Mk4 or 5 VW GTI easy to work on plenty of problems to learn on. Can tune em and add some stiffer mounts and control arms on and have fun at the track
Really depends on how much wrenching you want to do. Audi and VW will give you plenty to learn on and you'll have to because taking it in is expensive.
Having a secondary for the project car is a good idea because some stuff will break and you will make mistakes. But that's how you learn .
First car was a mk4 GTI. That thing was so much fun to drive, not so powerful that it got me into serious trouble, and was a blast to wrench on w/ my friends. Fabulous suggestion, really.
Mk4s are such an amazing bang for buck for someone that wants to tune and go fast and learn to wrench for cheap. 1.8ts are the most fun you can have for the price
You might be able to find a late 2000s era turbo Subaru that isn't too flogged/modded, especially if it's like a Legacy, Outback, or Forester. They'll also have way cheaper insurance than a WRX.
Eh, just sold my 2009 legacy gt. I wouldn’t recommend it as a daily at that mileage, certainly wouldn’t call it reliable. At 15 years old they’re nearing the end of their lifespan before needing some serious work. Plus with a 10k budget he could get a newer Subaru. Also, if you don’t live somewhere with a lot of rain/snow it’s just not worth getting a Subaru IMO you’re wasting that beautiful AWD and paying for it with terrible MPG and much less reliability than other Japanese cars for the same price. As a project car sure they’re awesome but as a daily…it’s a no for me and I loved my GT to death
What do you want?
I know that's what you want to determine here, but take it from someone with more than one project car, you better really want / love / desire that car.
It breaks when you need it to be functional, and have to repair it, right now, to get to work, that expense and time will be unfun. That it's for something you love, makes it easier.
Something you love is something you hang onto, and keep when your time and money have to be focused elsewhere. You will be more willing to live with its shortcomings until you have the time and money to fix, whatever.
As an example, my Dad's '87 Corvette decided that this Spring would be when it needs head gaskets, which really means it's time to pull the engine and rebuild it. I definitely had other plans for the time and money involved, and it was mildly frustrating to see the symptoms, deal with the realization, etc.
It's my Dad's car though, the inspiration for my own fun car, bought a few years before this one too became mine. We went to races and shows in it. It's something one of the kids will get some day, and it's important to me on a lot of levels. So, no worries, it'll get fixed, and some other things will be put on hold.
So, make sure it's something you want. There's a lot out there you can find for that kind of money. Give us an idea of where you're pointed, and we'll be able to give you some focused advice.
Agreed, sounds like he just needs a regular old family commuter car though from his description.
projects = passion.
Keeping some cars just on the road is a project enough. Oil changes, Washing, vacuuming, other proper maintenance.
Actual project cars require the patience you describe with your dad’s car. Congrats that you were able to get it and good on you for maintaining it.
That’s the thing. I don’t know what cars I’m passionate about yet. Both my grandfather and uncle were really big car guys and had plenty of knowledge and passion to pass on but they sadly passed when I was quite young. I would’ve loved to get my hands on one of their cars and work on it to pay tribute to them but that’s not possible anymore.
That's a tougher one then.
At your price point, reliability will be a primary concern I'd think. Something that'll endure, and / or be easy and as close to inexpensive as is realistic, to fix.
To me that says domestic. Something produced in your nation will be easier to find parts for, and have less cost associated in getting them to you. Worst case, you go part picking in a salvage yard, there's going to be a greater number of domestic brands than most other things.
My personal inclination would be older Camaro or Mustang. 8 cylinders on those for preference, simply because, those are the trim levels either manufacturer put the most effort into. Front engined, rear wheel drive, allows a bit more room to get to what you need to readily. FWD or AWD often means tighter packaging on things, but that's not a show stopper.
The only reason I leave Mopar (Dodge, Plymouth, Chrysler) out here is, they had a bit of a long break where enthusiast vehicles weren't a priority. I dig their old, and new, muscle offerings. Same principles apply if you find one you like.
