YACT: what should elfenix get?

[ElFenix]

elfenix is poor, but likes reliable, midsize cars with good performance... new ones too, since he plans on keeping it 5 years or more, and needs a nice warranty when hes in law school (graduating 4 years from now, enter fall '03).what all is out there?

so far i've got the accord lx v6 as the top contender, the altima was a little more pricey, max has some good deals going on but the accord will go lower for similar equip. any US models i should be looking at? test drove a jetta 1.8T with 17s and all that and it was a blast to drive, but i suspect part of the fun was me being in the car by myself and not having 500 lbs of 3 other people in there compared to the max. the jetta has almost no backseat though, so its almost off the list.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Find a '98 Maxima 5-spd and have fun.

 

[RGN]

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
Find a '98 Maxima 5-spd and have fun.

 

[vi edit]

*playing devils advocate*

Look at a year old Pontiac Gran Prix GTP. Yes I realize that it's *just* a Pontiac, but it's dirt cheap, goes like stink on sh!t, and is really roomy. You could probably get one for 3-5 g's cheaper than a similarly equiped Maxima/Accord. For $600 you can slap a GM Extended warranty and have a bumper to bumper warranty that's honored at thousands of GM dealerships across the country for another 5 years.

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
*playing devils advocate*

Look at a year old Pontiac Gran Prix GTP. Yes I realize that it's *just* a Pontiac, but it's dirt cheap, goes like stink on sh!t, and is really roomy. You could probably get one for 3-5 g's cheaper than a similarly equiped Maxima/Accord. For $600 you can slap a GM Extended warranty and have a bumper to bumper warranty that's honored at thousands of GM dealerships across the country for another 5 years.

Yeah, that's not a bad idea. Don't buy a new domestic though. And do make sure to get that GM warranty.

As for new mid-sized cars, I'd put my money on an Accord LX 5 speed, 4 cylinder. It's significant thousands less than the V6, which is not really necessary, IMHO. If the law school snobs ask why you got the 4, just say you prefer a manual. Don?t be fooled by your own preconceptions, it has very decent day to day performance. If you don?t dislike manual transmissions, you owe it to yourself to at least test drive one. With VTEC, there is enough low-end torque for sedate city driving, but don?t be afraid to let revs past 4000. You'll see it?s very smooth, it?s a nice, refined engine sound, it?s very responsive, and it?s very fun.

My (cheap) 2 cents. Save the money, don?t ?dress to impress,? yet. It?s just smarter.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

A '98 Maxima w/ 5-spd probably costs cheaper than a 4-cyl Accord of the same year so why not go for the Max?

Even if you don't want a 5-spd or don't want a Maxima, atleast test drive it. Its a totally different beast than an auto Maxima..its amazing that there is that much of a difference in driving experience.

 

[ElFenix]

i don't have enough stick experience to want to go and test drive one... i'll probably do something dumb like throw it into first on the freeway... or reverse even!


problem with used cars, except for ones that are maybe 1 or 2 years old, is that i'll probably be needing a new one right out of law school, cuz the car will then be 8+ years old.



hmmm... there are more performance options for the 4 cylinder accord... and my friend's goes like a bat outta hell loaded up with 5 peeps... course... hes done intake work (has really nice harmonics too!)


heheh when i tested the jetta the guy said "and you can chip the thing for another 45 HP really easily, and this one guy here has a switch to reset his to factory when he gets it serviced." i can't believe he actually told me to void my warranty

 

[yakko]

I would get the Jetta.

 

[b0mbrman]

What are you planning to spend?

 

[RossMAN]

Do I need a lawyer? (in southern hick drawl)

What movie is that from?

 

[ElFenix]

What are you planning to spend?

thats the problem there.... i know my parents are going to give me some money to put down but i have no idea how much. this stems from a promise that they would keep my current car going, but it needs a new transaxle and engine. and by the time i get out of law school it will be 15 years old. doesn't make sense to put $6000 in it now. i'd love to get a max se (saw one in tungsten blue, cloth seats, auto, se comes with 17s, spoiler, and sunroof, perfect car) but even after deep discounting it looks like they're going to be 22 or so, which is too much, according to mi madre. gxe really isn't that much less than se, either.


accord ex 4 banger might be nice... i like the wheels and the sunroof...

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Do I need a lawyer? (in southern hick drawl)
What movie is that from?

Hmmm...I think I need another clue

 

[RossMAN]

The movie is based on a novel by John Grisham.

 

[N8Magic]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
The movie is based on a novel by John Grisham.

The Rainmaker was the movie, and that line was said to Matt Damon by a kid with a terminal illness. His life/health insurance company won't pay up, and he can't afford treatment.

So he gets a lawyer.

 

[ElFenix]

i saw that. a good grisham movie for a change.

 

[ElFenix]

looking through the brochures it looks like the lx 4 banger doesn't have abs brakes. if you go up the ex trim the wheels are crappy 15s, and theres no traction control, which is a nice feature... i wonder if ex v6 is something that could be done...? need to call up the insurance and find out the rates on these...

 

[StageLeft]

DO NOT buy an accord. I thought you'd know better than that. Jeeze, louise!

 

[Adul]

Originally posted by: yakko
I would get the Jetta.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
DO NOT buy an accord. I thought you'd know better than that. Jeeze, louise!

Why the hell not?

 

[ElFenix]

jetta would be nice, but again, no backseat. and its not wholly my decision, as my parents are fronting the down rather than repairing my current ride. if it were all me it'd definitely be that tungsten blue max se.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: N8Magic

Originally posted by: RossMAN
The movie is based on a novel by John Grisham.

The Rainmaker was the movie, and that line was said to Matt Damon by a kid with a terminal illness. His life/health insurance company won't pay up, and he can't afford treatment.

So he gets a lawyer.

Wrong. The answer is The Client.

"Do I need a lawer?"
"What for?"
"To protect my rights."