Recommendation? Good 2 seater for cheap

Joined
Sep 9, 2015
Messages
136
I'm looking for a cheap 2 seater car for the weekend or maybe if it's nice I'll take it to work. Something like a Miata, fiero, z3, solstice, s2000. 2 problems with this are I don't want to spend over $2000 maybe a little over but not much. Also I can't drive a stick. I don't expect to get a real nice car for that price, just something to throw around corners and have some fun with. My daily driver is an infiniti G37X 4 door which is pretty quick so not too concerned with speed.
 
You're not gonna find a Solstice, Z3, or s2000 anywhere near your price range. And if you do, you probably aren't gonna want the headaches that come with them if you do.

Even high milage s2k's are starting at $10k. Nicer examples run in the $15k range.

Z3's and Solstices are gonna be around $5k at the bottom end of the spectrum for a driver, so if you can double your budget, you might be able to find one, but be prepared to add in some cash for things that have been neglected. Clean, well maintained cars will be closer to $7-10k. Of the two, the Z3 would be the better choice.

A Miata might be a viable option, but you'll most likely be looking in the $3k range for a lesser quality one. They hold their value quite well - I sold my 95 for $6k about 7 years, and that's still what a clean one sells for. The nice thing about them is, mechanically, they are pretty bulletproof. So even a clapped out one will most likely run just fine (or can be made to cheaply). At that lower price ranges, look for worn suspension, neglected interiors and soft tops, and accident damage - or just general neglect. There is also a huge aftermarket for them, as they are still very popular in road racing.

I'd stay away from the Fiero. They were plagued with issues, and expensive to maintain. You can probably find one in your price range, but keeping an old one running well is expensive and frustrating. Just don't do it.

Might want to look into a Toyota MR2 as well. The first gens (84-89) might be had in your price range. They were also fairly reliable if I remember correctly. Handling was a tad funky, being mid engined, but not bad (just different if you've never driven a mid engined car), and much better than the Fiero by far. If I had a choice though, I'd shoot for a Miata over an MR2.

Now, if it doesn't have to be a drop-top, the options open up a little bit....

Old Honda CRX's are a hell of a fun car and drives like a go-kart. They are front-wheel drive, with only 100-120hp depending on the trim, but also only wight 2000lbs. I autocrossed and did track days in one for years when I was younger, and it's still a popular car in those circles. I'd say look for an Si version, but they only came in a stick. They are also getting a bit hard to find in general because so many turned into tuner cars in the late 90's and early 2000's, or the quarter panels rusted out.

First gen RX-7's might also be had fairly cheap. But they are a rotary engine, and require a specific set of skills (or cash) to work on.

Most of what you'll find in your budget are gonna be 80's or 90's, Japanese compacts, and not proper sportscars. That's not a bad thing, as this was a great time for compact imports. Most are dead reliable, and quite a few are extremely rewarding to hustle down a twisty road, even if not fast by today's standards. Just remember, 30 year old cars come with 30 year old car problems. Likewise, $2000 cars come with $2000 car problems.
Some to look for:
Honda Prelude, Civic (2 door was quite lively to drive),or CRX (see above), early Toyota Celica or Supra (81-86, not the Mk-IV), or maybe an Acura Integra. If you're looking for 'cool', none of these are gonna scream it, but for $2000, it's about what you're gonna get unfortunately. I will say, I've driven them all at some point, and they all were quite decent drivers for their time.


Your price point is just too low for a true, bonafide toy... unless of course, you eliminate 2 wheels. :cool:
 
I agree with the statement above about the CRX si. I had a 91 and it was an absolute blast to drive.

Great mileage, fantastic handling, plenty of leg room, and a pretty neat interior. I loved that car and wish I kept it.

If you can find one with an automatic it should be in your price range.
 
A miata or CRX would be great choices.

Also, you should give a stick a try. At the prices you are looking at they might be easier to find. Also, they are much more fun, especially with the lower powered vehicles. I used to have an old Tercel with a 4 speed. Probably had about 60 horsepower by the time i got it (150K miles) but it was still fun to drive because you basically had your foot on the floor all the time and had to keep rowing the gears just to keep up. Not so much fun in heavy traffic though.
 
I agree with the statement above about the CRX si. I had a 91 and it was an absolute blast to drive.

Great mileage, fantastic handling, plenty of leg room, and a pretty neat interior. I loved that car and wish I kept it.

If you can find one with an automatic it should be in your price range.

Was quite a fun car to drive! I had an 88 Si with a little bit a work done to it - header, cat-back, CAI, bigger injectors, a ton suspension work, among other things - damn thing ran like a rabid squirrel on meth! Was originally building a racecar out of it, but it was also my daily driver (the full cage and safety equipment always drew a little attention...LOL). Surprised a lot of people on the street with it. Unfortunately, PA winters rotted out the rear wheel wells, and it wouldn't pass inspection without putting more bodywork into it than the car was worth. So I sold it off in parts to various racing friends.

