car search

**Mike** · 03-17-2005, 01:42 PM

you can get a gsr for 5k as well Smile

**G.Irish** · 03-17-2005, 02:36 PM

To help make this discussion more useful lets get some parameters.

*Price range
*Intended use (I assume daily driver/occasionally autocrosser)
*Priorities. Rate these characteristics from 1 to 5, 1 being unimportant, 5 being extremely important. Weight, FWD, RWD, AWD, speed, modability, reliability, handling, ease of maintenance, and comfort.

Once you can figure out all of these things it will narrow down the list a lot.

CaptainHenreh · 03-17-2005, 02:56 PM

Myuki Wrote:I'm trying to pull a bit from all areas and types. There would be no unifying theme par say, also, it might see some upgrade work down the road

If you're looking for the ubercar, it's out of your price range. I've been looking for it since I turned the key in my 1988 Chevy S-10. (AKA, the Turd)

To be perfectly honest, the price/performance/utility/reliabilty award of any car I've ever owned goes to my 1993 Talon TSi AWD. Yes, I did have a few problems with it (The harmonic balancer came apart) but as a whole it was a fun, powerful, all around good car, and it was very reasonably priced.

DSM's get a bad rep, but they're just like Bonsai trees. You have to care for them.

Anyway, I said all your choices are bad (if it's your first car) because you will kill yourself. That MR2 that Dave had posted was bought by a 16 year old girl, and I weep for it. She'll be 11/10 at midnight some summer night and that'll be the end of another beautiful car.

ScottyB · 03-17-2005, 05:34 PM

CaptainHenreh Wrote:Anyway, I said all your choices are bad (if it's your first car) because you will kill yourself. That MR2 that Dave had posted was bought by a 16 year old girl, and I weep for it.

i'm willing to bet 80% of MR2's are killed by people who don't know how to react to the handling characteristics. those cars will bite you if you don't know exactly what you're doing....and that's in the dry.

oh, and the classic words of wisdom: there's speed, reliability, and low cost. now pick 2. :lol:

Myuki · 03-17-2005, 09:32 PM

G.Irish Wrote:To help make this discussion more useful lets get some parameters.

*Price range
*Intended use (I assume daily driver/occasionally autocrosser)
*Priorities. Rate these characteristics from 1 to 5, 1 being unimportant, 5 being extremely important. Weight, FWD, RWD, AWD, speed, modability, reliability, handling, ease of maintenance, and comfort.

Once you can figure out all of these things it will narrow down the list a lot.

i'm not looking for an ubercar, and proce range, i dunno, under 10k maybe...intended use will be a daily driver, and potential autocross down the road. weight and total speed aren't really as important as handling and reliabitlity. Pretty easy maintenance would be good, nothing flat simple, but pretty easy. I would like to mod down the road. If there is one or two complicated systems, then i don't think i'd have trouble learning and dealing with it. Comfort isn't a big issue, and drivetrain wise, I like AWD, but can go FWD or RWD

so

Weight, 1-2 (but nothing ghastly heavy)
FWD, 3
RWD, 3
AWD, 4
speed, 3
modability, 3-4
reliability, 4-5
handling, 4-5
ease of maintenance, 3-4
comfort, 2-3

CaptainHenreh · 03-17-2005, 09:58 PM

Myuki Wrote:Weight, 1-2 (but nothing ghastly heavy)
FWD, 3
RWD, 3
AWD, 4
speed, 3
modability, 3-4
reliability, 4-5
handling, 4-5
ease of maintenance, 3-4
comfort, 2-3

DSM.

**JackoliciousLegs** · 03-18-2005, 12:32 AM

i agree... get a grannied GSX

ScottyB · 03-18-2005, 02:40 AM

JackoliciousLegs Wrote:i agree... get a grannied GSX

do they exist? :lol:

**Mike** · 03-18-2005, 10:23 AM

rofl, good luck finding that.

**Chris** · 03-18-2005, 01:07 PM

how about a mazda protege? easy to maintain, reliable, decent handling, comfortable...

Feersty · 03-18-2005, 01:48 PM

Get a Galant VR4.

damnit458 · 03-18-2005, 02:12 PM

Chris Wrote:how about a mazda protege? easy to maintain, reliable, decent handling, comfortable...

AMEN. Not very much power =-/ but the potential is there, assuming you dont get the worst model. My family has owned two proteges, and my brother now owns one. Very reliable, easy to maintain, handling isnt bad, pretty comfortable cars. The only problems we've had have been due to the people driving the proteges :wink: , but as for the cars themselves they've been great.

If you really wanna have some fun, try and find an mp3, or a mazdaspeed protege =-)

**Mike** · 03-18-2005, 02:42 PM

don't know how i overlooked the protege, a very capable car.

**G.Irish** · 03-18-2005, 03:13 PM

I'd say 2.5RS. The Protege would be good but it kinda sucks on the power potential. Handling wise its pretty competent. But for that matter might as well get a Civic.

From what you've said though I think the 2.5RS is the best choice by a good margin. Not stupid fast, good handling, AWD, big wang, decent interior, and not a thief magnet. I actually was considering one before I got my GS-R. The reason I got the GS-R over the Scooby was that the GS-R was faster and the wail of the engine was more appealing but the Scooby was a close second.

Another car that you might be able to get in the $10k ish price range is a 2002 Civic Si. Its a car that didn't sell well at MSRP but for what its going for now its a steal. Very stiff chassis, flexible powerband, and pretty good handling that is only held back by really bad stock tires. They do kind of have a rear bump steer issue and geometry problems when its lowered too much but other than that its all gravy. Big upside on mod potential too. The 97+ Prelude might be worth a look too.

The E30 325 would be really easy to swing and you'd have a lot left over to mod it up or whatever. And you could share parts with Chan! Downside would be its over a decade old.

**JustinG** · 03-28-2005, 01:15 PM

im a little biased, but i say go for a 97-up GSX or GS-t. Good motor, easily modded and not to hard to work on. Plus alot of guys will help you on the forums due to the loyalty to DSMs. Feersty...Galant VR4....hard as shit to find. 3K GT are nice as well...even without turbo. I like old school BMWs as well.

**JackoliciousLegs** · 03-29-2005, 03:15 AM

Feersty Wrote:Get a Galant VR4.

Good luck finding one.... at all... ever...

Myuki · 04-06-2005, 04:50 AM

i was thinking a bit today....what about a 240?

Andy · 04-06-2005, 10:31 AM

Get in line. Justin and I are looking for some, and Dave will buy any 240 in sight. They're nice and JGY in Atkins, VA specializes in Nissan so you could get a lot of swap parts local should you decide sr20det.
I've actually had a little trouble finding some that aren't riced. A 5speed swap apparently isn't that difficult, so I might have to buy a auto.

Feersty · 04-06-2005, 01:33 PM

JackoliciousLegs Wrote:
Feersty Wrote:Get a Galant VR4.
Good luck finding one.... at all... ever...

Read and weep baby:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1202945">http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1202945</a>

**Mike** · 04-06-2005, 01:38 PM

it is in nebraska you tard.

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