Topic: It finally happened...
started by: Rshias
Posted by Rshias on Feb. 22 2002,19:07
I totalled my poor Toyota Supra. 
So, now I'm back on the market for a new car. The problem is, I don't have a lot of cash. Around the $15,000 mark is what I'm shooting for, and preferably a year 2000 model or newer.
I'm looking for something that is responsive, fun to drive, and actually has some cargo space / ability to haul more than two people comfortably. Currently I'm considering the Subaru 2.5RS or the upcoming release of the Toyota Matrix. If you have any insight on either of these two cars, please feel free to share them. Also, if there are any other cars that fit into this range, I'd be interested in hearing about them.
/me misses his car already.
Posted by Jimi on Feb. 22 2002,19:09
Erm you have 15 grand to spend on a car that is not "not having a lot of cash". Why not get another toyota same as what you had, you obviously liked it..?And if you have money left over send it in my direction plz.
Posted by Rshias on Feb. 22 2002,19:24
I learned some lessons with the Supra. It was an absolute blast to drive / race, but when it came time to do normal everyday things such as hauling people around, it was found wanting. Parts alone to re-build my old car would come to over 15 grand. It was slightly "tweaked". After considering both those aspects, I decided that a new car which provided a happy medium would be the best route to go.I don't have 15 grand in cash to my name just at the moment, but pulling in that much within a month or two isn't out of the question. I'm not opposed to going slightly in debt, but if I can arrange to buy it strait up, I will.
Posted by Dark-Angel99 on Feb. 22 2002,19:35
| Quote (Rshias @ 22 Feb. 2002,11:24) |
| I don't have 15 grand in cash to my name just at the moment, but pulling in that much within a month or two isn't out of the question. |
What are you a drug dealer?
Damn! I would be happy making that in a year!
Posted by Carnivore on Feb. 22 2002,19:40
I like Chevrolet and Ford. Chevrolet more. For me I only buy American cars I dont like foreign cars or where they are heading(ricemobiles). Ever thought about getting a truck? Dont get an SUV, only women drive those and the new VW bugs 
Posted by Dysorderia on Feb. 22 2002,19:43
| Quote (Carnivore @ 22 Feb. 2002,11:40) |
| I dont like foreign cars or where they are heading(ricemobiles). |
even though american cars consistantly score the lowest ratings in safety and durability tests?
Posted by Jimi on Feb. 22 2002,19:50
Have you considered the '67 firebird. If you buy it and don't like it you could always give it to me... Pleeeease.
Posted by Wolfguard on Feb. 22 2002,19:56
Thats because American trucks still use big steel and big motors.I have a dodge dakota that has a v6 with 170000+ miles on it. still runs great. its been in 2 accidents where it took minor damage and the other guy was totaled.
so much for the lack of duribility and safety argument.
Granted, safety specs are done mostly by insurance companys and do tend to look at both ends of the crash. Your not safe outside an american truck but your safe in it.
I will give you this, most american cars do suck and have sucked since the mid 70s, but when the companys put their mind to it they can make some nice ones. Ford did ruin the mustang but look what they did when they brought back the T-bird...
Posted by Rshias on Feb. 22 2002,20:00
Nope, trucks or SUV's are out of the question. I'm a very aggressive driver. There's no way in hell I'd even try pushing something like that to the limit simply for fear of rolling it over. Who makes the vehicle is a moot point. It just doesn't matter providing it meets your personal expectations.DA99, no I'm not a drug dealer. I'm your typical college student.
Posted by 1LT on Feb. 22 2002,20:59
My little old great-aunt has an Impreza wagon that thats very fun to drive. The RS should be comparable. If you can wait and build up the cash, Subaru is going to produce the STi sometime next model year. I don't follow Nissan, but Car and Driver loved the SE-R when they produced it in the early 90s. I understand that they are making it again or are going to. It might be something to check out.
Posted by RadioActive on Feb. 22 2002,21:29
Nissan Altimas are great cars, but a little on the expensive side. American cars (not trucks) are the worst possible choices for a car. Overpriced, crappily made accidents waiting to happen. Even american SUVs are the same, take ford explorer for example. And I am not talking about bat tieres, I am talking about alcoholics at the assembly lines and transimmisions switching to reverse on the highway. I personally would look into mitsubishi, but i heard a few bad things about them lately. Subaru is a great company, so is toyota. Honda's don't have much to offer. Accords are too expensive and civics are ricer cars.
Posted by kuru on Feb. 22 2002,22:31
Every typical college student can come up with 15K$ in 2 months. Yeah. Sure.
What kind of drugs do you sell?
Posted by Dysorderia on Feb. 22 2002,22:52
| Quote (Wolfguard @ 22 Feb. 2002,11:56) |
| Granted, safety specs are done mostly by insurance companys and do tend to look at both ends of the crash. Your not safe outside an american truck but your safe in it. |
i was quoting from a report by < Consumer Reports >.
i can't remember which issue though...
Posted by damien_s_lucifer on Feb. 23 2002,01:03
It's all about Toyotas. My '91 Tercel has 250,000 miles on it and the engine still runs great... and I am a super-aggressive driver, prone to flooring and/or redlining my car. The car has been stuck in the mud, stuck in the snow, stuck in 4 feet of water, and hit 3 other cars... and all it needs is a quart of 20W-50 to thicken up the oil a bit when I get an oil change. Otherwise it pings.My next car will DEFINATELY be a Toyota.
