Best car choice under $10k for a Guzzi-head

[Motosan]

I'm moving out of the city soon and since I can't always ride, I need to buy a car. I'm curious what car models you guys like? Something fun, semi easy to do standard work on etc. I'm trying to find something cheap, around $5-10k. I'm thinking an early 90's Saab 900 turbo. . .fun and quirky! And you can get them for cheap (starting price anyways). Just thought I'd see if anyone had some other suggestions.  . . 

[oldbike54]

 Uh , not sure a Saab turbo is gonna be simple to maintain . I would look more at a Nissan 240 SX , or one of the Celica Supra non-turbo models .

 Dusty

[TodkaVonic]

Fun, reliable, inexpensive...Mazda miata. They're straightforward to work on, have ample used and remanufactured parts, and there's an enormous and devoted internet community for support. 

Yup. Miata.

[not-fishing]

Grand Caravan or Small Pickup because Guzzi's get lonely and you can never have just one.

[OlDogface]

Honda Insight or 5 door Civic if you need some cargo room or a Mazda Miata if you want to go fast with no space. Both are very reliable and cheap.

[Guzzidad]

   I find a 1/2 ton pick-up with extended cab is way more useful than a car. And, easier to work on.

[Motosan]

I could buy my buddy's 2005 Mazda B2300, which is great utility . . but i've owned a truck before and it's just boring. I want some fun! Well, some utility too. I'm leaning towards a hatchback so I can fit other crap in it like my bass etc. Subaru WRX wagon? Cheap, 4x4, still fun to drive. . . but I love euro cars, the Saab is funny and odd and charming. Could go for a Golf or  GTI but both expensive to fix and can't really do much myself I gather.

[Motosan]

A supra would be pretty dope . . just on the style front alone! haha . .definitely would go well with an 80s Guzzi to boot!

http://longisland.craigslist.org/cto/5888817265.html

[Motosan]

I would love a BMW E30 or M3, but that might have to wait until I'm DONE with grad school

[LowRyter]

all the suggested Japanese economy cars and domestic and imported truck brands are good.

the European recommendations, not so much. 

Civic, Accord, Mazda 3, Miata, Colorado, Camry, Malibu, Altima, Focus......even a used Camaro or Mustang

....saaab, volvo, beemer, audi............... no way !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lannis]

If this thread keeps on, every single automobile and truck sold in America will be named as a potential candidate.

When it was time for me to buy a car, just for me to use, I bought a 1990 Ford Festiva.   Gets 42 MPG, and you can see everywhere, like out of a fishbowl.   Drove it 3600 miles to Denver and back.   Does everything I want a car to do ....

Lannis

[charlie b]

Fun?  I'd go for a Miata.  If you can be guaranteed of how the owner treated it, then a Subaru WRX.  Most were thrashed pretty good, like mine was  :)  But, it now has almost 200k miles on it (daughter has it).  Watch for transmission issues, both manual and auto.

[fotoguzzi]

It's hard to find a Subaru owner who is not in total love with their car..especially if you have winter..
I had a Miata 5 speed, fills the fun factor nicely, I hardly ever had the top up.. my dog loved it..
now when I have to drive a car that is not my work vehicle I have a 99 Camry made in Japan.. bullet proof..non interference engine so I'm testing the timing belt at 150k now..
I'd like to have a Ford explorer SportTrac. no longer made. it's a 4door suv with a small pu bed.. or a Small PU extended cab with rear windows go down for my dog.. Ranger pu nice but the extended version rear windows don't roll down. or a real score would be a Subaru Baja, no longer made either..

[oldbike54]

all the suggested Japanese economy cars and domestic and imported truck brands are good.

the European recommendations, not so much. 

Civic, Accord, Mazda 3, Miata, Colorado, Camry, Malibu, Altima, Focus......even a used Camaro or Mustang

....saaab, volvo, beemer, audi............... no way !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 John , Carolyn's last husband was a Saab turbo guy , but every time they went more than 10 miles from Edmond they drove Carolyn's Nissan .

