I sold my SRT-4 recently and am buying a 1998 Accord as a "for now" car I can drive until I catch up on my debt and get rid of it however I can't help but wonder what car I want to buy next. Now I love the EVO and swore I would own one however I feel a part of me is looking to get out of the modified car scene, between the mod bug, the high maintinence and so forth I just wonder weather it is something I want to get into again, I mean sure I love cars but I live in Maine so unfortunately it limits my options. I am VERY picky and very few cars satisfy/fit the mold, in fact there are only two that really do it... and maybe a distant third. PERIOD, EVO, STi or a Legacy GT as a distant 3rd. The EVO turns me off because of it's expense of ownership, between replacing high performance parts and wanting to mod the car on a very limited budget it is tough to justify even though it is one of my favorite cars and part of me would definately kick myself for not buying one when I had the chance to. I found myself with the SRT-4 using every dollar I had and associating it with (hmm what can this amount guy me) and it got old, I was getting no where and it was an addiction.

I thought of buying a truck, I had a 1999 Ford Explorer XLT before with a 2" lift and 31.5 inch tires and I just really liked the feeling of not having to worry about dodging pot holes, or cringing over every bump, not to mention no weather stopped me. Now I know the EVO is more than capable in all weather conditions and surely a blast to drive but I see myself getting in trouble with it, having the urge to mod the **** out of it to make me happy when no one is EVER happy with stopping. Not to mention when I have to replace my clutch, grinding gears or a transfer case (even though I wouldn't drive like a dick I'm sure the previous owner did and I can't afford a new one) Maybe it's time for me to bite the bullet and buy something versitile like a truck, I really liked not being held back by things or worrying about if my car was dirty or impressing someone. I was considering a used Nissan Frontier (the new style) or a used Tacoma (new style) but they are still expensive at $20,000-23,000 and the gas mileage is probobly ****ty at 15-17mpg and I tow NOTHING, need to carry NOTHING... or I thought of say a 2003 Toyota 4Runner (new style) They are all reliable and have good engines and they are pretty quick for a truck, all though the Tacoma is hard to find in auto, and the Frontiers are expensive because there newer as are the 4Runners. What should I do? Maybe the money I am NOT spending on mods will MORE than compensate for the decrease in fuel economy (4-5 mpg) One thing I hated was filling up my Explorer but hey at leaste it's not a V8 right?

 

Let me save everyone else some time.

CN:Guy had SRT, spent all his $ on modding it, sold because of mounting debt.
Bought accord for now.
Wants Evo, doesn't want to get back into debt.
Maybe buy SUV.

Dude,What exactly are you asking? Should you get an SUV over an Evo? Will you not want to put a lift kit on the SUV and do other SUV type mods?

 

There really isn't anything I can think of that I would want to do, no lift kit, maybe nice tires when the time comes but nothing that will be difficult to use on stock ride height, tinted windows and maybe some stereo goodies? I realize that I can't make some ultimate off road machine out of it, I don't plan on it. I may be crazy for thinking this but I am looking for input. The EVO sounds like such a huge money pit between maintinence and mods.

 

You will have to buy a car you CAN'T mod!! Get back on your feet, then mod. Ask me, I spent ALOT on busting parts/modding/tuning, etc... Get a Pacer/Yugo/Gremlin. It is the only way to help you thru this!! An EVO will put you in WAY MORE DEBT then the SRT4 did. Trust me, and thank me later.

 

It is a huge money pit if you have the mod bug or plan on racing/breaking it.

I was just trying to figure out if you're like me and can't leave anything stock or if you only mod certain cars. I mean it sounds like you are going to spend money on anything you buy. Whether wheels and stereo stuff or flashes and cams.

 

Smoke would know. He's spent more on breaking sh*t than most of us did to buy the car.

Smoke, how are you doing? long time no talk.

 

That's my issue, with my SRT I did break stuff, and I got into an accident that ate $1000 up from a deductable, with an EVO I would first off want a set of springs and I have no one to help me do the install so I'd pay for springs and someone to do em =$400 easy... tint my windows now thats $250, get a flash and a TBE theres another $900... then I would start thinking cams, ooo cams there only $500 bucks... then I would need a new clutch, plus labor is AHHH! Then if I have to take it somewhere because I'm grinding gears or whatever, OH snap I need BRAKES! Sure, an awsome car but damn look at those small things add up. OH yeah, the stock wheels suck so looks like getting new wheels is a must. OH YEAH SNOW TIRES. It's ENDLESS!

Truck= routine maintinence, some small mods like tint or an exhaust or maybe some stereo goodies but all in all, its safe, tough and provides alot of uses if they should ever arise. HELL I lived out of my Explorer a couple summers ago when I got kicked out of my house haha.

 

Here is the only advice I can give you. I had a wrx with more money into it then the car was worth...finally I sold it and bought an 04 grand cherokee....I had this four months and gave it to my wife...I took her nissan, traded it in and bought the evo. If your a car guy, and have the modding bug, save yourself the time and get the evo or sti. Otherwise, your wife will be driving a $30,000 dollar vehicle on top of your evo...and all your friends will call you a dumb ***.

 

As long as it isn't small mods like, tint, stereo, exhaust, wheels, tires, lift kit, winch, push bar, brush gaurd, etc... the truck makes sense. All that stuff adds up on a truck the same as it does on an Evo.

You're the only that knows what you are going to spend on a given vehicle and what makes sense for you.

I would say drive the accord until you are out of debt, it's paid for or starts costing money for unexpected issues, or you are making enough that a couple of unexpected expenses don't completely screw you.

 

What up HOTROD!! Where the hell you been?? I have checked all the hospitals and Infirmaries around, nobody new who I was talking about!! Good to see you again!

 

get a car that you cannot mod. or not willing to mod.. such as camry or something
that's what i wanted to get... just so i can graduate from college and pay off my debts... then i'm going for rx7,vette,supra.. hehheeh

 

Hard to decide, you're talking about 2 different things here though. Evo and truck. Evo you go fast - truck more lay back thing.
If you're in debt then forget about modding anything. Keep accord till you're back on your feet.
Many of us have debts because of our cars and we kind of live with them. Though I don't know your situation. Just get back on your feet and buy that Evo you wanted. It will be pretty tough to leave tuner scene.

Good luck

 

If it's a truck, I would be looking at the 2007/2008 Tundra.

381 hp
400+ torque
and it's for 36K.

Can't really beat that in a truck unless you get the lightning.

But if you're having financial difficulties, just stick with the accord.