Help me choose a car

  • Thread starter Thread starter DRiFT Junkie
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You definitely want to look into the RX-8 to make sure everything has been meticulously taken care of. The RSX and the SE-R not quite as much, as for the most part they are rock solid no matter who owned them.
 
My dad has owned a wide array of cars, from Porsches to Lotus' and more, and he says his RX-8 is the best car that he has ever owned, other than his Cobra Replica.

And I have to agree with him. It really is something else.
 
I'm actually planning on looking into one myself this summer. They are just that fun to drive.
 
disinfected
You definitely want to look into the RX-8 to make sure everything has been meticulously taken care of. The RSX and the SE-R not quite as much, as for the most part they are rock solid no matter who owned them.
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That RX-8 is no longer available, neither are the 4 others that i wanted. :( I love Rx-8s though, i test drove one a while back with my brother in law, the handling and comfort is awesome.
 
I can also vouch for the SE-R Spec V. I had one of the newer ones, but it's basically the same motor. Plenty of torque to boot. Not to mention the motor is tough as nails.

This was mine, and I miss it dearly. Would be next in line to buy another one, too. It's a stretch, but possible to find one for around 13k for an '07 like mine was.
100_0875.jpg

DSC_0108.jpg

DSC_0201.jpg
 
I still have the first car I ever bought myself. In fact, that car has an RB25 in it. I like to buy cars that are inexpensive and put money into them. My wife has a CD5 Accord that I have plans to either put an SR20 or F20B in it but I would like to make it AWD.
 
If I were you and had your budget, I would stay off of Craigslist and look at some reputable dealers. With a dealership, you'll get the markup, but you'll also know that the cars they have were inspected for quality, and most of the time they come with a Carfax. All you have with a private seller is just his word that there is nothing wrong with the car, which you can't always trust.
 
astrosdude91
If I were you and had your budget, I would stay off of Craigslist and look at some reputable dealers. With a dealership, you'll get the markup, but you'll also know that the cars they have were inspected for quality, and most of the time they come with a Carfax. All you have with a private seller is just his word that there is nothing wrong with the car, which you can't always trust.
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Even so called reputable dealerships will leave things out and make cars sound in better shape than they really are. The best thing to do is be an informed buyer and know all the potential problem areas of the car you're buying.
 
disinfected
I can also vouch for the SE-R Spec V. I had one of the newer ones, but it's basically the same motor. Plenty of torque to boot. Not to mention the motor is tough as nails.

This was mine, and I miss it dearly. Would be next in line to buy another one, too. It's a stretch, but possible to find one for around 13k for an '07 like mine was.
http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv277/yellowspec07/100_0875.jpg[IMG]
[IMG]http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv277/yellowspec07/DSC_0108.jpg[MG]
[IMG]http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv277/yellowspec07/DSC_0201.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]

That's neat! :D You took those pics yourself? The 07-12 Sentras aren't really my style though cuz they're pretty small looking. They look a lot better, but they do kind of remind me of Priuses. IDK, should i really worry about style right now or just worry about picking the right car for gaining experience?

I don't ****ing know man, and it's getting really frustrating trying to find the right one since there is so many. In short, i'm indecisive!
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Carfax is a joke.
I 1st hand have seen CarFax reports where it says "Engine checked" or Transmission checked"... I guess in CarFax terms, checked means replaced or rebuilt.
 
Bottoz
Carfax is a joke.
I 1st hand have seen CarFax reports where it says "Engine checked" or Transmission checked"... I guess in CarFax terms, checked means replaced or rebuilt.
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This is true, I recently received the CarFax report for my old Blazer and it made no mention of the accident it had been involved in or the repairs that were done by a dealership.
 
It's still more than what you'll get from the chump selling out of his garage. Plus, it tends to spread around when a dealership isn't completely honest.
 
DRiFT Junkie
That's neat! :D You took those pics yourself? The 07-12 Sentras aren't really my style though cuz they're pretty small looking. They look a lot better, but they do kind of remind me of Priuses. IDK, should i really worry about style right now or just worry about picking the right car for gaining experience?

I don't ****ing know man, and it's getting really frustrating trying to find the right one since there is so many. In short, i'm indecisive!
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Those pictures were taken back in '08 when I still lived in Florida. A lot of times the pictures don't do it justice. In person, they actually aren't small at all. All in all though, I had a '95 Integra when I was seventeen, it cost $4600, and it was perfect. To be completely honest, I think that is the type of thing you should be looking into. No reason to go into debt over a first car when you can get something like an Integra for next to nothing and have lots more fun in it than you ever could in some disposable 2009 Mitsubishi Non-Evo..er, I mean, a regular Lancer.

