getting a second car...opinions welcomed...

[chin311]

I'm looking at adding a 2nd car to my 07 nissan versa that i use for work purposes (mobile computer repair), well its not exactly a "fun" car in the world yet it gets the job done. I have always wanted something quick and fun to drive and now that im a little older insurance is more forgiving. Not looking to spend more than 7-10k, something i can pretty much pay for up front...

there's a few options locally,

00' s2000 with 130k (8900$)
02' wrx wagon original owner 95k (7000$)
01' prelude with some light mods 86k (7000$)

resale wouldn't' be a huge issue but none of them would take a huge hit i wouldn't imagine in the near future....i think the wrx is the best bang for the buck, but i want it to be something fun yet reliable and not dumping huge $$$ into.

so what ya got for me???

 

[DeviousTrap]

Miata.

 

[Arkaign]

The WRX has the most performance potential without blowing a huge amount of $$. Prelude handles like a dream, but it takes $$ to make it reasonably quick. I did a Jackson SC on my 5G, and along with various other upgrades, it cost me several thousand dollars. At the end of it I was left with a very very quick FF car, but still FF. I even had to disable the ATTS system due to the hugely increased power levels wreaking havoc with the system. The H22 is a very very robust motor. Still, the WRX having a turbo system and plumbing / etc already being set up, it's a snap to make it significantly better. Cobb has heaps of awesome stuff for the subies.

The S2000 is also awesome, but 130k miles on that one, I dunno bout that.

 

[Hyperlite]

what ^^ he said. Sounds like the scooby is probably your best bet.

 

[halik]

s2000, that's a proper weekend car

 

[chin311]

I thought about the s2000 but unfort whatever i get wont be garaged at least not at this point. Leanin towards the wrx at the moment anyway. Not really a fan of convert.'s but always liked the s2000.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Don't need a garage. I have a garage but I never park my miata in it. Everybody should have a 2 seater convertible at some point.

 

[DarkThinker]

Originally posted by: chin311
I thought about the s2000 but unfort whatever i get wont be garaged at least not at this point. Leanin towards the wrx at the moment anyway. Not really a fan of convert.'s but always liked the s2000.

I am not a fan of converts either, but if it was up to me and I was in that position, I would pick the S2000 and I would slap a hard top on it, done.

Second option, prelude.

 

[Doggiedog]

I used to have a Prelude SH. The mileage was terrible ~22MPG and you had to really rev it up to get it to move. But it was fun to drive. I had a really annoying issue with the digital immobilizer key. Sometimes the car would just not register the key and I would be stuck in bad situations where I could not start the car.

 

[chin311]

Originally posted by: DarkThinker

Originally posted by: chin311
I thought about the s2000 but unfort whatever i get wont be garaged at least not at this point. Leanin towards the wrx at the moment anyway. Not really a fan of convert.'s but always liked the s2000.

I am not a fan of converts either, but if it was up to me and I was in that position, I would pick the S2000 and I would slap a hard top on it, done.

Second option, prelude.

yeah i found a really nice clean/all stock 99' in texas...im in florida. its a private party. how in the world would i go about registering it and driving it back? seems kinda shady

 

[RGUN]

Originally posted by: Arkaign
The WRX has the most performance potential without blowing a huge amount of $$. Prelude handles like a dream, but it takes $$ to make it reasonably quick. I did a Jackson SC on my 5G, and along with various other upgrades, it cost me several thousand dollars. At the end of it I was left with a very very quick FF car, but still FF. I even had to disable the ATTS system due to the hugely increased power levels wreaking havoc with the system. The H22 is a very very robust motor. Still, the WRX having a turbo system and plumbing / etc already being set up, it's a snap to make it significantly better. Cobb has heaps of awesome stuff for the subies.

The S2000 is also awesome, but 130k miles on that one, I dunno bout that.

Lets not go overboard here. The WRX is a great car and no doubt in stock form will continue to run until you slip on maintenance. It does however use premium fuel (and lots of it). Being a turbo doesnt make it simple to add heaps of power - if you want power just skip the WRX and get the STI from the get go. The WRX transmission isnt good for much of an increase in power.

 

[Fenixgoon]

how much are you looking to spend? GTO?

 

[chin311]

Nah gtos a little out of range. Im actually looking to spend lil' as possible, maybe close to 7k as i can. Really interested in preludes just hard to find a nice clean stock manual. Like i said in a previous post im tempted to go out of state lol

 

[SickBeast]

Of the 3 cars listed, I like the S2000.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Preludes are FWD and who the hell wants that for a fun second car? If you want to go fun and cheap you want a miata. You can pick up damn nice 94+ miata for $4k and they have a huge aftermarket.

 

[CRXican]

I'll add to the Miata votes

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: RGUN

Originally posted by: Arkaign
The WRX has the most performance potential without blowing a huge amount of $$. Prelude handles like a dream, but it takes $$ to make it reasonably quick. I did a Jackson SC on my 5G, and along with various other upgrades, it cost me several thousand dollars. At the end of it I was left with a very very quick FF car, but still FF. I even had to disable the ATTS system due to the hugely increased power levels wreaking havoc with the system. The H22 is a very very robust motor. Still, the WRX having a turbo system and plumbing / etc already being set up, it's a snap to make it significantly better. Cobb has heaps of awesome stuff for the subies.

The S2000 is also awesome, but 130k miles on that one, I dunno bout that.

Lets not go overboard here. The WRX is a great car and no doubt in stock form will continue to run until you slip on maintenance. It does however use premium fuel (and lots of it). Being a turbo doesnt make it simple to add heaps of power - if you want power just skip the WRX and get the STI from the get go. The WRX transmission isnt good for much of an increase in power.

