Top 5 cars for under $3k?

knewsom

knewsom

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Jul 10, 2008
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La Mancha, CA
I've been watching Top Gear again, and one of my favorite things is when they each pick a cheap car to do something completely insane. It's also continually amazed me that people will pay good money for completely boring cars when for the same price or less, they can have something that's both fun and practical.

SO - I pose to you all, what are your top 5 cars that can be found for under $3k USD? Be sure to pick a 4x4, coup?/sportscar, sedan, light pickup, and hatchback.

Here's mine (I don't have to tell anyone to feel free tell me I'm completely daft for my choices, as this is D-Web, and I've come to expect it. :D )

1. 4x4 - 95 RRC LWB. I've picked this over the Disco only because it's longer, more comfy, and more powerful. (if, in fact, you can find one for under 3k anymore)
2. Coup? - BMW M635. Seriously, is there a better car for the money?
3. Sedan - Volvo 760 Turbo intercooler. Brilliant car - comfy, and fast.
4. Light Pickup - Ford Ranger (can't find a tacoma that cheap)
5. Hatchback - VW GTI.

If you have second-pics or ties-pics, post 'em too! Class substitutions and suggestions welcome. Can't wait to see what you guys pick.
 
Blue

Blue

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Mar 26, 2004
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Today I found a nice looking white E30 M3 sitting in a parking garage that I'm doing some work in. It's covered in a thick layer of dust, the plates expired 2 years ago. The garage is an upscale condo complex in downtown Phx occupied mainly by old folks. It looks to be completely stock, even stock wheels. I was amazed to see that these M3's are going for $15K to $30K plus online. I'll have to find the old geezer who owns it and make him a lowball cash offer. There are a few abandoned pieces of shit and about 6 very nice Rolls Royces scattered throughout the garage. The HOA President said that a lot of the cars haven't moved in years. They have snowbirds that keep cars there and he thinks that quite a few have died and no one has claimed the cars. Might be time to start the DMV's abandoned vehicle process......
 
LRflip

LRflip

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Oct 8, 2006
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none of your fucking business
knewsom said:
SO - I pose to you all, what are your top 5 cars that can be found for under $3k USD? Be sure to pick a 4x4, coup?/sportscar, sedan, light pickup, and hatchback.


If you have second-pics or ties-pics, post 'em too! Class substitutions and suggestions welcome. Can't wait to see what you guys pick.
Click to expand...

4x4 - Land Rover Discovery, I don't think you can still find a classic worth a shit for the $. I also don't think you'd find a decent jeep or toyota. And I guess I am biased and feel more comfortable with a D1 for that kind of money.
Coupe - that's a hard one, probably a mid-late 80's 300zx...that would be my choice.
Sedan/Wagon - Im going to second you on the Volvo but make it a wagon :drool:
light pickup - definitely without a doubt a Nissan Hardbody, preferably a 97 4x4.
Hatchback - Im biased...I loved my c900 turbo. I'll buy another when I've got the room.

Thats my $.02
 
Eliot

Eliot

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Feb 4, 2008
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LRflip said:
4x4 - Land Rover Discovery, I don't think you can still find a classic worth a shit for the $.
Click to expand...

I bought a 1994 LWB for 3,000 last summer. One owner, garage kept, mint interior, custom stereo, brand new michellins, with a new 4.6 liter and a brand new transmission. The owner had something north of 60k in receipts.
 
p m

p m

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knewsom said:
1. 4x4 - 95 RRC LWB. I've picked this over the Disco only because it's longer, more comfy, and more powerful. (if, in fact, you can find one for under 3k anymore)
2. Coup? - BMW M635. Seriously, is there a better car for the money?
3. Sedan - Volvo 760 Turbo intercooler. Brilliant car - comfy, and fast.
4. Light Pickup - Ford Ranger (can't find a tacoma that cheap)
5. Hatchback - VW GTI.
Click to expand...
If you ever find a Classic under $3k, it will be a surfer special - sand everywhere, rust on parts nobody suspected of rusting, everything hacked to death under the hood, a $50 stereo kept in place with pieces of cardboard, running like shit and oil never changed since first owner died.

Exactly the same applies to Volvos. I found that 200 and 900 series have better chance to be in decent condition - but the one we had I bought for $900, and we may have put about a grand into it over the years. Never broke. 700-series was a redheaded stepchild for Volvo, and didn't have much to write home about.

Ford Ranger - either a kid's off-road project, with fenders bulging out and cut to house 37s, yet sporting 225/75R15 no-name specials, front jacked a foot up in the air, and dragging the rear bumper on the ground, or working man's piece of shit 2.3L 4 with a three-speed auto.

M6 or 635? In any case, the really nice ones are likely beyond $3k. In San Diego, the spread for an E30 is from $2500 for a basket case to $9K for super-clean convertible.

Don't know a thing about GTI under $3k.

So, out of this list, you _can_ get a nice RWD Volvo, including an occasional 960, even rebadged to S90 and V90.
You can get a reasonable XJ - with 150-180kmi, leaking some oil, but almost unmolested.
 
