09-26-2007, 06:37 PM
I will swear you have asked this before... http://forums.macresource.com/read/1/289563
Well not exactly the same question but similar and you got some related input. They can be iffy. A lot of people bought them as cut price Porsches and skimped on periodic service and repairs. Looking at a couple of message boards, it looks like steering, motor mounts, and clutch problems are accepted as typical.
Porsche Club of Americal - http://www.pca.org/tech/tech_qa.asp
Automotive Helper - http://www.automotivehelper.com/cat394/
A well cared for example can be a very nice car. In general, cars with low prices on the used market are priced that way because they either are very expensive to repair or are unreliable. Be prepared for a steep learning curve if you plan on doing your own repairs, assuming there is a decent pool of parts cars in the local junkyards. Reliable Porsche mechanics are used to pricing repairs for owners that make $200,000 a year and know nothing about cars.
I say buy a generic Civic in the low end of your price range if you want a car that is cheap and fun to drive, then put on springs, shocks, and high performance tires, or buy one with those modifications already installed. The 1989-1991 Civic Si is legendary in the SCCA Solo II STS class, but I would hesitate to recommend one that old in your area without a *LOT* of inspection and a very detailed service and repair history.
Well not exactly the same question but similar and you got some related input. They can be iffy. A lot of people bought them as cut price Porsches and skimped on periodic service and repairs. Looking at a couple of message boards, it looks like steering, motor mounts, and clutch problems are accepted as typical.
Porsche Club of Americal - http://www.pca.org/tech/tech_qa.asp
Automotive Helper - http://www.automotivehelper.com/cat394/
A well cared for example can be a very nice car. In general, cars with low prices on the used market are priced that way because they either are very expensive to repair or are unreliable. Be prepared for a steep learning curve if you plan on doing your own repairs, assuming there is a decent pool of parts cars in the local junkyards. Reliable Porsche mechanics are used to pricing repairs for owners that make $200,000 a year and know nothing about cars.
I say buy a generic Civic in the low end of your price range if you want a car that is cheap and fun to drive, then put on springs, shocks, and high performance tires, or buy one with those modifications already installed. The 1989-1991 Civic Si is legendary in the SCCA Solo II STS class, but I would hesitate to recommend one that old in your area without a *LOT* of inspection and a very detailed service and repair history.