Of course looking for something that is reliable. Any ideas? I'd use it while the fiance drives the Soul.

Miata BRAAAAAH

How reliable are Mazdas? We were looking at Mazda 3's, but I read a ton of horrible reliability reviews.

I've got two mazdas. So far so good with both, where did you read a bunch of terrible reviews? Theyre pretty well regarded I think.

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where did you read a bunch of terrible reviews? Theyre pretty well regarded I think.

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1ags stamp of approval.

Edmunds had a lot of bad reviews on the 3's.

can you get a mazdaspeed for anywhere near that money? if not, I don't qualify a mazda 3 as "fun" in the least.

As was said before, miata will get you more bang for your buck than anything else, and are very reliable.

I know a couple folks with previous gen 3s who like em a lot. close to 30k on our 2010 so far, so good.

Are the S2000's approaching $6,000 yet?

I wasn't including a standard 3 as a "fun" car, was just an example of the Mazda reviews I read. Seeing some 2001 Miata in the price range. How many miles would you stay below?

Weren't you the one that was trying to sell of a bunch of stuff to get out of debt? Now youre buying more?

I just got a letter from Mazda for my Speed3 that says they are extending the warranty on the VVT system due to a defective metal pin that wears down, loosens the chain, and causes a "ticking" sound. It also lists the Speed6 as a vehicle receiving the extension to 10 years/70,000 miles.

I traded in the truck and got a cheaper Soul and saving gas/insurance. Sold the BMW motorcycle today. The fiance doesn't have a car and has been using my mom's Jetta. So with her tax return/bonus we are getting her a car and since she likes the Soul (and it has the space needed for road trips,etc) looking to getting a smaller car. If we can find a fun and reliable car, then great.

If you can fit, it's probably the best bang for you buck fun car out there.

It's dead simple, easy to work on, got tons of after market support and pretty reliable.

Mazda 3 or Civic.

5 speed

This should be obvious but the OP said two seater. A Mazda3 or Civic is not a two seater.

I don't think there are many inexpensive cars more fun to drive than a Miata with a 5 speed. The gearbox is world class, the engine sounds terrifc, and it goes in and out of corners like almost nothing else. Super easy to get parts, accessories, etc. and easy to work on or get serviced. But don't ruin it by buying an automatic.

Definitely Miata. I've has two. Drove my '91 to over 100K miles with no problems. Traded it for a '95 and drove it to about 45K miles. sold it because I just didn't have time to drive it and it was "rotting" from lack of use.

The only cars I can think of that meet your criteria other than a Miata would be a Pontiac Fiero or a Toyota MR-2.

You can find early S2000s for a hair under $10k now. I think it will be a long time before you can find an S2000 for $6k, unless it's a salvage title.

Pontiac Solstices seem to go in the same price range as S2000s (though the Solstices lose their value more quickly).

I suggest you either get a Miata, double your budget, or don't limit yourself to just 2-seaters. MR-2s are cool but somewhat expensive to work on, and if you can find a Fiero in good condition, I'd be more wanting to preserve it than beat on it, lol.

[This message has been edited by madd_ag_05 (edited 1/23/2012 8:44p).]

I thought all of the Pontiac Fieros burned in the 80s.

OP did say "reliable" so I guess that pretty much eliminates the Fiero, lol.

Just thought of one more 2-seater in OP's budget: Honda Civic del Sol. The lower-end models go for around $3k-$4k in decent shape. The VTEC ones are extremely rare and most likely out of OP's budget.

A del Sol has the potential to be a fun little car. All those 90s double-wishbone Civics can be easily and cheaply modded into budget track cars, not unlike Miatas.

[This message has been edited by madd_ag_05 (edited 1/23/2012 9:27p).]

By the description: Miata. Nothing else will make the price point, that will run. The Miata can be fun, just not fast, roomy or sporty. It is easy to work on and is pretty bulletpoof. Even if you don't do oil changes, or fix the transmission leaks, you can get replacements for a couple hundred dollars each!

Make sure you plan on replacing the transmission shifter boots, clutch hydraulics, driver seat, and rag top. That's if the brakes, tires, belts, and hoses are in good condition. And go ahead and replace the shock bumpers when you replace the shocks too.

Don't let people's ignorance of the Fiero scare you off of one. I've owned several Fiero's and now currently own two '90 Miatas. In each case, I've built one of them into a race car.

The Fiero was easier on parts than the Miata is.

As for the fire problem, it was a case of the first year cars, all 2.5l I4's, not having enough oil capacity in the first place. 3.5qts of oil in a mid-engine car, coupled with some people running the car well past the oil change milage, meant bearings seized and rods went through blocks. A bigger oil filter helped quite a bit. V-6 cars NEVER had that problem.

1. Buy Mustang
2. Take out back seat
3. ?????
4. Profit

PLUS




EQUALS THIS

I'd rather have a Big Block in a Fiero
Or a Buick 3.8 Turbo
Or a Caddy Northstar
Or a Quad 4

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I thought all of the Pontiac Fieros burned in the 80s.

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I've got one that didn't burn, will sell it cheap. I've heard an LS1 will fit back there.

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1. Buy Mustang
2. Take out back seat
3. ?????
4. Profit

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When I was in high school (and dinosaurs ruled the earth) I knew some guys who took a '55 Chevy four door, cut out the section holding the back seats, and made a 2-seater coupe. It looked pretty good.

Also saw a '64 Plymouth 4 door done the same way and drag raced. It ended up with an 80" wheelbase, so it was fun to watch. Especially the time it dropped a driveshaft at 1/8 mile.

I have yet to see a driveshaft drop in person, I bet it's gnarly. WTF- did I just say gnarly?

I can't believe I forgot about the Monster Miatas...

In high school a guy in front of me had a big lifted gmc truck, the genius didn't lengthen the driveshaft when he jacked it up, and one day he hit a big bump and the front pulled out, and the truck did a summersault.

Canyon, how much do you want for the fiero?

buy yourself a 1982 Fiat 2000 Spyder. fuel injected, quick and italian. Profit!

Autotrader has 105 corvettes under $6000. Average age looks to be around 1990.

How good are you with a wrench?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Beautiful-Jaguar-XJS-Cabriolet-/330677319824?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item4cfde77890#ht_1226wt_1162

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2000-Jaguar-XK8-Convertible-/280814370180?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item4161d73d84#ht_34634wt_1162

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Canyon, how much do you want for the fiero?

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Sorry, just now read this. Make offer. I'll have to dig up the title, but I do have.

Photos of the mighty Fiero

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I have yet to see a driveshaft drop in person, I bet it's gnarly. WTF- did I just say gnarly?

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When I saw the '64 Ply lose it, it was halfway down the 1/4 mile and doing about 80. It just sort of bucked/danced a little, then you saw the driveshaft bouncing down the strip behind it.

When I was a kid, a Chevy pickup driving through the old hometown on the interstate threw a driveshaft. Supposedly it came through the floorboard and trapped the passenger under it, and the pickup burned and killed them.

So driveshaft loops are a good idea.