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Mid life crisis car 12K - Page 3

post #31 of 44
12/3/09 at 9:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by origenesprit View Post
I suggested this in the other crisis thread - it wasn't met with enthusiasm.

Vintage cars like the 308 seem like a bad choice for a mid-life crisis, I think, reminiscent of Kevin Spacey in American Beauty digging up an old Trans-Am; next you'll be digging out your old high school letterman's jacket. Having the fun you think you missed out on is one thing; regressing to adolescence is another. A rule of thumb - your MLC has to be younger than your mistress.
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post #32 of 44
12/4/09 at 1:03am
Dino fiat maybe?

dl
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post #33 of 44
12/4/09 at 1:58am
I think Poleposition had one of the best suggestions thus far. The 93-95' RX-7 is not only timelessly stylish, but is also an amazing handling car. It might be somewhat difficult to find a clean, nonabused model in this range. The majority I've seen, are closer to the 16-20k mark, unfortunately their rarity does not help one find a reasonably priced example.
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post #34 of 44
12/4/09 at 2:01am
Get a bloody Pontiac Sunfire convertible and all hot chicks will be yours
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post #35 of 44
12/4/09 at 3:57am
M. Benz 500SL early 90s

fun car to drive


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post #36 of 44
12/4/09 at 4:58am
High mileage 2003+ 350Z? 12K can turn into 18K pretty quick for rehab required in the first year or two for a used bmw, audi, mb, etc. Rehab on jap cars is usually less painful.
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post #37 of 44
12/4/09 at 10:19am
Thread Starter 
I've owned German cars for years. I use an indy mechanic. My experience has been quite the opposite. Merecedes parts are, generally speaking, considerably less than those for Lexus, Accura etc. etc. I replaced the A/C compressor on my 500 SEL for $400. A/C compressor for the RX7 was $700.
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post #38 of 44
12/4/09 at 1:29pm
If your looking for a $12k car at mid-life you got bigger concerns then a car.

You can get an original mini cooper restored with a vtec motor in the price range. Also you can get a restored VW van in that price range. Can't think of anything else in that price I would want. Sure there are a few but my brain doesn't work well this early.
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post #39 of 44
12/4/09 at 10:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dburr View Post
I've owned German cars for years. I use an indy mechanic.
I think finding a good indy mechanic who specializes in german cars is almost a prerequisite in buying one outside of warranty. Some of mechanics even specialize on brands so that would be a determining factor for me when choosing between a used M3, S4 or C36 for example.
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post #40 of 44
12/4/09 at 11:22pm
Good question - I recently helped a friend looking for a fun 10-15K car. There are plenty of great cars available in the US at this price. Personal favorites? Early (AP1) Honda S2000 - quick, handles like a dream, well built, not going to break the bank. 1993 - RX7 (FD3S) - quick as greased goose you know what, timeless design (second only to the NSX in the Japanese Sports/Supercar race when it comes to looks imho) but not a good car to jump into without a good rotary mechanic in town. Used Vettes (1997- 2004) - You can find early C5's in this range - loads of fun even if it wouldnt' be my first choice. A an early 911 (1978 - 1983 or 1984 - 1989 vintage) could be fun, as would a 928... if you know a good independent Porsche mechanic. Now, what did I like personally? Q-ship type cars - Debadged Mercedes C43 (budget for a transmission build or swap if the owner hasn't already - the transmission out of the E55 turns the C43 into an amazing car. Or, an early 1999 or later (W210) E55. They are not cheap if the break, so have a thorough inspection where you check for error codes indicating that electronics are on the way out, but this car is an absolute rocket. There are three on Ebay for 12K right now.
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post #41 of 44
12/5/09 at 12:20am
My recommendation is a S31 chassis Datsun Z car. You can get a very nice example in your budget, with cash left over. Reliable, quick, very stylish, parts are dirt cheap (replacement, as well as performance parts), and the Z community is large and passionate. Hell, you even have the choice of carbs or fuel injection. To the folks bringing up how much he wants to spend, did it ever occur to you that he just wants a toy and doesn't want to spend a fortune on it? I have a customer that drives a 15 year old GTI and bitches about how much it cost to put fuel in it, but wont blink a eye when dropping six figure sums for a watch. Don't ever assume.
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post #42 of 44
12/5/09 at 12:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gallardo2501 View Post
To the folks bringing up how much he wants to spend, did it ever occur to you that he just wants a toy and doesn't want to spend a fortune on it? I have a customer that drives a 15 year old GTI and bitches about how much it cost to put fuel in it, but wont blink a eye when dropping six figure sums for a watch. Don't ever assume.
+1 There are multi-millionaires out there who refuse to spend more than $30 on jeans, $150 on shoes, and $500 on suits. Not everyone has the same priorities. I'd recommend checking out a mid-90s 300ZX in good shape, if the van and drugs aren't up your alley.
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post #43 of 44
12/5/09 at 1:09am
As many have already pointed out, there are gobs of fun cars to be had at this price. As a rule of thumb always get a pre-purchase inspection on anything you are seriously considering. The small fee, usually $125 or less, can save you serious headaches down the road. Having the autocheck or carfax report would also be nice, but they can never be fully trusted as they only show "reported" incidents. My list would include:

BMW e36 M3 - preferably a manual sedan, only made in 1997-98, so they are somewhat rare, but more useful and supposedly handle better than the coupes.

BMW z3M roadster or coupe - if you can get over the looks, these things are a blast to drive. The coupes are more rare, and hold their value better than the roadsters. They do tend to have subframe issues, so verify that it has been corrected under warranty.

Honda s2000 - very nice car. Great handling, serious engine, and rear wheel drive. And it''s a Honda. Enough said.

Ford Focus SVT - Best car in it's segment, besting the civic si, neon srt-4, and gti. Cheap enough to buy and add a supercharger within your budget.
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post #44 of 44
12/5/09 at 1:15am
There are some great suggestions here. For german cars I love both the BMW E30 and E36 M3. Much prefer the styling of the E30, but it's getting to be an old car that will certainly need TLC.

My father owned an S2000 as a mid-life crisis car for a little while. I still haven't driven a convertible that handles better. If you live in a place with good weather at least give one a test drive. His was rock solid and had no issues. It also held its value very well so when you are done with the crisis you can get some money back!
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