So what new car should I buy?

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Truthfully, I would keep that existing car if I were you for another 2 years. Even though interest rates are extremely low now, you have another 50,000 miles before that car is even broken in. I would keep it and then get 8,000 out of it in 2004....then get something newer at that time...no need in going into debt over a new car when you don't know what the economy is going to do in the next few years....

<----has many friends in financial troubles

I hear what you're saying, but I work in mortgage lending. With rates so low, our good times are right now.
Seriously, my best year in the last couple has been in the last 6 months.

Originally posted by: LAUST
Go out and do some test driving, see what you like

Just got back from test driving the VR6 at a nearby dealership, and I'm more uncertain that ever now. Very nice, but not all that I expected. Shockingly, the throttle-by-wire and traction control are what I liked least.
Must every car be an appliance nowadays? Where's my old primitive sports car? (don't tell me it's the 350Z, I'll burst into tears )

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
The wheels alone are worth about $1500 bucks. Not too many cars in the mid 20's come with 18's.

Yeah VW did a great job of making it LOOK fast

 

[vi edit]

One thing I really dislike about new VW's is their clutches and shifters. Crap.

Waaaaaay to much travel on the clutch, and they have pretty sloppy shifting. My '95 had a much better clutch on it, and the shifter wasn't as vague feeling.

 

[StageLeft]

Shockingly, the throttle-by-wire and traction control are what I liked least.

I hear ya!! What's the point of being able to spin the tires if you're not allowed

I drove the 1.8T a few months ago and although it's a nice car I was under-wowed with its performance, possibly because of the turbo lag, but the VR6 I'm sure has remedied that. The WRX is great, but the interior is something you'd find in a 15 year old bottom of the line yugo.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: vi_edit
The wheels alone are worth about $1500 bucks. Not too many cars in the mid 20's come with 18's.

Yeah VW did a great job of making it LOOK fast

It'll run sub 7 second 0-60's. It's not WRX fast, but it'll run with an RSX. For $350 you'll be in the mid 6 second range. The only thing the WRX has over it - in my opinion - is AWD. The GTi is a much more upscale vehicle, with upscale amenities. Oh...and it looks way better too.

 

[StageLeft]

It'll run sub 7 second 0-60's. It's not WRX fast, but it'll run with an RSX. For $350 you'll be in the mid 6 second range. The only thing the WRX has over it - in my opinion - is AWD. The GTi is a much more upscale vehicle, with upscale amenities. Oh...and it looks way better too.

Other than the HP I agree. The WRX is all engine and AWD.

 

[vi edit]

Like I said, $350 will put you above WRX torque specs, and close to HP levels. All that the WRX has to offer then is AWD, which is worth more to some, and less to others.

The GTi gives you recarros, moonroof, 6 speed, 18" wheels, big ass breaks, and a very nice cabin.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Like I said, $350 will put you above WRX torque specs, and close to HP levels. All that the WRX has to offer then is AWD, which is worth more to some, and less to others.

The GTi gives you recarros, moonroof, 6 speed, 18" wheels, big ass breaks, and a very nice cabin.

Well VW should be chipping from the factory then!

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: NutBucket


That's interesting about the premium bit. Where'd ya read that? I guess the premium allows the computer to fiddle with the timing more or something.

Torque is the key to quick starts from dead stops. Accord's 240-hp V-6 is rated 212 pounds-feet of torque. Altima's 240-hp V-6 is rated 246 lbs.-ft.

The Accord V-6 ratings assume regular-grade fuel, and Honda will market it as a regular-fuel engine. But ? pssst ? it's good for another 10 hp and 10-plus lbs.-ft. on premium, acknowledges V-6 engineer Asaki.

here


cool sh*t huh?

AFAIK tho, that hasn't been 3rd party substantiated by dynos yet cause it's still a really new car.

 

[vi edit]

Well VW should be chipping from the factory then!

No reason too. They don't want to cannabalize sales from their VR6 vehicles.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

It'll run sub 7 second 0-60's. It's not WRX fast, but it'll run with an RSX. For $350 you'll be in the mid 6 second range. The only thing the WRX has over it - in my opinion - is AWD. The GTi is a much more upscale vehicle, with upscale amenities. Oh...and it looks way better too.

Other than the HP I agree. The WRX is all engine and AWD.

The WRX is very nice. Very fast. But it's even more of an appliance than the GTI. A monkey could make it go fast. And I found very little joy in making the WRX go fast, it just did it for me (although rally-style sideways cornering was awesome, but you can't exactly do that everyday). And then the interior... bleh. And then it's so freakin' fugly on the outside.
The one thing the GTI definitely has going for it is that it's easily a $35,000 car inside. And then the exterior... the lines... so smooth... VW really has some great designers.
Hmm... the GTI VR6 is still at the top of my list, but I'm gonna shop around some more. I still need to drive an RSX Type-S
edit: I'm gonna try and test drive the 1.8T as well, but I've been pretty burned-out (no pun intended) on turbos (and AWD) since my '92 DSM gave me so much trouble long ago.