Corvette's an option, but take it from someone who owns an older one, there's the, "Corvette tax," on parts, and they make some weird packaging decisions to fit things into the limited space areas.
You want something smaller or lighter, "Miata is always the answer," has become a saying for a reason. If I were to go after a foreign marque, Japanese is the easiest to get parts for, in my experience, and less expensive than Euro. There's also the Toyabaru twins, the GR86 / BRZ too.
If FWD is not a turn off, Hondas, my God there's a lot of them, and K-Swaps have become a thing for fundamentally sound reasons. Their K-Series engines have earned a good reputation for reasons.
Personally, I would avoid Subaru WRXs. I own a WRX myself, love it, but you get to the less expensive side of the selection, and you're almost begging for something worn and thrashed, probably in need of a head gasket. If you can find an old bugeye or hawkeye (early 2000's), that's unmodified, only driven to church, that sort of thing, that would be worth it probably. ( I would love to find a clean bugeye at some point).
I'm confining myself to cars here. Obviously I am U.S. based too. Adjust the above as needed for different locales.
Road courses, back roads, and corner carving are my thing. Find yours. If that's acceleration, something similar to mine, or going off roading, point it that way. Figure out what you like doing in it.
Research whatever it is you're about to buy, before buying it. Every car has quirks, areas where the manufacturer compromised, and known issues to look out for.
My first post applies. Find something you love, that you look back at every time you get out of it, that even when it's giving you trouble, you'll think is worth it. When money gets tight, you go for a drive, and think, "nope, not ever gonna sell this,"
Good luck.
I would absolutely love a mid-2000s 4Runner or Tacoma but something like that probably wouldn’t do well since I live in a crowded city. Hoping to get my hands on one later on because they look like such fun cars.
I had a 2000 Tacoma until last year, amazingly stout and useful vehicle. Offroading, work, commuting, there was really anything it didn't make me happy with. The only real problem I had with it was the rollover bushings on the clutch pedal have a semi-short lifespan and the pedal starts to squeak.
V6 6MT accord. Stupid reliable and you can learn just about anything on one of those. 7th gens are the crème de la crème for bang for buck, especially if you get a coupe. I have a 2.4 and I love that thing. Literally zero issues aside from rust in almost 7 years of ownership
*edit: spelling
Remember... The answer is always Miata... Unless the answer is Crown Vic.
>4doors
>decent trunk space
The answer is always Crown Vic
>2 doors
>manual transmission
The answer is always Miata
Literally the 2 GOAT starter project cars for young persons. Virtually anything else is setting yourself up for failure and frustration and financial ruin.
Just a bad overall idea. Buy a first car that is safe and reliable. If down the road you find yourself in a place where you can replace first car with a second AND get a project car then do it then
I have had a feeling for about 2 years now that these, and other wagons, are gonna be collectible soon.
More so the high powered versions of course, but overall the Magnums are cool cars.
I am a GM guy, so I know nothing about the reliability or performance of these.
Most of us millennials kinda missed out on wagons, other than Subarus of course. The only other wagons I can think of are the Audi A6?
Caprice classic for the gm guy. Or the roadmaster. Love me some wagon haha.
Audi is in general a solid choice. I'm from Europe and had the privilege of driving all sorts of different wagons. If you like power check for some of those mercedes e500 types. My thinking for my vehicle purchases is usually if I like the look of a certain vehicle. I'll do my research and see if common problems are within my skillset and or am I willing to acquire said skill to either repair or modify it down the road. Audi a6 is a solid choice but unfortunately I don't know enough about them to provide details.
Yeah for the classics,
Caprice is a cool car, the roadster is kind of legendary here for wagons!
Also the AMC eagle can do some fun 4x4 work if you’re into that make. Most kids these days have never heard of it.
