Best car for under $8000

My dad will spend 8000 for any car I want. I was wondering what people think I should get. I care more about the appearance of the car than the performance. I figure more people will notice a sharp looking car than a fast one. After the 8000 is spent I may spend more for aftermarket parts.

I always thought MR2's were very nice looking and fast...check out the 2nd Gen ones...you should be able to find one

or

if you are really lucky...you can find yourself a 95-98 240SX...those are also very nice looking and their performance is ok but the aftermarket for them is beyond belief...motor swaps, turbo kits and all...

I want a car that will last awhile so I want one that is newer than 95 and has less than 50,000 miles. I was looking at a 95-99 eclipse.

ya only problem is tho is under 50,000 and under 8,000 thats gonna hard

if youve seen me arround this site, you kno im a mr2 fan... but honestly, i think the mr2 is one of the best looking cars for its price range, which is usually below $8,000... its often mistaken for a ferrari by some...

another car is the n/a 300zx... might look into that one as well

You're probably not gonna find a 2nd gen. Eclipse with under 50,000 miles for less than $8000. If you want to get something new enough that it has less than 50,000 miles, you're gonna have to get something pretty cheap to begin with.

The problem with the mr2 is a 2 seater and I would like at least 4 seats. I guess I probably cant get a decent car with less than 50,000 miles. I thought about getting an eclipse and putting the Aero Dora body kit, Lambo Doors, and Euro taillights on it.

o you mean rice it out haha good luck with that. and if your so set on eclipse ask in their forum. cuz everyone here has answered you, but you listen to nothing but eclipse

Also keep in mind that you're going to have a really hard time fitting anyone over the age in 12 into the backseat of a 2nd. gen Eclipse. If you want four seats, just go with four doors. :)

i say get the 2nd gen elclipse, fast and nice looking and easy to mod. you can find a 2nd gen with 50 for 8, just keep looking :)

honda del sol... o wait... 2 seater... ok, i think the latest generation 300zx would fit the part. looks nice and yup theres a 4 seater version of it. ive seen some around for 5000. with the 3000 left those are your rims, bodykit, paint, lowering springs, with money left to spare. with the extra money you mntioned for aftermarket. that can be used for somethin else say... interior and sounds.

300ZX 2+2. but as with any other 2+2, you can't really fit a person in the back seat. so like kman said, you might as well go with four-doors if you want to put people in the back. wait, wait, don't get a 300zx, we 300zx owners don't want a z to turn into a ricer. okay, i would say get a civic or something if you want to do appearance mods.

^ thank you thats why i didnt reccomend it us 300zx owners gotta stick together and keep away from the rice

o and sorry bro im not tryin to act like an asshole its just that we who own 300's tend not want huge body kits as its already a great looking car

I agree...dont mess w/Z's man!

No offense but I think the 300zx Looks ugly unless you modify it. check out www.cardomain.com/memberpage/492636. Please I do not like being associated with ricers. I am NOT going to need a 1" to 5" tailpipe adapter.

I would tell you to go for a second hand Caddy. At least that's what I would do...

I'm gonna have to say Impreza here. If you can find a decent Impreza 2.5RS in the late 90s body style, you should be in good shape. 200,000 miles easily comes out of the engines and they have a decent amount of aftermarket available. That's just me though.

I thought about getting an eclipse and putting the Aero Dora body kit, Lambo Doors, and Euro taillights on it.
No offense but I think the 300zx Looks ugly unless you modify it. check out www.cardomain.com/memberpage/492636. Please I do not like being associated with ricers. I am NOT going to need a 1" to 5" tailpipe adapter.

no mention of engines upgrades, just appearnce things; thats like the epitomy of rice.

I think the stock Z looks better; i've always been of the opinion that money is spent much better under the hood.

If you want something nice to look at, go and buy a musclecar :thumbsup:

No offense but I think the 300zx Looks ugly unless you modify it.

Well hell yea I am taking offense. The 300ZX (Z32) has beautiful lines man...it's a gorgeous car...and a car that one Car & Driver's 10 Best every year it was out (90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, and 96). There are very few kits, maybe 2 or 3, that look good on the Z32...and if you choose one that is not one of those 3...you make it look ugly. Now...the problem w/these kits is...since there's only 2-3...most ppl who choose to go w/body kits for the Z32 have the same ones...so...it becomes a lil redundant. I have not chosen and will not choose a body kit b/c I think it's a bit of a waste of money...I mean...1000 bux for the kit then you gotta paint not just the kit...but the whole car so it matches...so that's another 1-5k bux...depending upon the level of paint job.

