I spent $3600 on a used Suburban, love it.

I think you should get this car, not all that comfortable, probably not very good gas mileage and probably not street legal but think of all the attention you'd get!

https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...ferrerid=62107

 

2003-2005 chevy Cavalier, just bought one for my daughter $2300, 120,000 kms, electric blue two door with a spolier ....vroom. My mechanic friend says the ecotech engines and trannies in these things are bullet proof. Good gas milage, they were 10,000 k new so there are lots around.

 

I'm not a rich guy but I daily drive my 993s for the last 8.5 years. In Boston, not in Cali. It helps that I work from home, but still.

I'd daily drive the 993 and not worry much. If, however, it's too cramped (it is), too hot (it is) or too hard to parallel park (it is) for a daily driver, I'd go with one of the Toyotas or an E39. E-class is painfully boring. Jag... just say no. E39 only if you can deal with daily knowledge that something is broken on the car at any given point of time but what the hell, it's still driveable.

 

Actually, absolutely - if a nice rust-free E30 325iS can be found in Cali, and I know they can be found in Cali, it'll be in $3K price range, easy to maintain, cheap parts and a lot of fun as a daily.

 

If you were in New England, I'd say watch out for rust on the Toyota's of that age. In CA, probably not a big deal

 

I daily drive my 993 now and have for a while...3 years except for the weekend when I fixed my evaporator....

I like the 3 series idea. So e30 in favor of an e36?

 

Oh yes. Fantastic cars. The best is the 325is. Just change the timing belt regularly and it will run forever. Sadly, they are getting hard to find. I don't like the e36 nearly as much and would prefer an e39. The 528i is a good choice especially if you can find a manual. Stay on top of the cooling system and you'll be fine.

Here's a pick of my old 325is. 225K miles when pic was taken. I miss her.

Cheers,
Joe

 

I've had 2 of those cars - 1998 528 and 1986 4-runner. I spent more on the 528 than any other car we had (except the 993, but that's different). we had to replace the suspension & cooling system along with other little things. replaced nothing on the 4-runner.

 

You should consider the E320 for the 97 model year. Bullet proof engine ( the straight 6 which changed the following year) and the 5 speed auto tranny. I own one for 6 years now, bought it with about 110K miles on, now she has over 200K. I have replaced stuff over the years, things that you would expect like new shocks, ball joints, bearings, disks, AC compressor etc, but the car is so well made that even after all these miles there are no creaks, no rattles nothing. it drives like a new car and its pretty amazing really. All these taxi drivers in Europe still driving them, know a thing or 2! What made me actually look at it, was a Taxi driver with 1.2 MILLION KM on one, engine still original and unopened, 2nd tranny at 550K and was still going strong!

Parts you get from AZautohaus or RockAuto for rock bottom prices, an indy or DIY is the ticket to keep things very reasonably priced.

 

Absolutely. Cheaper car, cheaper parts, no OBD2 to deal with in Cali for E30... and much closer to an older 911 in feel than an E36.

 

Funny thing about even so-so E30s is that they're being snapped up at a large rate for..........Spec E30!

 

loved the w210 i had also. regrettably traded it in for the w211, kicking off a serial car flipping era in my life lol.

 

I had a 210 also, but a later model. Very nice car, but they have their issues as well.

spring perch rust, CPS, window regulators, body rust, etc.

A w124 might not be a bad idea.

 

Cooling system is an easy thing to replace and parts are not that expensive if you buy from somewhere other than the dealer. I would do that first thing on any used BMW unless you had proof it had been done already. As for the other niggling problems with BMW's I agree. My '97 M3 is doing that to me right now, fortunately I got the emissions inspection done 2 days before the last round started.

I would agree with the Volvo only because they're much better condition than the cheap Toyota. However I would spend a little more for a Toyota and not have it clean my pocket later (since you're looking for a DD in the first place).

 

If you really want pain, why not just get a 97-2002 Range Rover?