Posted by editor on Feb. 23 2002,01:28
My Camry is the most boring car;but it doesn't rattle at all;
it always starts;
it blows hot and cold air;
2 new tires installed came to 60 bux;
power windows and locks and an auto tranny;
and it gets 25 city!!
it don't win no beauty contests, but it works...
/meadmits Toyota cars work!
Posted by veistran on Feb. 23 2002,01:45
Toyota went totally rice with the Celica, man that thing is so ass ugly too.
Posted by Uberkommando on Feb. 23 2002,01:46
Mazda Miata standard. I wouldn't recommend it. Fun as anything on open highways, but can't do much else. Still, only cost me $3000.
Posted by Nikita outside?! on Feb. 23 2002,01:58
Mitsubishi 3000 GT ... dark forest green ... oh yea ... one of these days ...
Posted by Rshias on Feb. 23 2002,05:40
| Quote |
| Every typical college student can come up with 15K$ in 2 months. Yeah. Sure. What kind of drugs do you sell? |
I already have the majority of the cash - right at 10 grand now - and my current job brings in ~$500 a week. With some hard work, I can probably boost that up to about 15k in savings within a few months.
| Quote |
| It's all about Toyotas. My '91 Tercel has 250,000 miles on it and the engine still runs great... and I am a super-aggressive driver, prone to flooring and/or redlining my car. The car has been stuck in the mud, stuck in the snow, stuck in 4 feet of water, and hit 3 other cars... and all it needs is a quart of 20W-50 to thicken up the oil a bit when I get an oil change. Otherwise it pings. |
That cracked me up.
Thanks for the info so far. I've owned a Nissan before, and it had excellent handling, but working on that thing was an absolute nightmare, so don't really want to enter that hellish realm again. Looks like the general opinion is Subaru / Toyota. Dunno any Mitsubishi's that actually offer performance and space at a reasonable price.
I'm leaning towards the Toyota side right now simply due to the discount I have available which basically allows me purchase any Toyota vehicle at dealership cost. The Matrix's have a funky appeal to them as well.
Anyone have personal experience between the Subaru Imprezas and Subaru Outback sedan models?
Posted by askheaves on Feb. 23 2002,06:26
Subaru... u r a bus.Wrong thread, sorry.
I have a 95 lumina and there's pretty much a script for the failures with that car. I know about what mile which part will fail due to the experience of everybody else with the same vehicle. I'm coming up quickly on the trany failure and brakes period. You can't get more reliable than that!
My next car will be foreign. It'll be more than foreign. I'm gonna contact an alien car dealership and get one of theirs. With the strength of the American dollar and my credit, I think I could swing a pretty decent deal.
Posted by just_dave on Feb. 23 2002,19:12
I test drove the Nissan Sentra Se-R SpecV. Nice car. 6 Speed Manual tranny... has some nice room, but it might be a little outta the price your looking for, I think up here fully loaded with the additional Rockford Fosgate sound system it was 19,500. 00-dave
Posted by miNus on Feb. 23 2002,19:51
I refer you to StreetRaver's infinite wisdom in < this > thread.You can have an everyday driver and have it fastar too!
Posted by TheTaxMan on Feb. 23 2002,20:13
In response to wolf's comment about totalling other cars:That doesn't always mean ou got the better end of the deal. If your car had onlt minor damage that means almost all of the kinetic energy was transfered into -you-. Crumple zones on cars cost you more in the short term, (ie. You're going to have to fix it or buy a new car) but if your car took no damage, you probably did.
Crumple zones == Good.
Posted by BlackFlag on Feb. 23 2002,22:56
I knew a guy who was involved in a head on collision with an 18 wheeler (reletively low speed, on city streets, both traveling about 30-35 mph.) the front grill of the truck was totaly fucked up. his 74 buick had a dented bumper. making cars out of real metal instead of rice-rocket fiberglass is a good thing.btw, crumple zones don't help you if youre IN the crumple zone=p
Edit: severe whiplash is more survivable than getting crushed when your rice rocket makes like an acordian.
Posted by Neophyre on Feb. 24 2002,01:50
get an australian import!www.holden.com.au - go for the commodore
or if you want something really 1337, go for the Holden Special Vehicles. The Monaro is fuckin sexy!
www.hsv.com.au
/me drools
Posted by TheTaxMan on Feb. 24 2002,02:14
The point is, crumple zones prevent more injury than they create although it totally fucks over the car in many cases.
Posted by RadioActive on Feb. 24 2002,16:02
i agree. all crumple zonez are made on the front and back, and it doesn't crumple all the way in, only up to the engine from the front and to about just past the front wheels from front corners. from the back it can go all the way up to the seat, but rear end collisions hardly ever end up in too much damage. The only way crumple zones might actually hurt you, is if you get into a head on collision on the freeway with both of you doing 120 km/h. But chances of surviving a crash like that in any type of car are very slim.Crumple zones to decrease a risk of injury in an accident, it's a fact. Rock solid cars only save you money on repairs, and might be a little more practical in a 20km/h fender bender type of accident, but that's about it.
Posted by Necromancer on Feb. 24 2002,22:52
Mitsubushi Lancer Evo VI... Nuff said.