WTB my first car

[TnNinjaGirl]

If you want a fun driving experience stick with a Honda or BMW. A Toyota just won't give you that. The way they design their cars is more towards luxury than performance. Hondas really are the best of everything when it comes down to it (except fwd... ick). Both the BMW and Honda will go through tires faster due to their suspension geometry (read camber) though. With the BMW having the best handling and most extreme geometry of those choices.

It depends on what you really want. If you want economical then get a Toyota. If you want sporty then get a BMW. If you want everything, get a Honda. I've owned all three and they are all great. In fact you can't really buy a bad car nowadays. The choice is with you. :-)

[Live2ride]

Ok, I'm on vacay visiting family / friends and discover that a friend has an 02 celica. He let me look it over and drive it around for a while since I'm considering buying one. I found it to be very cramped and low to the ground with a seemingly pocket sized back seat. The car handled great and the drivers seat hugged me and was very comfortable but the center console was way too close and I thought the dash looked a bit odd. Also, the Windows are very high above the seat making it uncomfortable, even for a tall guy like me, to rest my arm on the window. All in all the car looks cool and handles great though I'm not sure if It's plausable for me to buy one.

On another note, my cousin has had his 02 accord for 5 years and told me he's never had a single problem with it (knock on wood). I've always liked his accord too; it handles well, has a very pleasent and comfortable interior, gets decent gas mileage and looks great for a 4 door. I'm starting to lean more towards an accord now considering it has an evenly spaced interior with the ergonomics I'm looking for in a car.

P.s. New Jersey roads around here really suck for riding my motorcycle. constant 30mph stop and go traffic is nothing like the 45mph backroads of Virginia.

[kaiserz]

Originally Posted by Live2ride

I found this 00' Celica GT for sale about an hour away at a dealer.

specs:

- 5 speed manual trans.
- 127k miles
- approximately $5,500 otd
- Lambo doors (which look cool but idk how easily I could get in and out w/ them)
- aftermarket fiberglass hood w/ scoop
- aftermarket tail lights



Obviously I could only afford to make a down payment on this car and pay monthly installments. I might consider doing such a thing as a way of building up a line of credit history since I have none; I just prefer to pay cash for everything I buy. I could also just wait a while and save up enough $$$ to buy a $5,000 car in cash.

One other option is, once winter rolls around, I could sell my ninjette for a decent price, I figure around $3,000 or so, since I won't be needing it for the snowy months. After pondering that thought for a few minutes I slapped myself in the face for having such an idiotic idea.

That car have not been sold yet??? wow... my friend looked into buying that 00 celi and decided it wasn't worth the money, he said you got tons of stuff that needed to be fixed, so he didn't get it. also he looked at it last year around october. (That's a bad sign right there)

[Live2ride]

Update:

Looking at the following cars:

-98-02 accord 4 dr manual: my cousin has one, it's very comfortable and he's never had a problem it. It's far from a sports car but I'd be plenty happy with one.

-Chrysler crossfire: love the looks, drives nice and get's around 30mpg highway.

-rx8: seats 4, looks good, gets piss poor gas mileage from it's rotary engine (16-20mpg average)

-350z: seems to be the best of all worlds, looks good, performs the best of the cars listed, but has very limited space. The trunk is really small but it also gets around 30mpg highway.

-02+ dodge ram 1500: nice looking truck, could haul my bike, get's me through the snow. Of course the gas mileage would be worse considering it's a truck.




Obviously my budget has changed for the better; does anyone own one of these cars that can give an unbiased review?

[choneofakind]

My family has owned many Honda Accords and Civics in the last 20 years. We're on our 3rd Civic since I was born, and they had a accord the year I was born, and a couple before my time.

I can honestly say that you'll never go wrong with an Accord. Reliable as crap and they have plenty of room for you and your family. I know they aren't the most stylish or sporty car out there. Heck, they're pretty far up there on the vanilla scale, but they're always a good option

[cbdallas]

It may take some additional searching & digging, but here's a warning from someone who has some experience with cars that have timing belts (94 Eclipse). The price range you're looking in will involve a lot of high-mileage cars, and if they have timing belts, you could be investing in a time bomb.

Be prepared to replace it yourself, or be able to verify with receipts that the seller had it done recently. Interference engines, which could potentially appear in a lot of the cars you're interested in, basically self-destruct when the belt breaks. We're talking $1500 - $2000 worth of head work. That blows the value of the cars in your price range right out of the water.

Jiggles' suggestion about the Maxima is an EXCELLENT one. The 3.0 & 3.5 Nissan V6s are basically indestructible with minimal maintenance - the cams are chain driven. The 2000+ Sentras also have chain driven cams (I traded my Eclipse on a 2000 Sentra 1.8).

Do some research on the cars you're looking at to see which valvetrain they have. I know the Hondas are all belt-driven...not sure about the Celicas, Subarus, etc. Save yourself that aggravation and expense.

[massacremasses]

Toyota Corolla.

[lgk]

i would just get a civic if i were you.

if you need an suv then get a jeep cherokee 4.0l

for a small truck just get a toyota pickup with the 4cyl, just watch out for rust

[Live2ride]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

My family has owned many Honda Accords and Civics in the last 20 years. We're on our 3rd Civic since I was born, and they had a accord the year I was born, and a couple before my time.

I can honestly say that you'll never go wrong with an Accord. Reliable as crap and they have plenty of room for you and your family. I know they aren't the most stylish or sporty car out there. Heck, they're pretty far up there on the vanilla scale, but they're always a good option

Thanks for the input.

Originally Posted by massacremasses

Toyota Corolla.

I have been considering one of the newer model corolla's as well, a coworker of mine bought one, but it's not on the top of my list yet.

[Live2ride]

Originally Posted by cbdallas

It may take some additional searching & digging, but here's a warning from someone who has some experience with cars that have timing belts (94 Eclipse). The price range you're looking in will involve a lot of high-mileage cars, and if they have timing belts, you could be investing in a time bomb.

Be prepared to replace it yourself, or be able to verify with receipts that the seller had it done recently. Interference engines, which could potentially appear in a lot of the cars you're interested in, basically self-destruct when the belt breaks. We're talking $1500 - $2000 worth of head work. That blows the value of the cars in your price range right out of the water.

Jiggles' suggestion about the Maxima is an EXCELLENT one. The 3.0 & 3.5 Nissan V6s are basically indestructible with minimal maintenance - the cams are chain driven. The 2000+ Sentras also have chain driven cams (I traded my Eclipse on a 2000 Sentra 1.8).

Do some research on the cars you're looking at to see which valvetrain they have. I know the Hondas are all belt-driven...not sure about the Celicas, Subarus, etc. Save yourself that aggravation and expense.

I won't be getting an eclipse, after research a while ago I've discovered that they are pieces of crap and unreliable. The updated list of cars are currently the only vehicles I'm considering buying and i stated that my price range has increased. I'm looking for cars preferably below $9k. I'm not interested in an old maxima, sentra, or civic.

[massacremasses]

I dont think you can get a new one for what you want to pay. I have on i picked up for a grand. it runs, has a sun roof, and is in decent shape. Im cool with it.

[alex.s]

cody, just buy a beat up toyota tundra

[Live2ride]

Originally Posted by alex.s

cody, just buy a beat up toyota tundra

[Slono]

Honda civic or accord. You will not go wrong with either of them. Tons of readily available parts if something goes wrong, and the cost of maintaining them is quite low. Just do the recommended scheduled maintenance and depending on where you live, you should be able to put at LEAST 150,000km (93,205 mi) on it, assuming you bought it with 150,000km on the odometer already. I know in Canada, its possible (with pretty bad winters). I have a friend who bought a 93' civic with 100,000km on it and its now over 300,000km (186,000 mi).

[choneofakind]

Dude on civics you don't even have to do the maintenance to get high mileage. Even in an area of the country that is insanely hard on cars (ie snow and salt and rain and cold) my '95 civic that we bought in '94 got 198,000 miles on the original clutch. We did the regular maintenance up to like 100,000 miles when my mom got a new car, then we literally only changed oil and tires. The car did just fine

[Slono]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Dude on civics you don't even have to do the maintenance to get high mileage. Even in an area of the country that is insanely hard on cars (ie snow and salt and rain and cold) my '95 civic that we bought in '94 got 198,000 miles on the original clutch. We did the regular maintenance up to like 100,000 miles when my mom got a new car, then we literally only changed oil and tires. The car did just fine

And there we have it =)

[Mountain Dew]

Oh my so much rice in this thread...

[massacremasses]

Originally Posted by Mountain Dew

Oh my so much rice in this thread...

my old cars



that was pre smoked headlights and taillights.

lulz

My last car




I lu da rice

[Slono]

Originally Posted by Mountain Dew

Oh my so much rice in this thread...

Nobody said anything about modding the civic, lol!

