Thinkin of savin for a new car...

[luciusad2004]

as the title states, I think I want to start saving for a new car. I currently drive a 91 probe that i got because i was sorta pressured in to getting a new car by my parents and it was all I could afford. I love the lil thing to death but I just don't know what sort of future i have with it and It's just not in the best shape.

I think i want to look for a mid to late 90's Import. I want a 4 banger w/ decent gas mileage and a decent amount of aftermarket support. Anyone have any ideas? As much as I would love a rear wheel drive car I don't think it would be practical for me in the snow , so i guess it has to be either front wheel drive or All Wheel drive. I also prefer smaller vehicles.

I like Japanese cars but Id give a Euro a shot to. Not sure how many people around here are in to Imports but i figured I would throw it out there. If I ask on one of my car forums I'm going to get a more biased answer since most car sites are make and/or model specific. Plus i figured you guys like modding computers maybe you like modding your car's too.

I was thinking about an Imprezza if i could find a decent one that i can afford.

This wouldn't be for a year or so anyway unless i suddenly run in to a ton of money for no reason.

Thanks for any input, feel free to discuss your hearts out, just don't turn it in to a flame war.

[NightrainSrt4]

The imprezza's are nice but can be expensive to find one in good condition, and without a million miles on them.

DSM's can be found cheap nowadays and can pull some serious numbers with a quick 6-bolt swapped 4g63. Used am parts can be found real cheap sometimes as when people build then part out they get jack nothing compared to what they put into it. I miss my old one, but once the build finished I sold it, as MA roads would have killed it. Has AWD models as you were looking for.

There are plenty of options, just have to have an open mind, and keep an eye out in your area.

[SXRguyinMA]

I agree on the impreza. a buddy of mine has a couple of them, both with am turbos and done up motors, etc, a blast to drive. ones a 96 and the other a 97 or 98 I believe. the am is quite extensive when it comes to them, but like nightrain said, they can be hard to find either cheap or with low miles...you may have to pick one. spoend more, get lower mileage or spend less and get higher mileage

[luciusad2004]

The imprezza's are nice but can be expensive to find one in good condition, and without a million miles on them.

DSM's can be found cheap nowadays and can pull some serious numbers with a quick 6-bolt swapped 4g63. Used am parts can be found real cheap sometimes as when people build then part out they get jack nothing compared to what they put into it. I miss my old one, but once the build finished I sold it, as MA roads would have killed it. Has AWD models as you were looking for.

There are plenty of options, just have to have an open mind, and keep an eye out in your area.
Ah, I didn't think of that. Now that I think about it, my buddy payed a few grand for his and while, it seems to be in mostly good shape its def not in the best shape.

When you say DSM your reffering to a Talon or Elcipse? I never really thought of that, I would give it a shot but it would be a matter of finding one around here in good shape. It would also be hard to find one that's not already "tuned." Whenever I see them cruising they are always pretty beat up.


I agree on the impreza. a buddy of mine has a couple of them, both with am turbos and done up motors, etc, a blast to drive. ones a 96 and the other a 97 or 98 I believe. the am is quite extensive when it comes to them, but like nightrain said, they can be hard to find either cheap or with low miles...you may have to pick one. spoend more, get lower mileage or spend less and get higher mileage

Thats what drew me to the impreza, my buddy has one and it seems like the AM support is great

I guess the main thing I'm going to be looking for is a mostly clean body, and that it runs well. It doesn't need to run perfect but id like to not have to do a ton of work to get it running nice.

PA eats cars during the winter which is why i was thinking of saving for a mid to late nineties car. Even newer would be nice but i doubt I could afford it. I'm not ruling anything out but i don't think I would easily find any older cars in PA w/out lots of rust.

Thanks for the Input guys.

