Time for a new car

[Reason]

So I was looking to get another Subaru. I have the option to buy a 92 SVX for $1,800. Interior is in great shape. It needs very minor bodywork and new paint. Needs a PS pump leaks a little oil. BUT I think I'm going to wait. I found a 89 Suzuki GSXR 750 that needs some work for $1,000.

So I figure I put some money away weekly, sell the Accord and I get very nice bonus checks 4 times a year.

I want to start looking and doing research now so I know what I want and have a goal to reach. I think my price range will be around 10-15K. I haven't looked at prices yet but I like to get a 05 Legacy GT, I really want a 03 Infiniti G35, 01 RS, 04 STi.

Any ideas guys?

[Superu264]

Wait for the Challenger. :twisted:

[Reason]

Wait for the Challenger. :twisted:

*Side note* No matter how "cool" or "badass" I won't buy a American car, Unless it is a classic. And no brand new cars.

[Superu264]

Alright.

Toyota Camry. :wink:

[OutbackGT]

I think on 04 WRX would suit you just perfectly. Or a bugeye if funds become an issue.

[Reason]

I don't care for the 02-03 style too much. I would have to spend a lot of money on exterior mods for me to be satisfied.

[SilentRacer]

The g35 and 05 gt will be out of your price range, probably the STI as well. Your price range is exactly like mine was and I settled on the BE.

[Reason]

My price range isn't solid, but I need a realistic price range for the short time frame.

[scottzg]

miata + camry?

[Kraziken]

What are your requirements for the car? Must it have 4 seats? 4 doors?

prefer AWD, don't care?

If you don't like the WRX, actually I think for $15k and you want a sedan of some sort, I'd suggest IS300. 02-04 cars you can get a 5 speed and an LSD. With intake + ecu, headers and catback, it is close to the power of the older G35.

Don't get me wrong, I love my Legacy, but if I could have talked my wife out of the IS300, a few mods and the IS300 would be a much more capable car than my Legacy. Very mod friendly, ton of suspension parts, and just enough power to be entertaining.

The OE brakes are Excellent. All I've added are swaybars, and the car is very pleasing to drive. Handling is sharp, without being too harsh. Steering response is quick.

http://cars.about.com/cs/testdrives/fr/lexusis_test.htm

Best thing, is it is a Toyota. You can even take it to a Toyota dealership for service.

[SilentRacer]

Forgot to mention, I was looking at the following : Matrix XRS, Camry XLE, Es-300, IS-300, Impreza RS, Infinity I-30.

[dodik]

Gt is gonna be hard to find for that money it'll have to have over 100k to be under 15 or hit, i got my BE for 9k on march 4 it had 86k clean history H6 seem to run a little higher than H4 do so for 15k you could find 05 GT but with high mileage. and color would be like white or something not pretty.

[Huffer]

10-15k is a broad range, and depending on when you plan to buy, plenty of time to decide.

an 04/05 Mazda6 can be had for under $13k, with all the nice bits, and those are GREAT cars. They handle well, look great and are very reliable. The V6 is a bit noisy, but the pickup is good. Plenty of mods too. Racing Beat are very good supporters of all things Mazda.

If you are looking to purchase in a year, then within 12 months I predict the 05 LGT's will be down under $15k. Remember folks, what you paid for your car isn't what it's worth now :wink:

I really like the IS300 recommendation - they are classy vehicles for sure.

I do remember you said awhile back you wanted something to haul gear...

[d1giPhux]

Deciding to leave subaru? Or not sure yet?

[Kraziken]

Yeah, the Mazda 6 is a great car, and at one point, I seriously considered the Mazdaspeed version as a trade for my Legacy.

The only things that are a bit of a bonus side on the IS300, is that it is rear wheel drive. Both engines are pretty close in output, but I give the nod toward the Lexus motor, as the inline 6 is a very smooth engine.

Here's a snippet from Edmunds.

-----------------
And indeed, the 6 also derives its spirit from the joy of driving. Although all of the above-mentioned Japanese sedans are much more nimble and playful than their predecessors, the handling dynamics of the 6 are a step above. Steering performance from the power-assisted rack and pinion setup is exemplary, with drivers citing the likes of the BMW 3 Series as a comparison. Its turning circle of 38.7 feet is on the wider side for this class, but none of the others can match the 6 in terms of feedback from the road and linearity.

Complementing the steering is its all-independent suspension, composed of double wishbones in the front and multiple links in the rear. It's one of the most well-controlled front-drive cars we've driven, remaining balanced and responsive even when pressed toward its limits. We were able to thread it through a 600-foot slalom at 63.1 mph, a good number for this segment.

In terms of its performance on the road, let us relate this tale from one of our drivers: "I drove the 6 down one of our oft-used canyon runs, a 14.6-mile loop of some of the best switchbacks and hairpins in the Malibu hills, thinking that I'd have time for a quick run to McDonald's before I had to have the car back at the garage by a certain hour. Fun, fun, fun. Alas, when I reached the bottom of the run, a fairly major accident had required the closure of the entrance to the main highway that leads back to the office. The officers at the scene made all drivers go back up the hill and down the other side. I was sweating bullets — it would add a significant amount of time to my commute. But with the confidence that the 6 instills and a divinely providenced deserted road, I made it back to the office with four minutes to spare. Never did get to McDonald's, though."

