help me decide what car to get

mikilla · Post by **mikilla** » 15 Oct 2012, 07:54

I'm trying to get a unbiased openion, I am looking for a new car I really want a coupe/hatchy or a smaller 4 door. I want one that gets pretty good gas millage must me stick, I really want good handling that's my main thing I guess as I'm getting older I'm starting to see that speed isn't everything lol. I would like it to have pretty good torque im tierd of being a snail off the line. And I would like it to be at least somewhat reliable I can do a lot of work myself I've built a lot of motors and I now my way around a shop pretty good.
My limit is around 8000

Mercedes c230 sport coupe around a 02. I like these because its supercharged so a little more torque and great gas millage with the 4 cylinder l, from what I've read the require
lot of maintenance and on sites they don't really say if they can fix it them selves just
take it to the dealer

A 350z/g35 I'm not sure about these everyone has one and they don't get great gas millage

BMW most likely 3 series, I only liked the 90-98ish years I really liked the hatch but they didn't make a lot of em n hard to find, everyone has these too and its hard to find a good that hasn't been molested.

Is300? I like this because it has a 2jz although not as strong as the old one. I like the looks buy it kinda seems to big. I don't now but I just hate big cars.

Any others?
I'm just tiered of getting lower priced cars and spending alot of money just so it can be just as good as a stock car

mikilla · Post by **mikilla** » 15 Oct 2012, 08:01

So I want great handling and somewhat of a good ride as long as its better then lowering springs. And I would like it to be at least somewhat fast I'm not going to mod this car maybe a few little things but mostly stock. And it must have a back seat.

And the rx8? I like these because it countess as a 4 door so insurance is cheaper but they have no torque

mikilla · Post by **mikilla** » 15 Oct 2012, 08:45

Another car I was looking at was the mini cooper s I now its supercharged but that's all I now I'll look more into this one.
If anyone has any suggestions please let me now. If you have some first hand knowledge let me know some pros n cons. Or let me know of some other cars. I got pulled over n they popped my hood, I'm just trying to get a decent stock car that I don't have to heavily mod to make it decent you now what I mean?

Post by **jblackburn** » 15 Oct 2012, 09:07

How much are you looking to spend?

Great gas mileage (30+) and power (6-cylinder - trust me, any 4-banger, turbo or not, is going to leave you wanting more) are a hard combination to find together. We both dumped our powerful cars (a T5 and a V6) for fuel-efficient 4-cylinder cars.

If you want something fun to drive, don't even bother with a Lexus.

Acura TL's (04-08) are some of my favorite driving sedans. Quick, comfortable, decent handling, and lots of grunt. Plus, Hondas don't break much. A TL-type S is the best, and can be found in 6-speed manuals.

Mini Cooper S's are ROUGH riding. Newer S's are turbocharged. I forget when the break year was. Honestly, they're cute and fun to drive, but the ergonomics are crap. I couldn't see myself owning one for more than a year before getting tired of it.

Post by **precopster** » 15 Oct 2012, 11:25

Is your preference a non-Volvo product?

Personally I love the C70 coupes. hard to find in good condition but so sweet to look at. Power, of course is very good. You can stiffen up the body with the convertible's chassis braces ( they just bolt on) and a good strut brace.
With these I see that a well-kept '98 or an '03 plus is more desirable to avoid the Magnetti Marelli ETM.

mikilla · Post by **mikilla** » 15 Oct 2012, 11:36

My budget is around 8000 I can spend a little more but would like to spend less to help pay for reg n tax junk. I Was thinkng of a different Volvo but there all kinda big. Do the newer Volvos handle pretty good? And break good? I'm just kinda teird of getting a car then spending a couple grand just to make it turn and brake like it should have from the factory

Post by **jblackburn** » 15 Oct 2012, 11:38

2005 S40 T5? Right around that $8,000 mark, and the chassis is based on the Mazda 3. The Mazda 3 is a fantastic handling car, but underpowered.

I never had any complaints with the brakes or handling on my S70 - except that the butt slides well before the front of the car lets go. Pretty great for a stock car.

mikilla · Post by **mikilla** » 15 Oct 2012, 11:57

I'm trying to read up on how hard the maintenance is on cars and I can't find anything everyone just complains how much the dealer charges lol.

What do you guys think of a wrx? I had a legacy gt but it was non turbo, I don't really have a use for awd it got OK gas millage like 25 freeway maybe 20 mixed and the awd made it slow it would launch good but I got whooped by a civic single cam by alot I don't now how much better the turbo is though. And mine was Auto so that made it even slower

Post by **jblackburn** » 15 Oct 2012, 12:03

Good luck finding a WRX that hasn't been abused.

mikilla · Post by **mikilla** » 15 Oct 2012, 12:05

How do the s40 t5 compare to the 4 banger? Power wise and gas? And do the come in standard trans? I like the body style of the s40's: