What interesting car would you get for $6000?

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › What interesting car would you get for $6000?

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Ultimate Geek
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#1216133 16-Jan-2015 14:34

paulmilbank: Friends don't let friends buy MGF's! Father in Law gave me his old one when he started working for Honda and they gave him a company car. It was in poor condition to start with, granted, but It was horrendous and very difficult to do anything mechanically on. Lots of British "quirks" that you just wouldn't see on a Jappa. Too far ahead of its time suspension which is not made any more, badly designed soft top, bolts made of cheese, engine design issues due to it being an overly bored and stroked K series first built in the 80's. Cooling system is atrocious, it just goes on and on. Fun to drive though.

Want to stay away from Euro's unless it is really good. Jappa's are everywhere and parts are plentiful. Heck, with an MX5 and an engine hoist, I could swap an engine in an afternoon. I would probably look at the newer spyder MR2's, have seen a few in that price range.

New MR2 SPyders are pretty good, couple of guys had them on club runs and they were basically more modern versions of the AW11, more true to the handling compared to the SW20 which required mods.

RE: Colt my pick of the non Plus versions would be

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/mitsubishi/auction-829817787.htm

Less people mover shape and more hot hatch.

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Mark

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#1216136 16-Jan-2015 14:36

heylinb4nz: Rover MGF, similar to MX5 without the stigma :)

Some low km ones avaiable in $6000 range or less
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/rover/auction-827873722.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/rover/auction-814773863.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/rover/auction-829862476.htm

Or the performance .. or the fun factor .... ;-)

TLD

902 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1216137 16-Jan-2015 14:38

Whoa! Stay clear of the MGF. They had an ongoing problem with head gasket failure and are as unreliable as Japanese cars tend to be reliable. If it was a choice between MGF and MX5, the Mazda is a total no brainer.

The Honda S2000 is big favourite with the Top Gear team, but I don't think they are available for that sort of money.

Is this going to be your only vehicle? I'd quite like to fly about in an MX5, but it would way too impracticable, and I think the novelty might wear off after the tenth time you found yourself short of luggage space. Heck, if space is not a problem, go all the way with something like a Lotus 7 Replica. You'd still be hard pressed at $6k, but I just found this one for $8k

One of the greatest driver's cars I've experienced, is the Ford Focus believe it or not. It always went exactly where you steered it, did easy to control lift off over-steer, and was way more sensible than a two seater sof-top. A bit big perhaps, but I never found the Fiesta quite as good. Note: I have to admit to some bias as my entire working life was at Ford Research/Product Development.

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

Mark

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#1216138 16-Jan-2015 14:40

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/smart/auction-820725759.htm

you know what they say about men with big cars ..... ;-)

DravidDavid

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#1216147 16-Jan-2015 14:45

If you find a Rover MGF with an up-rated multi-layer headgasket and electronic thermostat, get that.

The MGF might be a tad quirky, but they are ultra fun to drive and are indeed cheap to run. I had the 1.8L VVT model for a year and it was awesome. 60 bucks got me through an entire week of town driving, which was usually a 30KM round trip with the odd supermarket trip here and there.

The headgasket issue is the MGF's stigma like the MX5's "girly" stigma. It's often way over-stated and can be avoided with a newer electronic thermostat (put on the later 1999+ models I believe). This eliminates the hereditary cooling issues mentioned above. I'm still looking for a quick runner and have set my heart this time on an MR2, but I have found lots of Rover MGF's on TradeMe with the headgasket and thermostat work done with 60,000 k's on the clock for $5,500 ono.

You don't want to buy an MGF and replace the headgasket. Mechanics have to drop the engine out to do anything on that car!

EDIT: Also, don't get a non-VVT version. You will be disappointed.

mdooher

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#1216171 16-Jan-2015 15:37

Alfa Sprint

Matthew

mudguard

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#1216172 16-Jan-2015 15:45

VTEC Civic or CRX. You could probably get an Integra Type R for that money now.

xpd

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#1216175 16-Jan-2015 15:50

mudguard: VTEC Civic or CRX. You could probably get an Integra Type R for that money now.

Catch with those is that most have been thrashed or theyve been so well looked after/modified, that the pricing goes up....

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#1216177 16-Jan-2015 15:52

DravidDavid: If you find a Rover MGF with an up-rated multi-layer headgasket and electronic thermostat, get that.

The MGF might be a tad quirky, but they are ultra fun to drive and are indeed cheap to run. I had the 1.8L VVT model for a year and it was awesome. 60 bucks got me through an entire week of town driving, which was usually a 30KM round trip with the odd supermarket trip here and there.

The headgasket issue is the MGF's stigma like the MX5's "girly" stigma. It's often way over-stated and can be avoided with a newer electronic thermostat (put on the later 1999+ models I believe). This eliminates the hereditary cooling issues mentioned above. I'm still looking for a quick runner and have set my heart this time on an MR2, but I have found lots of Rover MGF's on TradeMe with the headgasket and thermostat work done with 60,000 k's on the clock for $5,500 ono.

You don't want to buy an MGF and replace the headgasket. Mechanics have to drop the engine out to do anything on that car!

EDIT: Also, don't get a non-VVT version. You will be disappointed.

+1 for the MGF. Get one thats been sorted with a MLS Gasket and the usual belts / water pump done and they are loads of fun. And are cheap to run

TLD

902 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1216199 16-Jan-2015 16:49

mudguard: VTEC Civic or CRX. You could probably get an Integra Type R for that money now.

A buddy has an ITR, and according to him they are thin on the ground in NZ, but I just found a few on Trademe. They certainly have a reasonable spec and a high cult status factor, and I bet they are a lot of fun to drive. I'd want to do a _lot_ of research before I committed to one, because the specs vary so much.

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

toyonut

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#1216201 16-Jan-2015 16:53

As above, had an MGF, not keen for another. Whatever I get, I will be doing most of the maintenance on it, It just has to be simple and easy. Also the MGF leaks something shocking from all kinds places you wouldn't expect. We have a second car for my Wife which has loads of room so this is just something for me to go to work in and tinker with.

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

TLD

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Ultimate Geek

#1216203 16-Jan-2015 17:00

Mark: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/smart/auction-820725759.htm

you know what they say about men with big cars ..... ;-)

There are a good few interesting Smart Cars out there. This one has aKawasaki ZX-10 engine, but there are Smart Cars with Yamaha R1, and turbocharged Hayabusa engines.

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

Mark

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#1216231 16-Jan-2015 17:26

TLD:

There are a good few interesting Smart Cars out there. This one has aKawasaki ZX-10 engine, but there are Smart Cars with Yamaha R1, and turbocharged Hayabusa engines.

The ultimate aim for mine, once the pennies are saved and I'm tired of playing with the existing engine :-)

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#1216249 16-Jan-2015 17:58

Range Rover

ilovemusic

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#1216269 16-Jan-2015 18:38

a $6k range rover is going to put you in the poor house !

stick to the mx5 or mr-s.

and sub-$10k euro is going to be trouble.

double that for an old rusty italian.

hahaha

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