximas with the 3.0L engine. One made it to 178K before I traded it in, my current one has 140K and nary a glitch with it. Very solid cars. The only thing that changed around 2000 was body and some interior--the drivetrain remained basically the same.
 
I had/have 2 of the maximas with the 3.0L engine. One made it to 178K before I traded it in, my current one has 140K and nary a glitch with it. Very solid cars. The only thing that changed around 2000 was body and some interior--the drivetrain remained basically the same.

I think I'm going to take a look at a 2000 Maxima SE w/ 60,000 miles. Guys asking 7500...

I've heard they have problems w/ MAF sensors and coilpacks... but those aren't bad to do yourself....
 
I dunno, by me maxima's are ghetto cars. I don't care what year, model or engine.
Gas mileage isn't anything special either.

Aren't IS300's all rear wheel drive? That take's off the winter list right off the bat.
 
I got my 1999.5 Audi A4 2.8 quattro 5-speed for 9200 dollars with 72k miles. It's got 200hp 210lb ft. torque I absolutely love it. Its pretty quick and soo much fun to drive with a Bose stereo 6-cd changer, heated seats, heated mirrors, heated door locks, heated windshield washers, power everything and wow in the snow its just a beast. It gets around like nothing i've ever driven in the snow. No problems with it yet but i do know they aren't cheap to work on.
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quick little snow drifting video
http://youtube.com/watch?v=pt9bw3HnGDo
 
:shrug: Maxima's are ghetto? :rolleyes:

Not sure how many thugs or drug dealers roll in Maximas, but ok....

Only in the last 2 years have the IS300 come in AWD, good luck finding a 2 year old AWD one of those for under $10K.


I dunno, by me maxima's are ghetto cars. I don't care what year, model or engine.
Gas mileage isn't anything special either.

Aren't IS300's all rear wheel drive? That take's off the winter list right off the bat.
:shrug: huh
 
If you're a good driver, RWD is no problem in the winter. The IS300 looks amazing, it's not exactly slow, and it has Toyota reliability.

The North American IS300 was RWD only; an AWD wagon was available elsewhere. The North American IS250 is available with AWD, however.
 
i know im prolly gonna get attacked for this but i really find crown vics to be great daily drivers, if you dont mind paying for gas...

you could pick up an interceptor or sport model up really cheap. If your lucky, you could find a good marauder.

dispite what people say, they are quick. you could slap in a supercharger to mess around with the kids too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DB68PoaOsFM&feature=related
 
Once you get used to awd or front wheel drive, you realize how crummy RWD is as a bad weather car.
Ya, people get by with rwd, as did i, but it's nowhere near as safe as fwd or awd.
If you are going to have 2 cars, one being for foul weather, it's plain old idiotic to have the second be rwd.

I've driven new rwd caddy's and even bmw's in snow and rain, they still suck compared to awd and fwd.
 
^ i would have to agree..

My next DD will probably be an s197 or a wrx.. simply because i still have the cherokee that runs like a champ in case the weather is bad. :shrug:

98 and older cherokees (and grand's) with the 4.0 leader are also very reliable.. however gas mileage is teh suck. I get 18-19 on the highway 15 around town..
 
Once you get used to awd or front wheel drive, you realize how crummy RWD is as a bad weather car.
Ya, people get by with rwd, as did i, but it's nowhere near as safe as fwd or awd.
If you are going to have 2 cars, one being for foul weather, it's plain old idiotic to have the second be rwd.

I've driven new rwd caddy's and even bmw's in snow and rain, they still suck compared to awd and fwd.

The reason these cars "suck" is because they usually come with wide either all season or nice weather tires. Tires will make or break a car in the snow. My moms Subaru was and still is a tank in the snow, only snow over the hood can stop it, but with just a tire change the difference was amazing.

I have a 2003 Audi A4 with AWD, which the previous owner put summer tires on (235/45/17s) and although it hasen't been too stuck (high sided it in a friends yard) it isn't anything steller, the Subaru (2002 Impreza) trumps it.

My dad has been driving around in my brothers 86 GT (GT40P combo that went 12.17 @ 110) this winter, and has yet to get stuck or have issues. It has narrower all season tires, and with 200 lbs in the trunk hasen't had a hiccup (CT is actually pretty hilly as well, much more so than lots of NJ).

I will say though, the Maxima's are great cars. I wouldn't say ghetto, as I know more girls with Maxima's and Altima's then I do thugs and drug dealers!
 
i have a vw with 222k its awesome car,but something new everyday.
i would recommend a vw or audi.....none of that 1.8t stuff though....my 2.8 gti get s23-25intwon and 27-30 on the higway.......its awesome,and thats with a looose 222kmotor.....if i had to do it again i would get an audi a4. there pretty easy to find for under 10k.........
and not to mention how quite and powerul these v6's are. i can go safely past 60mph in 2nd gear,and not even hear the motor.......i love vw,but icant afford the cost of things...lol
 
I agree with 25th...the tires will make or break a winter car. I dont know who said it earlier that thinks RWD is way worse than FWD...its not at all. Personally i hate driving fwd cars in the snow. There's nothing worse than a understeering non LSD front wheel drive car!

This year i have to drive the mustang in the winter. I have 225/60/16 studded winter tires on there...and i have yet to get stuck anywhere. and we've had some decent snow up here this year.

Whatever you buy...make sure you spend the money on a set of GOOD winter tires...they are worth their weight in gold. Not only for getting going...but stopping too! good luck man.
 
If you guys think rwd cars with equivalent tires to fwd cars handle the same in bad weather, you are out of your minds. Only way you can come to that conclusion, is lack of experience.