[Omega]

adw dsm turbo, same engine as an evo and way cheaper. hell yeah

also, since parts for the mitsu 4g63 are cheap since there's so many of them (evos) and since evo engine parts are newer (read: better engineered) and still 4g63 parts, they will bolt right up to the old 4g63.

that means, in english, "cheap bolt-on power".

not like the awd dsm turbos lacked it to begin with -- 205hp stock


maybe not so much a fast car but most subies are good calls, pretty reliable and they have good powerplants. if i was looking for an awd winter car, i'd probably get an old forester or awd legacy.

[Twigsoffury]

you can pick up a Mazda RX-7 in good to great condition with reasonable miles for around 20-25 thousand.

You'd Lol If you drove one.

[Bopher]

I drove a little Ford Escort ZX2. Not to expensive, cheap on gas and tough as nails. Mine was a 98 and when the wife and I moved out this way we loaded the truck, backseat and an escargo on the top. Even fully loaded it still got pretty decent gas mileage and was still able to hit 90 to pass truck without even hesitating. Man I miss that little car. Plus the bolt-on market has gotten pretty good for them and its cheap too if you want to do any of that stuff.

[Omega]

you can pick up a Mazda RX-7 in good to great condition with reasonable miles for around 20-25 thousand.

You'd Lol If you drove one.

Reliability? Just kidding!

I know a guy who has a 3-rotor RX7. For the year and I half I first knew him, I never saw the car because it was always broken. He drove his BMW instead.

I saw said guy, completely randomly at the local junkyard today. It's been four years since I seen him last. I first heard about this car Five and a half years ago. I finally saw it... today.

It's pretty sweet but reliabile it's not, and RWD + snow = bad (unless you're masterful at powerslides and enjoy going everywhere sideways).


Hell, if he said RWD would be fine, I'd just say "Volvo 244/245. /thread" and be done with it. Designed to cope with Sweden's winters, mine has never not started and it's got 254k on it. that's miles, btw.

[luciusad2004]

Reliability? Just kidding!

I know a guy who has a 3-rotor RX7. For the year and I half I first knew him, I never saw the car because it was always broken. He drove his BMW instead.

I saw said guy, completely randomly at the local junkyard today. It's been four years since I seen him last. I first heard about this car Five and a half years ago. I finally saw it... today.

It's pretty sweet but reliabile it's not, and RWD + snow = bad (unless you're masterful at powerslides and enjoy going everywhere sideways).


Hell, if he said RWD would be fine, I'd just say "Volvo 244/245. /thread" and be done with it. Designed to cope with Sweden's winters, mine has never not started and it's got 254k on it. that's miles, btw.

Thats pretty much what i was thinking lol. Trust me, If i could get a nice RX-7 and didn't have to worry about drivin it in snow, I would. But as it stands I don't think I would get a RWD car up my parents driveway. I would love to drive RWD, but Winter is whats holding me back. Sideways would be fun but sideways in to the concrete barrier between the two sides of a highway would not. (Almost did it goofin around in my probe in the snow.)

Plus from what I understand RX-7 gas mileage is in the same range as a large SUV. 15-17mpg or something silly like that. At least thats what I read online, I would love to be wrong on that one.

[FuzzyPlushroom]

The only problem with DSMs is that they have the structural integrity of a bran muffin. If you treat 'em like an economy car, you'll be fine. Racing, prepare to replace some parts.

Since you listed aftermarket support, I'm gonna steer you away from the Civic, as most folks would think you were a supreme feminine hygiene product. How about a Protege?

[SXRguyinMA]

two words...subaru legacy :devious:

[Omega]

The only problem with DSMs is that they have the structural integrity of a bran muffin. If you treat 'em like an economy car, you'll be fine. Racing, prepare to replace some parts.

Since you listed aftermarket support, I'm gonna steer you away from the Civic, as most folks would think you were a supreme feminine hygiene product. How about a Protege?

screw the protege.

Mazda3. MS3 for more go-fast. Mazda3>Protege.