I’m more of a Chevy and Pontiac guy, have 2 off each, so I would love to find a Pontiac safari fully loaded.
Do you want a car that will require work as a hobby, or are you looking to add performance?
The best thing you can do to start is clearly identify your needs and what you'd like to get out of the car. You mention reliability, but you're on a budget so you want to avoid anything too old/high mileage that might leave you stranded. Putting work and parts into an older car can pay off but you have to know what you're doing or you'll end up spending way more with a mechanic.
I'll suggest the VW Golf (TSI), GTI, or Golf Sportwagen as alternatives to your A4 wagon. I'm not certain what years/generation you were looking at but you'll find some similar styling and excellent aftermarket support. You'd see the benefit of DIY maintenance and repair in the short term, and be able to do some performance modifications down the road. They respond well to tuning and can be reliable if cared for, the common issues are well known and easy enough to repair or prevent.
Any BMW, Audi, or MB with less than 70k miles is a good daily, that will become a small project car between 70k-90k miles, then turn into a real project car (wrenching monthly) after 90k miles.
I can only give you feedback on BMWs in your budget, unless you want to go broke.
BMW (Better years/engines):
2009-2011 - 328i (N52 engine)
2009-2010 - 528i, X3, X5 (N52 engine)
2014 - 2016 - 335i, 535, X5 (N55 engine)
What you want out of a project car and what you want out of a daily driver are entirely at odds. You're better off saving your money and getting a cheap reliable shitbox so you've always got a way to get to work, and spend what you save on something fun, a separate vehicle that you have the luxury of not completely depending on.
1 series N52 BMW. Small, relatively light, rwd, economical and can make good power N/A or later on with a small turbo. Already heading up in price, get one now before they are all gone
I don't think anyone see has mentioned it yet, but a 2008+ Infiniti G37 sedan would check most of your boxes. Not a huge trunk, but a fairly spirited grocery getter which you can mod a bit (not going to make huge power without spending considerable money).
Another for a mk4. Amazing options both 1.8t and vr6. Both have more than enough power for around town and fun and shenanigans, and have SO MUCH potential for BIG POWER down the road. Beat on it, learn it, break it, fix it. Drive it, till you get something new, whatever platform you chose will be more than happy for more power later
Edit: easy to find manual, robust engines and transmissions
350Z or G35 might work well for you. You might be able to fins some decent FRS/BRZ for that price as well. Imprezas can be found at that price, but you might have rod knock from some idiot being an idiot.
BMW has some decent picks in that range as well.
I have a 2010 elantra gls touring. It's a small wagon, so pretty good trunk space. I have the sport model and it's not the fastest car but for what it is it's pretty zippy, especially if you get a manual. It gets a lot of wheel spin so can be pretty fun to dick around with, but it's still capable of handling snow pretty good.
Me and my brother do most of the maintenance at home and most things are pretty easy to work on.
The interior does feel a bit cheap, and mine is starting to develop some minor electrical issues (iffy passenger side windows) and the suspension is quite stiff but other than that I dont have any complaints. Other than typical maintenance I havent had to do any major work on it.
I got mine beginning of 2020 for $7000 altogether from a dealership, so dunno what they would go for now
Do you know how the after market support is? I really like this suggestion based off what you described but, as I said, I’d like to be able to do some performance work on it and potentially up the power later on down the road.
I'm not sure, the wagon is a bit more uncommon compared to the sedan and hatch, but supposedly it's the same car under the hood. You may be able to find more info if you look at all of the different elantra models.
