02-25-2008, 11:16 PM
i can vouch for a suby. 10k will buy you a nice 2.5RS. they are very simple cars, easy to maintain and with so much platform interchangability and monstrous aftermarket you can modify until your savings account is toast. they are unique and rewarding cars to drive and will give you all-year all-weather utility. they also aren't as large a theft magnet as many other imports. i regularly see 28+ mpg combined on mine and they take 87 pee-water octane.
personally though i would give the highest nod to the 2nd gen miata. they are bulletproof and cheap to own/insure/modify. you will get a great teaching in RWD dynamics and if you are strapped for space, just do like alot of autocrossers and get yourself a hitch and a small harbor freight trailer (you can store them in a closet and they hold like 1000 pounds). miatas are easy to learn but you will be a long time outgrowing their maximum performance.
i would not recommend a mid engined car as a starter. the handling could bite you and they are not as easy to work on as a front-engine car because everything is tightly packed over the rear wheels. you also forfeit alot of cargo space due to packaging.
as mentioned by others, also consider a camaro LS1. they are geared super high for highway milage and are plenty potent in stock form, although they will consume wear items faster due to weight and speed.
personally though i would give the highest nod to the 2nd gen miata. they are bulletproof and cheap to own/insure/modify. you will get a great teaching in RWD dynamics and if you are strapped for space, just do like alot of autocrossers and get yourself a hitch and a small harbor freight trailer (you can store them in a closet and they hold like 1000 pounds). miatas are easy to learn but you will be a long time outgrowing their maximum performance.
i would not recommend a mid engined car as a starter. the handling could bite you and they are not as easy to work on as a front-engine car because everything is tightly packed over the rear wheels. you also forfeit alot of cargo space due to packaging.
as mentioned by others, also consider a camaro LS1. they are geared super high for highway milage and are plenty potent in stock form, although they will consume wear items faster due to weight and speed.
2010 Civic Si
2019 4Runner TRD Off-Road
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Past: 03 Xterra SE 4x4 | 05 Impreza 2.5RS | 99.5 A4 Quattro 1.8T | 01 Accord EX | 90 Maxima GXE | 96 Explorer XLT
2019 4Runner TRD Off-Road
--------------------------
Past: 03 Xterra SE 4x4 | 05 Impreza 2.5RS | 99.5 A4 Quattro 1.8T | 01 Accord EX | 90 Maxima GXE | 96 Explorer XLT