Suggestions for possible new car?

[Minpin]

850-687-8002


Go.

[BimmerM3]

You know, that's really not all that bad...

[the Teuton]

Tonight, someone asked me if my flip flops were a much more expensive brand than they were. I should have said 'yes.'

Likewise, a bitch will believe you if you tell her that thing is a Porsche until she reads the badge. Get the damn vehicle. Like yesterday.

[Minpin]

You know, that's really not all that bad...

Definitely room for a weekends worth of clothes for two, groceries for a weeks or so....


Don't plan on playing golf unless you want them in the passenger seat though. 

[Minpin]

Tonight, someone asked me if my flip flops were a much more expensive brand than they were. I should have said 'yes.'

Likewise, a bitch will believe you if you tell her that thing is a Porsche until she reads the badge. Get the damn vehicle. Like yesterday.

I have a phone call to make. Fuck the tC! 

[BimmerM3]

Definitely room for a weekends worth of clothes for two, groceries for a weeks or so....


Don't plan on playing golf unless you want them in the passenger seat though. 

One of my dad's golf buddies has a Miata and he just puts his clubs in the passenger seat...

[the Teuton]

I have a phone call to make. Fuck the tC! 

That's the spirit!

[MrH]

Woah, I had no idea MR-2's came down in price so much...

I say go for it.  I might be joining you in such a purchase soon too.

I love my Protege5, but you can only have so much fun in a FWD, econohatch.

[Raza]

SVT Focus, EP3 Civic Si.  These are the two main cars on which I focused during my car search.

I'd stay away from the MkIV GTIs.  They are hit or miss on reliability (poor QC way back when) and much more relaxed and stodgy than the other two.  Better looking, sure, and with a better interior, but the others are likely better to drive. 

I'll keep thinking, though.  Don't listen to 2o6.  Isn't the Vibe just a tall Corolla hatchback?

[Raza]

You know, that's really not all that bad...

And that's one of the reasons the car failed to make decent sales. 

[Eye of the Tiger]

Trunks are irrelevent. Mister 2 wins.

[BimmerM3]

Well my dad just reported the flood, so I guess we wait to hear back about that. The theft claim must wait because I lost the case number in the flooded house and for some reason the Atlanta PD records office is closed today so I have to call back tomorrow.

[2o6]

SVT Focus, EP3 Civic Si.  These are the two main cars on which I focused during my car search.

I'd stay away from the MkIV GTIs.  They are hit or miss on reliability (poor QC way back when) and much more relaxed and stodgy than the other two.  Better looking, sure, and with a better interior, but the others are likely better to drive. 

I'll keep thinking, though.  Don't listen to 2o6.  Isn't the Vibe just a tall Corolla hatchback?

Better suspension, and vibe GT's have the 2ZZ from the Celica GT-S. Good for 180HP and a sky-high 9000 rev limit.

[BimmerM3]

Better suspension, and vibe GT's have the 2ZZ from the Celica GT-S. Good for 180HP and a sky-high 9000 rev limit.

I'm not going to get any of the cars you suggested in your first post. Except maybe a Civic Si, but probably not. No offense.

[2o6]

I'm not going to get any of the cars you suggested in your first post. Except maybe a Civic Si, but probably not. No offense.

Our mindsets are totally different. I understand.


That MR2 looks pretty good.

[Laconian]

Better suspension, and vibe GT's have the 2ZZ from the Celica GT-S. Good for 180HP and a sky-high 9000 rev limit.

The gearing is wrong for the engine. Shifting, even at redline, drops the RPMs down into the low-lift bog.

[BimmerM3]

Out of wishful thinking, tonight I stopped by a local dealership that has an MR-2 Spyder in stock. Damn, that car is tiny. I didn't realize that the black "bag" pictured in the front trunk is actually the spare tire. I wonder how bad it would be to replace the spare with a can of Fix-a-Flat for the extra trunk space. I've had bad luck with tires before, so I wouldn't want to be driving around without some sort of back-up plan. Even fitting my laundry basket in the front seat would be a pretty tight fit with the top up.

As far as people fitting in the car, I didn't see any problems. I've read that because of the MR layout, it actually has more front leg room than a Miata. I didn't actually drive it since I didn't want to get my hopes up, but the shifter did feel great sitting still in the parking lot.

I'll hopefully hear back from the insurance company tomorrow or Friday though.