 

[jsbush]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
My current list (this is going to be popular ):

Suzuki Baja
PT Cruiser
Aztech
Hyundai Tiburon


amish

Suzuki Baja?

Subaru makes the Baja, not Suzuki.


Once you've experenced the potental of all wheel drive, you'll never want to go back!

 

[LAUST]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: LAUST
Go out and do some test driving, see what you like

Just got back from test driving the VR6 at a nearby dealership, and I'm more uncertain that ever now. Very nice, but not all that I expected. Shockingly, the throttle-by-wire and traction control are what I liked least.
Must every car be an appliance nowadays? Where's my old primitive sports car? (don't tell me it's the 350Z, I'll burst into tears )

Awesome move driving it on your own.

 

[LAUST]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Well VW should be chipping from the factory then!

No reason too. They don't want to cannabalize sales from their VR6 vehicles.

Plus the tuning chips do put cars in "The Yellow Zone" as far reliability, on turbo cars it's upping Boost and Fuel, thus decreasing longevity of the engine, also voiding warranty in many cases

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Like I said, $350 will put you above WRX torque specs, and close to HP levels. All that the WRX has to offer then is AWD, which is worth more to some, and less to others.

The GTi gives you recarros, moonroof, 6 speed, 18" wheels, big ass breaks, and a very nice cabin.

You're such a VW whore, comparing a modded VW to a stock rex. A 50 dollar boost controller puts a rex into high 13s quarter mile.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: LAUST

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: LAUST
Go out and do some test driving, see what you like

Just got back from test driving the VR6 at a nearby dealership, and I'm more uncertain that ever now. Very nice, but not all that I expected. Shockingly, the throttle-by-wire and traction control are what I liked least.
Must every car be an appliance nowadays? Where's my old primitive sports car? (don't tell me it's the 350Z, I'll burst into tears )

Awesome move driving it on your own.

??
You mean going to the car dealership by myself? I've worked in big-ticket retail sales for 10 years, I have no fear of car salesmen, I know all the tricks and techniques. In fact, I have to be sold and sometimes won't buy simply because I get disgusted at a pussy salesperson who won't pull the trigger and whip out the big close when he should. I shouldn't have to do his job for him and lay down. :disgust:

 

[vi edit]

You're such a VW whore, comparing a modded VW to a stock rex

At least I don't deny it.

Owned a '95 GTi VR6 and traded it in for a '00 Passat V6

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: Vic

Just got back from test driving the VR6 at a nearby dealership, and I'm more uncertain that ever now. Very nice, but not all that I expected. Shockingly, the throttle-by-wire and traction control are what I liked least.
Must every car be an appliance nowadays? Where's my old primitive sports car? (don't tell me it's the 350Z, I'll burst into tears )

If you want something with more of a rough edge, consider taking a look at the celica GT-S. Supposedly has that loud, connected go cart feeling.

Once enroute to a toyota meet, I saw two modded GTSes freeway racing each other, pulling hard past me. Holy sh*t, those two screaming motors gave me goosebumps.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: Vic

Just got back from test driving the VR6 at a nearby dealership, and I'm more uncertain that ever now. Very nice, but not all that I expected. Shockingly, the throttle-by-wire and traction control are what I liked least.
Must every car be an appliance nowadays? Where's my old primitive sports car? (don't tell me it's the 350Z, I'll burst into tears )

If you want something with more of a rough edge, consider taking a look at the celica GT-S. Supposedly has that loud, connected go cart feeling.

Once enroute to a toyota meet, I saw two modded GTSes freeway racing each other, pulling hard past me. Holy sh*t, those two screaming motors gave me goosebumps.

True Toyota fanboy. Recall how they over-rated the rev limiter on those motore? *cough*thrown rods*cough*. I'll take a high-revving Honda motor anyday thank you

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

If you want something with more of a rough edge, consider taking a look at the celica GT-S. Supposedly has that loud, connected go cart feeling.

Once enroute to a toyota meet, I saw two modded GTSes freeway racing each other, pulling hard past me. Holy sh*t, those two screaming motors gave me goosebumps.

I don't know about Vic, but that very "rough edge" was what made me come to dislike my Integra GS-R (I had a '99 sedan that was eventually stolen and stripped). It's nice to get boy racer jollies once in a while, but the constant need for noisy, shrieking high revs in order to get reasonable power wears thin after a while. Give me reasonable torque, rather than a tiny engine that constantly needs to be pushed to get power, thank you very much.

 

[cressida]

I really don't know.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: SoloKid
I really don't know.

Hehe... thanks for being honest.

Don_Vito, you make a valid point. In fact, it's probably the biggest reason that I've grown tired of the Integra... it's just noisy and sometimes hard work to drive. I admit the GTI was quiet and smooth, very nice. I guess I'm just having a hard time kicking that boy racer thing, despite the fact that I'm over 30 now.