New car for me?

Hey gang, its been a while since I have had this opportunity so I am gonna start early and take my time

I am finally getting another car...with my tuition & finances looking good I should be able to buy one and keep for a while...I will probably be purchasing in Feb-March

Spcs looking for

2 door, manual tranny, reliable, fuel effecient, quick, still holds decent space, fun-to-drive, looks good, and $15,000 Cdn (so like what? 13,000 USD?)

now I know what your thinking... RSX-Type S but its still a little pricey for low KM's and as much as I loved that car I really don't wanna buy the exact same car

So here's what immediately came to mind

Mazda Mx-6
Acura Integra GS-R
Chevrolet Cavalier Z24
VW Jetta 1.8T
Subaru RS

But...No Neons and no Focus

so what do you guys think? any suggestions? anything I missed

From that list I would go with the 'teg and that's actually one I'm considering picking up since I'm in the same boat as you right now. The VW is one that it tempting me because of the potential, but I've heard mixing things about the reliability of them.

could you find a mazdaspeed 6 for around that price? i love those

dont the 2000 civic type-r hatches run for about that much? i kno that has space and fun to drive, also well im not so sure on space, but you could get like a '02 and under celica gts. um a sentra spec-v, just make sure its not a 2002 and you should be fine about not gettin a lemon, eclipse v-6(2000+), other than that i cant think of any others right now. ill recaps what i'm thinking

2000+ Civic Type-R
2000+ Celica GT-S
Sentra Spec-V (just not a 2002)
2000+ eclipse

What happened to your RSX????

In any event, a GS-R integra always comes to mind to me (I loved owning the one I had for the month and a half I had it before the lady totalled it).

could you find a mazdaspeed 6 for around that price? i love those

The MS6 costs alot more then $13,000 US... more like $28,000.

Why get a Jetta over a GTI? Same engine, but lighter and sportier. The 1.8t is a great engine because for about $500, you could see gains of 30-40hp via ecu chip.

id say cavalier Z24 and do what i did! Plus tunning software is coming out the jbodys soon, which means cavaliers are gonna start getting alot quicker.

Why get a Jetta over a GTI? Same engine, but lighter and sportier. The 1.8t is a great engine because for about $500, you could see gains of 30-40hp via ecu chip.

How reliable are they though? Consumer Reports seems to really hate them, they give like the worst reliability rating for the 1.8T Jetta for Ignition, fuel system, electrical, and power equiptment. For the Golf (which I think is the GTI right?) they don't say if it's the 1.8T but it's a 4 banger is just as bad if not worse.

u can prob find a mustang gt or f body for that price, if you like that kinda car

Go witht eh MX6 and be different. I'm sure you can get one for cheap...and hes not talking about a MAzdaspeed 6...hes talking about an MX-6, like thus...


http://www.autogazeta.com/g/428/mx-6.jpg

and hes not talking about a MAzdaspeed 6

yeah i was aware of that, but i like the mazdaspeed6... so i mentioned it

2nd gen Eclipse GS-T, or a GS-X if you can find one.

I vote RS.

id say cavalier Z24 and do what i did! Plus tunning software is coming out the jbodys soon, which means cavaliers are gonna start getting alot quicker.


:rofl:



Sorry... erm.. Yes.. new car.

lol red neck...my cuzin had one and it was pretty quick.. but he had an earlier version z24 with the 2.4L DOHC..idk what it was called, but t had me in it when he just had intake and catback and ran 15.7. They have plenty TQ for right off the line, i think all you will need is headers, cams and a ecu, and you could be seenin 14's in that car, all motor, cheap insurance, and very reliable. MX-6s are pretty fun and quick, but hard to find them in good condition unless you want to do a whole engine rebuild with tranny.(well, thats how it is up here anyways.)

of those you're considering, the GSR is probably the best but none of the cars on your list really do anything for me so i'm gonna recommend an Acura Type II legend(rare but truly an awesome car), GTP, Maxima(although it's a 4 door), maybe a GST-GSX eclipse.

Thanks for the ideas and recommendations so far

2000LS1Z28 - The lease ran out on it last year about this time... I was running out of money so I couldn't buy it outright, and I really didn't need the car as I was taking the train to work

2000+ GT-S is now on the list...I really like the car and completely forgot about it in my research...but its tough buying a car that causes people to question your manhood

Sentra Spec V is gonna be very very hard finding one in my price range...their rare in Canada I don't think I could get one

Civic type-R (or SiR in Canada) I really don't like the look of it

Eclipse GS-T /GS-X Whats the reliability on the DSM's and eclipses in general? I was warned to stay away

Jetta GTI / 1.8T Same story as the Eclipse, I've heard their very unreliable and have serious rust problems

Mustang GT - Never driven a V8...Never driven a RWD car...City I live in is extremely hilly, and I don't plan on getting winter tires...But I did consider a mustang

Eclipse GS-T /GS-X Whats the reliability on the DSM's and eclipses in general? I was warned to stay away


It's not as bad as a lot of people make it seem. The 4g63 is practically bulletproof, it's the things around the engine that gave me trouble on my GSX. But when something does go wrong you're gonna have to take it somewhere unless you have small girly hands. For the nearly 2 years I had my GSX there was a downtime of about 1 month total which isn't really all that bad seeings how it was about 10 years old and had over 100,000 miles.