Clean Si's are hard to come by these days. Most have gone to autocrossers, roadracers, or the tuner crowd. But HF's can still be had if you search, but neither the Si or HF came in an automatic. The DX was the only one offered in a slush-box.

Loved that car.... might be one of the favorite cars I ever owned (and I've owned a lot)
 
A miata or CRX would be great choices.

Also, you should give a stick a try.

Agreed! Personally, I think everyone should know how to drive a stick. You get a such connection to the car that you just can't get with an automatic. Plus, you will be able to drive ANY vehicle, should the need arise. Comes in handy in an emergency.
 
well first off i'll say i have tried a fiero once (87 GT) it was pretty fun and the lowest car i ever sat in, i could open the door and pick up a dime off the street without getting out. it surprised me when i found out it had safety ratings second to volvo. i've seen quite a few miatas in a good price range and a supercharged one i can't afford. a little put off from the honda civic type stuff mainly cause i'm not a ricer and thats what i see driving them around here. i'll look at the mr2, i forgot about them. i knew nobody would be selling an s2000 for that price, just an example. z3 vs the solstice i could go either way. i will say the solstice would be cheaper to maintain given its not a luxury car. i thought about trying a stick, it is limiting especially when i like older cars. closest i have done is the slap stick in my G37, which is my cool car.
 
If you are going to be a car enthusiast, you should learn to drive a manual transmission.
You will find a LOT more options.
 
You could go British in that price range.
Mid 70s spitfire or mg.
Or Italian, and get a fiat.
The size of the headache is relative, Brit cars are easier to work on the the Italian ones, and parts ain't that bad.
I drove a 74 spitfire every day for 5 years, minus a few days a year waiting on a part or 2.
Not as bad as you'd think.
Oops, can't drive a stick, learn how .
 
Fox body 5.0 mustang 5 speed. Got one around 15 years ago in that price range, learned to drive stick getting it back home :)
Probably still one of the best hp/$$ aftermarket & overall value fun cars out there
 
Civic del Sol maybe? Always wanted one. Look for a 70s or 80s Datsun/Nissan Z.

Lancia Scorpion, Fiat X 1/9, Porsche 914. However, all will require $$ in maintenance, repair, and parts. Volkswagen Scirocco, Corrado also come to mind.

$2000 is gonna make it difficult.

My favorite would be an MR2, but finding an unmolested one could prove difficult. And the problem with buying one with aftermarket mods, you never know the quality of the work.
 
You could go British in that price range.
Mid 70s spitfire or mg.
Or Italian, and get a fiat.
The size of the headache is relative, Brit cars are easier to work on the the Italian ones, and parts ain't that bad.
I drove a 74 spitfire every day for 5 years, minus a few days a year waiting on a part or 2.
Not as bad as you'd think.
Oops, can't drive a stick, learn how .


I disagree Fiats are far easier to work on than anything that came out of England in that era

My first car was a '65 MGB followed by a '71 Fiat 124, an '82 Fiat 124, a '79 Fiat X19, then a couple of Germans.
 
You could go British in that price range.
Mid 70s spitfire or mg.
Or Italian, and get a fiat.
The size of the headache is relative, Brit cars are easier to work on the the Italian ones, and parts ain't that bad.
I drove a 74 spitfire every day for 5 years, minus a few days a year waiting on a part or 2.
Not as bad as you'd think.
Oops, can't drive a stick, learn how .

A Triumph Spitfire might be tough, but a 70's/80's TR7 or MGB might be doable in that price range if you're diligent in your search. The TR7 and MGB were both available as automatics if I remember correctly. Again, with $2000 cars comes rough edges, neglect, and in the case of British cars, electrical gremlins. But if you don't mind projects, they are quite fun to drive.

Fox body 5.0 mustang 5 speed. Got one around 15 years ago in that price range, learned to drive stick getting it back home :)
Probably still one of the best hp/$$ aftermarket & overall value fun cars out there

This is a solid choice. Fox body Fords are easy to come by, easy to work on, and pretty reliable. Same goes for the 3rd gen F-body GM's (Camaro/Firebird).

Civic del Sol maybe? Always wanted one. Look for a 70s or 80s Datsun/Nissan Z.

Lancia Scorpion, Fiat X 1/9, Porsche 914. However, all will require $$ in maintenance, repair, and parts. Volkswagen Scirocco, Corrado also come to mind.

$2000 is gonna make it difficult.

My favorite would be an MR2, but finding an unmolested one could prove difficult. And the problem with buying one with aftermarket mods, you never know the quality of the work.

I'd steer clear of the Del Sol. Honda wanted it to be the 3rd Gen CRX (marketed it as such in some countries) but if I remember correctly, the unibody was weakened by the removable targa top. As such, it was common for the body flex to crack the rear window and the seals of the targa top to leak. I think this was fixed in the later cars, but I don't remember for sure.

If you can find a Z car pithing budget, go for it. They are great cars, and maintenance should be relatively easy and affordable. The 240 is the car to have, but the 260's and 280's are most likely going to be more in budget.

Scirocco and Corrado are good options that should be had in your price range. Unfortunately I don't know much about them, but the Corrado seems to have a bit of a cult following.

If you can find a 914 in your price range, I'd say go for it. They are one of the best values in a used Porsche right now, even if you have to do some work to it. It was the bastard child of the Porsche line-up for years, and the collectors market has largely ignored it.

Speaking of Porsche - a 928 or 944 would be worth searching for. Like the 914, you can still find them relatively cheap if you search. And the 944 specifically is pretty bullet-proof if well maintained. Unfortunately, for any Porsche, cost of maintenance can be high if it was neglected, or you're not able to do it yourself.

If you're even debating one of the Porsche's (and are willing to do the work involved in a $2-3k example) now is the time to do it. The prices on all the old 911's have gone through the roof, and the collectors and purists are starting to discover the 'lesser' cars.

-------

Again, like a few of us have stated before, $2000 is gonna make it tough to find anything decent. Most of what you find at that price point is gonna be either roached out, a basket case, or plagued with maintenance issues. If you do find something you like at that price, plan on at least another $1500-$2000 to get it properly sorted out to a reliable driver. Remember, you'll be most likely dealing with a ~30 y/o car that has either been sitting, unmaintained, or abused. If you can move your price point up to $4-5k the doors will open up to a lot more options. Unfortunately, that's just how it is.
 
Not where I'm at, fiat parts were high, Brit parts not as much.
Back when you just got the catalog in the mail.
I didn't have a mechanic that knew about Fiats either, but he knew British cars.
Electric didn't really bother me to much, once you get it figured out.
As far as price, here it's gonna be a rust issue more than anything else, I know where a few are that have been forgotten about in a garage for 30 years.
Lot of work, but not a lot of rust.
Around here, pretty much every where, triumph's not demanding much money, even in good shape.
I disagree Fiats are far easier to work on than anything that came out of England in that era

My first car was a '65 MGB followed by a '71 Fiat 124, an '82 Fiat 124, a '79 Fiat X19, then a couple of Germans.
 
Tr7s sucked, saw more than a few burn to the ground in front of people's houses, not running, just catch on fire.
Mid 70s spitfires were a much better car, and not as expensive as you would think, especially in "needs work" stages.
Driving, yep, more than 2k, in a garage for the last 20 years, I wouldn't go more than 500. To much work, for not a lot of return.
They do have a loyal fan base though, they have a rally in Dayton every year, more than a couple hundred show up.
 
I had a 3rd gen Camaro, 1992 RS 25th anniversary edition, 5.0l 305 v8. Modified for street and strip. Loved that car. Wish I still had it. Kept the exterior bone stock, exhaust tip place 2" in to not be too noticable, as well as his the exhaust cutouts. Car was a riot. Bulletproof, even the TBI system. Did a lot of late night street racing. I was young and stupid. Now I'm middle aged and stupid.
 
Tr7s sucked, saw more than a few burn to the ground in front of people's houses, not running, just catch on fire.
Mid 70s spitfires were a much better car, and not as expensive as you would think, especially in "needs work" stages.
Driving, yep, more than 2k, in a garage for the last 20 years, I wouldn't go more than 500. To much work, for not a lot of return.
They do have a loyal fan base though, they have a rally in Dayton every year, more than a couple hundred show up.

I never said Tr7's were great cars.... just that they could be had cheaply. :p

The Spitfires were great cars! I just personally haven't seen one for less than $4k. But to be honest, I haven't looked much either. When I was growing up in the 70's, my father raced one in SCCA club racing. I have very fond memories of being his 'assistant' while he wrenched on it at the track. I'll have to see if I can find a pic of it.
 
Didn't say you did, didn't say spitfires were either.
But, cheap enough to play with.
I kept one running for 5 years, so pretty easy to work on.
As for great, it's not in the 2k price range, without a flux capacitor.
Good luck to the op on the price range.
Try for a mini Cooper, a real one, or redo one of the omnis or chevettes.
 
Ever try the Mount Prospect City police auction in the spring? They auction off old Mount Prospect police cars. They practically give them away! :cool::p:thumbsup:
 
Back
Top