$10,000 will buy?

isellhondas · December 2000

Maybe I'll put it on E-Bay!

Mr_Shiftright · December 2000

Okay, I'll pay the listing fee, promise!

isellhondas · December 2000

At the time it was a fun and interesting read.

Now that I've "met" the author, it has become more important to me.

You ought to do a revised version...I'll help!

gulfguy · January 2001

If I understand the premise of the thread it is to identify a car that can be driven daily. Be more than "just a car" and inexpensive, ideally not only in purchase price but maintenance and depreciation....

Faced with that dilema as well as wanting something for my daughter to learn to drive in and...... learn a little about how cars worked and how to keep them running, I chose a Porsche 914 2.0 liter. For $10k you can find one that is in almost show condition. They are fun to drive, parts are plentiful and with the exception of the rubber parts, cheap. Compared to a Miata its primitive...........but it will turn lots more heads when you drive it down the street and listening to that engine growl through twin Abarths as you wrap it up through the gears is about as much fun as it gets.

Its basicly a hot rod Volkswagon so its good to learn mechanical basics on and if you take care of it.........will hold its value. If you are willing to put up with some cosmetic deficiencies.....you can get a solid car down aroun $5k. We've had ours for over 8 years. It started out as a daily driver and as we worked on it improving cosmetics, taking care of minor mechanical situations and generally sorting it out to be a truly reliable and good looking little car......it became the sunny day put the top down and play toy it is now.

My daughter is 23 now and while she will never choose to be a mechanic........ she knows that car inside out and no garage will ever get away with BSing her about what a car needs.

Mr_Shiftright · January 2001

Fun car---but really there are lots of genuine Porsche parts in that car....it's not a VW...it has Porsche transmission and 911 front end. If you can keep the cranky fuel injection well grounded to the block, and replace the starter every few years, and dont forget to adjust those valves!...it's a reliable car. I drove one for years, all over the US....they are ferocious handlers and will give any Miata a run for the money on road or track...but the Miata is WAY more comfortable and warm, that's true. Probably the weakest part of the 914 is the heater/ventilation system.

Mr_Shiftright · September 2001

Sorry, I deleted your post as we do not allow classifieds in Town Hall. We try to keep the boards clear of it so visitors don't have to plow through tons of them.

You should place your ad at www.traderonline.com

Shiftright the Host

ghulet · September 2001

.....here's my list

almost any 70s Eldo convertible
a decent/not perfect 60s Lincoln convertible
most non-SS/Z28 Camaro coupes (esp. 1970 on)
almost any Firebird (notice 60s Firebirds are cheaper than Camaros and much more rare)
60s Pontiac Grand Prix (much cheaper than GTO)
Ford Galaxie convertibles (again, compare to Impalas, they're like half the cost)

avalanche325 · November 2001

I have seen a new Hundai something or other on TV(it obviously didn't get my attention) for about $9000. I remember that the old VW beetles went over $10,000 new in their last years.

With a big warrenty too! (If they last to honor it)

Mr_Shiftright · November 2001

almost any 70s Eldo convertible--$7,500 should get you a beauty. This car is sinking fast

a decent/not perfect 60s Lincoln convertible---don't think so

most non-SS/Z28 Camaro coupes (esp. 1970 on)--yep, although the Z28 might be less than sharp.

almost any Firebird (notice 60s Firebirds are cheaper than Camaros and much more rare)--yep but probably not a sharp Trans Am.

60s Pontiac Grand Prix (much cheaper than GTO)--you could probably buy TWO coupes for $10K or one convertible.

Ford Galaxie convertibles (again, compare to Impalas, they're like half the cost)--yeah but not the 427s.

ghulet · November 2001

Just checked autotrader.com for Lincoln convertibles. The 'show cars' in general are in the $15-25k range (there was one for $75k...LOL). There *were* quite a few presentable drivers (I did say 'decent/not perfect') in the $7-13k range. OTOH, these cars are expensive to keep and run, I imagine, especially with all the electical do-dads (notably the top servos), so as a budget collectible, probably not a good idea.

As for Camaros and Firebirds; I said NON-SS/Z28. Even regular coupes now are going over $10k if they're in good shape. I never said anyone was going to get an early Trans-Am or Z28 for $10k, ain't gonna happen unless it's dead. Of COURSE you're not going to find a 427 Galaxie for less than $10k, they're hard to find at any price. If you compare a run-of-the-mill small block Galaxie to a similar Impala, Fords are about half as much money. Even old Impala sedans are a bit pricey (for what they are) these days.