[Superu264]

Mmm... Mazda 6 :thumbright:

http://forum.mazda6club.com/

[Huffer]

My gf (now fiance) had one. It was auto, but it had the manu-matic mode also. Ran really good. No problems, I did a few intake mods to it, and also swapped the tires for Falken Ziex's.

It was the 2.0 but it had enough torque to chirp the tires.

Only thing I didn't like about the car was the big A pillars...nearly 6" wide at the base.

[Reason]

I know Toyatas are great cars, but theres nothing in there line up I like besides the Legacy...whoops :wink: .

Even though both made by Toyots I always liked the IS300. And Jeremy's TC got me thinking. I wanted to stay AWD or get a RWD car. This car is for pleasure, my neon will be my work dog. Maybe in a year I'll buy a Legacy wagon for hauling my gear around.

Theres something about Mazda that screams Ford. I have to look into the 6, but I doubt I'll buy a Mazda. Some guy I worked with had a RX8, it was nice and I got to drive it. Nice car but just not for me.

2 or 4 door doesn't really matter to me. Numbers seats doesn't matter either. But if I find a4 door, that handle's and is mod friendly I'll be happy. Then that's what brings me back to Subarus.

[Wiscon_Mark]

The only Mazda/Ford thing with the Mazda 6 is if you get the V6 - it's the same one that they used in the Taurus.

If you get the 4 cyl. it's definitely a Japanese car.

[Kraziken]

I know Toyatas are great cars, but theres nothing in there line up I like besides the Legacy...whoops :wink: .

Even though both made by Toyots I always liked the IS300. And Jeremy's TC got me thinking. I wanted to stay AWD or get a RWD car. This car is for pleasure, my neon will be my work dog. Maybe in a year I'll buy a Legacy wagon for hauling my gear around.

Theres something about Mazda that screams Ford. I have to look into the 6, but I doubt I'll buy a Mazda. Some guy I worked with had a RX8, it was nice and I got to drive it. Nice car but just not for me.

2 or 4 door doesn't really matter to me. Numbers seats doesn't matter either. But if I find a4 door, that handle's and is mod friendly I'll be happy. Then that's what brings me back to Subarus.

If you look toward RWD, have you considered an E36 M3 coupe? Admittedly, going german concerns me in regards to repair costs, but a former Leg owner in Nasioc I think picked up one. He mentioned TCO was not that bad at all. As far as driving sedans, they are considered the benchmark that all sport sedans are supposed to be compared to.

A slightly lowered M3, angel eyes, they are bad ass looking cars!

[Huffer]

Theres something about Mazda that screams Ford. I have to look into the 6, but I doubt I'll buy a Mazda.

Mazda is owned by Ford - the Ford Fusion stole the Mazda 6 platform.

[Reason]

Theres something about Mazda that screams Ford. I have to look into the 6, but I doubt I'll buy a Mazda.

Mazda is owned by Ford - the Ford Fusion stole the Mazda 6 platform.

I knew there was something about Mazda I didn't like. I looked at the Mazda 6, it looks like a nice car, but not what I would have in mind. I don;t think I would get the M3 either. If I planned on auto x'ing or something maybe. We went over this in another thread, the only time I race around in parking lots is christmas time trying to for a spot to park. :wink:

Seriously though I want something sporty of luxury sport. That's why I have the G35 in mind. I may even wait longer like Roger said so I can scoop up the 05GT..who knows.

[Huffer]

G35 is nice... Course you could go with a used 350Z with a few bolt-ons, and it would be as nice as the G35 coupe.

Well, maybe not. The interiors are nicer on the G35. Plus it is a head-turner. The 350Z takes more work to turn heads. Not enough flowing panels.

[badbasser98]

I like the IS300 a lot, and have actually been thinking of getting one. Like someone said, you can find a mint 02-03 for around $15k with lowish mileage. However, now I am thinking of trading the BE and get a 2008 LGT when they come out... :shock:

[Svenerachi]

I'm all about the new legacy, but they are about 20K used

have you looked at the Sentra SER or Spec-V? the spec-V is 200hp n/a witha 6 speed, but from what i've been told the SER is faster in the 1/4 stock due to the 5 speed eventhough its only 175hp

I met a guy last night thats got a turbonetics td04 on a spec-v @7psi doing 280hp i believe he said?

anyway, i raced a spec-v the other night and it pretty much embarassed my ass and it was stock, i had him from the dig but he caught up and overtook me by 60


personally i'm holding out for the diesel subaru's when they come out in like 09 i guess?

[Wiscon_Mark]

personally i'm holding out for the diesel subaru's when they come out in like 09 i guess?

You shouldn't - it's coming out in Europe...the US hasn't been promised anything.

[Reason]

Sentra is too small.

[badbasser98]

There is no guarantee that the diesel cars are coming to the states. They were developed to give Subaru an edge in Europe. They wanted to compete more with VW and such...

EDIT: damn, i got side tracked before I hit submit :razz:

[SilentRacer]

The spec-v has the worst reliability of all the nissans, stay away...far away.

[95legacy]

IS300, my mom has an 01 GS300, same engine and similar parts all around just bigger chasis, and I love that car, its obviously far more cushy, but it has great power, and like everyone else said nice suspension. The 2JZGTE is pretty much a bulletproof engine as well and if you get really nuts turbo that thing and you'll have a Supra sedan.
Peace,
Kyle