I want some advice on what to buy...

[jacnob]

I'm in the market for a car right now, and I'm looking at used ones. I've considered many cars, but here are the ones I'm favoring right now;

SZ-R Supra (5MT, 25K Miles!) (Price is 23K)

92 MR2 Turbo (Gen 3 Swap) (Price is 5K) I couldn't get the guy to text me back, so goto page 3 for the one I'm looking at now.

Nissan 240SX of some sort (preferably a '98; still looking now)

Subaru Impreza RS (with STI swap) (Price is 14K; I'll definitely change the spolier if I get it.)

93 RX7 Twin Turbo (Price is 12.5K)


I'm really pushing it with the Supra, and whatever money I have left will go into savings. What do you guys think I should do?

 

[Harry6784]

What are your plans? Daily or weekend toy? Are you going to build it or leave it stock?

 

[jacnob]

What are your plans? Daily or weekend toy? Are you going to build it or leave it stock?

It will definitely be a daily driver and if I do build it it will have to be a bit further down the line (unless its minor mods obviously)

 

[Harry6784]

Daily? Don't know how good the subby will be then, look at that interior

I'd probably go for the Supra. Looks like it's mostly stock & low mileage so it'll be a great platform to start on if/when you start modding.

 

[WrxScooby]

Don't buy modded.

Edit* This gonna be your first car? If yes I dont recommend any of them unless mom and dad are REALLY willing to support you. Or unless you happen to be a young balling entrepreneur.

 

[jacnob]

^Well what do you recommend then? (My parents are pretty willing to support me, but I'm curious)

My only requirements are either RWD or AWD and MT; pretty much everything else is fair game.

 

[Downhill Dino]

Good options, but most are bad in the sense of a first car. I'd recommend going through the A Sports Car For a First Car? thread to know why most of the options you chose would not be a good idea, if you haven't already.

If you've read over the thread I've linked, the Supra, Impreza, and RX-7 would all be very bad cars. Maybe even the MR2. The first three I listed would kill you in insurance, unless of course you're not paying for it. They'd also be bad in the sense of being put in the hands of a relatively inexperienced driver (No offense, I assume you're young).

But for an overview of each car: the Supra might be a good start, but that's a little fast for a first car don't you think? There's a lot of potential for it but mighty expensive. Same with the Impreza and RX-7. I would highly recommend dropping the Impreza, it is in no way going to be a good daily driver. Also the RX-7 is just a ticking time bomb. 133,000 miles? How about no. If the engine hasn't already been rebuilt, it will when you drive it around.

Basically, since I haven't mentioned it, the MR2 would be the best car of the four. It's quick, you get the turbocharged goodies, and it's much cheaper. I wouldn't stop you if you chose the Supra either, it's just very expensive that's all.

 

[Harry6784]

^Well what do you recommend then? (My parents are pretty willing to support me, but I'm curious)

My only requirements are either RWD or AWD and MT; pretty much everything else is fair game.

Have you looked at a Honda S2000? RWD, M6, reliable, lightweight, nippy but not too much of a handful and you can get a clean one for under 15k. Not sure what insurance would be on it though...

 

[Doog]

Have you looked at a Honda S2000? RWD, M6, reliable, lightweight, nippy but not too much of a handful and you can get a clean one for under 15k. Not sure what insurance would be on it though...

Not too much of a handful? I'm pretty sure even experienced drivers are weary of the consequences of upsetting the S2000 in a corner. They're quite high-strung as well...

 

[Harry6784]

Not too much of a handful? I'm pretty sure even experienced drivers are weary of the consequences of upsetting the S2000 in a corner. They're quite high-strung as well...

He's not going to Laguna Seca, he'll be DD'ing it. Just about any RWD car can be a handful in a high speed corner. I've actually ridden in my cousin's modded S2000 and didn't see it as 'high strung'.

 

[Aquarelle]

Get something cheap so you're not afraid to drive it hard and work on it - Anything can be fun with a manual regardless of drive layout - You can pick up AE86 corollas stupidly cheap in America, my friend has 3 and he bought all of them for under 1 grand.

It won't be fast around town and you won't impress anyone but real gear heads but I couldn't recommend a better first car - they're an affordable RWD that will live forever and have plenty of parts available.

If you get something like a Supra you're gonna be too scared to push it hard - if you total an 86 you can pick another one up relatively cheaply.

 

[Doodle]

I'd just get an early 2000s Accord or something like that. No need for a sports car as a first car.

 

[Zyla]

He's not going to Laguna Seca, he'll be DD'ing it.

Because nobody corners hard at high speeds on the street every now and then.

 

[Bopop4]

Just because the engine is highish strung doesn't mean the whole car is.

S2000's handle well, and not too much power either.

 

[WrxScooby]

He's not going to Laguna Seca, he'll be DD'ing it. Just about any RWD car can be a handful in a high speed corner. I've actually ridden in my cousin's modded S2000 and didn't see it as 'high strung'.

Edit* I would recommend something cheap and basic so you can get comfortable with driving first. Once you have the basics and driving daily is effortless bump up your power. This is really a question of funding though.

If your not paying then skys the limit. If you crash buy another one and then insurance would also not be a concern.

If your paying then be realistic start slow and build up. You are most likely going to get a accident early on in your driving career whether its your fault or not. So take the pressure off yourself, being a new driver in a "Dream Car" is a very intense thing as you will have a lot more constantly rushing through your head.

Edit** My first car was a Honda Accord and it was a great first car imo. It was pretty cheap, reliable, easy to control, good gas mileage, and cheap to fix/insure. After I had a much stronger grasp of driving and felt comfortable behind the wheel I looked for more (2 Years for me), so when I got my WRX and Legacy all I had to consider was the new greater amount of power. I didnt need to focus on every little thing that new drivers deal with, I could concentrate on the new factors.

Just my 2 cents though.

 

[Bopop4]

^That's just someone who doesn't know how to drive.

You could do that in any rwd car.

Or a fwd one...

 

[Doog]

...and the problem is that most young drivers really don't know how to drive. Therefore, S2000s aren't the safest bet.

 

[WrxScooby]

^That's just someone who doesn't know how to drive.

You could do that in any rwd car.

Or a fwd one...

So you know the OP and he is a excellent driver? Im assuming he is a new driver and that video shows a new driver mistake.

Yeah you can crash any car and the world is filled with Bad Drivers......

That was just a example that related to the topic of S2000 and how they might not be perfect for a new driver. If you had something lower powered the likelihood of a basic spin out like that would be more avoidable allowing the new driver to focus on lines, brake points, and other on road driving techniques. Not to mention traffic, signs, and other aspects on the road itself.

Im not bashing the S2000 so take it easy bud.... Im trying to lend MY PERSONAL advice to the OP.

 

[Bopop4]

So you know the OP and he is a excellent driver? Im assuming he is a new driver and that video shows a new driver mistake.

Yeah you can crash any car and the world is filled with Bad Drivers......

That was just a example that related to the topic of S2000 and how they might not be perfect for a new driver. If you had something lower powered the likelihood of a basic spin out like that would be more avoidable allowing the new driver to focus on lines, brake points, and other on road driving techniques. Not to mention traffic, signs, and other aspects on the road itself.

Im not bashing the S2000 so take it easy bud.... Im trying to lend MY PERSONAL advice to the OP.

Again, you could do that with any car.

If you drive a car fast, you're going to spin it eventually.

Doesn't matter if it's with an MR2 or a Civic.


If rwd/awd is a must, then I say get a 2.5RS, but no STi swap.
You really don't know how fast 300hp+ is in a light car like that until you start sliding off the road.

 

[Aquarelle]

The difference is if you spin a civic you're not going to be going as fast as you would or could be in an S2000 when it reaches its limit, lower limit cars teach you car control in extreme conditions so when you can eventually get your dream car you don't smash it into a wall when it lets go and you don't know how to react.

 

[WrxScooby]

Again, you could do that with any car.

If you drive a car fast, you're going to spin it eventually.

Doesn't matter if it's with an MR2 or a Civic.


If rwd/awd is a must, then I say get a 2.5RS, but no STi swap.
You really don't know how fast 300hp+ is in a light car like that until you start sliding off the road.

Someone else is gonna have to clear it up for this guy, I cant simplify it anymore. Sorry Bo. Hopefully OP sees my pov.

 

[Bopop4]

Someone else is gonna have to clear it up for this guy, I cant simplify it anymore. Sorry Bo. Hopefully OP sees my pov.

Class.


There's nothing to simplify, I don't see where you're going with this.


