What is the car for me?
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Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Maine
What is the car for me?
I will be buying a used car when I get home from AIT in 3 weeks. I am an Army Engineer Reserve soldier and I will be in school for the spring semester. I am going to be getting a place with my friend as well. I value fit and finish, handling and decent straight line power I guess. I like Audi, BMW, Lexus, VW, Honda, Acura, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Infiniti, reliability and up keep are concerns of mine almost as much as performance, look and overall appeal. I want to wake up in the morning and look forward to getting into my car, I'd like to modify as well, I am big into the tuner scene however I do not have the funds for anything but bolts ons, ECU mods, etc etc. I want to be happy with my car and have no regrets on my purchase. I really like forced induction cars ie. turbo... I love the interiors of MKIV GTi's however I hear VW/Audi are not very reliable, alot of random problems and so forth. Cars I have considered buying are as follows...
E36 M3 (I hear they handle great, have good power hitting mid 14's in stock form, they are good looking cars, RWD and have a really solid feel however my price range only gets me in the high mileage M3 market having 90-100+k and parts are pricey)
LS1 Camaro/Firebird (I think theyre sexy as hell, sounds MEAN and can hit a high 12 with slicks in stock form, a bad *** car but theyre useless in the winter, interiors are crappy and theyre domestic, I still like them though but probobly not the most responsible decision for a 21 year old that lives in Maine)
1.8T GTi (I love the look and I'd almost buy the car because of the interior guages haha kidding, they sound mean when modded and can make good HP numbers, however Volkswagon reliability scares the crap out of me, I had an Explorer and I am tired of problems with my vehicle)
E46 3 Series (I love the look, the feel etc however my price range only gets me one with 85-100k or so and the modability is weak unless you have deep pockets you probobly won't get far)
SRT-4 (Love the car, I love turbo, the performance is by far the best bang for the buck around however it's a Neon and straight line gets old, so does defending your car because of the "its still a neon" comments)
2g Turbo DSM (I love the styling and the modability however unpredictable reliability and crank walk issues scare me enough to run far from these cars, I need something I can count on
IS300 (I love the look, it's RWD and has awsome reliability at any mileage however with my budget I only have a 2000 or 01 as an option and they only came in automatic which sucks because I love to shift, I love to feel the drive and a tiptronic is boring as all hell)
Integra/Civic (Reliability and gas mileage are great however the ricer label sucks and they have no torque,)
98-01 Subaru 2.5RS (I love the look and its AWD however the modability is crappy because to make decent power I hear you must go forced induction meaning I'd have to build the car up to handle the power=too much money)
I need to spend less than $13,000 and that is a firm price cap, I want something that I can mod, handles well, isnt going to give me problems, I live in Maine so drivability in the occassional crappy weather is somewhat important, a car that I can glad to get into, built well, handles well, quick (a low 15 sec 1/4 mile or better stock) I am open to suggestions that is why I posted the thread, I want to have zero regrets. Thanks for the help
E36 M3 (I hear they handle great, have good power hitting mid 14's in stock form, they are good looking cars, RWD and have a really solid feel however my price range only gets me in the high mileage M3 market having 90-100+k and parts are pricey)
LS1 Camaro/Firebird (I think theyre sexy as hell, sounds MEAN and can hit a high 12 with slicks in stock form, a bad *** car but theyre useless in the winter, interiors are crappy and theyre domestic, I still like them though but probobly not the most responsible decision for a 21 year old that lives in Maine)
1.8T GTi (I love the look and I'd almost buy the car because of the interior guages haha kidding, they sound mean when modded and can make good HP numbers, however Volkswagon reliability scares the crap out of me, I had an Explorer and I am tired of problems with my vehicle)
E46 3 Series (I love the look, the feel etc however my price range only gets me one with 85-100k or so and the modability is weak unless you have deep pockets you probobly won't get far)
SRT-4 (Love the car, I love turbo, the performance is by far the best bang for the buck around however it's a Neon and straight line gets old, so does defending your car because of the "its still a neon" comments)
2g Turbo DSM (I love the styling and the modability however unpredictable reliability and crank walk issues scare me enough to run far from these cars, I need something I can count on
IS300 (I love the look, it's RWD and has awsome reliability at any mileage however with my budget I only have a 2000 or 01 as an option and they only came in automatic which sucks because I love to shift, I love to feel the drive and a tiptronic is boring as all hell)
Integra/Civic (Reliability and gas mileage are great however the ricer label sucks and they have no torque,)
98-01 Subaru 2.5RS (I love the look and its AWD however the modability is crappy because to make decent power I hear you must go forced induction meaning I'd have to build the car up to handle the power=too much money)
I need to spend less than $13,000 and that is a firm price cap, I want something that I can mod, handles well, isnt going to give me problems, I live in Maine so drivability in the occassional crappy weather is somewhat important, a car that I can glad to get into, built well, handles well, quick (a low 15 sec 1/4 mile or better stock) I am open to suggestions that is why I posted the thread, I want to have zero regrets. Thanks for the help
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,206
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From: Frederick, Maryland
Originally Posted by Sp00led Ya
I will be buying a used car when I get home from AIT in 3 weeks. I am an Army Engineer Reserve soldier and I will be in school for the spring semester. I am going to be getting a place with my friend as well. I value fit and finish, handling and decent straight line power I guess. I like Audi, BMW, Lexus, VW, Honda, Acura, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Infiniti, reliability and up keep are concerns of mine almost as much as performance, look and overall appeal. I want to wake up in the morning and look forward to getting into my car, I'd like to modify as well, I am big into the tuner scene however I do not have the funds for anything but bolts ons, ECU mods, etc etc. I want to be happy with my car and have no regrets on my purchase. I really like forced induction cars ie. turbo... I love the interiors of MKIV GTi's however I hear VW/Audi are not very reliable, alot of random problems and so forth. Cars I have considered buying are as follows...