Some other cool old cars in the $10k range, (I'm speculating, cut me some slack, geez):....... (-:

Off-brand cars (non-Chevy or Ford), like mid/late-60s Mercury/Buick/Olds convertibles, the biggies, can definitely be found for less than $10k. Another kinda 'sleeper' (market-wise), the 67-70 Mercury Cougar is probably not a bad choice for less than $10k, they're mechanically a Mustang (and only with V8s!) but more rare, generally less abused and more interesting, IMHO. Lemme see, how 'bout a 70-72 Monte Carlo? Maybe a Javelin? Um, anyone for a really hot 60s Bonneville hardtop? An Imperial? A 67-69 Plymouth Fury III convertible? A really sweet late 60s Cadillac sedan? $10k is a nice sum to spend on a toy, not outrageous, but you *can* get a really nice cruiser for that.

I digress......anyone here know how the collector car market has been affected by 9/11 or the recession (aren't you glad the government told us we're officially in one now)?

speedshift · November 2001

'67-8 Cougar - great choice, especially the XR-7 with the Jaguar-inspired dash. More refined than the Mustang but still quick and fun to drive. 99% came with automatic and most of the remaining 1% had the standard three speed, so not the car if you demand a four speed. I had a '68 XR-7 with 302-4v and four speed and it's one of the few cars I'd like back. I'd go with the '69-70 only if I wanted a convertible, again the XR-7 would be my first choice for the really nice interior. I wonder what a 302 Eliminator would cost, never caught on, too heavy for the engine.

Other good choices - '66 Wildcat convertible, much cheaper than comparable Chevy. Some interesting Wildcats including dual quad 425s and four speeds but these are rare. '66 Olds Starfire, full size performance Olds with 425 CID, also much cheaper than comparable 427 Impala but more content, better interior. Any Starfire or Bonneville, fast luxurious cruisers. How about a non-letter series 300? Maybe even a '65 300L, those can't cost too much.

I'd pass up the Monte for the '69-up Grand Prix, better looks and performance.

ghulet · November 2001

My grandparents had a 66 Wildcat, though theirs was kind of 'mild' and not too well optioned (tan with tan interior, two door hardtop, bench seat, column shift, no power options). I do remember my uncle, who was 16 or 17 when they had the car, did quite like it. Could it have been the big engine?

Yes, the 69-72 Grand Prixs are nice, though I like the older ones (big Pontiac chassis) better. The GPs tend to be better optioned than Monte Carlos, and also have at least a 400 engine (many, many had 455s).

Mr_Shiftright · December 2001

Collector car market is a bit soft right now, but exceptional and rare cars still sell for top dollar. Project cars are dead, dead, dead. Prowlers are sale proof, big old 4-doors are practically free right now. British sportscars are still hot (if pre 1974 and in top shape and not a Spitfire). Muscle cars still hot, ol pickups doing pretty well, street rods are good, '57 Chevy convertibles are red hot, race cars with history are much sought after if they are old enough for vintage events.

So the market is strong for the traditionally desirable cars and weak for the traditionally borderline, shabby, odd-ball and too old fashioned. People are getting fussier and fussier about how they spend their money on Old Iron.

speedshift · December 2001

I'd go with the early ones too although the later ones were probably better cars. I had a '62 GP that was a wallowing boat, had the very strange Roto-Hydramatic that's in many big Pontiacs '61-64. Drove a loaded '64 421, supposedly bought new by Bing Crosby, great interior but the automatic is a real bummer.

The 69-up are more performance oriented than the Montes, lots of 428s in '69, plus the Model J trim package and Model SJ performance package.

Mr_Shiftright · December 2001

Yeah, okay, I'll go with an early 60s Lincoln convertible being available for around $10K if you shop. It's do-able.

ghulet · December 2001

I'm gone cuz I have at&t broadband, which is now kaput thanks to excite going out of business. I shall return as soon as my internet access does (I'm now at Kinko's).

ghulet · December 2001

......will also buy a really nice later 60s Cadillac, even a convertible. Not so for pre-65 convertibles, though, at least not usually.

Mr_Shiftright · December 2001

and another $10,000 for gas.

ghulet · December 2001

.....but we can probably say that for most of them (any old car with a big block).

Mr_Shiftright · December 2001

Yeah, but Caddies really seem to suck it up for some reason. You step on the gas on my friend's 500 cid Eldo, and you can hear the toilet flush.

ghulet · December 2001

I guess since the 'average' old car with a big block weighs ~4000 pounds, it's gonna use less gas than a 5000lb. Cadillac, no question. I think those 505s in the Eldos were the worst pigs ever, it was a ridiculously large engine saddled with bad early emission control crap. Bad combination.

$10,000 will buy?

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