You are going to tell me...that my car is ugly...? Honestly...?

http://ee.1asphost.com/NISSANSPDR/AF.jpg

The kit i'm getting will cost $350

OOOOO i bet it looks like complete crap, and the quality will also be complete crap. you go go ahead and rice your car tho no oe is stopping you, just laughing at you. btw nissan that is a gorgeous car man holy shit thats sexy

my vr4 cost me $7,200. and the only repairs it neede were timing belt and water pump.

300ZX = sexy. It's so sexy that I'm buying an N/A as soon as I have about another $1000 saved up. And I'm not doing jackshit to it :)

well you could get a 2000 to 2001 celica for about 8,000 if you pay in cash...but if your getting in payments go with like a 2nd gen mitsubishi, there fast and can be souped up realy well.

OOOOO i bet it looks like complete crap, and the quality will also be complete crap. you go go ahead and rice your car tho no oe is stopping you, just laughing at you. btw nissan that is a gorgeous car man holy shit thats sexy

Thanx man...we need pics of your car too.

Anyways...for 350..you are not going to get a full kit and if so...it must like complete ass

:eek7:

Alright, bottom line. If you just wanna rice out your car, get whatever you think looks the best. But If you want maximum performance for minimum money, get a 1st or 2nd gen. Eclipse GSX.

dont get me wrong guys, if ever i get a 300zx all id like to do to the looks is lowering, rims, and mufflers. the rest of my money will all go to performance. but sorry, i dont want one. i like light cars and i hate front wheel drive.

HAHAHAHA ARE YOU SERIOUS front wheel drive?!?!?!?!! 300zx is rear buddy hahahahaa

*sigh* Such ignorance. No wonder no one knows how great the 300ZX is, they don't even know that it's real-wheel-drive.

don't flame my post because the car meets all his requests...... But he could alwayz find a 1999+ Ford Mustang with around 50000 miles or less for about 8000 or if he wants to go this route, a 1995-1998 Ford Mustang GT. Hell I used to have a 2000 v6 and it treated me right........ Until I got the 2nd gen gsx. But if you can find an 2nd gen eclipse gst-gsx(Talon TSI), that would have to be the best buy for around that price.

who flamed your response?

HAHAHAHA ARE YOU SERIOUS front wheel drive?!?!?!?!! 300zx is rear buddy hahahahaa


that was my error. it made it look like i said the 300zx is FF. dont worry bro i know its rearwheel. i just wanted to say i hate front wheel cars because of massive understeer. CLEAR now?

*sigh* Such ignorance. No wonder no one knows how great the 300ZX is, they don't even know that it's real-wheel-drive.

same to u buddy.

Off-topic for a second, but based on your name and that you like lightweight, RWD cars, do you actually own an NSX?

Off-topic for a second, but based on your name and that you like lightweight, RWD cars, do you actually own an NSX?


nope... its my dream car. i have an rx7 fc. my uncles got an nsx though. i borrow it whenever i get the chance. and no one can say theyre ugly right? :nono:

im guessing not. massive understeer? haha o god here we go again kman with another one of those ppl

im guessing not. massive understeer? haha o god here we go again kman with another one of those ppl

i stick to my word. i dont like front wheel cuz of understeer. go ahead say i dont know what im talkin bout. :screwy:

nsx is ugly i guess i said it i might not mean it but i said it

the nsx is the most beautiful japanese car ever produced imo

I like the NSX a lot, but you pay way too much for what you get. For the $30,000 or so you'd spend on a used NSX, you could buy an old MR2 Turbo for about $8,000 and tune it up to approximately 700 horsepower at the wheels. You'll spend a hell of a lot less money that way. Oh yeah, and make sure you swap the Toyota badging for Ferrari badging. :evillol:

i stick to my word. i dont like front wheel cuz of understeer. go ahead say i dont know what im talkin bout. :screwy:
You don't really know what you're talking about, most cars that come straight from the factory are TUNED so that they DO understeer. FWD isn't totally the reason to what makes a car understeer, it's front biased brakes and other sh*t like that, is what makes it understeer. The cars are tuned to understeer because the alternative is oversteer, now wouldn't you rather have your car so its easier to understeer or would you rather have it so its easier to have your tail swing out in 2 way traffic? Or lets put it this way, understeer is much safer for your everyday driver, because it is easy to fix, therefore it is preferable...