E36 M3 (I hear they handle great, have good power hitting mid 14's in stock form, they are good looking cars, RWD and have a really solid feel however my price range only gets me in the high mileage M3 market having 90-100+k and parts are pricey)
LS1 Camaro/Firebird (I think theyre sexy as hell, sounds MEAN and can hit a high 12 with slicks in stock form, a bad *** car but theyre useless in the winter, interiors are crappy and theyre domestic, I still like them though but probobly not the most responsible decision for a 21 year old that lives in Maine)
1.8T GTi (I love the look and I'd almost buy the car because of the interior guages haha kidding, they sound mean when modded and can make good HP numbers, however Volkswagon reliability scares the crap out of me, I had an Explorer and I am tired of problems with my vehicle)
E46 3 Series (I love the look, the feel etc however my price range only gets me one with 85-100k or so and the modability is weak unless you have deep pockets you probobly won't get far)
SRT-4 (Love the car, I love turbo, the performance is by far the best bang for the buck around however it's a Neon and straight line gets old, so does defending your car because of the "its still a neon" comments)
2g Turbo DSM (I love the styling and the modability however unpredictable reliability and crank walk issues scare me enough to run far from these cars, I need something I can count on
IS300 (I love the look, it's RWD and has awsome reliability at any mileage however with my budget I only have a 2000 or 01 as an option and they only came in automatic which sucks because I love to shift, I love to feel the drive and a tiptronic is boring as all hell)
Integra/Civic (Reliability and gas mileage are great however the ricer label sucks and they have no torque,)
98-01 Subaru 2.5RS (I love the look and its AWD however the modability is crappy because to make decent power I hear you must go forced induction meaning I'd have to build the car up to handle the power=too much money)
I need to spend less than $13,000 and that is a firm price cap, I want something that I can mod, handles well, isnt going to give me problems, I live in Maine so drivability in the occassional crappy weather is somewhat important, a car that I can glad to get into, built well, handles well, quick (a low 15 sec 1/4 mile or better stock) I am open to suggestions that is why I posted the thread, I want to have zero regrets. Thanks for the help
E36 M3 (I hear they handle great, have good power hitting mid 14's in stock form, they are good looking cars, RWD and have a really solid feel however my price range only gets me in the high mileage M3 market having 90-100+k and parts are pricey)
LS1 Camaro/Firebird (I think theyre sexy as hell, sounds MEAN and can hit a high 12 with slicks in stock form, a bad *** car but theyre useless in the winter, interiors are crappy and theyre domestic, I still like them though but probobly not the most responsible decision for a 21 year old that lives in Maine)
1.8T GTi (I love the look and I'd almost buy the car because of the interior guages haha kidding, they sound mean when modded and can make good HP numbers, however Volkswagon reliability scares the crap out of me, I had an Explorer and I am tired of problems with my vehicle)
E46 3 Series (I love the look, the feel etc however my price range only gets me one with 85-100k or so and the modability is weak unless you have deep pockets you probobly won't get far)
SRT-4 (Love the car, I love turbo, the performance is by far the best bang for the buck around however it's a Neon and straight line gets old, so does defending your car because of the "its still a neon" comments)
2g Turbo DSM (I love the styling and the modability however unpredictable reliability and crank walk issues scare me enough to run far from these cars, I need something I can count on
IS300 (I love the look, it's RWD and has awsome reliability at any mileage however with my budget I only have a 2000 or 01 as an option and they only came in automatic which sucks because I love to shift, I love to feel the drive and a tiptronic is boring as all hell)
Integra/Civic (Reliability and gas mileage are great however the ricer label sucks and they have no torque,)
98-01 Subaru 2.5RS (I love the look and its AWD however the modability is crappy because to make decent power I hear you must go forced induction meaning I'd have to build the car up to handle the power=too much money)
I need to spend less than $13,000 and that is a firm price cap, I want something that I can mod, handles well, isnt going to give me problems, I live in Maine so drivability in the occassional crappy weather is somewhat important, a car that I can glad to get into, built well, handles well, quick (a low 15 sec 1/4 mile or better stock) I am open to suggestions that is why I posted the thread, I want to have zero regrets. Thanks for the help
I still own a 1994 Camaro, so no, it's not an LS1 model, but it's been an alright car. Living in Maine, I wouldn't recommend one. They are attrocious in the snow.
E46- Think "snow." Besides, an STi or Evo will outshine one, and they have AWD to boot.
SRT4- I'd rather be seen driving a Kia. At least when you pay for power windows, you get them. Great straight-line performer when they aren't busting axles, but the fun ends there.
On the DSM, I'd agree....I would stay away. I think your best bet is probably the IS300. It's going to be comfortable, provide spritely performance, and it SHOULD have that Toyota reliability.
