Finding a mid-engined car for a four-figure p

 Finding a mid-engined car for a four-figure p

rice tag is not an easy task. Arguably the best way of doing it is by opting for a Toyota MR2, the Japanese brand's entry-level sports car that ran across three generations between 1985 and 2005 (via MotorTrend). Any of the three generations make for a great affordable project, but we've picked the

 second-gen SW20 MR2 as an example here. Prices for this generation are on the rise, so finding a car under $10,000 will mean heading straight for the "Price: Low - High" filter on most auction sites. That's exactly what makes it a great project car though: Anyone who buys one and restores it should see the value of the car rise along with their work.

A '91 MR2 with 171,000 miles fetched $7,300 on Bring a Trailer in mid-2022, and an example with a whopping 421,000 miles sold for $6,521 later in the year. Similarly high mileage cars can be found for cheaper on other auction sites, but be wary of poorly-maintained examples, and as with all old cars, keep an eye out for hidden rust.