Finally getting a new car!

Eh? What about insurance rates on Miatas? :dopey:

I see so many middle-age people driving those - yes - even with manuals, I'm sure there's one out there for less than $15,000 with low mileage and a 5-or-6-speed :sly:

I point out middle-aged because at least here in Jersey there ain't a single kid on the road who doesn't beat the crap out of his or her car :nervous:
 
I've already done the Miata thing. Only one I'd consider now is the Mazdaspeed model, the rest are sooo slow.

If I were to get another roadster, though, I want a classic european one.

It's not just my parents who want me to get a new car, it's me too. I've been through a couple used cars, and when they're performance cars, they're always someone else's car that you bought, not your own. I want the feeling of a brand new car, and I want it to be MY car, not the previous owner's.
 
When I get out of school and have a real job I plan to buy a new vehicle, so I know it's been broken in and maintained properly, and not abused. Plus 1.9 miles on the odometer is really cool :p I guess I should note that I'm looking at motorcycles, which have a bit higher probability of being damaged by their previous owners.
 
Takumi Fujiwara
Additionally, I can't afford to insure a WRX
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They're actually very reasonable cars to insure. I shopped around for quotes on Foresters, Maximas, Altimas, and a couple others, and they were all pretty close to the same. Insuring an STi would only bump my price up $20 too. Oh, and my driving record suuuuuuuuucks.
 
Well... if I were to get something for 15k or less that was an '03 or newer, what do you guys recommend, aside from WRX?
 
Takumi Fujiwara
Well... if I were to get something for 15k or less that was an '03 or newer, what do you guys recommend, aside from WRX?
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- Buick Regal GS
- Ford Focus SVT
- Mazda 6s
- Mini Cooper S
- Nissan Maxima SE or GLE
- Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V (used and unaltered)
- Pontiac Vibe GT
- Toyota Matrix XRS
 
I'm surprised a Vue didn't make the list :D well, perhaps the V6 is out of the price range.

- Accord (previous coupe looks nice)
- Neon SRT-4 (you can find some in that price range, but as an SVT or a spec V, the previous user isn't likely to drive like your aunt Melinda does... :p)
- as Doug mentioned, a (very cool) A4 1.8T is possible at that price, but I'd make sure to have some spare cash in case something breaks.
- If an A4 is an option, why not a fully loaded Jetta, 1.8T or VR6? About the same gamble with reliability issues, and it's a very nice drive too... or even a Passat.
- Saab 9-5
- Acura CL/TL 👍 <- probably what I would look for (Type-S).
 
See, none of the suggested cars is attractive enough to me to make me spend the same amount of money and not have it be a brand new car. Some of them don't even fall into the price range, anyway (I hardly found any good Altimas in the sub-15 range, much less Maximas), and some are cars you'd be hard pressed to find in LA (Just about anything domestic, especially a big boat of a Buick.)

The WRX is the only one that's really attractive to me, but I don't like the GDA look that much, and I don't trust the car to be reliable after miles have been racked up on it, with no warranty.
 
brand new economy car < slightly used near luxury. audi A4
brand new economy car < slightly used premium hatchback. mini cooper S
brand new economy car < slightly used car in a class one size bigger. altima with the same engine.

and im not talking money.

exactly what are you looking for in this new car. and in what order of preference.
 
Takumi Fujiwara
(Just about anything domestic, especially a big boat of a Buick.)
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The Buick Regar GS is no boat -- in fact, it's faster to 60 and through the 1/4 (with a higher trap speed) than your SE-R Spec V. And it pulls that off hindered by a 4 speed auto, versus the Sentra's 6 speed stick.

Invest $100 in a supercharger pulley for it and it will blow the SE-R out of the water, along with a lot of other more expensive stuff.
 
Just get the Spec V. Nice handling suspension, and my favorite is the HSLD!! What else could you get for 15K that runs 14.8-15.1 stock? This car outperforms every other car for 15K.
 
RobcioPL
Just get the Spec V. Nice handling suspension, and my favorite is the HSLD!! What else could you get for 15K that runs 14.8-15.1 stock? This car outperforms every other car for 15K.
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More like 15.6 sec (a usually optimistic Car and Driver number). Thats about average for a hotted-up small car.
 
Faster through the 1/4 isn't a big deal for me, however, the 6-speed stick is. I absolutely WILL NOT, under any circumstances, buy a car with an automatic transmission.
 
