What do I want?
Posted by Alternative-Feed3613@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 30 comments
I’m looking for a cool project car. I’m a novice mechanic but I’m pretty handy so I would want something easy to work on with cheap parts. I don’t need anything super fast or fancy. I just want something that’s fun to drive and maybe something you don’t see every day. Do you think there’s anything that I could get for under 5k?
NachoCheeseCumShot@reddit
Honda fit or Miata, good luck finding a hardtop with the Miata for 5k though. Used market is hosed imo
Ambivadox@reddit
G-body or Fairmont wagon.
Can still be had cheap, aren't as common as they once were, parts are easy, and the only real limit to the build is your wallet.
benseifert666@reddit
Miata is always the answer
Alternative-Feed3613@reddit (OP)
Those are badass but I’m not sure I can fit in one lol. I’ll have to track one down and try it on.
Hitwelve@reddit
FWIW I have a Miata and am part of a pretty big online Miata community, there's a lot of people out there at 6ft+ who are able to fit in them. If you get one with stock seats you might want to cut some of the foam out of them, but that's pretty easy.
Alternative-Feed3613@reddit (OP)
Do you think i could find a decent Miata for under 5k? I expect it’ll need some work but I would like it to be running and driving.
Hitwelve@reddit
I paid $2500 for mine, running and driving with a hard top. Now that’s a really good deal from a friend of a friend, so don’t expect to find one at that price with a hard top, but they’re definitely available for $5k, especially if you can do some work on it and live outside of the rust belt.
Keep an eye out for rocker rust if you go to look at one, they love to rust on the quarter panels. It’s fixable if you have the skills and tools, but expensive if you don’t.
2Drogdar2Furious@reddit
You fit in a Corolla you'll probably fit in a miata.
Check us out r/miata
Alternative-Feed3613@reddit (OP)
Haha, fair enough. I’ll definitely check it out!
LandCruiser76@reddit
M.iata
I.s
A.lways
T.he
A.nswer
Seriously probs the best first project car on the market.
If off road Jeep XJ
Aleutian_Solution@reddit
The best thing for a beginner is to do what’s common. I know they are boring and everyone drives one, but that’s for a reason; namely that they are cheap and easy. Build the same car every guy at the meet has and once you have a little knowledge under your belt, try something a bit more unique.
Alternative-Feed3613@reddit (OP)
Which cars would that be? The civic is the one the pops into my head. I was searching Facebook and I find a bunch of BMW for under 10k and even some under 5k. I’ve always liked Beamers but I always heard they were hard and expensive to work on.
Aleutian_Solution@reddit
Earlier BMWs would be good, like an E46 or E36. They aren’t too bad. The newer ones (like I have) are a complete nightmare, but are good candidates for a number of engine swaps which make them both cheaper and easier to work on. You can buy full kits to LS swap an E9x car (like I did). Hondas are good ones as well. Foxbody mustangs, Camaros, 240x’s, Porsche 944’s, etc…. There’s a lot of them to choose from. Find something that catches your eye and then look around to see what builds people do with them.
Alternative-Feed3613@reddit (OP)
It’s a real shame that BMWs are such nightmares. There’s a lot of really nice 3 series around me that are under 6k. That’s probably why they’re so cheap lol. One guy suggested a Miata which would be cool. I was also drooling over some 914s but they were all too expensive.
basicKitsch@reddit
Type 1 ve
Big-Energy-3363@reddit
Corolla before 2010
Alternative-Feed3613@reddit (OP)
Why before 2010?
eejjkk@reddit
Civic, Miata, cooked 350Z.
Next caller...
TheseCod2660@reddit
B13 Sentra SE-R. Haven’t seen one in a very long time but back in the 90’s and early 2000’s those things were slaying everything lol
Sniper22106@reddit
....are you asking the internet what you should buy?
Cause its whatever looks cool you.
You gotta pay for it, work on it and live with it. We're just some puds with opnions
Alternative-Feed3613@reddit (OP)
Sure but I’m really just asking what would be easy to work on. I’d love to have a Porsche 914 but I’m sure it’s a nightmare to find parts for and they’re probably expensive, I know the car itself is lol.
Sniper22106@reddit
There is no rules to this. If you want it, get it. Anything can be a project. Dont over think things
Poil336@reddit
Smallblock an S-10?
Alternative-Feed3613@reddit (OP)
My cousin did that and it was pretty sick. I’m not a huge fan of trucks though, people always ask me to move shit for them lol. I do love those old 60s era fords and chevys but they’re so expensive these days.
Poil336@reddit
I had a buddy that joked that an El Camino was perfect. Pretty blonde girl moving out of her boyfriend's place? Sure babe, load it in the bed! Buddy needs to move a refrigerator? Sorry man, it's just an El Camino
Alternative-Feed3613@reddit (OP)
Hahahaha, that’s awesome!
Careless_Steak9668@reddit
Buy what you like the look of. Who cares what others opinions are. You need to get something you love the look of so you will actually want to work on it.
Alternative-Feed3613@reddit (OP)
Well sure but I need to be able to work on it too. I found some BMW 330i that I loved and they were very reasonable. I’ve always heard they were super expensive and difficult to work on though.
CucumberWest9394@reddit
60s, 70s, 80s, 90s? American or import? You’ve got to give us something.
Alternative-Feed3613@reddit (OP)
I’m pretty equal opportunity lol. I guess I tend to lean towards imports because the classic American cars are just so expensive. My dream car is a BMW M3 if that tells you anything. I want something sporty and fun but smooth. Jay Leno mentioned a “bankers hot rod”’ and that’s great term for what I’m looking for.