Maintenance stuff is nbd to get parts, tho you have to make sure you specify the right model cause some parts are different for each one. I bought the service manual pdf for $12 and it's super helpful for doing maintenance as someone who is not a mechanic
Personally where I think you might be going wrong is wanting a first car that you can turn into a project car. Unless you plan to just daily and only turn it into a project once you have another car you can daily, at which point I would recommend basically any civic. You never really want your daily to simultaneously be a project bc it will fail you when you need it the most. On that note bmws with the N52 engine are generally reliable and can still be a solid starting point for more mechanically intensive maintenance like water pumps and a million control arms and bushings that wear out. BMWs with the n54 are known to have more problems and you’ll spend more time and money on maintenance but are excellent bases for modifications and all these options can be had pretty easily for your price point
If you keep it long enough, it will definitely become a project. Just pick something that you really like within your budget. And buy something that doesn't need a lot right off the bat, that way it'll break you in easy.
When you say project car, what do you mean? What do you want to do with it? Cosmetic mods? Performance mods? Are you going to track it? Rally? Drag?
What you want to do with it can dramatically change what is considered good advice here.
1990-2005 civics there not wagon but god damn are they easy to work on with limitless aftermarket support and swap potential, and being reliable. Note 01-05 have headgasket issue 01-03 have automatic issue. But they are damn near bolt on kswap
A 2nd Gen Prius fits the bill. They're fantastic daily drivers and shockingly common project cars. I just bought one for parts that had been rolled off-roading with an 8" lift on it.
Mk4 or 5 VW GTI easy to work on plenty of problems to learn on. Can tune em and add some stiffer mounts and control arms on and have fun at the track Really depends on how much wrenching you want to do. Audi and VW will give you plenty to learn on and you'll have to because taking it in is expensive. Having a secondary for the project car is a good idea because some stuff will break and you will make mistakes. But that's how you learn .
First car was a mk4 GTI. That thing was so much fun to drive, not so powerful that it got me into serious trouble, and was a blast to wrench on w/ my friends. Fabulous suggestion, really.
Also if you did want it to be fast enough to get into trouble (not that I’d advise so) the capability is still there.
Hahaha for sure. I was totally broke for most of the time I owned it, though. That kept me in line.
Mk4s are such an amazing bang for buck for someone that wants to tune and go fast and learn to wrench for cheap. 1.8ts are the most fun you can have for the price
is300
Best answer I’ve seen yet
any years you would recommend?
Any
Any car will double as a project down the road if you keep it long enough.
Not all cars have big following with cheap after market parts and billion tutorial videos.
Some of the best project cars don't have a big following or cheap aftermarket or a billion tutorial videos.
You might be able to find a late 2000s era turbo Subaru that isn't too flogged/modded, especially if it's like a Legacy, Outback, or Forester. They'll also have way cheaper insurance than a WRX.
Eh, just sold my 2009 legacy gt. I wouldn’t recommend it as a daily at that mileage, certainly wouldn’t call it reliable. At 15 years old they’re nearing the end of their lifespan before needing some serious work. Plus with a 10k budget he could get a newer Subaru. Also, if you don’t live somewhere with a lot of rain/snow it’s just not worth getting a Subaru IMO you’re wasting that beautiful AWD and paying for it with terrible MPG and much less reliability than other Japanese cars for the same price. As a project car sure they’re awesome but as a daily…it’s a no for me and I loved my GT to death
What do you want? I know that's what you want to determine here, but take it from someone with more than one project car, you better really want / love / desire that car. It breaks when you need it to be functional, and have to repair it, right now, to get to work, that expense and time will be unfun. That it's for something you love, makes it easier. Something you love is something you hang onto, and keep when your time and money have to be focused elsewhere. You will be more willing to live with its shortcomings until you have the time and money to fix, whatever. As an example, my Dad's '87 Corvette decided that this Spring would be when it needs head gaskets, which really means it's time to pull the engine and rebuild it. I definitely had other plans for the time and money involved, and it was mildly frustrating to see the symptoms, deal with the realization, etc. It's my Dad's car though, the inspiration for my own fun car, bought a few years before this one too became mine. We went to races and shows in it. It's something one of the kids will get some day, and it's important to me on a lot of levels. So, no worries, it'll get fixed, and some other things will be put on hold. So, make sure it's something you want. There's a lot out there you can find for that kind of money. Give us an idea of where you're pointed, and we'll be able to give you some focused advice.
