elliottw

This will be my first car ever, and I need a daily driver. I need a car for 5 miles each day (short commute), and 500 mile trips about once a month (this is for work and currently rent cars)

So I can:

buy a 951 in this price range and hope that my money comes fast enough to keep it running

buy an NA and trade up to a turbo later

buy an e36 3 series and have a little fun and start saving, because this will be a more reliable option and I won't be spending money fixing things.

The car purchase has to happen right now because my knee is completely shot and I can't bike to work anymore. I'm on a seriously restricted budget because I've been saving to buy the house I live in and the deal is probably going to go through this year.

Next spring I plan on spending about 4k for a new motorcycle. Next fall I could spend another 4k on a car.

So I'm trying to strategize here.

txhokie4life

any 4K 951 is going to need some TLC which could mean unknown $$ costs.

You don't want to live in fear of being stranded due to lack of finances with a daily driver
that is potentially unreliable if you can't afford the maintenance costs.

I'd wait on the 944/951 until it could be my second source of transportation or I had a reliable back up plan.

m

CyCloNe!

Honestly if you are just looking for a good daily driver with up to date maintenance get like a 944 or 924. If you get a turbo car at the price range you'll probably have some work, I bought mine at 2,800 (86 944 Turbo) and I drive mine daily I have spent 4k in the last 3-4years of ownership. Not all was nessassary replacement but my maintenance wasn't at all up to date so I had to get her where I needed her, reliable. 4k on a standard 924 or 944 should provide a decent starting point and should be reliable (make sure to get work records).

These cars are very reliable just have to have the maintenance up to date. I have only broken down once in my car and that was a fuel pump issue and I drive mine often over an hour a day and have taken many 600 mile trips.

That's my opinion, hope it helps and good luck sir.

User 52121

I would buy none of the cars you suggested. Seriously.

If you're strapped for cash and need a car you can 100% depend on... I'd go with something like a Ford Escort. Can be had for well under your price point AND leave $$$ in reserve for plenty of repairs that are needed.

Any $4k version of the cars you mentioned will easily need a few bucks burned on maintenance items right off the bat. Anybody who has properly maintained one of those cars and kept everything up to date is going to be asking for more than $4k.

Josh B

+1

elliottw

E36s are actually 4k with great records. The one's I've been looking at are single owner all dealership maintenance with under 175k miles going for 4. I think they are a really good deal actually.

User 52121

Suit yourself.

elliottw

I guess I meant to say I've only got a few grand to spend right now, but I mean, I work, I have income. 1 or 2k a year in maint doesn't make a difference to me.

Reimu

I agree with what was said above. A 25 year old German sportscar wouldn't be my first choice if I was on such limited terms.

Get something reliable, sporty, and japanese if you want a fun car that you won't be scared to start every morning.

Black51

Famous last words...

elliottw

Lol!

Yeah. I don't know. I'm 30, so far I've had 3 motorcycles: 600cc ninja, triumph speed triple, and ducati 749. Everyone said Ducati maintenance would kill me, but when you only put 1000 miles on a bike a year, it's really not a big deal. I would feel like it should be the same for a car. If I put <10k miles on a car a year, it shouldn't be that much of a problem. But maybe I just got really lucky with bikes, and maybe cars are a lot different.

MooreBoost

elliot dont let these guys scare you away. you can find a 944 in your price range. i bought my first 944 for 2500, did the tbelt, waterpump and tune up and didnt put any money into it for another year. as for buying a car and not putting any money into it, i would agree with them and buy a honda or toyota.

odurandina

well, $3-4k isnt going to come even close..... fair startup capital to daily drive one of these cars for 2~3 years would be between $12~25 k depending on what your definition of a sorted car turns out to be, and how much wrenching you decide to do. and i say 2~3 years, but ok... let's say 2 years. that's what you need to do with these cars.... get them ready for a couple of years of driving. too many people don't last long in owning a 944T, and i think it's because they start driving and beating the crap out of them before they've prepared the cars for how they're going to use them.



this.... good points, all entirely understated.

elliottw

Well I would be buying a porsche from someone in this forum. If someone on here with over 1000 posts says the car is well maintained, I'm going to believe them. Maybe that's a mistake.

Also, I think everyone thinks daily drive means like 30 minutes each way to work. I literally live 15 blocks from my job and currently bike. I just need to stop biking to work and the grocery store and all that and get a car because this tendonitis in my knee is not going away. And even just 15 blocks with pittsburgh hills and winter aren't too fun.

Seems like there is a huge difference in consensus around these parts. It's actually shocking. I've heard stories of 1k per year all the way to 25k.

MooreBoost

the first year of owning my na i put less then 1k into it. after that year i did rod bearings and headgasket. again less then 1k. i also did the work myself. then i bought a 951.....