I heard that the RSX type-S or some performance FWD Honda/Acura, drove like an RWD, according to some magazine (forgot the name).

Most people who drive a Prelude Type SH or Integra Type-R would be fooled into thinking it was RWD. They are engineered that well.

Most people who drive a Prelude Type SH or Integra Type-R would be fooled into thinking it was RWD. They are engineered that well.

just what i was about to say...

As to what car you should buy...maybe a 99 prelude...you might be able to get it for under 8k and it would have 4 seats and may be under 50k miles. Other cars to think about would be: ford probe, mazda mx6, etc...these cars are flashy and a little quick (definitely not fast...)...With a body kit the probe or mx6 can look alright...probly better to you than me...

fwd cars have their place on the road...just like mid-engine cars have their place...not every car has to be set up like an exotic...some people actually want reliability and performance.

Most people who drive a Prelude Type SH or Integra Type-R would be fooled into thinking it was RWD. They are engineered that well.


That goes to show you that the masses who hate FWD only because of understeer, are just sheep, they just follow whoever says what without a need for a single word of explanation.

I wish I could drive one :)

You don't really know what you're talking about, most cars that come straight from the factory are TUNED so that they DO understeer. FWD isn't totally the reason to what makes a car understeer, it's front biased brakes and other sh*t like that, is what makes it understeer. The cars are tuned to understeer because the alternative is oversteer, now wouldn't you rather have your car so its easier to understeer or would you rather have it so its easier to have your tail swing out in 2 way traffic? Or lets put it this way, understeer is much safer for your everyday driver, because it is easy to fix, therefore it is preferable...

I heard that the RSX type-S or some performance FWD Honda/Acura, drove like an RWD, according to some magazine (forgot the name).


um, great great but what does that have to do about me not knowin what im talkin bout? u just stated the obvious and u just made a really long uneeded deffinition of frontwheel=understeer. in fact u just proved that i do know what im talkin bout. and im not liking frontwheel cuz ive tried a tuned eg6 on the track (no not 1/4 mile) and at auto x. and i much prefer my fc. its hard at sharp corners unles u have traction control otherwise even a little bit of wheelspin will ruin your turning and u end up goin wide.


oh yeah, im deffinitely not sayin dont get one. im just sayin i wouldnt want one. to each his own right? so yeah, get the prelude, youre gonna pimp it out anyway and not race right?

I like the NSX a lot, but you pay way too much for what you get. For the $30,000 or so you'd spend on a used NSX, you could buy an old MR2 Turbo for about $8,000 and tune it up to approximately 700 horsepower at the wheels. You'll spend a hell of a lot less money that way. Oh yeah, and make sure you swap the Toyota badging for Ferrari badging. :evillol:


yeah thats true it takes too much money. but i would still like to work hard for one.

um, great great but what does that have to do about me not knowin what im talkin bout? u just stated the obvious and u just made a really long uneeded deffinition of frontwheel=understeer. in fact u just proved that i do know what im talkin bout. and im not liking frontwheel cuz ive tried a tuned eg6 on the track (no not 1/4 mile) and at auto x. and i much prefer my fc.


I did NOT say anything about FWD = Understeer REREAD my response, you obviously jump to the conclusion that I am flaming you without explanation, the second I type "you do not know what you are talking about" you automatically hit the reply button and type out a bunch of sh*t without reading why I am saying this.

Do you know how to tune your EG6 so that it DOESN'T understeer? Ok smart guy, why don't you explain without looking it all up on the internet? You just stated that you hated FWD only because of understeer, no other reason. I told you in response that THEY WERE MADE TO BE THAT WAY. Not that it is actually a characteristic of an FWD car, although it might affect it the slightest bit.


its hard at sharp corners unles u have traction control otherwise even a little bit of wheelspin will ruin your turning and u end up goin wide.


oh yeah, im deffinitely not sayin dont get one. im just sayin i wouldnt want one. to each his own right? so yeah, get the prelude, youre gonna pimp it out anyway and not race right?


Ever heard of left foot braking? Did you know FF cars have better traction than RWD cars?

I said nothing about not racing a prelude, in fact I stated nothing about "pimping a prelude out", throwing sh*t statements like this at me really shows your age... I hope you feel smarter too.


stick to your name newb.