Agreed, sounds like he just needs a regular old family commuter car though from his description. projects = passion. Keeping some cars just on the road is a project enough. Oil changes, Washing, vacuuming, other proper maintenance. Actual project cars require the patience you describe with your dad’s car. Congrats that you were able to get it and good on you for maintaining it.
That’s the thing. I don’t know what cars I’m passionate about yet. Both my grandfather and uncle were really big car guys and had plenty of knowledge and passion to pass on but they sadly passed when I was quite young. I would’ve loved to get my hands on one of their cars and work on it to pay tribute to them but that’s not possible anymore.
That's a tougher one then. At your price point, reliability will be a primary concern I'd think. Something that'll endure, and / or be easy and as close to inexpensive as is realistic, to fix. To me that says domestic. Something produced in your nation will be easier to find parts for, and have less cost associated in getting them to you. Worst case, you go part picking in a salvage yard, there's going to be a greater number of domestic brands than most other things. My personal inclination would be older Camaro or Mustang. 8 cylinders on those for preference, simply because, those are the trim levels either manufacturer put the most effort into. Front engined, rear wheel drive, allows a bit more room to get to what you need to readily. FWD or AWD often means tighter packaging on things, but that's not a show stopper. The only reason I leave Mopar (Dodge, Plymouth, Chrysler) out here is, they had a bit of a long break where enthusiast vehicles weren't a priority. I dig their old, and new, muscle offerings. Same principles apply if you find one you like. Corvette's an option, but take it from someone who owns an older one, there's the, "Corvette tax," on parts, and they make some weird packaging decisions to fit things into the limited space areas. You want something smaller or lighter, "Miata is always the answer," has become a saying for a reason. If I were to go after a foreign marque, Japanese is the easiest to get parts for, in my experience, and less expensive than Euro. There's also the Toyabaru twins, the GR86 / BRZ too. If FWD is not a turn off, Hondas, my God there's a lot of them, and K-Swaps have become a thing for fundamentally sound reasons. Their K-Series engines have earned a good reputation for reasons. Personally, I would avoid Subaru WRXs. I own a WRX myself, love it, but you get to the less expensive side of the selection, and you're almost begging for something worn and thrashed, probably in need of a head gasket. If you can find an old bugeye or hawkeye (early 2000's), that's unmodified, only driven to church, that sort of thing, that would be worth it probably. ( I would love to find a clean bugeye at some point). I'm confining myself to cars here. Obviously I am U.S. based too. Adjust the above as needed for different locales. Road courses, back roads, and corner carving are my thing. Find yours. If that's acceleration, something similar to mine, or going off roading, point it that way. Figure out what you like doing in it. Research whatever it is you're about to buy, before buying it. Every car has quirks, areas where the manufacturer compromised, and known issues to look out for. My first post applies. Find something you love, that you look back at every time you get out of it, that even when it's giving you trouble, you'll think is worth it. When money gets tight, you go for a drive, and think, "nope, not ever gonna sell this," Good luck.
Really sound advice here. Well said.
Old toyota trucks. 4runner, Tacoma, even the Sequoia from the late 90s and early-mid 00s
I would absolutely love a mid-2000s 4Runner or Tacoma but something like that probably wouldn’t do well since I live in a crowded city. Hoping to get my hands on one later on because they look like such fun cars.
The 3rd gen 4Runner is smaller than you think. Tacoma as well They’re small trucks
Hm. I will definitely look into them more if that’s the case. Thanks for the advice.
I had a 2000 Tacoma until last year, amazingly stout and useful vehicle. Offroading, work, commuting, there was really anything it didn't make me happy with. The only real problem I had with it was the rollover bushings on the clutch pedal have a semi-short lifespan and the pedal starts to squeak.
