YACT: Advise me on a car decision!

[Red]

In about a year, when my '02 Civic loan is not upside-down anymore, I am going to sell it to pay off the loan and then get a car that I *like*. I use to drive a '98 Saturn SC2 w/ a sunroof, spoiler etc and I regret trading it in for a new Civic LX. I have power everything but no sunroof and I really miss it. The car is a nice economy car... it gets good gas mileage, is relatively safe, reliable, and has zero personality. And I'm sick of it!

I am 20 years old... a commuter to college, work in real estate, have a fiancee who loves to travel and I drive about 20k a year. Having a car I truly admire is the most important thing... (performance / comfort / reliability), 2nd is insurance, 3rd is gas mileage.

And here is the kicker: My current auto loan is about $350/mnth and I pay $150/mnth for insurance. This is difficult on my budget. I'd like to spend no more than $10k on a car. I've heard good things about Warranty Gold warranty for cars that are 96+ with less than 70k (wear and tear parts, etc) and so I'm trying to find a car that I can buy a warranty for. Here is the list I have come up with and the reasons I would consider purchasing:

*97+ Grand Prix GTP (240HP / 280 TQ) Leather, sunroof, HUD, 4-doors for insurance, about $8-10k depending on mileage

*96+ Prelude Si/VTEC (190 HP / 155 TQ) More reliable than GTP, less boat-like than the heavy grand prix. Same price range.

*97 Subaru SVX Lsi (230 HP / 200 TQ) AWD, reliable, just kinda weird looking. Sometimes cost a little over $10k.

*97+ Jeep Wranger (performance sucks) 4-wheel drive in the winter, convertible in the summer. What else ya need?

Give me some more ideas!

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Redhotjrm
In about a year, when my '02 Civic loan is not upside-down anymore, I am going to sell it to pay off the loan and then get a car that I *like*. I use to drive a '98 Saturn SC2 w/ a sunroof, spoiler etc and I regret trading it in for a new Civic LX. I have power everything but no sunroof and I really miss it. The car is a nice economy car... it gets good gas mileage, is relatively safe, reliable, and has zero personality. And I'm sick of it!

I am 20 years old... a commuter to college, work in real estate, have a fiancee who loves to travel and I drive about 20k a year. Having a car I truly admire is the most important thing... (performance / comfort / reliability), 2nd is insurance, 3rd is gas mileage.

And here is the kicker: My current auto loan is about $350/mnth and I pay $150/mnth for insurance. This is difficult on my budget. I'd like to spend no more than $10k on a car. I've heard good things about Warranty Gold warranty for cars that are 96+ with less than 70k (wear and tear parts, etc) and so I'm trying to find a car that I can buy a warranty for. Here is the list I have come up with and the reasons I would consider purchasing:

*97+ Grand Prix GTP (240HP / 280 TQ) Leather, sunroof, HUD, 4-doors for insurance, about $8-10k depending on mileage

*96+ Prelude Si/VTEC (190 HP / 155 TQ) More reliable than GTP, less boat-like than the heavy grand prix. Same price range.

*97 Subaru SVX Lsi (230 HP / 200 TQ) AWD, reliable, just kinda weird looking. Sometimes cost a little over $10k.

*97+ Jeep Wranger (performance sucks) 4-wheel drive in the winter, convertible in the summer. What else ya need?

Give me some more ideas!

Ah how is the Prelude more reliable than a Grand Prix. Don't believe all the ricers here, GM was in 2nd for reliability behind Toyota and ABOVE Honda by one of JD Powers reports. Also the upkeep on teh grand prix will also be cheaper, and it has no timing belt.


And if you want a verstile car, I think the grand prix will offer the best of all your options, long travel, performnace, room, etc....

 

[Vortex22]

Get the Prelude if you want a fun car.

 

[chin311]

I'd stick to an import, BUT to defend the grand prix, it has a very reliable motor, the 3.8 series....

BUT, personally if i was spending 10k$ and drive about 20k+ a year, i'd stick to an import of some type....maybe jetta, golf?

id stay away from the jeep (bad gas mileage, etc)....

just my .02 cents

 

[LeeTJ]

Originally posted by: Redhotjrm
In about a year, when my '02 Civic loan is not upside-down anymore, I am going to sell it to pay off the loan and then get a car that I *like*. I use to drive a '98 Saturn SC2 w/ a sunroof, spoiler etc and I regret trading it in for a new Civic LX. I have power everything but no sunroof and I really miss it. The car is a nice economy car... it gets good gas mileage, is relatively safe, reliable, and has zero personality. And I'm sick of it!

I am 20 years old... a commuter to college, work in real estate, have a fiancee who loves to travel and I drive about 20k a year. Having a car I truly admire is the most important thing... (performance / comfort / reliability), 2nd is insurance, 3rd is gas mileage.

And here is the kicker: My current auto loan is about $350/mnth and I pay $150/mnth for insurance. This is difficult on my budget. I'd like to spend no more than $10k on a car. I've heard good things about Warranty Gold warranty for cars that are 96+ with less than 70k (wear and tear parts, etc) and so I'm trying to find a car that I can buy a warranty for. Here is the list I have come up with and the reasons I would consider purchasing:

*97+ Grand Prix GTP (240HP / 280 TQ) Leather, sunroof, HUD, 4-doors for insurance, about $8-10k depending on mileage

*96+ Prelude Si/VTEC (190 HP / 155 TQ) More reliable than GTP, less boat-like than the heavy grand prix. Same price range.