I've been in a Mazda3 and an MS3, it's a good little car for hauling gear or hauling ass. fun little car.

[luciusad2004]

screw the protege.

Mazda3. MS3 for more go-fast. Mazda3>Protege.

I've been in a Mazda3 and an MS3, it's a good little car for hauling gear or hauling ass. fun little car.

I would actually love to drive a mazdaspeed 3 but wasn't sure what they cost used. I never even see them around to be honest. I would settle for even a regular mazda 3 assuming its got a decent Aftermarket. Honestly I don't actually drive fast all that often. I just like working on my car which is the main reason I want aftermarket support. What do you guys think would be better, A hatch or a coup? I like hatchs, but i've read that coups usually have better structural rigidity because of the full trunk and thus handle a bit better than a hatch would.

Id consider a Protege if it came my way but probably wouldn't go out of my way to find one. I do like civics but probably wouldn't drive one for various reasons. They're a bit to popular and the ones I like are older and harder to find in good shape.

I think I just need to spend a couple months browsing car domain to see whats out there that I like.

[FuzzyPlushroom]

I wasn't sure how much he was looking to spend. A Protege's dirt cheap, reliable, and efficient. A Mazda3 will obviously cost more, but is a much better car. (And yes, they do have decent aftermarket support. And you'll look less like a dink.)

[luciusad2004]

Thanks for all the responses guys.

I'm gonna try to find time to browse the net over the next few months or so and try to get a taste for what I like. It's still to early for me to start saving as I have mad debt to pay off over the next 5 -6 months. After that I can start saving. It's really to early for me to plan on getting any specific car i just want to get a general Idea. I used to be a Nissan fanboy thanks to a buddy of mine but I think I want to open up my options. Are there any popular tuners from Europe other than the golf? I like golfs but i see way to damn many of them.

Thanks again for all the input guys.

[NightrainSrt4]

I love the Corrado, and they are pretty rare, but once you start putting down some numbers they can be about as reliable as a dsm. Well I guess I wouldn't say that bad, but you do really really have to keep up on things.

Then again I would love just to have a nice clean stock one. Those are right up there with a late 80's 944 as my favorite cars that are within reach, but I won't end up getting as SRT4 it is for me for now.

[FuzzyPlushroom]

Well, there's the Jetta, which shares nearly all its parts with the Golf/GTI, and has come in a sporting "GLI" variant on and off.

Want something else? If you can find an unmolested BMW 3-series, the earlier models (E30, mid-'80s through early '90s) are little go-karts.

Saab 900s aren't a bad bet, either. They're incredibly quirky, though, and a bit of a pain to work on. They designed everything backwards simply because they could. Get one with a turbo.

If you're a masochist, there's always an Alfa-Romeo Milano.

[luciusad2004]

I love the Corrado, and they are pretty rare, but once you start putting down some numbers they can be about as reliable as a dsm. Well I guess I wouldn't say that bad, but you do really really have to keep up on things.

Then again I would love just to have a nice clean stock one. Those are right up there with a late 80's 944 as my favorite cars that are within reach, but I won't end up getting as SRT4 it is for me for now.
My buddy has a Corrado. Cool car, looks awesome parked at his grandma's house while he drives his subie around...



he's sunk thousands in to it I think and it's still not running right. He doesn't know what to do w/ it as he apparently loves/hates the thing. Last I heard he wants to swap in a VR6 but it won't be anytime soon.


Well, there's the Jetta, which shares nearly all its parts with the Golf/GTI, and has come in a sporting "GLI" variant on and off.

Want something else? If you can find an unmolested BMW 3-series, the earlier models (E30, mid-'80s through early '90s) are little go-karts.

Saab 900s aren't a bad bet, either. They're incredibly quirky, though, and a bit of a pain to work on. They designed everything backwards simply because they could. Get one with a turbo.

If you're a masochist, there's always an Alfa-Romeo Milano.