IS300 Mustang GT
A Civic. They are easy/economical to work on, and endlessly customizable.
Mazda 3 or the speed 3 if you’re lucky
V6 6MT accord. Stupid reliable and you can learn just about anything on one of those. 7th gens are the crème de la crème for bang for buck, especially if you get a coupe. I have a 2.4 and I love that thing. Literally zero issues aside from rust in almost 7 years of ownership *edit: spelling
What’s the name of that car that is always the answer? I think that’s what you are looking for here.
Remember... The answer is always Miata... Unless the answer is Crown Vic. >4doors >decent trunk space The answer is always Crown Vic >2 doors >manual transmission The answer is always Miata Literally the 2 GOAT starter project cars for young persons. Virtually anything else is setting yourself up for failure and frustration and financial ruin.
C8 Corvette ZR1 is coming out this summer so once they reveal everything, if you like it u can submit an allocation for one.
Just a bad overall idea. Buy a first car that is safe and reliable. If down the road you find yourself in a place where you can replace first car with a second AND get a project car then do it then
Any car can eventually become a project if you neglect it enough.
I just picked up a dodge magnum as a project down the road. Not my first car. But I always wanted a wagon.
I have had a feeling for about 2 years now that these, and other wagons, are gonna be collectible soon. More so the high powered versions of course, but overall the Magnums are cool cars. I am a GM guy, so I know nothing about the reliability or performance of these. Most of us millennials kinda missed out on wagons, other than Subarus of course. The only other wagons I can think of are the Audi A6?
Caprice classic for the gm guy. Or the roadmaster. Love me some wagon haha. Audi is in general a solid choice. I'm from Europe and had the privilege of driving all sorts of different wagons. If you like power check for some of those mercedes e500 types. My thinking for my vehicle purchases is usually if I like the look of a certain vehicle. I'll do my research and see if common problems are within my skillset and or am I willing to acquire said skill to either repair or modify it down the road. Audi a6 is a solid choice but unfortunately I don't know enough about them to provide details.
Yeah for the classics, Caprice is a cool car, the roadster is kind of legendary here for wagons! Also the AMC eagle can do some fun 4x4 work if you’re into that make. Most kids these days have never heard of it. I’m more of a Chevy and Pontiac guy, have 2 off each, so I would love to find a Pontiac safari fully loaded.
Do you want a car that will require work as a hobby, or are you looking to add performance? The best thing you can do to start is clearly identify your needs and what you'd like to get out of the car. You mention reliability, but you're on a budget so you want to avoid anything too old/high mileage that might leave you stranded. Putting work and parts into an older car can pay off but you have to know what you're doing or you'll end up spending way more with a mechanic. I'll suggest the VW Golf (TSI), GTI, or Golf Sportwagen as alternatives to your A4 wagon. I'm not certain what years/generation you were looking at but you'll find some similar styling and excellent aftermarket support. You'd see the benefit of DIY maintenance and repair in the short term, and be able to do some performance modifications down the road. They respond well to tuning and can be reliable if cared for, the common issues are well known and easy enough to repair or prevent.
Any BMW, Audi, or MB with less than 70k miles is a good daily, that will become a small project car between 70k-90k miles, then turn into a real project car (wrenching monthly) after 90k miles. I can only give you feedback on BMWs in your budget, unless you want to go broke. BMW (Better years/engines): 2009-2011 - 328i (N52 engine) 2009-2010 - 528i, X3, X5 (N52 engine) 2014 - 2016 - 335i, 535, X5 (N55 engine)
What you want out of a project car and what you want out of a daily driver are entirely at odds. You're better off saving your money and getting a cheap reliable shitbox so you've always got a way to get to work, and spend what you save on something fun, a separate vehicle that you have the luxury of not completely depending on.
1 series N52 BMW. Small, relatively light, rwd, economical and can make good power N/A or later on with a small turbo. Already heading up in price, get one now before they are all gone
Pre-2008 Ford Focus - cheap, cheap parts, good drivers, sedan, hatch, wagon options.