*97 Subaru SVX Lsi (230 HP / 200 TQ) AWD, reliable, just kinda weird looking. Sometimes cost a little over $10k.

*97+ Jeep Wranger (performance sucks) 4-wheel drive in the winter, convertible in the summer. What else ya need?

Give me some more ideas!

Your going to seriously regret NOT likeing the Honda. OMFG, the honda fanbois are gonna come in here and CRUCIFY you. it is just TOTALLY unacceptable on ATOT to prefer domestic vehicles to a HONDA. fvcking car nazis.

 

[zCypher]

If you like jeeps, get that. Otherwise stay away.
The Prelude isn't really less "boatlike" than the GTP. Even though it handles well, it's a fairly heavy car (the Prelude), around the same range as a Camaro.

I would probably get the GTP out of that list. 240hp/280tq is sweet, and it looks nice too.

 

[Red]

Lol 😉 Thanks for the help so far. I've been over to ClubGP.com and they also agree that the supercharged 3.8 is an extremely reliable engine, it's just the transmission that is a sore spot on the GTPs. I guess handling almost 300 lbs of torque starts to get to it after a while! I think Jettas/Golfs are decent, but I've heard not-so-good things about their reliabilty and cost of repairs.

 

[chin311]

true, but you can get a pretty new golf for 10k....2000+, im not sure because i havent really researched them, but its one i'd look at if i was buying...

my dad had a 96 Grand Prix Special edition, it had about 150K when he sold it, didnt even have the 3.8, but he never had any major problems and was reliable.

i'd go w/ the GTP, i've always liked them, nice power too 😉, my mom's bonneville (96) had about 220k miles when we sold it, good engine.

 

[LeeTJ]

Originally posted by: Redhotjrm
Lol 😉 Thanks for the help so far. I've been over to ClubGP.com and they also agree that the supercharged 3.8 is an extremely reliable engine, it's just the transmission that is a sore spot on the GTPs. I guess handling almost 300 lbs of torque starts to get to it after a while! I think Jettas/Golfs are decent, but I've heard not-so-good things about their reliabilty and cost of repairs.

btw, I have an Olds Intrigue with the 3.8 in it. the gas mileage is really bad in this vehicle for some reason.

i only average 18 mpg city/highway mixed.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: LeeTJ

Originally posted by: Redhotjrm
Lol 😉 Thanks for the help so far. I've been over to ClubGP.com and they also agree that the supercharged 3.8 is an extremely reliable engine, it's just the transmission that is a sore spot on the GTPs. I guess handling almost 300 lbs of torque starts to get to it after a while! I think Jettas/Golfs are decent, but I've heard not-so-good things about their reliabilty and cost of repairs.

btw, I have an Olds Intrigue with the 3.8 in it. the gas mileage is really bad in this vehicle for some reason.

i only average 18 mpg city/highway mixed.

In the city the 3.8 Will get high teens to low 20's, depends on how heavy your foot is. But on the highway it should get between the high 20's to mid 30's, again depending on your foot. Doing 85mph and expecting 30MPG is not going to happen.

I have a 3.8 in my buick 2 door lesabre and I can get 17mpg city or 23 mpg city range, really depends on my driving.


As for the trans just keep up with the fluid changes and it should not give you any problems. FWD cars are more harse on their trans then a RWD car as the Trans is also the Diff on a FWD car. If the fluid starts to get dark redish brown or smeels really bad change it, its not that hard and cost less than a new trans. If you plan on keeping the car for a long time use Mobil1 Syn. trans fluid or if that cost to much use Mercron 5, a semi-syn version of Dexron 3.

 

[KokomoGST]

Get a turbo car if you really want some fun. If you don't mind "old" a nice Galant VR4, screw the warranty ($5k car with low mileage can be found)... just don't mod it too much 😉

Personally I wouldn't go to a Prelude if you want to stay on a second-hand dealer warranty. My friend is having nightmares trying to get Honda of Essux, NJ to get his H22A fixed. They told him "a few mm won't make a difference" about his crankshaft play and timing belt.

I like the recommendation of a GTI or Jetta 1.8T. Chipped, they can be a lot of fun to drive though you do need to make sure that it's had the coilpack recall done. I hate dealing with stealerships, they all suck monkey balls.

Even though I own a DSM and daily drive it... I wouldn't recommend it to someone who wants to put a warranty on it. You may want to look into a non-turbo 3000GT though. Should still be fun to drive, minendo can vouch for that one... he owns & owned quite a few 3000GTs/Stealths.

Heck, even a Maxima would hit the spot (for Skoorb & the Nissan fanbois) or even a nice SR20DE car like a G20 or Sentra SE-R.

 

[Ryan]

I'd go with the prelude, it was my dream car back in the late '90s, but I'd still love to have one now 🙂 I'd have to be in Eucalyptus Green, with the tan interior (best color evAr), and of course a 5-speed. 🙂 Plus, THe car will be a classic one day 🙂

 

[Red]

So tell me what you guys think about the beauty of all wheel drive? Subaru has always been in the upper eschalon on engine reliability and AWD seems pretty nice. Do the AWD trannys ever have serious problems? Are Subey parts expensive?

This is another thing: a chipped 1.8T sounds nice, however... 1st thing is I'm pretty sure insurance companies have hernias once they see that turbo word, even though a VR6 is quicker than a 1.8T... and second, I will not be modifying any part of my car except getting windows tinted to keep the car cool, temperature wise, and adding a remote start....so no chips.