ADVICE needed for a NEWB!

What's up, i recently read one of the posts here about how some drivers were handed their cars to them, and others busted their asses to scrape some change together for their DSM.. WELL KUDOS to the ass busters, i'm out there working about 50-60hrs a week at a crap ass restaurant, cleanin up other people's shit at 7/hr, so that by august i will have something scraped together to buy a mitsu. HERE"S THE QUESTION: with a 300/week budget, totaling around 3500 by august time, what is my best move??? Should i:
A) get a 1g eclipse (guessing cost from 1k to 1800)
B) get a 2g eclipse (guessing cost mid 2k's for one with all four wheels ^_^ )
Keep in mind, i have to pay for my own damn insurance, and i'm not interested in any big mods until ive invested enough to tune the car up right so it doesnt DIE on me in less than a few months!
--Oh yea, i've got a measly 625 saved now, at least 600 on june 13th, and 600 more every two weeks after that, four more times (errr... that would be 3500 by the time i have to go bak to tampa for college a.k.a. quit job here)
C'mon yall, help a pathetic newb out will ya? Next post will be of the car i get, i promise!

a $1500 1G is likely a much more solid car than a $2500 2G. Any 2G that cheap likely has serious problems.

congrats on the work. I know how it is to do that for a car. It's well worth it and satisfying.

Do this.. figure out of that 300 a week how much can you spend per month. Don't pull a number out of your ass (I tired that didn't work well), go for say 2 months and find what you really ned to spend. Then figure out what insurance would be on a 1g and a 2g subtract that (and gas costs) from what you have left. Find out how much you really have to spend. 300 a week budget doesn't tell us much because chances are you can't spend all of that.

I commend you. For mid 2k you are looking at a POS 2g unless you get a really exceptional deal you are asking for problems. Look to spend 4-7k for a decent one. Also are you looking for turbo? Even if you say no now would it be something you consider lateR? If so do it now you will kick yourself later. I know I have.

I'm in pretty much the same position as you for buying my second DSM, and from my first buying experience I can tell you that it's better to buy a well kept 1g than a similarly priced, crappy 2g.

For your budget a 1g AWD, turbo, is your best bet. Check out all the usual sources and get your info up to date, so that when you have the money together to close the deal, you're able to make a smart purchase. Just a matter of making the most of your time. Congrats on the hard work, too.

Like Nova said, you might want a turbo on your car later. But I wouldn't suggest buying such an old used turbo. You'll probably want to swap it out later anyways.

For that price range definately go with the 1g. 2500 wont get you much of a 2g. Think about what you want to do to the car then pick your model acordingly. Non-turbo and non-AWD cars will be cheaper than the GSX or TSI AWD, but you might want it later. I'm not sure one the insurance of a 1g, but my 18 year old friend got quote today on a 95 TSI AWD and under his own name the car would be $300/ month! Under his parents I think it was around $140. Also, the Talons seem to run a little less than the Eclipse .

HEHE, im not tryin to kill myself or my car just yet.. NO turbo for me off the bat like that, remember ive never owned a car, i jus drive my dad's V8 durango (FUN)~ PLus, i cant find a 1g AWD or turbo anywhere! Iz all goood, im gonna get a 1g, make sure it runs well, and make it look pretty, but i dont intend on makin an oxygen suckin' beast (just yet). Just got paid today, $727.07 woot woot! two more checks and ill get mah car! now i've got around $1300! Its bitch work, but hell, im workin rite?!
Oh yea, could u guys direct me to an excellent site for learning all about the anatomy of 1g's? I been to DSMtuner.com and its ok, but its not really informational.. I dont know alot about cars, but im trying to find out as much as i can, im studying to be a mechanical engineer!

