what used car to get? continued...

[Ultima]

After some reviewing and based on some comments on these boards, I have revised my search.

Here is what I am now looking for:

A compact 2dr sports coupe or something along those lines.
A car that has good performance, and good gas mileage. I don't want an old clunker, nor do I want a gas guzzler.
Right now, I'd prefer reliability over raw performance. I don't want to have big repair bills to pay every year.
No automatics
I don't want to pay more than $4000 US.

As last time, I still know little about these cars, so this is just what I know at the moment:

Eagle Talon <1995 (Suggested by one of the members here)
+ Very nice acceleration and speed
+ Good looking
+ AWD
- Not all that reliable compared to other cars listed here
- Expensive parts to replace
Edmunds TMV ~$4000 car: 1994 Eagle Talon 2 Dr TSi Turbo AWD Hatchback
MSN Reliability ratings: 5/5
MSN User ratings: 80%

Acura Integra <1994
+ Good looking (I like the Talon's styling more though)
+ Reliable
+ Decent performance and speed
- Expensive parts to replace
- Expensive car overall
Edmunds TMV ~$4000 car: 1991 Acura Integra 2 Dr LS Hatchback
MSN Reliability ratings: 5/5
MSN User ratings: 81%

Pontiac Sunfire 1995+
+ Decent looking
+ Decent performance
- Not the best reliability
Edmunds TMV ~$4000 car: 1995 Pontiac Sunfire 2 Dr GT Coupe
MSN Reliability ratings: 4/5
MSN User ratings: 72%

Honda Civic <1996
+ Decent looking
+ Great gas mileage
- Not the best performance
Edmunds TMV ~$4000 car: 1993 Honda Civic 2 Dr DX Coupe
MSN Reliability ratings: 4/5
MSN User ratings: 82%

Mazda MX6 >=1993
+ Good performance
+ (From the pics, looks good looking)
- On the expensive side ($4500 US for the 1993)
- Expensive repairs
Edmunds TMV ~4000 car: 1993 Mazda MX6 2 Dr LS Coupe
MSN Reliability ratings: N/A
MSN User ratings: 74%

1993 Nissan 240SX 2 Dr STD(or SE) Coupe
+ Good performance
- Rear wheel drive (that can be a pain in the ... up here in Canada)
Edmunds TMV ~4000 car: 1993 Nissan 240SX 2 Dr STD Coupe
MSN Reliability ratings: 5/5
MSN User ratings: 84%

In terms of reliability, the civic and sunfire don't do as well as the others. For performance, the Nissan and Talon seem the best bang for the buck (and the Nissan appears to have less maintenence trouble than the Talon even though it isn't as fast). The Talon has AWD though which would absolutely rule.

Now its time for you car experts (if there are any of you on Anandtech) to come and post

 

[Grinchy]

You can get a tip top shape Mazda rx-7 in that price range. I bought a 1990 convertible for $4500 with 57000 miles on it about 4 months ago. The verts are about $1000 more than the hardtops.

You can get the turbo, it will probably still be below 7 secs. Truly beautiful car. Handling, acceleration, driving enjoyment all peg the meter. Mpg is 17/25.

 

[HappyFace]

I would go with a reliable car such as the Integra. Although it may not be as stylish as other cars you mentioned, you won't find yourself putting thousands into the car a year down the road.

 

[StageLeft]

My opinion on those reliability ratings is that they are f**king useless. Notice how basically any car you put in gets a 4-5/5? That just totally makes it impossible to compare cars if they all get near top marks. Anyway calling a sunfire is funny But really get the Nissan. That should fit the bill well. That or the Acura

 

[StageLeft]

<< You can get a tip top shape Mazda rx-7 in that price range. I bought a 1990 convertible for $4500 with 57000 miles on it about 4 months ago. The verts are about $1000 more than the hardtops.

You can get the turbo, it will probably still be below 7 secs. Truly beautiful car. Handling, acceleration, driving enjoyment all peg the meter. Mpg is 17/25. >>

Darn nice car and they are cheap second hand. I think this is becaues maintenance on them is a real b*tch. The engines don't last all that long before they need to be rebuilt/replaced as far as I know, and that ain't cheap.

 

[RossMAN]

Depending on the mileage I vote for the 1996 Honda Civic, great economical car, fuel efficient, excellent resale value and among the top in it's class for reliability.

Can you edit your first post and include the mileage for each car?

 

[SgtZulu]

you're not going to get much of a car for 4 grand but a decent motorcycle yes

 

[Ultima]

<< you're not going to get much of a car for 4 grand but a decent motorcycle yes >>



A motorcycle would be totally useless here November - March

 

[thedarkwolf]

Some people are just snobby. I have never paid more than $3000 for a car and most were $1000 or less way less in some cases and they all well all but that way less one were decent cars.

