I've made up my mind: I'm getting a new car in 2004. HELP ME DECIDE!

I'm going to the Detroit Auto Show this weekend (NAIAS) and it got me thinking. I've decided that rather than scrape by and get a new car this summer, I'll save all my pennies and be able to comfortably afford a new car in the summer of 2004. I'm trying to decide what kind of car I want, as it's really up in the air now (and I have 1.5 years to decide!).

I'm leaning now toward a MINI Cooper S. I've never had a <edit>supercharged</edit> car before, and in my opinion, the styling truthfully can't be beat. I'm also looking at the Honda Civic Si, but I feel like the stuff/dollar ratio isn't nearly as high in that car. My price range will most likely be in the $20,000 - $25,000 range. I can certainly go lower, but I definitely can't go higher (I'm still a college student).

I want a car that I can be proud of - not a cookie-cutter vehicle like my Sentra, and definitely not a LOOKATMEIAMSOCOOLICANDRIVEFAST car like an Eclipse. And I'd (preferably) like to stay away from "I'm the coolest dad ever" cars like the Maxima and the Altima.

Any additional suggestions? Like I said, right now it's between the MINI Cooper S (dark silver) and the Civic Si (white).

 

[StageLeft]

"coolest dad ever" cars lol! Good call on waiting. I ended up waiting when I bought a car late 2001 and instead of a brand new bottom of the line sentra bought a 93 instead, but then a couple of months ago since I had the funding available got a second car being a 2000 maxima. 2000 maxima > 2002 sentra IMO, so waiting is good!

Have you thought about the new dodge neon? I know it's a neon at heart, but it's also got 215 HP, costs only $20k, and will spank both the civic SI and mini cooper S. You could also get a WRX for $24k, since speed seems to be a goal of yours.

 

[ndee]

WRX

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
"coolest dad ever" cars lol! Good call on waiting. I ended up waiting when I bought a car late 2001 and instead of a brand new bottom of the line sentra bought a 93 instead, but then a couple of months ago since I had the funding available got a second car being a 2000 maxima. 2000 maxima > 2002 sentra IMO, so waiting is good!

Have you thought about the new dodge neon? I know it's a neon at heart, but it's also got 215 HP, costs only $20k, and will spank both the civic SI and mini cooper S. You could also get a WRX for $24k, since speed seems to be a goal of yours.

The Cooper S has a Supercharger, not a Turbo and if you wait a while you can get the John Cooper S Works with 200hp. A m8 of mine gets delivery of an S Works in 1 month....lucky git.

 

[StageLeft]

The Cooper S has a Supercharger, not a Turbo and if you wait a while you can get the John Cooper S Works with 200hp. A m8 of mine gets delivery of an S Works in 1 month....lucky git.

how much that set a person back?

 

[Rent]

Mini Cooper S is supercharged, not turbocharged. Fun cars, but most dealers (if you have any in your area) suffer from horrid markup.

Cars in the same catagory will be something along the lines of this :

Focus SVT
RSX-Type S
Celica GTS
Sentra SE-R Spec V
VW GTI/Jetta
Mazda MP3
Mazdaspeed Protoge
Civic Si

I would honestly look for a used WRX that far down the road. You could also check out the new Mazda 6 which is definately in that price range.

edit :: Damn you DividebyZero Beat me to the punch

 

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Have you thought about the new dodge neon? I know it's a neon at heart, but it's also got 215 HP, costs only $20k, and will spank both the civic SI and mini cooper S. You could also get a WRX for $24k, since speed seems to be a goal of yours.

I've seen pics of the SRT-4 and I'm planning on checking it out at the auto show. I like the power, but I really can't get it out of my head that it's a Neon. Granted, it's fast, but I'd prefer to stay away from domestics. Since I've been born, my family has owned two domestics (Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Jeep Liberty). The Liberty was in a "some jerk ran a red light" accident (over $4000 to fix a front quarter panel/numerous engine bashings) and the GC had numerous electrical gremlins. OTOH, the two Sentras, two Tercels, Pathfinder, and two Mazdas that we've owned have never given us major problems. But I like the 215 HP Neon idea.

I LOVE the WRX, but I almost get the feeling that it's too common here in Ann Arbor. If the styling changes drastically in the next year or so, then I'll be gung ho, but I'm getting to be a little tired of the WRX.

 

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
The Cooper S has a Supercharger, not a Turbo

Fixed.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

The Cooper S has a Supercharger, not a Turbo and if you wait a while you can get the John Cooper S Works with 200hp. A m8 of mine gets delivery of an S Works in 1 month....lucky git.

how much that set a person back?

With the 17's, the Harmon Kardon upgrade, full length sun roof and other bits and bobs, he is looking @ £21000 :Q, but with a 0-60 of 6.0 seconds and a 145Mph top speed, it seems pretty good.

 

[boyRacer]

Well the WRX got a facelift... and the early adopters got those odd looking headlights.

 

[squirrel dog]

73 vette,69 hemi cuda~

 

[guyver01]

HONDA ELEMENT

this car is so ugly, it looks cool

 

[Ausm]

How about a '67 GTO

Ausm

 

[lRageATMl]

i plan on adding another car to my stable as well.... i really want the STi, but I may end up getting a used WRX (00 or 01). It would make a killer winter car for me as the stang doesn't fair well in the little snow we've had.

another car you may want to look at is the dodge neon srt4...240hp looks really nice on the outside...neon interior though. If it were my decision I would go with the WRX, if not it then the Mazda Speed Protege. Forget about the SI, GTI, and teh mazda speed is the replacement for teh Mazda Mp3. RSX Type - S is a VERY VERY nice car. Inside out..it's fast and has an amazing interior. good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[TrueBlueLS]

What's the 2004 GTO supposed to go for? I think that should be your next car.

 

Originally posted by: TrueBlueLS
What's the 2004 GTO supposed to go for? I think that should be your next car.

I'm sure it's going to be more than $25,000.

 

[radioouman]

Don't buy a new car. Wait 5 years instead and buy a used one. You'll have much more money left over.

 

[vi edit]

25th Anniversary VW GTi.

 

[freebee]

Get a new car...its one of the last "new" things you can get anymore....

<---still upset over how many "used" 20+ year old females there are these days. So hard to find a new one.



And the car suggestion....WRX.

 

Originally posted by: freebee
Get a new car...its one of the last "new" things you can get anymore....

<---still upset over how many "used" 20+ year old females there are these days. So hard to find a new one.



And the car suggestion....WRX.

I agree. I love the feeling that I own something brand new, straight from the factory. I love that feeling.

 

[Tom]

So you don't want a domestic car because someone ran a red light ?
:Q

 

[Thegonagle]

If you're considering the Civic Si, keep in mind that the base Acura RSX is roughly the same car and engine, with a lot more "stuff" for little to no extra green.

And while you're considering the base RSX, consider that a few thousand extra gets you the RSX type-S.

Have fun.

 

[Thegonagle]

Another thing. Very few cars don't lose several thousand dollars in valuation by the time they're a half a year old with 6000-8000 miles. For example, a 1/2 year old, 6000 mile 2002 Mazda Protege ES that was $16,000 new would sell for about $12,000 from the same dealer's "certified used" inventory. Consider that, look around, and buy the used one if you find it. It could pay off big.

 

[KokomoGST]

Originally posted by: Garfang
If you're considering the Civic Si, keep in mind that the base Acura RSX is roughly the same car and engine, with a lot more "stuff" for little to no extra green.

And while you're considering the base RSX, consider that a few thousand extra gets you the RSX type-S.

Have fun.

IOW, the 2002+ Civic Si = bad deal for the $$. Stick with the current common recommendations of ATOT. WRX/Evo, SRT4, RSX TypeS, Audi A4 1.8T.
If you don't mind used, that opens up a lot of nice possiblities but you said "new" car.

The Evo might be out of your reach unless you're trying to pick up a 2003 at the beginning of 2004. In comparison to the base WRX, the 2003 Evo does look like a better buy, not to mention that the 4G63T is a bit easier to work than the boxer EJ20 plus it's prolly got a stronger tranny. You'll have to see if the 2003 Evo does well in terms of build quality. I love the 4G83T but Mitsu dealers are evil, greedy bastards for the most part.

 

[GasX]

You are in college and you are planning a new car purchase?

<Chris Rock Voice> SLOW DOWN! </Chris Rock Voice>