Just keep that in mind.
35692_228594.jpg
 
disinfected
Those pictures were taken back in '08 when I still lived in Florida. A lot of times the pictures don't do it justice. In person, they actually aren't small at all. All in all though, I had a '95 Integra when I was seventeen, it cost $4600, and it was perfect. To be completely honest, I think that is the type of thing you should be looking into. No reason to go into debt over a first car when you can get something like an Integra for next to nothing and have lots more fun in it than you ever could in some disposable 2009 Mitsubishi Non-Evo..er, I mean, a regular Lancer.

Just keep that in mind.
http://www.modifiedcars.com/pix/cars_large/35692_228594.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]

yea, i'm a big Acura fan. The Integra is a great car, not many good options in Detroit on them right now though, they're cheap but very high mileage(average of about 170k), and there is one that is supercharged and in showroom condition with only 8k miles but it's $29k. :( As you said, slim pickings around here, i may have to increase my target area.
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Mine had 194,000 when I bought it. You have to remember, with Hondas 200,000 miles is easy work. They've still got 800,000 more left on them. ;)

Don't let that turn you off, considering most seventeen year olds drive old Grand Ams that barely make it past 150k.
 
I do love Acuras but i am also looking for some bargains. I want to get a cheaper car and still have money left to do some work on it.

REALLY ****ING FRUSTRATING AT THIS POINT.

I've found some questionable deals:

http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/cto/2889762262.html

http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/cto/2868776871.html

http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/cto/2889185995.html

Going to give these guys a call soon.

EDIT - Alright the Cobalt is available! I love Chevy and this Cobalt seems perfect, it even says perfect first car in the description lol. It is a rebuild but it also says no major accident, i'll have to look at it myself to find out. I think this might be it!
 
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I'm so lost on the direction this thread took. You started out with a $20k budget and ended up spending less than half of it on a cobalt? That's fine, I guess. I rented a cobalt at one point and it was a decent car (ended up having to bungee the glove box due to an unrelenting rattle). But there are so many significantly better cars available for just a little more.

For crying out loud you have BMW in your avatar, and you can afford one. And don't give me the "I live in Michigan" excuse either, because the BMW I bought was literally 1000 miles from me. I had it shipped across state lines, all for under your budget.

Don't get me wrong, the cobalt is a fine car, and you have done the financially responsible thing, I'm just confused.
 
I think he's been swayed by the "it's your first car" argument. So he wants something he'll like but not love. If ya get me.
 
ExigeEvan
I think he's been swayed by the "it's your first car" argument. So he wants something he'll like but not love. If ya get me.
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Yeah this pretty much sums it up. These guys have opened my eyes tbh. The M3, Evolution, STi, c300, Trans Am, or whatever else will come. I still got a lot of years of practice and learning ahead of me. And i think this beautiful Cobalt will be the perfect guiding car to the big boys. Plus i needed to save some money to go to Florida for Spring Break lol. Thank you guys, and thank u Joey D!
 
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The non-supercharged one? From my understanding, while it's newer, the supercharged '06 looks in better nick both in the pics and going by the seller's description than the N/A '08...also I don't know where "Mt. Clemens" is in relation to you or either of the Cobalts (hey, I'm from Australia XD) but there's a pretty tidy looking '05 Subaru Legacy GT for $7800:

http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/cto/2891054314.html

Pretty much a WRX with a bit of class.
 
I know bit I fell in love with that white one. I'll update you guys, he said come pick it up anytime in the afternoon tomorrow!!
 
disinfected
Does it at least have matching wheels in person?
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And it's been rebuilt. And there is a transmission problem. Too many red flags for my liking. But if you like it, get it if you want. Personally I would steer clear of this one.
 
DRiFT Junkie
I know bit I fell in love with that white one. I'll update you guys, he said come pick it up anytime in the afternoon tomorrow!!
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Worse than the "buying a too powerful car for a first car" thing your avoiding is the classic "when buying a car falling in love before fully looking into the car" problem. You need to slow down and when you see a car you like think about it logically first. $9000 for a Chevy that had the issues just listed is insane! Those cars are likely around your total budget new and 9 grand is grossly overpriced for that.
 
I used the term falling in love very loosely, i'm not one to fall in love with a car's look and decide on it. As I said, i will see for myself tomorrow, and going to discuss with the owner if we can do a proper check up on it.
 

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