[BimmerM3]

Also,

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=267911036&dealer_id=64552827&car_year=1995&rdm=1253761063086&num_records=25&systime=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=1&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=100&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=n&make=&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&body_style=CONVERT&drive=&default_sort=&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=2&sort_type=priceDESC&address=30068&advanced=y&end_year=2010&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=7000&cardist=9&standard=false

[Raza]

Realistically, is the MR-2 even in consideration?  It would be awesome if you can get it, but you can be sensible and still have fun.  Were I in your shoes, I'd get the Civic Si (EP3) or Focus SVT 3 door, leaning towards the Focus since you guys don't have salty roads down there, then save up and buy a sports car after school.  Which is pretty much what I'm doing now. 

[S204STi]

03 Fucus SVT $5500 http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/1387781639.html

/thread

[Eye of the Tiger]

Realistically, is the MR-2 even in consideration?  It would be awesome if you can get it, but you can be sensible and still have fun.  Were I in your shoes, I'd get the Civic Si (EP3) or Focus SVT 3 door, leaning towards the Focus since you guys don't have salty roads down there, then save up and buy a sports car after school.  Which is pretty much what I'm doing now. 

There is plenty of cargo room. It's called the passenger seat.

[Raza]

There is plenty of cargo room. It's called the passenger seat.

Okay, get it. 

[Eye of the Tiger]

Okay, get it. 

I'd do an even trade for the Swift, but I don't think they'll go for that. 

[BimmerM3]

Realistically, is the MR-2 even in consideration?  It would be awesome if you can get it, but you can be sensible and still have fun.  Were I in your shoes, I'd get the Civic Si (EP3) or Focus SVT 3 door, leaning towards the Focus since you guys don't have salty roads down there, then save up and buy a sports car after school.  Which is pretty much what I'm doing now. 

It's in consideration, mostly because of awesomeness, though it much more likely that I will end up with a Miata. I really want a convertible and I live really close to my parents who have all sorts of practical cars that I can borrow when I need them (which is not very often, generally).

[Raza]

The MR2 is worlds better than the MX-5 to drive.  The only real advantages the MX-5 have are practicality and aftermarket. 

[Eye of the Tiger]

It's in consideration, mostly because of awesomeness, though it much more likely that I will end up with a Miata. I really want a convertible and I live really close to my parents who have all sorts of practical cars that I can borrow when I need them (which is not very often, generally).

MR2

[BimmerM3]

The MR2 is worlds better than the MX-5 to drive.  The only real advantages the MX-5 have are practicality and aftermarket. 

And availability, though I found an mr2 in my area for less than 7000

[CALL_911]

So did they total the Accord or not?

[BimmerM3]

I went out with the goal of test driving cars today. I mostly failed (apparently most car dealerships are closed on Sunday), but I did get one drive in.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=267998346&dealer_id=615454&car_year=2003&rdm=1253680084507&model=CIVIC&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=100&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&sownerid=600517&showZipError=y&make=HONDA&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar::ispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=30068&advanced=y&end_year=2010&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=7000&cardist=20&standard=false



I really liked the car. It drove wonderfully. The suspension was really just about perfect. It felt like it was cornering totally flat, but it didn't feel harsh at all when going over bumps or whatever. The engine had plenty of pep (+10 hp, -200lbs and shorter gears vs the Accord) to get me around, and all in all it was just a really fun car.  

Things I didn't like:
-Shifter was only decent and there was way more play in the shifter when in gear that I would have expected.
-Steering was very precise, but it was a little bit too boosted and I would have liked a bit more feedback from the wheels.
-I tend to think people who drive these cars look like tools, but I don't think this would keep me from buying car.
-Not a convertible (well duh).

Issues with this particular car:
-Odometer was replaced at 95,xxx miles. Honda certified the mileage when it was replaced, so I'm not really sure if this is an issue or not. (see pic at bottom) The car does have a clean CarFax though.
-Brake pulsing under hard braking, probably just warped rotors.
-Shift knob was loose, which was annoying. Probably easy to fix though, I just forgot to look at it when I pulled over at the end of the test drive.
-EDIT: Oh yeah, the headlights were kinda foggy to. Again, probably not a huge issue, but I've never had to deal with that before.


Here's the sticker on the driver's side door sill about the odo replacement.



I went by the dealership that has the 9-5 Aero, but they were closed. I walked around the lot and found the car though, and it looked pretty good. The 9-3 cabrio has apparently been sold. The dealership with the '99 Miata for just under $6000 was closed too.

Tomorrow I'm probably going to go drive the 9-5 and see if I can find some random NB Miata to drive (the specific one I'm interested in is kind of far away). I've driven a couple NBs before, but it's been awhile.

[BimmerM3]

So did they total the Accord or not?

Still waiting on the final word, but when my dad talked to the insurance company about the break in and told them how high the water was, they said it'd probably be totaled. Hopefully we'll hear the final word tomorrow, and maybe I'll have some new wheels as early as Tuesday evening.