Need Car Advice.......Looking to buy

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creedog

Golden Member
Nov 15, 1999
1,732
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I am looking to buy a used car, but really want something that I enjoy to drive (sporty, 5 speed, handling) and is going to be reliable (who doesnt want that).

Looking at 96-99, 00 eclipses or maybe an audi a 4. Heard mixed reviews of the eclipses expecially the 00 to 04.

What about a 96-99, not heard too much and these are pretty fun little cars (test drove one yesterday).

Audi looks nice as well but hae not driven one yet, looking at the 2.8.

Anyway, any feedback or experiences would be appreciated as I do not want to get a piece of crap.
 
weirdichi

weirdichi

Diamond Member
Sep 19, 2001
4,711
2
76
From previous owners and the general concensus on the net, Eclipses seem to be high maintaince and have some problems.
 
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BornStar

Diamond Member
Oct 30, 2001
4,052
1
0
Originally posted by: weirdichi
From previous owners and the general concensus on the net, A4s seem to be high maintaince and have some problems.
Click to expand...
fixed.
 
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creedog

Golden Member
Nov 15, 1999
1,732
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looking to spend less than 8k. Thought about integra, but the high performance models are not cheap, same goes for the prelude (and its kinda ugly to boot).
 
EvilYoda

EvilYoda

Lifer
Apr 1, 2001
21,198
9
81
:Q! I was going to offer my opinion (which I know you MUST have) until you said the Prelude was ugly.

blasphemy.
 
Mo0o

Mo0o

Lifer
Jul 31, 2001
24,227
3
76
Id go with the A4, eclipses have maintenance issues.

What about a WRX?
 
halik

halik

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
25,696
1
81
Alright seeing as i've owned both (96 talon tsi awd and currently 96 a4 quattro) ... it all depends what you're looking for...



The audi has about twice the utilizable space than the eclipse. Eclipse gst/gsx will be faster/handle better/more fun to drive and way cheaper to maintain in terms of parts. You'll look cool in the audi when you roll up to a local club.


As far as reliability, i never had any real problems with either:

The audis control arms tend to go at around 100k and you might have to have a wheel bearings replaced at some point. The 2.8 is a very reliable engine.

The eclipse's windows tend to rattle like whoa and random little electronic things tend to die (windshield washer pump etc). You'll probably get worse gas milage due to the way you have to drive those cars :)


Oh yeah stay away from the current generation eclipses, they're nowhere near as sporty as 2g DSMs nor will they make you look classy
 
P

poopaskoopa

Diamond Member
Sep 12, 2000
4,836
1
81
Originally posted by: poopaskoopa
Bah. Preludes are NOT UGLY! :frown:

<------- 2000 Prelude owner.
Click to expand...

EDIT: I recommend A4. I've never driven it, but I've driven Eclipses, and they are nothing special, or remotely interesting.
 
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Actaeon

Diamond Member
Dec 28, 2000
8,657
20
76
... your choices in cars suck.

GSR Integras aren't expensive. Preludes are pretty nice lookin cars, but too heavy for my tastes. You might be able to find an older generation Civic SI within that price range.

Want fast straight line speed? Look for a 93+V8 F-Body (Z28/Trans Am). Handles like crap and heavy as a boat, but you can't beat the performance for the price.

I currently own a "sporty" car with a 5 speed that handles well and is pretty reliable, but I doubt you would be interested in a Miata.

I really don't like the Eclipses, and the A4 is a nice looking car, but breaks too often. I would choose the Audi between the two, but I would never restrict myself to those two cars.
 
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dethman

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
10,263
3
76
newer eclipses (00-04) are much less prone to failures as the old ones. i have had mine 3 years with no problems. it's not really a 'sporty' car though. it drives more like a sedan.

i'd avoid an older model eclipse becasue of the maintenance issues.
 
Ryan

Ryan

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
27,519
2
81
Out of all the cars in the world - you went straight for the jugular of unreliable vehicles. Buy them, and you're asking for atrocious reliability, and massively expensive maintenance and repair costs.
 
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creedog

Golden Member
Nov 15, 1999
1,732
0
0
You can really get a lot of car for 8k, and i really hate to spend more as I have never had a car loan, and really do not want one. I am going to test drive a 00 eclipse.

dethman, so you have not had any issues with your car? Interesting how they seem to plummet in value, though.

Friend as convinced me to look twice at the Integra...

 
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thedarkwolf

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 1999
9,035
127
106
If I had $8k to spend on a sporty car I would get a f-body(camaro/trans am). I am a mustang guy but the 94-98s sucked powerwise and I don't know if you can get a 99 for $8k. Despite what some seem to think they handle pretty well and what little they give up is more then made up for with power. The fit and finish may suck but the drivetrain is rock solid.

00 eclipse isn't that the slow v6 fwd version? Integras are nice but they have that pesky being fwd problem aswell.
 
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