What's this? Another personal attack? The more personal attacks you make on me, the more of an @$$ you make yourself to this forum.

Did you know FF cars have better traction than RWD cars?



This is argueable and comes down to alot of factors...but on the whole...I disagree

it is argueable on regular conditions, but in harsh conditions, such as rian and snow, ff cars have the advantage

As long as it isn't raining or snowing, I'd much rather have RWD, for the simple fact that you can use the throttle in addition to the steering wheel to control your handling. In FWD, if you take a corner too fast and start understeering, and THEN decide to take your foot off the throttle, you're going to spin out. I've done it many, many times, and once by accident on a public road.

I did NOT say anything about FWD = Understeer REREAD my response, you obviously jump to the conclusion that I am flaming you without explanation, the second I type "you do not know what you are talking about" you automatically hit the reply button and type out a bunch of sh*t without reading why I am saying this.

Do you know how to tune your EG6 so that it DOESN'T understeer? Ok smart guy, why don't you explain without looking it all up on the internet? You just stated that you hated FWD only because of understeer, no other reason. I told you in response that THEY WERE MADE TO BE THAT WAY. Not that it is actually a characteristic of an FWD car, although it might affect it the slightest bit.



Ever heard of left foot braking? Did you know FF cars have better traction than RWD cars?

I said nothing about not racing a prelude, in fact I stated nothing about "pimping a prelude out", throwing sh*t statements like this at me really shows your age... I hope you feel smarter too.


What's this? Another personal attack? The more personal attacks you make on me, the more of an @$$ you make yourself to this forum.


woah woah woah woah, ur really tkin this seriously arent u? would a simple "sorry" help?

anyway, the suspension settings of the eg6 was tuned by a friend and sure sure it was good but not as good as the rear wheel cars. tell me, would frontwheel be better than rearwheel if theyre both tuned to their best? this will end it all.

On the topic of traction...I drive a 91 mr2 turbo, and i get great traction. But i feel the same as the 300ZX drivers, dont get an MR2 if your just gonna rice it out cause it,like the 300, are for serious drivers. Thier both beautiful cars and should be left the way they are. Go with an integra or civic SI, thier pretty quick for FF and have an endless list of visual parts.

Im 22, and for the last few years I've driven a good range of cars.
1st-88 Caprice Estate, u know, thos big bastart battle wagons
93 civic lx, loaded with luxo crap, good car tho
86 mr2, FUN FUN
86 300zx, current, what i consider 'chill'.

I consider myself a sports purist, i hate AC, I hate leather, I hate unecessary weight, and I hate cars that look faster than they are. But all this may be changing as i age.
Anyway, i learned some things over the years, I may be young, but i've driven alot, multiple crosscountry trips from NC to CA, I was a Cab driver for a while and i've been delivering food for nearly three years the mrDos, had to sit 2 of em on the engine lid across town lol). until last year. Mostly in the civic and mr2 (once carried 11 pizzas in Anyway, the civic was a good car to learn on, its stable and just slow enough to keep you out of trouble. Great for shipping me and my freinds, specifically my female freinds to parties and such. The MR2 was a project that i half restored to legal condition, she was very good to me. Perhaps a dangerous way to learn RWD handling characteristics, in a mid-engined car, but man that thing was fun, and fast for its era. But I learned that i often had to leave it behind whenever doing something social, no room. The 300z has been a great car, its not as peppy as that little toyota, but its got lots of grunt, and man i can't believe i ever even tried to drift in the MR2, the Z is just so much more agreeable to thro out. I could take most street racers in the mr2, but the 300 is too slow. It sounds great and makes a good show of it, but in the end, it really is only a cruiser, nice sterio, good body, nice exhaust, and t-tops. But its still a two seater and gets left behind alot.
Anyway, Iv'e learned that i like it alot. Screw that guy in the ricer that just blew my doors off. My car sounds and looks good on the street without any tickets or high insurance. I can enjoy the Z to its fullest in the presence of mr police man, but still have enough sport to enjoy it in the backwoods.
I think you will find that only empty-headed bimbos and unimaginative conformist-rebels are really into ricers, a true head turner is tastefull and classic. And real speed should be left to the true purists with the cash to back it up, and i mean BANK! Other wise youll get drowned out by the crowds of wannbe ricers out there, all who make racing look like a sideshow event on jerry springer.
If i could get whatever i want, it would be muscle, a 70 challenger drop top, or a 68 charger, I like underdogs. But gsas is proving a serious obstackle.
My advice to you would be to get something unique. Look for what you dont see, what you aren't jealos of, what is missing from the road, then you'll gind something that will actually get respect. Don't focus on what you can smoke, just get something you can be proud of. Girls like a guy with an honest car, not a cry for LOOK AT ME! I wouldn't even spend 8 k on a car, it'll only fall apart in the end. Just remember that there is alot more to driving than smoking other cars. You'll only race occasionally, and its only good very occasionally (by good, I mean competitive). You have to LIVE with your car, not RACE with it.
And if you want to ignore me and get something fast to show off and wreck and collect flashing blue lights, then there are loads of options out there. But i would discourage an eclipse. It may be one of the prettiest cars of the 90's, but its beauty is only skin deep. My buddies got one, a spyder even (I know, its the 2.4L motor and it sucks), but seriously, its the most uncomfortable car i've ever driven. Trust me, it gets left behind all the time. People will ride in my hatch before curling up into his back seat. And they're all over the place. You'll just be another one of 'Thos Guys'. Its lame, really. I'd get a civic over it, an older civic like a 95 or 96. Girls are nostalgic about those little things, they're unobtrusive. You won't stand out in it, but your not going to stand out with a ricer.

