New car time, but which!?

So in May I will be buying a new car with about 6-7k to use. It will be my 17th birthday so insurance on these is an issue as well. Currently I have been driving a 94 corolla for a while, and while it's a blast to drive *hah* I think it's finally time to get something new. I don't need a power plant of a car but I would like something with a little pep. So far the cars that interest me seem to be:

Toyota Celica GT 94-99
Honda Prelude si/vtec 93+
Mitsubishi Eclipse 95-99
Acura Integra 94+

Now I know this list might seem a little *ricer* to some of yall but that's hardly my intent. I like keeping a car nice and clean looking, nothing flashy and all. Reliability would also be a concern of mine, as I don't want to be stranded all the time. Must also be 90+ because of airbags.

Are there one of these cars on the list that stand out to you for a certain reason? Or a car that you think would be suited for me that I haven't listed.

The *dream* items of mine would be a manual, rwd, t-top. But usually that combo does not come with a good price or reliability.

Thanks for reading

I'm going with the Celica, but no real good reason. I do like the way that they look, but don't know performance stats on them. You are aware that none of the cars on the list are rwd or have t-tops, right? Since you're young I think it would be best if you stayed with fwd, at least until you get some more experience, you'll be less likely to crash it.

Yes I do know, that's why I put it with the *dream*. Thanks for the input.

The Integra and the Prelude are the best cars on that list, but the most expensive. The Celica is extremely reliable and pretty cheap, but the performance is the lowest of the bunch. The Eclipse has decent performance and a low price, but the reliability is kinda shady. My pick would be a nice Integra GS-R, but if you don't have the funds for that, go with the Celica.

The *dream* items of mine would be a manual, rwd, t-top. But usually that combo does not come with a good price or reliability.

Sure it does, 300ZX non-turbo. With proper maintence, 200,000 miles on a Z32 is easy enough. Check you local listings, probably find one in good shape for under $5000.

Yeah, you can get RWD, manual, and T-Tops pretty cheaply. The 300ZX comes with T-Tops, and I believe the V6 Camaro and Firebird come with them as well; if not, you can get the 93-97 LT1 models for well under 10 grand, and those come with them.

It is very rare to find a Z32 w/o T-Tops...a local guy here has one and I knew Ash Powers...he had one too...but he's now up at Z1 Motorsports in GA.

i would never pick the celica over any of those cars. that engine only has 140hp from a camry 4 banger. the hottest celica could only run a 16.5 stock and 0-60 in the 8's. i doubt you can find performance parts for that engine. finding it is like finding performance parts for a 4 banger camry. the only way i think you can give it some balls is to swap a 3SGTE in there, but i would have no clue what to do with the AWD to convert it to a FWD.

anyways my vote goes to the 4th gen v-tec lude. not the Si, get the v-tec ones, those will run high 14's stock, and alot less people will steal those since they're not GS-R's. everyone i know with GS-R's got their cars stolen. which mean i know 3 GS-R's that gotten stolen and just in my circle of friends.

I believe a 3S-GTE out of an MR2 would swap cleanly and easily into a FWD Celica, since it's the same thing except in the back of the car. If this is extremely stupid, please correct me :)

I believe a 3S-GTE out of an MR2 would swap cleanly and easily into a FWD Celica, since it's the same thing except in the back of the car. If this is extremely stupid, please correct me :)


maybe but i think it would be kinda tricky to get the shifter linkage to shift the right. i know thats why most speed shops in japan have such a hard timing swapping i na C30A from a NSX into a civic. and only signal auto has that swap completed, and they're hte only shop to do it, and how they did was a secret~

There are many small differences between the Celica 3sgte and the MR2's 3SGTE, so I would not venture that swapping the MR2 motor into a Celica would be as easy as you might think.

Assuming you can find all of these cars for the price, my list goes as follows:

1. Honda Prelude Si VTEC- second fastest of the cars listed, great handling, reliable
2. Acura Integra GSR- almost as quick as the Prelude, easy to mod, reliable
3. Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX/GST- fastest of all these cars, easy to mod, tend to be unreliable
4. Honda Prelude Si- not as fast as the VTEC version
5. Acura Integra GS/LS- not as fast as the GSR Integra
6. Toyota Celica GT- good styling IMO, slower than the first 4 (maybe 5), reliable
7. Mitsubishi Eclipse RS/GS- probably the slowest car listed here, not as reliable as the Hondas and Toyota

Given this, you might have a hard time finding the first three in good condition for under 7000, but it can be done.

I agree with dave's list except I prefer the Integra to the Lude...the celica will bore you, I think the eclipse may frustrate you...I personally think the integra looks better, and driving its successor I know the fit finish and quality for the price you pay

then again I have never driven a prelude

what about a supra, comes with all the options that you "dream about". You can look at Turbo MKIII or Non Turbo MKIV's. Turbo MKIV's can be a little pricey.

3rd gen. Supras have horribly problematic engines, and the 4th gens. are way overpriced - you'd be lucky to find even an N/A for less than $10,000. The 300ZX N/A from 1990 to 1996 is a much better buy right now.

MEh, reliability is vastly over-rated some of the best cars in the world'll keep you in the garage every other night, however a Mitsubishi is not worth taking a reliablity risk, so to speak.


I'd say to get a Lude with an H22a (What were they called in the States? Over here we called them a VTi-R), they aren't as good of a track car as a Teg, but they are less likely to get stolen and are quite comfy in comparison, they look better too IMHO (I never really digged the quad light Teg front, JDM one post 96 is better).


Forget about a Celica though, lame-ass hairdresser cars, it's insulting to place it amongst the company of VTEC Hondas. New ones are nice and so are GT4's, but that's neither here nor there.



As for 3SGTE swaps, there was a guy down here in New Zealand who swapped a 3Sgte from an MR2 into a Toyota Corona (Saloon that the Celica is based off), not sure how much difficulty there was in doing that, though.

I'm fond of the Prelude. My first car was a Prelude, and it was just an all around good mix of reliability, performance, fuel economy, space and insurance costs. I want to wave the Z flag in this case too, though. (I have a 96 na as one of my current rides. Absolutely wonderful car.) I also realize that you will probably have to go with a higher mileage example to stay in your price range, and you better check insurance costs while you're at it. I'm 24, and my rates went up quite a bit to get into a Z, and that's with a clean driving record. You'd just have to weigh the whole picture and do some research before considering that one.

And why all this talk about an MR2 engine swap into the Celica? Why not just buy an early to mid nineties MR2 to begin with? I looked at some of those a couple of years ago, and the insurance rates were actually not bad- especially with the non turbo. The NA MR2s will go forever, too. I had a friend who put over 250,000 mile on one with no real problems to speak of. And wouldn't an MR2 also fit into your "removable top, RWD, manual trans." dream? Only downside I see is the lack of luggage space, and as long as you're not married, I wouldn't let that concern me for a minute.

i would highly suggest a 91-93 mr2 but i dunno about the pricing where ya live... over in socal it averages about 6-7g

if not the vtecH lude would be another great choice.

the gsx is an awsome car i woulda loved one but the reliability and maintenence is really crappy...

Can you get an old corolla with rwd. How important is reliability to you? How much do you want to carry on the corolla tradition?

Thanks to the jackass that voted in this old thread. We all appreciate your input, no really :rolleyes: