Thinking about what my next car will be

One thing I hate about myself is all the uncertainty I have. I hate my WS6. It just flat out blows on handling. I mean i've added a strut tower brace, lower control arms, and a panhard rod, and it still blows. I suppose I could get new shocks/struts, subframe connectors, and springs, but even then i've heard that they still won't corner well (Could be the heavy live rear axle).

This car is also a bitch to work on. Spark plugs take an hour to change, and that's if you're extremely lucky. There's no room in the engine bay, and I have scars across my hands to prove how easy this car is to work on.

It sure does haul ass, but then going in a straight line is only fun for a little while, so i've had it online to sale for awhile (About a month now, and just lowered the price).

I need some advise as to what car to purchase. I'll be getting a raise in May at my workplace, and want something that is relatively new, though not brand new (Too expensive). I'm swaying towards the Lancer Evolution again (Didn't wanna sell it the first time, but no one could figure out how to fix it). I've also looked at the STi, but it is kinda ugly in person (Looks great in pics). What other cars should I look at?? I'm looking to buy a vehicle for no more then $23K. Any advise you guys can give me would be appreciated. Keep in mind I cannot leave a car stock.

cant keep a car stock eh...it depends...does gas milage or what wheel drive it is matter to you?

Yeah, gas mileage is a factor, as I work in L.A. Right now i'm getting around 16-17mpg in my car, on the average. I'd like to have atleast 20mpg on the average. Don't really care about fwd, rwd, or awd. So long as it is fast, and HANDLES well.

The two you mentioned would be good choices. Also, since they are turbo 4's you will get pretty good mileage when you stay out of boost. If you want something that seriously handles, I say Miata. But it doesnt really sound like your kind of car. But a Miata with a nice setup will pull some serious G's. Not too fast without some work though. I'd love to have one. You might be able to find an S2000 in that range also. Or a 350z. With the Honda you have nice balance, not incredibly fast, but still quick and a blast to drive. The Z is just a nice car with power, and still has reliablilty and style for when you want to have a night out.

well... if it cant stay stock, what about getting an mx-5 and putting a turbo on it? that would mean fantastic handling and good speed. a cobra would handle better than the ws6, but i still dont know if it would handle good enough for what your lookin for. focuses handle really well, but probably not fast enough, i guess you can mod it though, thats why i wish they just sold the damn focus RS over here....

for the turbo'd miata, i believe they made a mx-5 mazda speed version.....215 at the crank i think

for the turbo'd miata, i believe they made a mx-5 mazda speed version.....215 at the crank i think

the 05 mazdaspeed mx-5 is 178hp

What about a 350z? Not the fastest but they handle pretty good and they are nice looking cars. Something you can use for fun, and a good daily commuter with decent gas milage. Good sized after market for it too.

as of right now it seems that he is looking at fast sedans...y dont you just get a sentra spec-v, do basic bolt-ons and ecu, u run low 14s in a good gas milage car, seats 4 if needed, and insurance on it is a breese. only thing to stay away from is the 2002s, they are known for lemons

I'm not a big fan of the 350Z's. I've raced alot of them, and they really aren't that fast from what i've seen (Which is them in the rearview mirror). I ran faster times in my current car then a twin tubocharged one at the track (He was on slicks or DR's). I want something with 13 sec. to 12 sec. potential.

90-96 300zxTT's can run high 12s with intake, exhaust, and computer reburn. If you stay out of boost, they'll get decent mileage. I would say the same thing for the VR4s, but I know a few people who aren't exactly getting 17MPG in the city.

heres an interesting idea, what about a Volvo S40 T5? thats a turbo-charged inline 5 cylinder. its gonna come close to your price max though. 218hp stock, and i believe 236ft-lbs of tq. gets tq early too, only 1500rpm. they just came out in the middle of the 04 model year though, so you have to get a newer one. the kbb value on the is between 20k and 22k. it would certainly be a different car, not many people have 5 cylinders

If it were me, I'd look into an E36 M3.

lightly used 6.0 GTO

If it were me, I'd look into an E36 M3.

gdi why didn't i think of that

Nobody mentioned the RX-8. Just something to keep in mind. Not very reliable, but it should get about the same gas mileage as your WS6.

I'm not sure about the price, but look into a Z3, Z4, or even an M-Coupe

Supra?

lightly used 6.0 GTO

Awesome choice. Might be hard to find one for his price range though.

i dont know about you guys, but a 30+ yr old OG would look sik in a mid to high 90s corvette (used?)!! how about audi TT?? i always see some older folks in those, and also the Lexus IS (used), how about a BMW?' ;)

you might be able to get a slightly used 5.7 GTO but no 6.0, also yeah he wants something thats easy to work on, so a twin turbo Z is out of the question. however if you look hard enough you can find a supra TT for around your price range.

my buddy hondachili got his 97 TT 6 speed for 24K with only 45K miles on it. great buy, if i had the money i would've took it in a instant. handles decent for a car with blown shocks, rides great, looks great, sounds great, great power potential, great interior.

you just gotta look hard, realy hard. if you can find one, that would be my first choice, if you dont' have the time to look that long, then you can try looking for a GTO, that would be my second choice.

If you gotta get a new car than do it but I think you will regret it once you sell your car. For daily driving handling is used even less frequently than flat out speed. You have a fast car right now. I would hold on to it. It likely pulls more G's than most of the other cars mentioned anyway aside from the EVO an STI maybe.

I find it interesting that he wants to keep it low on buy price, wants to mod it but keep fuel tendancy in mind, and has to be able to daily drive it, and people are saying Supras and GTOs and 350Zs and other relatively (note the term relatively) useless cars. Personally, I'd agree with Dinan M3, and look at a lightly used E36 M3s. However, it's my understanding that while a 40kmile E36 M3 in Texas will go for say 16-18k, in Cali it would go for near 20k, if not more. Further, from personal expierence, BMWs (as most Euro cars are) are really expensive to mod, and see fairly little results. To get numbers anywhere near what you are used to and expecting (sorry folks, but low 14s-mid 13s are not fast times), you would have to look into FI, which, on any BMW is an expensive affair.

Thats why I would go with an EVO or STi. Prefrably the EVO cuz I think in person, the front end of the new STi is ugly as sin (however I think the rear looks pretty sexy with the double wing set up). I finally got a touch of seat tim in an EVO the other day and really enjoyed it. Also, your getting a usable trunk and four doors, something that a number of the cars listed don't have, or have in name only. Further more, they'll get great gas miliage if you drive it in a fasion that would yeild good miliage. And they handle.

And if thats not enough to convince you, I'm a die hard BMW fan arguing against a Bimmer, so that should seal the deal.

I find it interesting that he wants to keep it low on buy price, wants to mod it but keep fuel tendancy in mind, and has to be able to daily drive it, and people are saying Supras and GTOs and 350Zs and other relatively (note the term relatively) useless cars. Personally, I'd agree with Dinan M3, and look at a lightly used E36 M3s. However, it's my understanding that while a 40kmile E36 M3 in Texas will go for say 16-18k, in Cali it would go for near 20k, if not more. Further, from personal expierence, BMWs (as most Euro cars are) are really expensive to mod, and see fairly little results. To get numbers anywhere near what you are used to and expecting (sorry folks, but low 14s-mid 13s are not fast times), you would have to look into FI, which, on any BMW is an expensive affair.

Thats why I would go with an EVO or STi. Prefrably the EVO cuz I think in person, the front end of the new STi is ugly as sin (however I think the rear looks pretty sexy with the double wing set up). I finally got a touch of seat tim in an EVO the other day and really enjoyed it. Also, your getting a usable trunk and four doors, something that a number of the cars listed don't have, or have in name only. Further more, they'll get great gas miliage if you drive it in a fasion that would yeild good miliage. And they handle.

And if thats not enough to convince you, I'm a die hard BMW fan arguing against a Bimmer, so that should seal the deal.



I completely agree with you, he needs a supra.

some of these ideas are good for a powerful car guys, but his main point here is that he wants a car with good handling. lets face it, a GTO does not come close to handling good. 350z doesnt have the greatest handling either. An RX-8 handles awesome but if you dont take care of it, it wont take care of you. it can be reliable you just need to treat it right.

I think the EVO and STI are the obvious choices myself, but being the obvious choices, thats why i didnt mention them before. plus all the 15 yr old fan boys make me hate the EVO.... i like STI's though. i still like my volvo idea... im stickin with it, idk anything about its handling though. my next choice is turboing a mx-5... you know what else would be cool that sometimes happens, you like workin on engines, and easy engines to work on... you could always drop a 5.0 in there :evillol:. 5.0s arent expensive either

Supras in California are ridiculously priced. I couldn't buy a 93 TT for less then $20K, let alone a 97TT, which would cost me a cool $35K atleast. California makes buying imports expensive for the most part. I relisted my WS6, and lowered the price. I'm more or less taking a hit selling it, but I just can't fathom keeping it any longer. Going fast in a straight line gets boring after awhile.

Oh and the GTO, while a good suggestion, is out of the question. I don't want anymore American cars. If I were to get another American car it would be a used Z06.

I'm leaning towards another Evo, but first I have to sell this car.

if you want an evo just get an evo.

they are selling a mkII supra up here for 5 grand i believe it is...its in pretty good condition except for the paint...otherwise seems fine, but i doint think he wants a 93....

Maybe its time you made your own car? I mean you have been through a lot of cars and still cant find something you like. Find a good light weight plate form like say an old british car or E30 3series BMW, FC RX7, or porsche 944 to name a few. All handle awsome and can be had for cheap. Then with all the extra money you can drop a small block in any of them and have a beast.

i got it!! RX-8!!!!!!!!!!!!!

im scarred of the rotary's reliability issues, if u dont like chang the oill every day....

porsche 944 turbo or swap
mazda rx-7 tt or swap
how good does a 300zx tt handle?
evo- i would wait for the new one to come down into your price range, aren't they low 30's right now?

you change cars like socks

Don't Twin Turbo Rx-7's get horrid gas mileage especially with mods?

I Like the 300zx idea although they are cramped in the engine bay. I hear they handle well for their size though.

If you think the 350z is slow then you definantley don't want an rx-8.

An old porsche might be a good car for you.

The evo and sti are both good choices.

You could always get an srt-4 for a lot cheaper, and mod it into 11's or 12's with good handling. This would be a great choice.

mk3 supra would be cool though if you were willing to drive an old car.

I could've sworn I heard that the SRT-4's don't handle well.

I do like the Evo, but i've heard that the STi is more reliable. Gosh, I really am confused as to what to get next.

I could've sworn I heard that the SRT-4's don't handle well.

me2...

P-i-n-t-o!

I like the SRT4 idea. They can be made stupidily fast pretty cheap. But I'm bias...I like Lincolns and Cadillacs.

i'd personally get a sti over a evo. just from the looks and feel alone.

but i've heard the evo is easier to mod

i dont see why you just dont get a used C5 vette, if you dont think they can handle, then i dont know what to tell ya. they handle very very well, as long as you know how to controll rwd power wich i'm sure you do since you've had almost nothing but LS1's

If you don't like the way your WS-6 handles, don't even think about an SRT-4. Almost 70% of the weight sits over the front wheels.

you want handling and power. the evo IX cant be touched in either, atleast dollar for dollar. plus you have 4 doors and get decent mileage

plus you have 4 doors

well that can be good or bad depending on who you ask...

4 doors rock

defentally nice sometimes...

so are things like heaters...chairs that recline...weatherstriping...

good thing I dont need all that :lol:

the evo handles mods WAY better than the sti, and can take significantly more power!!! the srt handles well, but it doesnt compare to the evo, unless you spend some money on it!

if it was for a modded car and not a stocker, i woudl throw an LS1 into a 3rd gen RX7!!!!! that is my next project

And here in lies (as my g/f who is hitting me for being on the comp while she is leaning against my back) a problem i personally think you should just go buy something you like test drive the hell out of it things like that.....But me im wierd and i prove it by going for the strange odd ball cars.....yes oddball like conquests dont see them to often now do you....lol.....go for the evo i dont really know much about them but if stang says to go for one i would...but im also poor...damn

esh...evos....I just cant love them...its like that fast ugly dog you want to love....but you just cant!

How about that new Mustang? Can't you find a V8 used for $23k?

^ha not around here. There still selling high 20's to 30k

^ha not around here. There still selling high 20's to 30k

for an 05?!?!

thats more than the msrp on an 06...

alot of stuff goes for more then msrp here

for instance, new solstice msrp is around 20k right?

32k at the dealer, right next to the 6.0 400hp gto selling for 28

thats insane...buy a car from somewhere els then. im sure you wont mind saving 5 grand buying it in another state

I had to drive 4 hours each way to pick up the S2000.

The MR2 I drove 10 hours each way to pick up.

thats insane...buy a car from somewhere els then. im sure you wont mind saving 5 grand buying it in another state

Its surprising how much of a difference locale is. For instance...

On the main drag, where all the racing occurs on the weekend, there was a s/c saleen convertible selling for 50k.

I saw the same car, different paint job, 21k miles, selling for 23k in the country

Fuck it all, just buy a damned Koenigsegg or Zonda.

lol....just buy an old car then swap engines....that is what sounds the best as of right now unless you want to do some restoring

I heard Suby transmissions are like glass..

Maybe that was the regular WRX tho, I can't remember.

The STI has a much stronger tranny then the Evo.

drive somewhere else and buy it if u want, i drove about 10 hrs to pick up mine (5 there, 5 back) its not a big deal, or is it? i dont mind....unless its like 5 states away or something, I would fly there to pick up the car and then drive it back home, how much are plane tickets within the states nowadays? shouldn't be more than a couple hundred dollars, or better yet...you can always take the bus, $50! or something close to that, and drive the car back home

How about Kumho Ecsta MX's and subframe connectors? :lol:





DON'T SELL!!!!!!

I am with you on that one Mr.Luos.