 Dusty

[jabberwocky]

1st generation(up to 93) Saab 900s are wonderful cars! I had an 85 16 valve inter cooled turbo that went to 300K before the trans gave up. I had the boost controller tweaked out, and that car would fly! Even as it was tuned, it would give an honest 32 MPG on the highway. They are hard to find these days, sadly. They are also pretty easy to work on and understand. But yes, they are weird. I had several other old Saabs, and always thought they were brilliantly designed, but too weird for most people to accept.

[LowRyter]

Dusty, I think a Saab would make a great 3rd, 4th or 5th car, etc. 

Just not the first or 2nd drive.   

[MadMike]

Any Mercedes 123 Body Style!

[Kent in Upstate NY]

@Fotoguzzi, non interference or not, when the belt goes, you don't. I got lucky when my belt popped close to home on a county road.

[Nic in Western NYS]

My 2009 Suzuki SX4 is great fun.  It has a nice 5 speed and a rocker switch for 2wd/AWD/Locking 4WD.  Very useful town and mountain car.  Not great for interstate long trips.

As to why it "speaks to" Guzzi-heads in particular?  It's an orphan brand, overshadowed by more mainstream and successful offerings from other makes from its homeland.  It is low on pretense, high on function.  May inspire machine-devotion among those so-inclined.  Mine is called Ginger by the way.

[twowings]

Mazda 3 Hatch with manual transmission...

[Kentktk]

A SAAB would be a horrible choice. Something out of Japan is your best bet

[Sheepdog]

I have an '08 Toyota Tacoma here on the farm. It has a four-banger and an automatic transmission, gets about 25 mpg, has low insurance rates, and is appliance-like in it's reliability. These trucks have a reputation for long life and superb utility. I get my kicks on motorcycles and bicycles...I need my cage to be steady and this truck fits the bill.

Saabs are cool, but parts are dear (when you can find them) and mechanics don't touch them much since the automotive division closed up shop. Stay away...

[Scud]

   I find a 1/2 ton pick-up with extended cab is way more useful than a car. And, easier to work on.

A Toyota Tacoma or Tundra would be more fun than any car - because you can take your motorcycle places.

[Noguzznoglory]

I wouldn't have a Saab on a xmas tree. Recently acquired one in the course of my business that I was able to flip. Sold it to an acquaintance who was buying it for girlfriends daughter. I warned him they weren't cheap to maintain but he bought it anyway.

Last I heard he spent over 2k to have a water pump replaced(engine had to be pulled to do it) and we helped him adapt a cobalt a/c compressor for it or he'd have been out another 2 thou.

Stay with something mainstream if your looking for ease of maintenance.

[cloudbase]

Subarus are great.  I just love mine. 
People I know who own Miatas love theirs.
I'll throw out a suggestion for a Toyota MR2.

[Bulldog9]

Subaru, Mini Cooper, Saturn Astra, Scion TC or B, Jeep Wrangler, Mazda 3 would be on my list for a small car.

As a long-time SAAB and M3 owner, I would only recommend those if you want to drive a Perpetual project car. :-)

[Murray]

What does an early 00's Pontiac GTO go for these days?

[wrbix]

Vintage original VW Beetle and a carbon monoxide detector.

[jabberwocky]

I would ignore anti SAAB advice from anyone who hasn't worked on one themselves. I think a lot of mechanics are put off by them because they are different, and don't understand them. I used to do all of the work myself on mine. I loved it when I had to change out my clutch, and could do it in 1 hr, no shit. They are a love it or hate it kind of thing. Not unlike Guzzis.

[Aaron D.]

SAABs are neat cars, and I get the Guzzi connection. The 99/900 series clutch is much easier to replace than a Guzzi clutch. K-Jetronic ignition is a nice, truly tinkerable system. Plus-timing chain!

But a sub $10K appliance? There are a lot of dependable cars. A stick shift post 2012 Focus has a timing chain, kind of fun to drive.