An S2000 isn't going to be any quicker than any of the cars OP listed.


I would look for a reliable car first, then go for the requirements of OP.

150-200hp isn't too much for a new driver, so something like the 2.5RS or a V6 Mustang would be ideal.

I'd avoid the MR2 though, mid-engined cars can bite you a lot harder than a comparable FR.

 

[Hayden]

I fear this thread will retrace the steps of the one already posted so i'll make this quick. You'll learn many little things with your first car. Looking back, these are lessons i'm very glad I didn't learn in a $23000, 20 year old sportscar.

If you really want it to be a sports car, I'd recommend just buying an AE86 or Silvia. Similar thrills for a fraction of the bills. An unmodified MR2 or 2.5RS Impreza would also tick the boxes, though they'd be more expensive in every aspect.

 

[WrxScooby]

Class.


I don't see where you're going with this.

Thats my point.

Lets agree to disagree, you post your opinon of what the OP might want to consider and Ill post mine.

 

[Aquarelle]

I'd avoid the MR2 though, mid-engined cars can bite you a lot harder than a comparable FR.

I dunno, my SW20 was pretty good until the suspension failed and I was almost losing control even when taking corners carefully (Which for some reason I thought was because of my broken spoiler how far I've come..) - it's the AW11's that you need to be careful with; those things are viciously twitchy.. if you ever wanted a car to make someone too scared to drive quickly I can't think of anything better

 

[Bopop4]

Thats my point.

Lets agree to disagree, you post your opinon of what the OP might want to consider and Ill post mine.

No no, I mean I don't actually see what we're saying differently.

I recommended a 150hp~ car for OP, I don't see how you're saying anything different.

(My point about the S2K was in comparison to a Supra and STi.)

 

[Zyla]

Again, you could do that with any car.

If you drive a car fast, you're going to spin it eventually.

The thing is, this isn't entirely correct. Driving a car fast, and driving a fast car are two different things. I can get in a Ford Festiva and hold it wide open until it breaches the 60mph mark easily, but it won't get there as fast as a WRX, for example. If you're saying that spinning or losing control in a car that isn't very powerful is just as easy as doing it in a sports car, you're wrong. More power (in most cases) equals quicker acceleration, and more torque to drive the wheels. If a car accelerates too quickly for a beginner driver, they're more likely to introduce it to a ditch than in a car that accelerates like syrup running down the side of a cup. Keeping that extra power in mind, it also allows the tires to break the pavement easier and thus spinning out is more of a hazard.

 

[Bopop4]

If you're saying that spinning or losing control in a car that isn't very powerful is just as easy as doing it in a sports car, you're wrong.

It isn't, of course.

But that's not the point.

The point is that a new driver could spin or put any car into the ditch.
You don't need power to screw up.

 

[TheShinigami]

Just my 5 cents on this topic.
1. If this car will make you happy and let you have lots of fun from driving, and make you wish to take good care of it -perhaps, this is what you should do.
2. It depends on a driver basically, but HP under the hood doesn't necessary leads to crashes and mistakes. I would say, getting used to drive such a car will bring you a different analysis of situations later.
3. This should answer a question - would you like to go further or change for more road car later. Otherwise you might be pushing yourself in a wrong direction.


If you want a rather reliable car, then that Supra by the link is the one I would pick for this purpose. The engine is reliable, transmission is reliable (it should be W58, which is pretty cheap to replace, if you ever need that), the car itself is not modded. So at least you won't get problems with that. Since the car is rather heavy, it will allow you to feel it better.
Wouldn't pick rotary car as first, the resource of such engines is relatively low (especially when compared to JZ for example), or Suba, especially swapped. It's not a pleasant thing to deal with swapped engines as your first experience, you can't possibly tell on sight how well that swap was made. The electrics can bring you lots of pain trying to fix it, fuel consumption might be higher, etc. SW20 is pretty, of course, I had used celica with 3S engine, it was rather reliable, but MR really requires some driving experience imho.

Not trying to be a smart ass.

 

[jacnob]

Okay guys, I appreciate the advice, and I've struck through the cars that I'm no longer considering, and the Supra is probably going to be dropped as an option anyways due to the price. I'm going to look at some 240S/Silvias and maybe an AE86 or two now and see what I can find.

EDIT: My dad keeps pushing me toward a G35. Thoughts?