Well, the WRX can easily handle the Cobb Stage 2 kits, which boost things up by about ~55whp and ~50wtq, a pretty big boost, probably more like 65hp or more at the crank. Try adding 55whp to a Prelude or S2000 without resorting to boost. You're talking serious upgrades to fuel delivery and internals.

 

[LS8]

I really like the 'rex a lot but I can't get over the terribad styling or the boy racer, douchnozzle stereotype so I can't own one. I'd go for the S2000 myself.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: RGUN

Originally posted by: Arkaign
The WRX has the most performance potential without blowing a huge amount of $$. Prelude handles like a dream, but it takes $$ to make it reasonably quick. I did a Jackson SC on my 5G, and along with various other upgrades, it cost me several thousand dollars. At the end of it I was left with a very very quick FF car, but still FF. I even had to disable the ATTS system due to the hugely increased power levels wreaking havoc with the system. The H22 is a very very robust motor. Still, the WRX having a turbo system and plumbing / etc already being set up, it's a snap to make it significantly better. Cobb has heaps of awesome stuff for the subies.

The S2000 is also awesome, but 130k miles on that one, I dunno bout that.

Lets not go overboard here. The WRX is a great car and no doubt in stock form will continue to run until you slip on maintenance. It does however use premium fuel (and lots of it). Being a turbo doesnt make it simple to add heaps of power - if you want power just skip the WRX and get the STI from the get go. The WRX transmission isnt good for much of an increase in power.

Well, the WRX can easily handle the Cobb Stage 2 kits, which boost things up by about ~55whp and ~50wtq, a pretty big boost, probably more like 65hp or more at the crank. Try adding 55whp to a Prelude or S2000 without resorting to boost. You're talking serious upgrades to fuel delivery and internals.

Well maybe the engine can handle it but earlier WRX's weren't known for their strong trannies.

I would never get a WRX that old. Preludes are too slow in every way. S2K's are the most fun but damn that's a lot of miles and it's old as hell for 9K.

 

[Koing]

Originally posted by: chin311
I thought about the s2000 but unfort whatever i get wont be garaged at least not at this point. Leanin towards the wrx at the moment anyway. Not really a fan of convert.'s but always liked the s2000.

I wasn't a fan of convertibles either but the S2000 is designed up to be a convertible and the handling isn't like a fast saloon with the roof chopped off changing the balance of the car. I LOVE driving with the top down in my S2000 . The whole world seems so open and free. Amazing in sunny weather and clear sky's imo.

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: RGUN

Originally posted by: Arkaign
The WRX has the most performance potential without blowing a huge amount of $$. Prelude handles like a dream, but it takes $$ to make it reasonably quick. I did a Jackson SC on my 5G, and along with various other upgrades, it cost me several thousand dollars. At the end of it I was left with a very very quick FF car, but still FF. I even had to disable the ATTS system due to the hugely increased power levels wreaking havoc with the system. The H22 is a very very robust motor. Still, the WRX having a turbo system and plumbing / etc already being set up, it's a snap to make it significantly better. Cobb has heaps of awesome stuff for the subies.

The S2000 is also awesome, but 130k miles on that one, I dunno bout that.

Lets not go overboard here. The WRX is a great car and no doubt in stock form will continue to run until you slip on maintenance. It does however use premium fuel (and lots of it). Being a turbo doesnt make it simple to add heaps of power - if you want power just skip the WRX and get the STI from the get go. The WRX transmission isnt good for much of an increase in power.

Well, the WRX can easily handle the Cobb Stage 2 kits, which boost things up by about ~55whp and ~50wtq, a pretty big boost, probably more like 65hp or more at the crank. Try adding 55whp to a Prelude or S2000 without resorting to boost. You're talking serious upgrades to fuel delivery and internals.

The S2000 isn't about really fast speeds. It's about handling, balance and fun. Yes the engine is pretty whimpy at anything less then 3-4k and at 5-6k it gets better and 6-8k is where the fun is at. It's just designed that way. You don't get low down torque with high revving engines without a fatty amount of £££ or dropping a fair amount relative to the cars cost in mods.

Test drive the cars your interested in and see how much spirited driving or road trips you intend to do. You may love 4x4 or the prelude over the S2000.

I love my S2000 but it isn't for everybody. If it had 400BHp that would be bad ass

Koing

 

[chin311]

too cheap...?

something almost seems fishy with that one...way under all the others locally and low miles...wish i had carfax haha

 

[geno]

I'd go with the WRX, it's the happy medium. I would skip the Prelude, it's practical, but so is the WRX, but you lose out on the AWD (big bonus if you live anywhere which may get snow) and it's a year older. The S2K would be great, but you lose out on practicality and storage space. If you're not concerned with that, it's an absolutely wonderful car to drive. I don't know if I could live with one as my daily driver though

WRX FTW.

EDIT, just realized you wanted a second car... I'd have to say the S2K is the better weekend car than that WRX

 

[chin311]

i found a nice REALLY clean s2k couple hours away for 9900, 115k, yellow, mint. should i worry about miles? supposedly its a one owner trade-in to a dealership.

pics

CHECK IT OUT

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: chin311
i found a nice REALLY clean s2k couple hours away for 9900, 115k, yellow, mint. should i worry about miles? supposedly its a one owner trade-in to a dealership.

pics

CHECK IT OUT

I would. I would never look at a sporty car with that many miles. It's not like you buy that type of car to baby it. If you don't mind having to replace things then sure.

 

[exdeath]

Should find a nice '91 MR2 Turbo around that price range.