Best first car for $4500

Well people, need opinions. I'm getting my first car in 6-9 months and have the following criteria. Small, hatchback, as many mod cons as possible (p/s, CD, Aircon is must have). I would get a civic straight away but for the whole no EFI factor in my price range. And I don't want to be screwing around with carbies. It has to last 2.5-4 years and therefore I want < 150k on it. Well, have your vite and give me some comments.

post some pics and specs

Ummm...This is from my head so others can correct me if I'm wrong.

1987-1991 Civic 1500cc Twin Carb engine, Air Con, PS and fast glass usual options. ~85kw. 4th generation.

1986-1991 Corolla 1600cc EFI engine with Twincam making 86kW and SX making 100kW (4AGE engines), air con, PS and fast glass all options.

1987 - 1991 Pulsar Q 1600cc EFi ~90kW with standard AC and PS optional fast glass.

All are around same agea dns hould have done roughly the same average Ks (160-210) but I will look for a below average Ks one.

what about a crx(the 2nd gen)?
you like them?

Yeah, but there's sweet FA non-modified ones available in Australia. And those start at $9k.

i would probably get the civic out of those 3 cars because if it is too slow you can always build up the engine (so many aftermarket parts avaliable) or you could drop a new engine into the car (ZC).
and plus you can get bodykits for the civic to live up to your name (rice boy):finger:

Don't want to have to fuck around with new engines and it has the oldest tech (carb) and lowest power. Oh well, it's still under consideration. BTW, I chose that name before I knew what it meant and it stuck. SOme ricey things I like, like lowering and stuff. But not stickers and shuit. I don't even like cars with prodect stickers that they have. I like the clean look.

www.vespa.com
:finger:

Originally posted by Buzzr
www.vespa.com
:finger:

NO that'd put me in the same performance league as....a Celica! :finger: :finger:

celica...178hp
ozriceboy...0hp:finger:

No mate. It's all about power to weight. I may only have 2 hp but that I don't weigh 1.2 tonnes either. :frog: :finger: And that reply took a damned long time coming. That's alright, you know what they say about Celica drivers.:devil: :finger:

Civic. It isn't old technology, the twin-carb is high tech, gets good economy and goes like the clappers. My GL could outrun a Pulsar and stay equal with a modded 4AGE Corolla. 98bhp factory stock and there is more to be got from it - the engine responds well to mods such as tweaking the carbs to come on song earlier, exhaust etc

I'm biased, but Corollas are a POS - ugly and prone to rusting out. Pulsars - I'm sorry - they are just shit and unreliable as all hell if driven hard.

Which of the 3 has double wishbone suspension? That says something about the technology of the day. Best of all - the ZC and tranny drops straight in and only requires ECU and wiring and you have 130bhp in unmodified trim. Cheaper than a 4AGZE and produces equal power to a stock EXA/Pulsar turbo (which used to split blocks or fry the hairdryer).

Yeah I'm biased, but I know where I'd bu putting my money if I was buying '80s tech :)

:(

:devil: :devil: :devil: - Buzz
Pete - very biased advice and also doesn't take into considerationthe very limited availability of good GLs. Search the TP and see what you get. Oz.

I KNOW you got Mazda 323 GTX's over there, they are fast stock, and very, very fast once you dial up the boost, and give some breathing enhancements (also, a centerforce dual-friction clutch saves 1 sec of the 0-60 time). Also, they are 4wd, way better than fwd. 1988-early 90's. Also, great for rally.
Did you ever get the MR2 Supercharged? It goes 0-60 in 6.5 seconds stock, and with more boost and some breathing enhancements, it can be much faster. 1987-1989

Thats my opinion.

GTX = 4WD turbo Mazda 323? Very rare, very expensive, limited parts and no chance of getting insurance on it for an under 21 who has just got his licence.

I still say the Civic - all Hondas are expensive regardless of their age. A good GL should be about 5 grand and if you are buying from a yard then that can be negotiated down (likewise private sales). If the engine is an issue in one in good nick externally then negotiate a grand off the price and drop in a JDM D15B from a XT25 (what I did) - you get an extra 4bhp as well ;)

I seriously would not touch a pulsar - they are shit in the reliability stakes and the Corolla's tend to rust out badly (plus finding a good twin cam is getting harder - the more popular SOHC engine is carbed and is crap).

Suzuki GTis are a waste of time too - the chassis tends to become very weak over time.

Have you thought about an 88 accord or a 1G 'teg? Both are in the 6000 bracket nowadays.

Accord-old man's car
1g Teg-tell me more plz.