A

Asolo3j

Well-known member
Nov 8, 2004
1,267
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Annapolis
4x4 - 78/79 F150, 76/77 K5 Blazer, D1, Jeep CJ
Coupe/Sports- E30 325is, Miata, 924/944,
Sedan- E28 M535i or 535is, Volvo 850 T5, Contour SVT, Bonneville SSEI, Crown Vic Police,
Small Pickup- Jeep Comanche, Yota Taco, El Camino,
Hatch- 318Ti, GTI, 924/944, Mini

I am sure there are others on the list, but this is what I came off the top of my head. There are some nice Toyota hatch/coupes that are pretty nice, and maybe find a spot for a Camero or Mustang in there somewhere and the 1st gen Taurus SHO were pretty neat. An MB 190 should also be in there, or an Audi, or Subaru 2.5RS, or.....
 
az_max

az_max

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Apr 22, 2005
7,463
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Blue said:
Today I found a nice looking white E30 M3 sitting in a parking garage that I'm doing some work in. It's covered in a thick layer of dust, the plates expired 2 years ago. The garage is an upscale condo complex in downtown Phx occupied mainly by old folks. It looks to be completely stock, even stock wheels. I was amazed to see that these M3's are going for $15K to $30K plus online. I'll have to find the old geezer who owns it and make him a lowball cash offer. There are a few abandoned pieces of shit and about 6 very nice Rolls Royces scattered throughout the garage. The HOA President said that a lot of the cars haven't moved in years. They have snowbirds that keep cars there and he thinks that quite a few have died and no one has claimed the cars. Might be time to start the DMV's abandoned vehicle process......
Click to expand...


Hook me up with the Rolls-Royces. would love a late 70's SSII.
 
knewsom

knewsom

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Jul 10, 2008
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La Mancha, CA
p m said:
If you ever find a Classic under $3k, it will be a surfer special - sand everywhere, rust on parts nobody suspected of rusting, everything hacked to death under the hood, a $50 stereo kept in place with pieces of cardboard, running like shit and oil never changed since first owner died.
Click to expand...

True (though with exceptions), which is why I also said Disco, which I'd take over any cheap jeep.

p m said:
Exactly the same applies to Volvos. I found that 200 and 900 series have better chance to be in decent condition - but the one we had I bought for $900, and we may have put about a grand into it over the years. Never broke. 700-series was a redheaded stepchild for Volvo, and didn't have much to write home about.
Click to expand...

I had a 760, it was a phenomenal car.

p m said:
Ford Ranger - either a kid's off-road project, with fenders bulging out and cut to house 37s, yet sporting 225/75R15 no-name specials, front jacked a foot up in the air, and dragging the rear bumper on the ground, or working man's piece of shit 2.3L 4 with a three-speed auto.
Click to expand...

You don't want a kid's offroad project, but a working man's simple stock Ranger is a useful and reliable truck. Good luck finding a Nissan or a Toyota in that range.

p m said:
M6 or 635? In any case, the really nice ones are likely beyond $3k. In San Diego, the spread for an E30 is from $2500 for a basket case to $9K for super-clean convertible.
Click to expand...

I've seen them as low as $1500 in running condition, and clean later-models for 10k or so, but early and mid ones in ok shape aren't impossible under $3k.

edit: http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/2870946649.html


p m said:
Don't know a thing about GTI under $3k.
Click to expand...

Just saw one on CL today. Turbo.
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/cto/2917838007.html

p m said:
So, out of this list, you _can_ get a nice RWD Volvo, including an occasional 960, even rebadged to S90 and V90.
You can get a reasonable XJ - with 150-180kmi, leaking some oil, but almost unmolested.
Click to expand...

Let's see your list then.
 
Last edited:
p m

p m

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LRflip said:
pm, curious as to what you think of my list.
Click to expand...
I'd take a pre-96 Pathfinder or a pickup. We had one at Scripps - beat to shit, rusted all over the place, but drove beautifully with a 5-speed stick. It was replaced by a POS Ranger.

Disco is a hit and miss. Every D1 at this price range will need some major work within a couple of years.
 
p m

p m

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Kris, you know my list, give or take some.

Long time ago, I sold a stripper 95 XJ with a four-banger, RWD, and five-speed - no A/C, crank windows, you name it - with 65kmi on the clock, for $5K. I still regret selling it. I think one can be had for $3K in SoCal in a decent condition - and for the money, I'd take it over Disco or Classic any day. XJ is a simple think, like a 200-series Volvo.

The half-ton iron like K5, Bronco, Ramcharger, or any AMC jeep, are off the list.

I would not pass a good FWD Volvo wagon, either. Once in a while, I see a pretty sharp 850/V70R.
 
R

robertf

Well-known member
Jan 22, 2006
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Asolo3j said:
4x4 - 78/79 F150, 76/77 K5 Blazer, D1, Jeep CJ
Coupe/Sports- E30 325is, Miata, 924/944,
Sedan- E28 M535i or 535is, Volvo 850 T5, Contour SVT, Bonneville SSEI, Crown Vic Police,
Small Pickup- Jeep Comanche, Yota Taco, El Camino,
Hatch- 318Ti, GTI, 924/944, Mini

I am sure there are others on the list, but this is what I came off the top of my head. There are some nice Toyota hatch/coupes that are pretty nice, and maybe find a spot for a Camero or Mustang in there somewhere and the 1st gen Taurus SHO were pretty neat. An MB 190 should also be in there, or an Audi, or Subaru 2.5RS, or.....
Click to expand...

You won't be able to find most of that list for under 3000 in running condition.
 
jhmover

jhmover

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Apr 23, 2004
5,571
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California
Can't say about the rest but I picked up one of my son's a clean Ford Ranger, reg cab, 5-speed, 2wd, with a Camper shell and 68k miles for $2800 awhile back. He drives the crap out of it and so far only oil changes and a set of tires.
 
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