Keep up the good work man, damn. Saving and buying your own car is very fulfilling. Lots of people do jobs that can fall under the category of "bitch work" (been working at McDonalds since I was 14) and still get their cars modded out. As far as a website for cars go, I think you found the best one... here. I spend usually at least an hour or more a day just reading on this forum and I have learned all sorts of good stuff. Just search for somethign you want to learn about and read all the threads and if you cant find it ask, there are lots of very friendly and knowledgable people here. Also I would pick up a Haynes manual at just about any auto parts store, they are very helpful. As soon as I finished high school (one year left) I am headed to college to go for mechanical engineering. What school are you going to? Good luck with work and getting your car, keep us posted when you get it!

I headed to the University of South Florida - it has a pretty good engineering program, campus is gorgeous, women to guy ratio is like 3 to one, :grinyes: ! But ya, i decided to stay in florida, that way i was entitled to in state tuition (florida bright futures 100% tuition paid) and basically everything is paid for with scholarships.. I wanted to go to GA Tech, although i got in, it was too expensive :(
Yea, automotiveforums has def. been beneficial, i think i will jus continue to read up here. Trust me, everyone is going to know when i purchase that car! Buahaha :cwm27:
Oh yea i hear ya thor about mcdonald's, i worked there for a year and a half before goin to college, now THAT is some bitch work, LOL! But, we all have to start somewhere.
ps - that check i got for $727, yea that was for 110 HOURS (in two weeks) of work, yikes!

Wow. That is alot of hours to work and a monster paycheck. Good work. http://members.shaw.ca/costall/1000Q/ is my favorite site for DSM related info.

Do this.. figure out of that 300 a week how much can you spend per month. Don't pull a number out of your ass (I tired that didn't work well), go for say 2 months and find what you really ned to spend. Then figure out what insurance would be on a 1g and a 2g subtract that (and gas costs) from what you have left. Find out how much you really have to spend. 300 a week budget doesn't tell us much because chances are you can't spend all of that.

Uh, i'm not too sure what you meant, but i'm definitely saving $700 every two weeks which will be used to buy the car, take care of insurance AND all other expenses for the car. A total of $2700 should be in my pocket when i plan on doing all of this, not to mention the paychecks after that to continue with the expenses.

I go to Georgia Tech, if things ever turn around financially and you want to transfer there, shoot me an email

aright! this saturday im headin out to check out a 94 eclipse gs with 109k miles; guy's sellin it for 1350.. it seems a little low, but im gonna go with him to a mechanic to check it all out. he's replaced the fuel pump, rear struts, starter. is there anything i should look out for? (i've already read the forums about what to look for when inspecting a car, im asking for additional advice). also, i wanted to know if 17's on an eclipse without coilovers will require a camber kit or not..

i ALSO wanted to know how to properly match up an audio head unit with appropriate speakers.. im looking at a sony xplod system, without amplifier, that has a 200w (50wx4) rating, and im wondering what type of speakers should i look for.. and also, whats the deal with two way, three way and four way speakers? what does that mean? aritey thanks!

Ok i have no info on what to inspect on a 1G...but i do want to say this. If you can possibly wait on the system...wait. DO not buy Sony Xplod. please. youll waste more money replacing them and fixing shit then you will buying a better brand. im just trying to save you some money later on. I have probably wasted a good $1,000 on shitty audio stuff just bc was hasty to get it. Get something decent like Boston, Eclipse, JL. Its expensive but trust me you will be thankful several months from now when your audio system still works. the biggest thing here is planning: thats how you save money and headaches.

the above poster is correct. sony xplode stuff does break alot...one might say your purchase xplodes in your face ^^

put more money down now on it don't be hasty you will appreciate it later. I have a JL sub and boy am I glad I waited.

if the GS isn't turbo its not really worth it, a 1G Eclipse NA is just a goofy economy car with no space.

When you buy a CD player what they say the power you can get is really a lie. I've read on the internet and talked to car audio experts at local shops and we've come to the conclusion that just the CD player can only produce a maximum of about 30 Watts RMS, no matter what it says.

Also Sony Xplods have been very good to me. I know people have complained about the amps always going into protect mode, but I have a CD player, 2 6 1/2" speakers, 2 6x9 speakers, 1 amp, and 2 subs that are all Xplods. I've had them for about a year and a half and they have been working perfectly since the day I got them.