No Type-S CL or TL will be under $15. It'd be a great suggestion if his price break was $21. Truly they're great cars. In 03 CL came with a 6-speed manual. Expand yourself to an '02 Maxima and you'll be fine. It's the same car as the '03, and they're $15 or thereabouts. Regal GS is no boat and will easily out-accelerate your Sentra and probably automatic Altimas with V6s. 0-60 in 7. Still just an automatic though. Jetta is a good suggestion too - spec is high and '03s should be loaded. V6 models are no more, but used ones are around though not abundant. Though you're in Southern California, the auto capital of the world. Manual was standard and automatic was not available. Also check out the hot Golfs. Saabs are a decent suggestion but some engines are to be avoided for reliability and non-linear power delivery. WRX rocks. Cooper S rocks. You can't afford an 03+ A4, but you can easily afford an 01. Consider leasing an A3 or new A4. Also consider an auto loan. Why not get a used Sentra SE-R Spec V? Unaltered ones exist, somewhere. And don't discount Vibe or Matrix - the hot ones have 170hp and a standard six-speed.
 
M5Power
No Type-S CL or TL will be under $15. It'd be a great suggestion if his price break was $21. Truly they're great cars. In 03 CL came with a 6-speed manual.
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That's what I thought before seeing a load of them on autotrader for under 16K, and a few under 15k, to my surprise. It make sense when you think of it this way: If you can get afford an A4, you sure can afford a TL/CL. :) (pricing was awesome for that car, especially in the first years, was a steal)

Anyway, I think handling is #1 priority for the buyer here, and most of our suggestion just don't match an SE-R spec V on this. :indiff:

Takumi, for the 6 speed transmission, you easily can find many 5 speed you will enjoy more than this one.
 
Takumi Fujiwara
Well... if I were to get something for 15k or less that was an '03 or newer, what do you guys recommend, aside from WRX?
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You can buy my wife's VW Jetta GLS 1.8 Turbo. It's an '03 and it's optioned right (5-speed manual + sport package). Well cared for by an anal-retentive BMW owner. ;)


M
 
It's true that I could find an unmolested earlier Spec V, but what would be the point of that? I'd save a bit of money, but it's much harder to finance a used car like that than a new one, and I don't exactly have the $15k just sitting around, more like 4k to make a down payment.
 
retsmah
Heh, I had a 91 Civic Si for about a year, and didn't know that :)

Saying the sentra's shifter is bad is a much better complaint than saying its cable operated.
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My Sentra SE doesn't have a cable shifter...
 
skip0110
More like 15.6 sec (a usually optimistic Car and Driver number). Thats about average for a hotted-up small car.
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Sounds about right, but it doesn't take many mods to get them into the 14's. :sly:
 
jpmontoya
That's what I thought before seeing a load of them on autotrader for under 16K, and a few under 15k, to my surprise. It make sense when you think of it this way: If you can get afford an A4, you sure can afford a TL/CL. :) (pricing was awesome for that car, especially in the first years, was a steal)
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How many were in Southern California in decent condition? $21 gives you pick of the litter, but $15 gives you high mileage or poor condition, if there even are any nearby. I recommend against any TL-S or CL-S you can find at that price.

Takumi
It's true that I could find an unmolested earlier Spec V, but what would be the point of that? I'd save a bit of money, but it's much harder to finance a used car like that than a new one, and I don't exactly have the $15k just sitting around, more like 4k to make a down payment.
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Get your parents to help you, as they were going to in the first place. You could probably save $3-5 off the top, not to mention you wouldn't have to do a lump sum. If you have a steady job consider it - even if you could only pay $4000 up front you could own the car in three years for $220 a month.
 
M5Power
How many were in Southern California in decent condition? $21 gives you pick of the litter, but $15 gives you high mileage or poor condition, if there even are any nearby. I recommend against any TL-S or CL-S you can find at that price.
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A quick search returns a few of these. Sure I'd be carful about the condition of the car for that price, but no more than with an A4.

[/moot point]

I totally agree about not buying new. You should avoid losing a few grands to get "easier" financing if possible. While leaving the dealer in a your new cars feels good, first year's depreciation doesn't, really.
 
First year, average miles. Yeah - not bad.

Automatic though. Manual wasn't around 'till 03. :( So it doesn't apply here. Still, fair.
 

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