Cheap and low maintenance car that isn't a P.O.S? - Page 2

If driving a stick in LA traffic doesn't make much sense, how would having a 300hp car in traffic make sense. I drove a stick in LA traffic for a year and it wasn't that bad; I was more much more concerned of scraping my bumper on driveways or driving over potholes.

Cheap high hp cars = money pits.

The more miles a car like that drives, the more expensive the repair costs get, so budget in at least the same you pay for loan in the for repairs.

I haven't read the whole thread, but have you thought about insurance?

300hp doesn't really mean much by itself. There are a number of 300hp econoboxes out these days that don't accelerate as quickly as a some 230 hp cars from 10 years ago, there are more factors to consider, like gearing, for one. You aren't gonna get an awesome used car for $15K these days, but you can get a good one. It just depends on what you accept as good.

If all you can about is speed, there are probably a ton of 1998-2002 Z28 Camaros and Trans Ams for about 5-8k. They will probably have a decent amount of mileage on them, but the LS1 is a solid engine. Plenty of them in either manual or auto.

Buy a used Civic - $5000

Lowering springs - couple of hundred

Lots of stickers (each adds 50hp) - $50 each...

You do the math.

Or you could just go buy a car that is actually pleasant to deal with in LA traffic - a used SC300/LS400 for example.

It is typical to budget roughly 8% of your income toward transportation. I will assume you have done this and give some advice for a car (if you havent' done this, you will be just another one of the losers in this country who can't manage their finances).

Worry less about horsepower and more about fun. A few cars I suggest for $15k:

1. Honda s2000 (recommend '02-03 model years)
2. Honda Prelude (recommend type SH)
3. Mustang GT
4. BMW M3 (you can get a decent E36 in this price range)
5. Porsche Boxter (a higher mileage gen 1 should be in your price range)

the germans will be expensive to service, so have them checked out and plan to use an independent mechanic instead of the dealer.

If you need something with 4 doors, consider an e46 325i. Great handling car and fairly bulletproof drivetrain.

Don't agree with that statement. The e46 325i. It's most likely that the OP is going to get an automatic, and the e46 automatics are notorious for the reverse gear pooping out.

Do your research on this one. 2006 was the transition year to the e90 body style for the 325 and there were some reports of premature engine failure that did not show up in the e46. Suggest you identify the car you are interested in, test drive it, then get on some message board for that brand to learn what you can before shelling out the cash.

Buy a Mercedes Benz W140.

Laugh your way past Kraut money pits and pocket the difference. Blaze your own trails. This car is cool because you drive it. End of story.

has anyone bought out a lease from someone using a service like lease busters? haven't looked into this at all but seems like an effective method to get a car for a short-ish period of time, taking advantage of somebody else changing their mind/having to move. works well for city driving because there are often tight mileage restrictions.

Yes. It has a BMW badge on it. Of course you should get it. All creative producers drive a BMW.

what is this, 1943? Who talks like this anymore?

Given the way those things work, you'd save only a bit on the purchase price and end up paying multiples for it in the long run - people treat leases like shit for a reason. Also, the used car market has changed dramatically and so money factors and residuals are quite different now - people are asking insane amounts for their used cars since cash for clunkers, while fewer people can go out and get a new car with the tiny down and huge monthly payment they were used to doing. OP is kinda dumb for expecting to want a $15K 300hp used car that will last him 5 years, that is an attitude from 10 years ago when the dollar was worth a lot more; people ask $15K for a 2006 Civic nowadays.

Well, at least you've inadvertently given him some useful advice: a 2006 Civic will last him. The 15k asking price is certainly negotiable. And, staying away from a lease and the snakes who sell them is good advice. But you didn't actually name a year make and model. Of course I dismissed the "300hp" as no more important to getting rolling in life than the color of the prospective ride.