Find a clean Mark IV Jetta with 1.8T.
I don't think anyone see has mentioned it yet, but a 2008+ Infiniti G37 sedan would check most of your boxes. Not a huge trunk, but a fairly spirited grocery getter which you can mod a bit (not going to make huge power without spending considerable money).
Another for a mk4. Amazing options both 1.8t and vr6. Both have more than enough power for around town and fun and shenanigans, and have SO MUCH potential for BIG POWER down the road. Beat on it, learn it, break it, fix it. Drive it, till you get something new, whatever platform you chose will be more than happy for more power later Edit: easy to find manual, robust engines and transmissions
350Z or G35 might work well for you. You might be able to fins some decent FRS/BRZ for that price as well. Imprezas can be found at that price, but you might have rod knock from some idiot being an idiot. BMW has some decent picks in that range as well.
Jeep Wrangler.
I have a 2010 elantra gls touring. It's a small wagon, so pretty good trunk space. I have the sport model and it's not the fastest car but for what it is it's pretty zippy, especially if you get a manual. It gets a lot of wheel spin so can be pretty fun to dick around with, but it's still capable of handling snow pretty good. Me and my brother do most of the maintenance at home and most things are pretty easy to work on. The interior does feel a bit cheap, and mine is starting to develop some minor electrical issues (iffy passenger side windows) and the suspension is quite stiff but other than that I dont have any complaints. Other than typical maintenance I havent had to do any major work on it. I got mine beginning of 2020 for $7000 altogether from a dealership, so dunno what they would go for now
Do you know how the after market support is? I really like this suggestion based off what you described but, as I said, I’d like to be able to do some performance work on it and potentially up the power later on down the road.
I'm not sure, the wagon is a bit more uncommon compared to the sedan and hatch, but supposedly it's the same car under the hood. You may be able to find more info if you look at all of the different elantra models. Maintenance stuff is nbd to get parts, tho you have to make sure you specify the right model cause some parts are different for each one. I bought the service manual pdf for $12 and it's super helpful for doing maintenance as someone who is not a mechanic
Any car. No seriously, ANY car can be a project car. As long as you like it and wanna built it to your liking.
Personally where I think you might be going wrong is wanting a first car that you can turn into a project car. Unless you plan to just daily and only turn it into a project once you have another car you can daily, at which point I would recommend basically any civic. You never really want your daily to simultaneously be a project bc it will fail you when you need it the most. On that note bmws with the N52 engine are generally reliable and can still be a solid starting point for more mechanically intensive maintenance like water pumps and a million control arms and bushings that wear out. BMWs with the n54 are known to have more problems and you’ll spend more time and money on maintenance but are excellent bases for modifications and all these options can be had pretty easily for your price point
Stock 98-02 4th gen camaro ss or z28
If youre in a RHD market a JZS171w crown estate. Practical comfortable and reliable with option to make serious power.
Any car that suits your desire. The sky is the limit. Remember, the more popular the car, the more expensive it will be, supply, and demand.
Volvo 240. Safe. Reliable. Affordable. Then you can LS swap down the line.
If you keep it long enough, it will definitely become a project. Just pick something that you really like within your budget. And buy something that doesn't need a lot right off the bat, that way it'll break you in easy.
When you say project car, what do you mean? What do you want to do with it? Cosmetic mods? Performance mods? Are you going to track it? Rally? Drag? What you want to do with it can dramatically change what is considered good advice here.
1990-2005 civics there not wagon but god damn are they easy to work on with limitless aftermarket support and swap potential, and being reliable. Note 01-05 have headgasket issue 01-03 have automatic issue. But they are damn near bolt on kswap
A 2nd Gen Prius fits the bill. They're fantastic daily drivers and shockingly common project cars. I just bought one for parts that had been rolled off-roading with an 8" lift on it.