OMG your cars must be so expensive
a 1G teg is hard to sell over here, if you get a grand your lucky.
A B16A equipped XSI 2G teg can be bought for 6 Grand.

Lots of GTX too, event he newer 90s shape can be bought for that money
:D :D :D

Ok Ill shut up now.

Have you thought about an EF9 you can get one of those for that money:D Oh thats right your not in NZ :D :D

Sorry

Originally posted by dejoux
OMG your cars must be so expensive
a 1G teg is hard to sell over here, if you get a grand your lucky.
A B16A equipped XSI 2G teg can be bought for 6 Grand.

Lots of GTX too, event he newer 90s shape can be bought for that money
:D :D :D

Ok Ill shut up now.

Have you thought about an EF9 you can get one of those for that money:D Oh thats right your not in NZ :D :D

Sorry

Our cars are expensive here dejoux.....

there is only a few Mazda 323 GTX's here....very rare...although I have a friend who has one.

for $4500 you can't get that much here.

how much is the old crx?

i say corolla despite everyone else...faster...but then again...a lot of ppl got it...looks better than the old civic...i dunno...pros and cons...but..dunno :confused:

There are very few 1G Si CRXs around - they seem to go for 5-6 grand and are private imports. 2G CRXs (Si spec) are in the 9-11 grand bracket but 90% of them have been modified/riced/ruined :(

I've seen 1G 'tegs with ZC standard for 5-8 grand in good condition. Again, buying a good body and then dropping in a new low km JDM engin if necessary is even easier as the JDM engine drops in. Aussie/JDM spec is 130BHP on a Civic chassis and a good looking car to boot. Most I looked at 2 years ago had about 90,000 to 140,000km on them and were still going strong. The Accords of the late '80s look damn nice with mags on and few mods. I bought one for my ex 12 months ago and I really enjoyed driving it. Plenty of power and very refined with a sporty look to it - dropped they look even better, hers has 15" mags on it and it really looks nice.

Tannee - Corollas look better than Civics? Ummm... time to get off the crack :D

in the poll i posted civic cos i didnt read it and thought u meant brand new, but after reading i say pulsar q, is nicer, dont get a carby civic, gay!

hey i got $1000 for my gen 1 teg, it wasn't in the best condition to :D :D :D

I say go for the Pulsar, the engine is bulletproof

BTW, TOYVTI, I saw you in Petone today- the VR-4 is looking good

Originally posted by Setanta




Tannee - Corollas look better than Civics? Ummm... time to get off the crack :D

well that corolla looks better than that old boxy civic...
crack?...its weed get it right! hehehe...

There's nothing wrong with the dual carb engine, get the Civic.:D

I'm not biased..... honest:flash:

Originally posted by Jimmy_11_cars
I say go for the Pulsar, the engine is bulletproof

BTW, TOYVTI, I saw you in Petone today- the VR-4 is looking good really! I wasn't causing trouble again was i!! :D Wat were u in that day?

It is clear the Nissan is the winner here, it is newer, safer and the most reliable

Originally posted by TOYVTi
really! I wasn't causing trouble again was i!! :D Wat were u in that day?

Well although he is at work right now he read the thread this morning and said for me to tell you that he was in a Red Rover 216SLi

Apparantley his car was being used for our cousins wedding limosine

Originally posted by Moss1O6GTi


Well although he is at work right now he read the thread this morning and said for me to tell you that he was in a Red Rover 216SLi

Apparantley his car was being used for our cousins wedding limosine oh yeah cool!!! I didnt realise u guys were based in welly!

Originally posted by Moss1O6GTi


Well although he is at work right now he read the thread this morning and said for me to tell you that he was in a Red Rover 216SLi

Apparantley his car was being used for our cousins wedding limosine oh yeah cool!!! I didnt realise u guys were based in welly!

We aint, he lives in Taurunga I live in Auckland, we are both from down Eastbourne way.

that is sooooo crazy!! SO u are telling me that the one time he was down and he saw me in me vr!! whoa thats weird!! haha :eek:

Originally posted by TOYVTi
that is sooooo crazy!! SO u are telling me that the one time he was down and he saw me in me vr!! whoa thats weird!! haha :eek:

yup

Well obviously the corolla won. And my next car is an Impreza when Dads comes out of lease.

:D

Well obviously the corolla won. And my next car is an Impreza when Dads comes out of lease.

:D
You talking to yourself again Oz? :lol:

Bringing up really old threads. Where you been lately you snob lol.

Preparing for another ski season? You did get my email didn't you. I went to Japan in January. Planning trip to NZ for a week perhaps to go skiing in August.