Where have all the affordable fun to drive cars gone?

P

PWMDMD

Joined
Apr 22, 2018
Messages
4,300
Location
MA
I love my Tundra and my wife loves her RX 350 but neither is any fun to drive. I started thinking about maybe getting a small, sporty, preferably manual, fun-to-drive car for putzing around town. Now I'm 6'5" and 275lbs and so my size must also be factored in but I have happily driven a 2014 Mazda3 (without a moon or sunroof) and a 2013 Audi S5 with plenty of room so I'm not freakishly large. Off to Google I went and there really aren't any cars that fit these criteria.

Mazda Miata - too small
Subaru WRX - maybe but a kid's car
Subaru BRZ/86 - maybe but I'd have to sit in one to see how it fits
Nissan Z - ehhh....it's a Nissan
Toyota Supra - a little too much car for what I'm looking for and do I fit?

Is there something I'm not thinking of and missing? I'm thinking $30K, $35k, maybe $40K if it really fits the bill. Can be used too. Doesn't have to have a ton of power just a manual and be fun to drive. It really is a sad time for affordable fun-to-drive cars.
 
Volvo V70R wagon. Made 2004-2007. Find a nice clean one, with a six speed manual. Fits people your size. Starting to go up in value now…

Something like this one

bringatrailer.com

No Reserve: 2004 Volvo V70R 6-Speed

Bid for the chance to own a No Reserve: 2004 Volvo V70R 6-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #69,256.
bringatrailer.com bringatrailer.com
 
Astro14 said:
Volvo V70R wagon. Made 2004-2007. Find a nice clean one, with a six speed manual. Fits people your size. Starting to go up in value now…

Something like this one

bringatrailer.com

No Reserve: 2004 Volvo V70R 6-Speed

Bid for the chance to own a No Reserve: 2004 Volvo V70R 6-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #69,256.
bringatrailer.com bringatrailer.com
Click to expand...
Before we bought our Yoda there was one just like this for 6500 or so.

I’d go to jail so we passed.
 
They've all gone the way to le$$ affordable SUVs. 🚘

No more "HOT HATCHES" 🚗

And performance cars🏎️ are too expensive.

I still have a fondness for the little econobox. 🚕 There are a few remaining from KIA/Hyundai & Chevrolet but the remaining ones are gone.
 
PWMDMD said:
I love my Tundra and my wife loves her RX 350 but neither is any fun to drive. I started thinking about maybe getting a small, sporty, preferably manual, fun-to-drive car for putzing around town. Now I'm 6'5" and 275lbs and so my size must also be factored in but I have happily driven a 2014 Mazda3 (without a moon or sunroof) and a 2013 Audi S5 with plenty of room so I'm not freakishly large. Off to Google I went and there really aren't any cars that fit these criteria.

Mazda Miata - too small
Subaru WRX - maybe but a kid's car
Subaru BRZ/86 - maybe but I'd have to sit in one to see how it fits
Nissan Z - ehhh....it's a Nissan
Toyota Supra - a little too much car for what I'm looking for and do I fit?

Is there something I'm not thinking of and missing? I'm thinking $30K, $35k, maybe $40K if it really fits the bill. Can be used too. Doesn't have to have a ton of power just a manual and be fun to drive. It really is a sad time for affordable fun-to-drive cars.
Click to expand...
I am 70 and bought a wrx in June. Love the car! I am still a kid. Love rowing the 6sp with sti shifter
 
PWMDMD said:
I love my Tundra and my wife loves her RX 350 but neither is any fun to drive. I started thinking about maybe getting a small, sporty, preferably manual, fun-to-drive car for putzing around town. Now I'm 6'5" and 275lbs and so my size must also be factored in but I have happily driven a 2014 Mazda3 (without a moon or sunroof) and a 2013 Audi S5 with plenty of room so I'm not freakishly large. Off to Google I went and there really aren't any cars that fit these criteria.

Mazda Miata - too small
Subaru WRX - maybe but a kid's car
Subaru BRZ/86 - maybe but I'd have to sit in one to see how it fits
Nissan Z - ehhh....it's a Nissan
Toyota Supra - a little too much car for what I'm looking for and do I fit?

Is there something I'm not thinking of and missing? I'm thinking $30K, $35k, maybe $40K if it really fits the bill. Can be used too. Doesn't have to have a ton of power just a manual and be fun to drive. It really is a sad time for affordable fun-to-drive cars.
Click to expand...
Gone to salvage yards everyone, When will they ever learn?
 
The fun to drive ones are at my house. Most fun to drive in order 1, 1975 VW Westfalia with 70's stickers on the windows. You better be dressed right if you go anywhere cause somebody will be taking your picture with it. Can't get smile off my face driving it. 2. 1965 VW Beetle imported from England. We have owned this car for 26 years and all my sons learned to drive a stick in it. Its totally stock looking but has a larger motor. 3. 1987 VW Cabriolet with 5 speed. This with the top down is a great little driver and conversation piece. 4. My 1986 VW Vanagon Westfalia Wolfsburg. Don't take it very many places anymore but used to travel the country in this one. It makes me smile.
 
What happened to the 2 door models also. How about a 2 door civic/integra with a manual? The Gr86 manual and the MX-5 Club are the ones that we are looking at now. Both are a tough get.
 
This was my 'go to' fun to drive car. Best time you can have while still wearing your shorts.

BMW.jpg
1973 BMW 2002tii just like mine.
 
PWMDMD said:
....It really is a sad time for affordable fun-to-drive cars.
Click to expand...
I think if interest rates keep climbing and stay at the average historic levels those cars will come back to market.
Cheap credit has made expensive high profit cars affordable because the payment is the same due to low rates. Never mind the STUPID long plan terms.
No different than the housing market. (which is now considering 45 year mortgages)
Cheap credit = high prices, expensive credit = low prices, payment is the same.

(when I was young, decades ago, I was one the first owners of a Honda CRX, god I LOVED that car)
Yes, fun is the word, somehow people will go into a huge debt load for a throw away car that will go 0 to 60 in 4 to 6 seconds with a top speed of around 140 MPH, for what? $50,000 and maybe lose your license to drive?
To me, that price range = no fun factor for the majority of the population.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

malibuguy79
I think I need to thin my vehicular herd
Replies
16
Views
986
John105
P
2024 Corolla Corolla GR and Land Cruiser observations
Replies
13
Views
1K
PWMDMD
W
Rotors for 2019 Subaru Impreza Sport
2
Replies
25
Views
757
Wheel366
wings&wheels
2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Test....Visit
Replies
10
Views
825
cptbarkey
Kurtatron
Volkswagen Beetle. A classic car on a budget?
4 5 6
Replies
104
Views
7K
berniedd
Back
Top