And as for you other people:

The NSX is overpirced, but is much more attractive than an mr2, and im a loyalist, but fact is fact.

The MR2 is only confused with ferrari by the dimest of peolpe.

FWD doesn't even compare with RWD. They have two advantages, stability (they pull, the rear always* follows the front) and they have less drivetrain (less components=less weight, and less HP loss), but what you gain you loose in its traction loss (off the line, and after the apex) plus the synthetic and steril feel.
But Rear engine And mid layout takes care of that, they are like a Front wheel drive car with 5 reverse gears and rear wheel steering. Best of both worlds.

FWD does not inherently have better traction, its just easier to maintian traction, but a good driver will easily compensate for RWD's volitiliy. If FWD was even slightly comperable, then you'd see it in the highest levels of racing. But what open wheel car is FWD? Show me a stock car, a lemans car, or any super-car that competes in its arena as front wheel drive. Maybe in RallyCross, MAYBE, although once you thro in AWD, its a whole other thread.

And as far as the snow. FWD does not inherently have better traction in the snow. Its about weight on the wheels. FF cars have their weight on the drive wheels, so do MRs and RRs. Remember all that talk about how beetles are great in the snow? ALthough they may be 'better' overall in teh snow because when they DO loose traction, they still pull the car in the direction your steering and the rear will follow up as opposed to my MR2 where when it DID loose traction it would well... loads of fun.

I said:

[i've been delivering food for nearly three years the mrDos, had to sit 2 of em on the engine lid across town lol). until last year. Mostly in the civic and mr2 (once carried 11 pizzas in Anyway, the civic was a good car to learn on]

I dont know how that happened, its supposed to read:

[i've been delivering food for nearly three years until last year. Mostly in the civic and mr2 (once carried 11 pizzas in the mrDos, had to sit 2 of em on the engine lid across town lol).Anyway, the civic was a good car to learn on]

Back to the original poster...

If you want a nice car capable of wicked speeds for cheap, I'd say go for a 1st gen turbo laser, talon or eclipse. A 1991 AWD talon for 3,000, plus 5,00 in performance mods = 13's, much faster if you know what your doing.

If you want to be a dumbass ricer, go buy a pontiac trans am, and a big sticker.

^couldnt agree more

Back to the original poster...

If you want a nice car capable of wicked speeds for cheap, I'd say go for a 1st gen turbo laser, talon or eclipse. A 1991 AWD talon for 3,000, plus 5,00 in performance mods = 13's, much faster if you know what your doing.

If you want to be a dumbass ricer, go buy a pontiac trans am, and a big sticker.

buying a trans am and a sticker makes a ricer? i dont think so. so ig he has the little kid say peeing on the chevy symbol then hes automatically a ricer?

Dont be an a$$. You know what I mean.

You could probably find a Camaro Z28 for that price. But, it'd have a pretty decent amount of miles on it. If you're gonna get a Body kit and Lambo doors though...don't get one.

haha... lambo doors....