WTB: Michelle The Miata's Replacement

[Senor_Taylor]

Howdy, everyone! As we all know, Michelle isn't feeling too well. It's time to send her to the market and fetch some money before she croaks, so it's time to buy a new calf to fatten up for the winter.

I'm not entirely set on another Miata just yet. My budget this time around is much better. I'm thinking $3000-$4000, while $4000 is pushing it. Preferably a trade for the Miata involved since it's not sold yet.

I have a deal in the works for Chan's E46 pending me getting the money from Matthew, but this is just in case things don't work out. I want to be on top of getting Michelle replaced. Plus, I'm not sure if BMW ownership is for me.

Really, I'm just looking for suggestions or places to look. I don't know what I want yet and I'm not really sure where to start. Y'all basically did 90% of the work looking for my Miata. I'm not ready to pull the trigger at this exact moment, but I will be soon.

I'd prefer something sporty, obviously. Something that is possible to auto-x
RWD
4 Doors or back seats would be a plus
Somewhat reliable. I'll have two vehicles, so it's okay if it's not Civic reliable, but nothing too egregious.
Manual
Nothing that's too much of a project. The Miata was fine because I had all summer to work on it, but I'd rather buy something that won't cost me $1000 and 100 hours to get working.

Thanks.

[D_Eclipse9916]

Howdy, everyone! As we all know, Michelle isn't feeling too well. It's time to send her to the market and fetch some money before she croaks, so it's time to buy a new calf to fatten up for the winter.

I'm not entirely set on another Miata just yet. My budget this time around is much better. I'm thinking $3000-$4000, while $4000 is pushing it. Preferably a trade for the Miata involved since it's not sold yet.

I have a deal in the works for Chan's E46 pending me getting the money from Matthew, but this is just in case things don't work out. I want to be on top of getting Michelle replaced. Plus, I'm not sure if BMW ownership is for me.

Really, I'm just looking for suggestions or places to look. I don't know what I want yet and I'm not really sure where to start. Y'all basically did 90% of the work looking for my Miata. I'm not ready to pull the trigger at this exact moment, but I will be soon.

I'd prefer something sporty, obviously. Something that is possible to auto-x
RWD
4 Doors or back seats would be a plus
Somewhat reliable. I'll have two vehicles, so it's okay if it's not Civic reliable, but nothing too egregious.
Manual
Nothing that's too much of a project. The Miata was fine because I had all summer to work on it, but I'd rather buy something that won't cost me $1000 and 100 hours to get working.

Thanks.

At 3-4000 and "sporty, rwd and not a project" you are still going to have $1000 and 100 hours to get working. If they were all that cheap, we wouldnt be spending the higher price tag on other vehicles. I think the E46 is great (obviously), or another miata. A miata at the $4k price point would buy you something nicer and less crap-tastic than the current one but it doesnt get you backseats. I would think at $4k you ccould search around and find an E46 330i which are FANTASTIC at the price point.

Sorry, 4 doors, not a piece of shit, manual, and sporty? Not much around but bmws. Well, without getting eccentric and hating yourself.

[Jake]

Another +1 to E36 or E46. The E46 will be far, far nicer to sit in - I love my E36 but most people would light it on fire if their commute was as creaky and rattly as mine is.

As far as non-BMW suggestions... maybe find a 240SX that's not clapped out? Kind of an impossible situation I think.Could always do a Mustang or 4th-gen F-Body GM but those are very different cars from a BMW. NB Miatas are good but don't have the backseat you asked for.

Anything else I can think of would be too spendy.

[.RJ]

Sell the Miata, buy Chan's E46, and use the balance to fix or preemptively fix whatever's wrong with it. Seriously nice cars to drive when they're working well.

[Jake]

Sell the Miata, buy Chan's E46, and use the balance to fix or preemptively fix whatever's wrong with it. Seriously nice cars to drive when they're working well.

That's really the best option, IMO.

[Senor_Taylor]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I really like the idea of Chan's E46, which is why him and I have been talking about it.

Just trying to cover all of the bases. All of these suggestions are right along with what I was thinking.

Also, I'm not sure if the E46 is my speed, so I might sell it down the road, so this thread will be a good thing to look back on.

I hate to admit it, but Fox Body's check a lot of boxes for me, but so many are ragged out, it's not funny. I have a friend here in Lynchburg that offered me a really pretty 302 swapped LX Fox Body.

Honestly, how is E30 ownership? I keep finding really decent looking 325i's and 325Is's. I mean, look at this thing. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/5361541533.html">https://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/5361541533.html</a><!-- m -->

[ispoonwithmugen]

^That's a good one there too. I have such a soft spot for E30's just know you're buying a car that is ~30+ years old. Also that's Kevin (Flim Flam media) E30. He's a good guy and I would trust everything written about the car.

[CaptainHenreh]

Yeah, buy FlimFlam's E30 so he can buy 3 more.

[Senor_Taylor]

I've never heard of that guy. You always find cool cars before you have the money to get it.

[JPolen01]

Yeah, buy FlimFlam's E30 so he can buy 3 more.

Not a better suggestion. /thread

[Jake]

Yeah, another +1 to FlimFlam's E30.

They drive well, a bit "old school" compared to the E36/46 but still modern enough to be easy to work on and drive without any hassle.

[.RJ]

You guys are recommending a dented up, 30 year old, 300k mile car over an E46?

What the fuck is in the water.

[JPolen01]

Kevin's e30s are usually fairly clean and in good running order. I would much rather have an e30 over a lame jane boring ass 325i. Pics for reference.

[.RJ]

By clean you mean every panel on the car is dented or needs paintwork, sagging bumpers, 150hp on a cold day and shitty rear suspension at best? I mean, it's cool but its not a $1500 premium over chan's car, thats for sure.

[Senor_Taylor]

Chan's car is #1 in my book. If it's too "boring" for me, I'm sure some Miata bro will trade for it heading into later on down the road.


... but, I think everyone can see that at this point, anything, including that E30 is in better condition than what my Miata was in.

[Jake]

Yeah, the Miata was pretty rough.

I'm glad you're looking at the E46 vs. E30 as your #1. The E30 would be a fun car but clearly needs some love - and it's getting into "really old" territory where things are going to be worn out from just being a million years old. The E46 will definitely require maintenance, but I'd think it would be less of a pain i the ass.

Oh, and modern safety equipment is kind of cool, too.

[Senor_Taylor]

I'm looking at it from this perspective. The Miata was super fun. Nothing will beat that for the money I have, but it was by far the least comfortable vehicle I've ever had the displeasure of being in, and that's after owning nothing but trucks. It was kind of embarrassing picking up my girlfriend and having her be soaked from the roof leaking. It will suck having such a "normal" car, but we'll see how I feel when I'm sitting on some heated leather.

So, the E46 325 is slower than a Miata in every way except maybe top speed, which isn't even really relevant, but I think it'd be a nice change for a bit. If I like it, I'll keep it. If not, I'm coming back to this thread and looking for something else. This is all reliant on me getting the money before someone else buys Chan's.

How much do you think a valve stem seal job would cost on an E46?

[JPolen01]

How much do you think a valve stem seal job would cost on an E46?

Probably a lot less than fixing the valve guides/seals where the oil is likely leaking from.

[Senor_Taylor]

I wasn't aware that those were too separate things.

[Goodspeed]

It will suck having such a "normal" car, but we'll see how I feel when I'm sitting on some heated leather.

It will not suck one iota. For a car that will be autocrossed <5% of it's total usage (or thereabouts), the tradeoff is well worth it.