You might want to consider Dodge daytona turbos perferable the shelby models.
175hp and 200ftlbs of torque for the type II turbos
154hp and 180ishftlbs for the type I turbos
and if your really lucky or unlucky since they have head/timming belt problems the R/T models are 224hp and 210ftlbs
I just found an 89 for $2500 that I think I am going to buy myself.

http://www.thedodgegarage.com/index.html

 

[Moonbeam]

Isn't it obvious? You should get an Ultima.

 

[Thegonagle]

<< Some people are just snobby. I have never paid more than $3000 for a car and most were $1000 or less way less in some cases and they all [ran?] well[.] all but that way less one were decent cars. >>



AMEN, if I interperted that right.

I'm a big Honda (and Acura, duh) fan. Those Edmund's TMV prices are what you can expect to pay for a nearly perfect example at a dealership, so you should be able to jump on a way better (a few years newer) deal than those you mentioned if you keep looking. I'd look for a 93-95 Civic EX, an Integra, or 92-95 Accord. (Don't overlook the Accord, even the 4 doors and rare wagons, or you'll miss some good deals. Accords are better, more durable cars anyway!)

 

[QTPie]

1st choice: Integra - reliable, powerful (compare to Civic) and good MPG, too. Parts are expensive, but it's ACURA
2nd choice: Civic - reliable, very good MPG but doesnt look good as Integra (and It's just a Civic)

 

[teg]

ive test driven or have rided in a couple of those cars you metioned.

I own a 90 integra with 235km clicks on it. So far, rear defroster broken,cv joint knocking and exhaust rusting out (putting a catback on in spring). Other than the usual mataince (timing belt, clutch, tires, oil etc.) no problems what so ever with this car. Early Acuras (and the RL now) are built in Japan which just adds that extra refinement.

Looked at a 240SX when i purchased my car, being since im from Canada too and the winter storms are sometimes bad, the car handles like crap in the snow. sure you can put bags of sand, but regardless any light RWD car will be slidding all over the place so i ocunted that out. Anyways the engines in the earlier 240's were from their truck line (pathfinder i think) and nowhere near as smooth or rev happy as the acura's 1.8L.

Talons are unreliable, alot compared to honda or nissan. AWD breaks or something, lots of $, turbos only last so long. The newer talons are much better (but do have the crankwalk problem)

never driven a sunfire but being made from GM they are crap compared to the others, and there are just too many on the road.

test drove a 94 MX-6 had lots of power (V6) and torque, didnt have to be revved high, but the refinerment and fun factor didnt compare to the teg so in all and all go test drive them yourself and see what you like.

 

The Talon is not reliable.

 

[Dark4ng3l]

Bah i'd vote for the talon just because i'd like to have one AWD and pretty good performance. My second choice and the one i'd probably buy though is the Nissan(I have a thing for Nissan......) Just get youself a sub 1000$ canadian civic for winter.

 

[LordMaul]

Maxima Lee.

 

[Dark4ng3l]

Oh yeah and uh.... why no Celica's?

 

[Flat]

thought about an old Mini Cooper? very cheap ~2500 for a nice one... cute, fast & fun, really good in the snow too. I would say a 3/5 reliability.

 

[Thegonagle]

<< Oh yeah and uh.... why no Celica's? >>


Yeah! I second the Celica nomination. Celicas are fun, and the 90-93 model is a beauty in person, especially the hatchback, IMHO. They handle very well and they have a certain Toyota goodness to them that comes from being, well, a Toyota! The GT (ST is the other model) is reasonably quick too. Just so you know, a well driven GT will blast any Civic besides the 99-2000 Si.

 

[thedarkwolf]

<< Some people are just snobby. I have never paid more than $3000 for a car and most were $1000 or less way less in some cases <http://forums.anandtech.com/i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif> and they all [ran?] well[.] all but that way less one were decent cars. >>



<<AMEN, if I interperted that right.

I'm a big Honda (and Acura, duh) fan. Those Edmund's TMV prices are what you can expect to pay for a nearly perfect example at a dealership, so you should be able to jump on a way better (a few years newer) deal than those you mentioned if you keep looking. I'd look for a 93-95 Civic EX, an Integra, or 92-95 Accord. (Don't overlook the Accord, even the 4 doors and rare wagons, or you'll miss some good deals. Accords are better, more durable cars anyway!) >>

Yes they all ran even the one I got for free. It barely ran but it did run . It was an 81 plymouth horizan with a bad carb. I rebuilt the carb and used it as a beater while I saved up to buy a nicer beater . All of them except the nissian I have now were domestics, mostly mopars, and the nissian is going away in favor of another dodge maybe two if I end up buying a ramcharger as a winter beater.

I think the most reliable car I ever had was an 81 dodge mirada /6 auto. It had no power and looked like ass but I think I could have replaced the oil with sand and it would have kept running another 100k miles.