[Mountain Dew]

Someone mentioned performance (positive, not lack of) and civic in the same sentence though. Also that Celica is superlol.

[massacremasses]

sorry to thread jack OP

[atomicrm]

I would just ride the ninja until you can save up enough to spend at least 4k. my buddy did what you are talking about and quickly got into thousands of dollars worth fo debt because of all the work needed.

[massacremasses]

Originally Posted by atomicrm

I would just ride the ninja until you can save up enough to spend at least 4k. my buddy did what you are talking about and quickly got into thousands of dollars worth fo debt because of all the work needed.

my friend JUST did that. He keeps calling me freaking out. He bought a POS accord for 1700...

[massacremasses]

Originally Posted by Slono

I think that's a lancer and eclipse.

mine?

close

lancer was correct. NA

Eclipse wrong 3000GT VR4 boostin 15 lbs. about 360ish HP

[massacremasses]

I think we all my have different definitions of rice as well..

[Mountain Dew]

And to stay on-topic:

I'd recommend:
E36 328i convertible/coupe/touring. Stay away from 318 (or any BMW 3-series 1.x liters, and I'd recommend to start straying away from E30s, as they're getting up there in years and will start to have the common electrical/mechanical problems).

You can also start getting E38 (7-series) BMWs affordably. Lots of luxury and such. Just be wary of common electrical problems.

Any of the Volvo tri-digit models (740, 850, etc), and since you've already said you want something turbo, some of them are turbo.

If you just want a boring, reliable econobox, go ahead and get a Civic. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it until you start adding "performance" and ugly cosmetic crap.

[massacremasses]

for 2500 his options are pretty limited...

[Mountain Dew]

Originally Posted by massacremasses

I think we all my have different definitions of rice as well..

Flamboyant body kit and large spoiler on an economy car is generally considered to be rice. Along with excessive camber, lowering, and offset of the wheels.

Originally Posted by massacremasses

for 2500 his options are pretty limited...

Didn't he say earlier on this page he wanted to stay under 9k?

[massacremasses]

Originally Posted by Mountain Dew

Flamboyant body kit and large spoiler on an economy car is generally considered to be rice. Along with excessive camber, lowering, and offset of the wheels.



Didn't he say earlier on this page he wanted to stay under 9k?

sometimes.


nope $2500

[Live2ride]

Originally Posted by massacremasses

sometimes.


nope $2500

I said under $9k preferably in my bump post. the $2500 limit was a while ago after i bought the zx6r, I've since sold it and made more money.

[massacremasses]

wtf is everyone looking at ****** Hondas for then?

[Mountain Dew]

Because Hondas aren't ******. What happens to them when under the care of boy racers and fnf wannabes is ******. My friend drives a honda, and it has 200k+ iirc, and doesn't look like it going to crap out.

Hondas are more for the cartarded, rather than people who enjoy driving.

[massacremasses]

Originally Posted by Mountain Dew

Because Hondas aren't ******. What happens to them when under the care of boy racers and fnf wannabes is ******. My friend drives a honda, and it has 200k+ iirc, and doesn't look like it going to crap out.

Hondas are more for the cartarded, rather than people who enjoy driving.

-__-

Everyone was talking about ****** civics with 100000 miles on them...

[choneofakind]

HEY!! my civic wasn't ******! She was a classy lady!


...theeeeen she rusted out and we sent her to the junk yard



ok kinda ****** i guess, but it was a great car.

[massacremasses]

lulz well if this dude has got 9k to spend there are a lot better suggestions.



OP you want Economy or something fun or a mix? FWD, RWD, or AWD?

[Live2ride]

Originally Posted by massacremasses

lulz well if this dude has got 9k to spend there are a lot better suggestions.



OP you want Economy or something fun or a mix? FWD, RWD, or AWD?

I want a mix, preferably rwd or awd. The Audi's in my price range are older, hence the reason I didn't list them, I would like a nice Audi though . The 350z and crossfire both get decent gas mileage at about 30mpg. The 350z has more power and, from what I understand, a roomier interior than the crossfire. I've also been looking at lancers if anyone has input on them.

[Mountain Dew]

Lancers are fwd.

I've also got the perfect car for you. You have to hear me out though. Open your mind.

Mazda Miata.

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by Mountain Dew

Mazda Miata.

[Live2ride]

Originally Posted by Mountain Dew

Lancers are fwd.

I've also got the perfect car for you. You have to hear me out though. Open your mind.

Mazda Miata.

I'm 6'2"..........

[Mountain Dew]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

I hope that's not sarcastic.