Noobie seeking guidance/assistance

[GasSavers_topher]

Originally Posted by RoadWarrior

... If you want a nasty Korean car, buy an Aveo.

So true NLOL

[JohnBeLaze]

Thanks for the input and hey if anyone wants a supra or knows someone who does get at me anytime.

[Lug_Nut]

JohnBL, You described the present situation in which you find yourself. My comments weren't deliberately intended to be rude. There were intended to be a wake-up call to recognize the reality as I see it of your situation and relating it to my very similar situation of 30 years ago.
Learning from your own mistakes is a great experience.
Learning from the mistakes of others is better.
But I didn't listen then, and I really don't expect that you will heed my advice now.

The reference to the ficticious "Kia Accent" is a jab at the similarities of the two brands now that they have nearly merged since Kia's aquisition by Hyundai. Had I written "Hyundai Rio" would it have been more poignant? The Kia, as pointed out by a comment or two above, has a connotation of junk that is slightly less frequently ascribed to the Hyundai. Now the same car under the (ugly) sheet metal, but with a lower resale value, the Kia becomes a better purchase value as a used car since a larger portion of the depreciation has been paid by the prior buyer already.
Further, the purchase cost of a Kia, Hyundai, Suzuki or other intro-market small hatch will undoubtedly be less than a Toyota Echo, Honda Fit, Scion or other of similar age, yet won't be all that much less reliable, uncomfortable, more fuel hungry, etc.

Decide where your present priorities lie. Do you have a car at present that you can use daily instead of the Supras? Do you want a car you can use daily? Do you really need a daily driver?
The majority of the answer can be defined by the specifics of the question you ask yourself.

(pause)
I just did a quick search on Autotrader for Kia Rio under $5k and had 331 matches, and a good majority, starting at under $2K, are 2500+ miles from the Boston area, putting them on the west coast and in your area. You need to look harder for a low purchase cost, relatively recent build date, econo-box...
except you don't want to.
Here's why:
You don't want something else, whether that be a CRX, or a bicycle or public transportation. You want the Supra.
So make the sacrifices necessary to make it happen.

p.s. It took me 30 years to find and buy the car I wanted since I was 10. Still have it. Still enjoy it.

[GasSavers_RoadWarrior]

or find a '91 up Escort to kill for $500 or less...

[kamesama980]

I'm a cressida guy...4 door brother to your supras. My advice is scrap the MKIII as a shell/parts and get something economical (anyone else here can help with that question) while you figure out the MKII. MKIIs look better and are (avg) 400 lbs lighter and handle much better between that and the suspension (more fun) the 5M (2.8) is also a much more reliable engine than the 7M and I've seen stock 5Ms eat stock 7Ms for breakfast (MX73 cressida vs MX83 cressida lighter car carrying an extra person)

A P-type celica supra MKII is WAY better than a MKIII supra hands down!

get a 5M out of a junkyard that looks good and rebuild it from the ground up (or rebuild yours from the ground up since it still kinda runs) higher compression, ceramic coatings, 5-speed, 3.73 rear end, etc etc.