Looking for another interesting beater/project car

Elkins45

Elkins45

Site Donor 2026
Joined
May 7, 2018
Messages
3,187
Location
Northern KY
I sold my redundant xB and I’m currently laid up recuperating from knee surgery, so I’ve been amusing myself by scrolling Marketplace looking for interesting cheap cars to fool around with. I think I want something with a manual transmission so that probably rules out anything other than a smaller model. A Honda Fit looks interesting, as does a Mazda 2 or 3, possibly a Ford Focus.

There’s a mom and pop lot that has a 2007 Volvo S40 with a five speed and a 2.4 five cylinder with 124k miles listed, but they’re asking $5400 which seems wildly optimistic for a 19 year old car. I’ve never owned a Volvo. I know I don’t want something I’ve owned before, so no Corolla or Matrix. A Nissan Frontier standard cab 2WD could be useful if one even exists nearby.

What cheap, interesting cars with manual transmissions might be worth a look?
 
Elkins45 said:
I sold my redundant xB and I’m currently laid up recuperating from knee surgery, so I’ve been amusing myself by scrolling Marketplace looking for interesting cheap cars to fool around with. I think I want something with a manual transmission so that probably rules out anything other than a smaller model. A Honda Fit looks interesting, as does a Mazda 2 or 3, possibly a Ford Focus.

There’s a mom and pop lot that has a 2007 Volvo S40 with a five speed and a 2.4 five cylinder with 124k miles listed, but they’re asking $5400 which seems wildly optimistic for a 19 year old car. I’ve never owned a Volvo. I know I don’t want something I’ve owned before, so no Corolla or Matrix. A Nissan Frontier standard cab 2WD could be useful if one even exists nearby.

What cheap, interesting cars with manual transmissions might be worth a look?
Click to expand...

Am I wrong to assume in the current market to get anything running $5,000 is the price of admission? FYI-if you can get them parts are expensive. I own a 2022 XC60.
Someone mentioned a BMW-those are not any better for parts. My son has an old one he loves. But the amount of time he spends wrenching everything BUT THE POWERTRAIN is unbelievable.
Respectfully-you time is better spent volunteering somewhere. JMHO.
 
Last edited:
SC Maintenance said:
A Frontier in any kind of condition won't be cheap. I thought you had a Titan already?

I also vote for a BMW if you can find an unmolested one.
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4WD vs 2WD for a Frontier, but all trucks are stupidly expensive around here.

I should probably fix all the stuff that doesn’t work on my dad’s 98 Chevy. Since the AC broke it only gets used to haul off the garbage.
 
Inexpensive fun cars are few and far between now. If you like performance cars, as mentioned above, an older BMW can be a fun choice. A Subaru WRX, non STi is always a contender.
 
Cujet said:
Inexpensive fun cars are few and far between now. If you like performance cars, as mentioned above, an older BMW can be a fun choice. A Subaru WRX, non STi is always a contender.
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I always assumed any manual WDX on the used market had been driven like a getaway car and minutes away from complete mechanical failure.
 
A BMW e36 would be a good pick.
Durable and reliable drivetrains and easy to work on and find parts for.
Active enthusiasts sites for advice and support.
Had a '95 318i ragtop and really liked and trusted the car. Should have kept it rather than selling it.
 
fdcg27 said:
A BMW e36 would be a good pick.
Durable and reliable drivetrains and easy to work on and find parts for.
Active enthusiasts sites for advice and support.
Had a '95 318i ragtop and really liked and trusted the car. Should have kept it rather than selling it.
Click to expand...
Exactly. The 318i/is/ti is a great choice; the M42/M44 is a nearly bulletproof motor and a Conforti chip will wake it up a bit. My ti has over 150k miles on it and it’s been tremendous fun over the past 30 years.
 
Elkins45 said:
4WD vs 2WD for a Frontier, but all trucks are stupidly expensive around here.

I should probably fix all the stuff that doesn’t work on my dad’s 98 Chevy. Since the AC broke it only gets used to haul off the garbage.
Click to expand...
If you can find a 2wd manual 4 cylinder for a decent price there great rigs if not underpowered. First generations were pretty decent also.

Xterra with a manual were somewhat common at one point.
 
Since the Dodge Raider / Mitsubishi Montero and the Suzuki Samurai / GeoTracker have been tossed into this salad, I’ll toss this in. I’ve always thought having a Mazda B2600i 4x4 (1989-1993) would be a fun project to tinker with. I’ve always thought they looked good, you know, before they became a 4-letter word in 1994. 🤔😉
Finding one of those in good shape today would be a task.
 
barkingspider said:
Pontiac Vibe GT
Click to expand...
Which is just a Toyota Matrix, which he doesn't want.

I could do a Focus or Fiesta myself.... My Cobalt is fun in a "I'm an absolute menace in this thing" kind of way. Nevermind the door cards that refuse to stay put, cherry bomb axle dump with glorious exhaust pops if you shift it just right, bloody hand prints painted all over it, or skeleton smoking a cigarette buckled in the passenger seat.
 
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