ken

Any suggestions for what cars to buy in this price range?

Requirements include:
1) Not American made (no smart ass comments like jaguar is owned by Ford, so therefore, blah blah blah)
2) 0-60 at least ~8.5 seconds
3) <$25k after negotiating
4) Won't look like a young kid (not me though) is driving his dad's car
5) Will last

My thoughts include:

1) Audi A4 1.8 - has a warranty for 4 years, I believe it has good build, pretty fast. Close to violating #4.
2) Honda Prelude - prob: will be discontinued in 1 year
3) Acura Integra - also will be discontinued in one year
4) Jetta - poor build, maybe b/c made in mexico?


Anything else I'm missing?

hapoo

BMW BMW BMW

Apex

Celica GT-S? There's actually little in that price range right now. The celica is reasonably nice, good interior, great handling (little on the soft side, but still stiffer than the Integra GS-R and Prelude), 6 speed manual, and reasonable power. Should be just a hair under $25 after taxes and things.

tseng99

are you considering used autos??
I think for the price range..I would go
with the Audi A4 1.8T or BMW 323i sedan..
it'll probably be a little over $25K mark..
but you get the warranty and full service included! oops..looks like i went off on a tangent..anyhow...used auto..you could get maybe 1994-1996 BMW M3 / 328i/s ,
1990-91 Acura NSX, 1990-91 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4, etc..

psycho-

323s these days are a bit more than just minimum w/o anything is still approx 28k (without tax). (3 thousand is still a bit of money, esp. for people looking for cars in the 20k range). No matter how much i like the BMWs, I can't reccomend one for a person who only has around 25k. The bills for service will be the killer..I mean beyond the 3k overhead. Also, one would want other options like side airbags, etc. which will definitely raise the price

If you're looking for a car in the 20k range, a more reasonable one might be the volkswagon Passat, the Subaru Legacy (if you want to do skiing and such), Volvo S40/V40

I wouldn't buy the A4 just yet, unless you're willing to wait 12-18 months for the new model to come out. The new one is bigger, but should be much nicer.

Used cars can, of course, change the whole situation.

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Victor http://psychokid.com http://rurouni.org



[This message has been edited by psycho- (edited 06-24-2000).]

JoeSmooth

I just bought a VW Cabrio GLS for ~23K which I love but for awhile I was driving a 99 Audi A4 1.8 (not mine, a loaner) and I have to say it sucked on acceleration. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad car, but off the line speed was pathetic. And this comes from a guy driving a VW...

Joe

hapoo

tru tru

but you could always get a pre-owned BMW

RamboIII

for under 25K i suggest several cars. The Acura Integra GS-R ( i owned 2 of em) is very quick and nimble and can redline like a motorcycle. (almost) hehe..another car would be a honda civic si. similar vtec engine as in the integra gs-r but on a smaller car. and i think about 10hp less. another choice is a mitsubishi eclipse. i owned a 97 GSX. all wheel drive turbocharged. ( too bad they dont make these anymore but you can always get a used one) i got it for 26 out the door. U can also get the front wheel drive eclipse that mitsu makes today. not turbocharged but has a v-6 engine thats comparable to the old GS-T in specs. how about a toyota MR2 spyder or Mazda Miata?? both very tiny cars but agile and quick. and lastly, though it may violate your #4 criteria, is the nissan maxima. ive seen these fixed up and they look nice! they are fast and roomy and also affordable. I believe all these cars will meet your criteria (1-5). Ive driven every single one of em and owned several of em too. hope this helps.

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hapoo

yuck, no front wheel drive cars.

psycho-

How about getting a real car (european) that entail a real service bill (alot)

Actually, the only reason I have a penchant for European cars is because our family loves to drive hard and fast...so we basically have currently a MB (German Spec E class), Volvo (850 GLT), and BMW (325i). We have owned VW passat and some other cars before. All great cars, all killer on the pocket when it comes to bills, but I'd still reccomend one.

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Victor
http://psychokid.com
http://rurouni.org

psycho-

BTW, a sleeper car helps. They always go "that person can't be threatening" with certain cars, so I can get away with tinting my front side windows and removing my front license plate. I always pull up next to cops, they glance over, then they look at other stuff.

Only times i've been caught has been on radar. (96 in a 60 zone and 95 in a 65)

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Victor
http://psychokid.com
http://rurouni.org

CluelessSi

I think you should also look into Civic Si very good car for it's price
and the new accord v6 looks appealing.

ken

Thanks for all the comments.
Used is not an option, because the current car is working pretty well - its seems crazy to go into an unknonw used car from an old new car that still runs relatively well.

The comments do reflect that this market, for non-SUVs for young people is dead, or dying out.

Yeah, I know the audi's redoing the body, but the problem is 1) the car must be had now or soon (you know how that is) and 2) when the new body comes out, I bet that dealers won't deal for at least 6 months. Right now I read on edmunds that someone got their audi a4 for $400 above invoice (and Audi has no dealer holdback) (albeit the dealer was in the middle of nowhere).

Probably will be sticking with the Audi.

hapoo

Even worse than front wheel drive are rice rockets, I've seen sooooooooo many asians in their honda's and acura's that i'm sick of the cars.

psycho-

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by hapoo:
I've seen sooooooooo many asians in their honda's and acura's that i'm sick of the cars.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Funny thing is that the people most sick of them are usually asians themselves. I'm asian and I'm sick of seeing dressed up cars that are altered to have that look fast approach...want a fast honda? Go buy a British Honda Accord..they look alot better than the US accords, and are alot more powerful.