Probe, basically the same thing as a MX-6

How about a Miata? It meets all the criteria, if you can live with small space and if you don't care what others think of you. It is kind of a girl car, unless you use it to compete in autox.

dsm's really arent bad if you dont abuse the tranny, thats there main weakness, their trannies arent the greatest.

i cant believe i didnt think of this earlier, although it doesnt sound like ur gonna get a mustang

but if you just take your time and get used to it youll be fine, but anyways, what about a 96-98 cobra? 320hp dohc engine... lots of fun. or if your lookin at 15 grand theres a chance you might be able to find a 99 but idk

i cant believe i didnt think of this earlier, although it doesnt sound like ur gonna get a mustang

but if you just take your time and get used to it youll be fine, but anyways, what about a 96-98 cobra? 320hp dohc engine... lots of fun. or if your lookin at 15 grand theres a chance you might be able to find a 99 but idk

96-98 Cobras had 305hp, not 320. I use to own a 98 Cobra, that's how I know :D

96-98 Cobras had 305hp, not 320. I use to own a 98 Cobra, that's how I know :D

ehh whatever... i knew it didnt sound right when i typed it cause i thought they upped the hp in 99 and then it had 320.

didn't they still overate the cobra in 99? so the 320hp version is still a 305hp engine?

anyways, i would definitly try to go for the dsm. its the one with the most potential. and you know me, i'm the power guy.

didn't they still overate the cobra in 99? so the 320hp version is still a 305hp engine?

anyways, i would definitly try to go for the dsm. its the one with the most potential. and you know me, i'm the power guy.

well most of them were 320hp, but some of them werent getting quite to that number so there was a lawsuit and whatnot. but they were more than 305.

ever since then ford has been underrating all their v8s. for instance the ford gt actually has slightly over 600hp rather than 550 according to motortrend when they stuck it on a mustang dyno. just like some 03/04 cobras put down 390 to 400 hp to the wheels when they were rated at 390bhp.

yes the dsm have the power potential, but it all depends who YOU BUY THE CAR FROM!!!!! if you buy it from a dealer, good luck. if from someone who is 1st owner/2nd owner, they should be happy to answer your questions if the car was ever raced and what problems have happened to it that they needed attention to while the were keeping the car. if they pass those criteria, then the dsm should be fine. Why dont you come down and buy a car from the US? dont they have the same emmissions and use the same gas? if that wasn't the case, then my uncles car must have gotten problems by now when they drove from toronto, but it depends where you live in canada...btw what province are you in?

well most of them were 320hp, but some of them werent getting quite to that number so there was a lawsuit and whatnot. but they were more than 305.

ever since then ford has been underrating all their v8s. for instance the ford gt actually has slightly over 600hp rather than 550 according to motortrend when they stuck it on a mustang dyno. just like some 03/04 cobras put down 390 to 400 hp to the wheels when they were rated at 390bhp.

i've never seen a SC cobra put down that much, i know they put down around 350whp and that is still considered to be heavily underrated.

cobras only put down around 360whp in stock form

even still, that means they def have over 400bhp. i think i was a lil generous, i got something i read mixed up.

Because Ford under-rates there cars.

yes the dsm have the power potential, but it all depends who YOU BUY THE CAR FROM!!!!! if you buy it from a dealer, good luck. if from someone who is 1st owner/2nd owner, they should be happy to answer your questions if the car was ever raced and what problems have happened to it that they needed attention to while the were keeping the car. if they pass those criteria, then the dsm should be fine. Why dont you come down and buy a car from the US? dont they have the same emmissions and use the same gas? if that wasn't the case, then my uncles car must have gotten problems by now when they drove from toronto, but it depends where you live in canada...btw what province are you in?

Im in a strange situation...I am a College Co op...so I go to school in Halifax for 4 months, then I work in Toronto for another 4 months...It would be the same as getting one from the states, but how much will I really save by going down there

and from what you guys say I could really luck out and get an amazing DSM...If I buy a car in Feb it will be on my spring break in Toronto...if not then I will buy it in mid-end April

but then there is another thing called bad luck....my neighbor has it. if he buys a car no matter what, somethin bad will happen to it. if my cuzin buys a car, its perfect..ive only bought one and so far its perfect since i have my dads friend that is a mechanic and go through an instpection, checking basiclly everything that is known to go bad on that car and for its milage....good luck, and dont be stuck gettin something that will make u pay for more than its worth in the long run