03-14-2013, 08:47 AM
What are your "must haves" versus "wants" on this?
Are you going to be working on it yourself? How handy are you with a set of wrenches? Are you willing to learn?
Typical BMW suggestions would include the E36 328i/is or M3. You could also get an E46 325/328. The E46 will be a nicer place to spend time in (the interiors are far nicer than the older cars, and don't fall apart) but the E36 is more of a "driver's car." Both are reasonably easy to work on yourself. Tons of people here, myself included, can share ownership anecdotes. Hell, go look at my project threads, and Joey's M3 thread, to see what you'd be getting into with either car.
I don't know a thing about Subarus, but I think $7k is perhaps pushing it for a turbo-Subie. Maybe a first-year (2002) WRX?
(And PS: three pedals or none at all)
Are you going to be working on it yourself? How handy are you with a set of wrenches? Are you willing to learn?
Typical BMW suggestions would include the E36 328i/is or M3. You could also get an E46 325/328. The E46 will be a nicer place to spend time in (the interiors are far nicer than the older cars, and don't fall apart) but the E36 is more of a "driver's car." Both are reasonably easy to work on yourself. Tons of people here, myself included, can share ownership anecdotes. Hell, go look at my project threads, and Joey's M3 thread, to see what you'd be getting into with either car.
I don't know a thing about Subarus, but I think $7k is perhaps pushing it for a turbo-Subie. Maybe a first-year (2002) WRX?
(And PS: three pedals or none at all)
Now:
'16 Ram 1500 | '97 BMW M3 | Some Press Loan
Then:
87 BMW 325e | 91 BMW 535i | 96 BMW 328i | 95 BMW 325i | 95 Mazda Miata | 13 Focus ST | 09 BMW 128i | 00 Pontiac Firebird | 05 Yukon Denali | 96 BMW 328iC | 11 Ford F-150 | 06 BMW M3 | 10 Range Rover SC | '03 Ford Ranger | '18 Ford F-150 | '01 BMW X5 | '98 Volvo S70 T5M
'16 Ram 1500 | '97 BMW M3 | Some Press Loan
Then:
87 BMW 325e | 91 BMW 535i | 96 BMW 328i | 95 BMW 325i | 95 Mazda Miata | 13 Focus ST | 09 BMW 128i | 00 Pontiac Firebird | 05 Yukon Denali | 96 BMW 328iC | 11 Ford F-150 | 06 BMW M3 | 10 Range Rover SC | '03 Ford Ranger | '18 Ford F-150 | '01 BMW X5 | '98 Volvo S70 T5M