Id consider a jetta, I didn't know they made a sportier version.
The 3 series BMW sounds like it would be hard to find around here in good shape. Most cars that old are rusting through in my area unless its been garage kept. If i could find one it looks like it would be a nice lookin lil car.

[FuzzyPlushroom]

Are you concerned with safety? I mean imminent-crash-protection safety, not crash-avoidance. That's the only downside to a Mk2 (pre-1993) Jetta. If you can find a well-kept one with a stickshift, it can return 40 MPG highway, and in GLI trim with the 16v engine they're pretty quick. My friend's had a half-dozen of 'em and swears by them.

The only thing to take note of on any Volkswagen is the VIN - if it starts with 3VW, start haggling. If it doesn't, you've found a good one. (The 3 indicates that the car was built in Puebla, Mexico, and cars produced there prior to 2001 had some... issues. The German and Pennsylvanian models do well, overall.)

[luciusad2004]

Are you concerned with safety? I mean imminent-crash-protection safety, not crash-avoidance. That's the only downside to a Mk2 (pre-1993) Jetta. If you can find a well-kept one with a stickshift, it can return 40 MPG highway, and in GLI trim with the 16v engine they're pretty quick. My friend's had a half-dozen of 'em and swears by them.

The only thing to take note of on any Volkswagen is the VIN - if it starts with 3VW, start haggling. If it doesn't, you've found a good one. (The 3 indicates that the car was built in Puebla, Mexico, and cars produced there prior to 2001 had some... issues. The German and Pennsylvanian models do well, overall.)

Thanks for the info. That's a tough call. *knocks on wood* I've yet to have an accident since i started driving but at the same time to knowingly buy a car that's ... not the safest option... is disconcerting. I don't really worry about it much though. Also I'd probably just pass up the Mexican made car if they have known issues, Thanks for that lil bit of info lol. Any idea how they handle? That sort of gas mileage would be sweet for when gas prices inevitably go back up.

[FuzzyPlushroom]

Well, they handle beautifully. They're small German cars. The Mk2 is about as pure a car as you can find.

Anything from that era won't be the safest option, regardless. Most cars pre-'90 didn't even have a driver's-side airbag. (My '89 Volvo doesn't, for instance.) The Jetta's sturdy for its size, but it's still a small car from 20 years ago. If you're at all skilled behind the wheel, though, its agility can pull you out of most sticky situations.

[luciusad2004]

True, It's probably at least as safe as my probe.

Oh, last question I promise(maybe), does it have automatic seatbelts... please tell me it doesn't, my last two cars have had them and they are nothing but trouble.

[Luke122]

To be honest, I've never seen those automatic seatbelts ANYWHERE but in the US.

[luciusad2004]

To be honest, I've never seen those automatic seatbelts ANYWHERE but in the US.

Lol, the rest of the world is extraordinarily lucky then. I think its an overcomplication of something that should be simple. I mean yeah it gets lazy americans to at least were the shoulder restraint, but if you really care your going to take the time to put on the lap belt and if you've gone that far then snapping on a regular seatbelt shouldn't be to difficult for you.

On my old car they decided to get stuck in the forward position making them useless. On my current car they just decide to stop moving every now and then but they are always in the back position so they are still helpful. They've been going good for a month or two now though.

I guess when it comes down to it, people are either gonna wear their seatbelts or they aren't.

[Omega]

Purest car?

The purest car I can think of is the Porsche 914...

Light weight, 50/50 distribution, ~100hp, air cooled opposed flat four, mid-rear engine, rear wheel drive, four wheel discs, removeable top. It's the ancestor of the Boxster before they watered it down.

Maybe the purest Jetta, but I wouldn't really think that means much...

[Bopher]

My 91 Probe had those stupid belts. They stopped working and I undid them. The only problem I ever had driving around was going on base. Then the guard had to looking to see I was indeed belted. Not a huge problem but annoying anyway. I'll never get another car that has those.