Funniest things are those "Powered By.." stickers....i guess they're put on the window to remind the driver who made the engine. I know GM and Honda has engine development and manufacturing agreements, but where was the last honda you've seen that doesn't have a Honda. The only recent mass roduction car that has a hybrid engine is the Mazda MPV (Ford Duratec V6) and the Ford Taurus SHO (Yamaha Designed engine family...wonderful engines)



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Victor
http://psychokid.com
http://rurouni.org

Nanotech9

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by psycho-:
...so I can get away with tinting my front side windows and removing my front license plate.....Only times i've been caught has been on radar. (96 in a 60 zone and 95 in a 65)

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

come live in Oklahoma...they doen't issue front plates, and I think they just repealed the max tint limit law....

only ticket: 104 in a 70 - radar also.
real speed 20 seconds before he clocked me: 125+
car: Geo Prisim (...only drive it because it's really a Toyota under the hood

: :

Renski

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Nanotech9:
come live in Oklahoma...they doen't issue front plates, and I think they just repealed the max tint limit law....

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The only bad thing is the tags are hella expensive. Damn Okies!!!

hapoo

yeah thats what i thought, no one would dare talk sh*t about BMW's!!! j/k

[This message has been edited by hapoo (edited 06-27-2000).]

colossus

Don't even get me started on Rice cars. If you have been to Cerritos, CA you know what I'm talking about. The #1 Acura dealer (Integra) and #1 Honda dealer (Accord and Civic). Lately I have seen some fixed up Exclipses too.

What's funny is to just watch these guys in traffic. They sit there so low in the car they remind me of grandmothers in Florida. They have stickers all over their car - maybe they're still into stickers from elementary school. Cuz you know stickers make your car go faster. And the exhaust has to be larger than the disc brake cross area hehe

For fun I sometimes put a removeable stick that say "Powered by Hamsters" in huge letters on my rear window. Mind you I'm driving a mostly stock SVT that can outgun most modified cars 0-60 and easily beat them to 120 mph where the engine loves to rev.

Around 120 most ricecar owners think I'm crazy and back off. Although one time a Civic with Nitrous passed me doing 140+ and when I tried to catch up he dusted me with a big black plume off smoke.

But yeah, low profile is nice.

Ken, if you're willing to overlook it's styling go look at the Contour SVT. Since this car has been killed by Ford, the dealer might be able to give it $500 to $800 under invoice. The reliability of this car also surpasses the A4 according to carpoint and Edmunds. As long as you don't modify it the car should do 100K easy with no problems. I know you've objected to it in the past, but this is the farthest thing to American sedan that Ford has. It's scary how close this is to a VW. It's sister car, Mondeo, still sells like Hotcakes in Europe.

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Ço£o§§ü§ - yeah you can read into it...

cutecat56

I'd lean towards a VW GTI 1.8T -- redefines the concept of an affordable pocketrocket, especially if you put the upgrade chip to unleash the full 180hp.

psycho-

- <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by colossus:
It's sister car, Mondeo, still sells like Hotcakes in Europe.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I've never sat in the contour before..only the mondeo. My uncle in Taiwan has a euro mondeo. Those cars are pretty popular there...I mean if you discount the Nissan Cefiros (infiniti I30), the Benzes, and such.

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Victor
http://psychokid.com
http://rurouni.org

plo

all the rice rocket bashing in here is pretty sad...with about 10 grand i could build a low 12 high 11 second 1/4 mile honda/acura (running a gsr motor in a civic with a turbo kit boosting a reliable 10 or 12 pounds). It is truly a disgrace to import racing that many people who own hondas/acuras/mitsus plaster 1000000000000 stickers on their stock cars that are really just that....stock cars.... It makes me sick to see some monkey with a stock civic with enough bondo on his car to plaster my house and some sort of gay tailights/headlights from another car driving down the street. I own a 93 civic running a gsr motor, its extremely reliable quick and didnt cost me an arm and a leg, granted it offers no luxury but its fast and i have tons of fun in it. My dad used to have a bmw 735i he said it was the biggest peice of sh*t he ever owned....it had a ton of problems but he's only one guy so you never know...if i were to buy a new car under 25k i would go for a civic si or possibly a integra type r if you can find a dealer willing to sell it to you for sticker.

colossus

After driving a Integra and a Contour SVT I doubt many people would say the Integra gives more in the seat kick in the pants ride.

The Si on the other hand has some gusto. It also has the awesome Electric Blue which I must admit is a very nice color.

You're right about the rice cars though. I don't know what the heck these "kids" are thinking. Who are they kidding with 5" wide exhaust pipes and the car so slammed to the ground they have trouble exiting a parking lot. Maybe they should put brushes under the car and pick up extra money as street cleaners.

When I went to SCA down in OC I some nice Civics and Eclipses I would definitely give props to. Only 1 or 2 stickers per car, no lame 12" subs in the trunk, and real performance eq. They realize you don't upgrade the wheels until your suspension has been upgraded.

If these kids put the money their wasting on looks into the stocks or a Roth IRA they would be a lot happier a few years down the line. I lived on a station wagon for 6 years. Now I love my sedan and think it's "da bomb". Somebody please shoot me for saying that

For a BMW 735i to be considered SH*T, the mechanic has to be pure bred idiot to let stuff slip. I know sometimes you get lemons, and I know a friend who had the tranny die at 7k on her 740i with no warning. But the sensors on those cars get in a hissy fit if the humidity is too high. For a mechanic to miss stuff is sorry.

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Ço£o§§ü§ - yeah you can read into it...

blxmjx

I personally had a BMW 325 for a couple of years and personally disliked it. It was way too underpowered and the maintenance costs were astronomical. I can easily say that it was the most disappointing car I've ever owned. I now have a GMC typhoon which can pretty much smoke most cars off the line a RX7 turbo which is hella fast on the freeway and an integra gsr which is actually my favorite from all three because of the gas mileage, especially with gas prices so high. BTW no stickers on my