::UPDATE Car got! :: What car should I get?

[robulus]

Honda Integra Type R '01
It looks nice, it sounds nice(even more when VTEC kicks in) and it has performance and it has honda reliability.
Finding these can be hard but it is a good feeling when you find one, it will be costly to insure around $2000 a year for under 25's.

^ Type-Rs are great in general but from what I've seen it's a struggle getting one for under 15k, let alone 12k. Damn Hondas and their insanely good resale values.

Might have to revisit these. I just did a quick search, and they seem to have similar asking prices to the R34, but comments like "No ball breakers" and "Take it or leave it". Still, from memory that was one of the most powerful 4cyl engines around at the time.

Before the GTV we had a Prelude, the really nice looking model with the sweeping bonnet and the wrap around cockpit. That was a nice car too.

It will come down to a combination of reliability - I need this thing to get me into Sydney two or three times a month on business - and performance and handling in the context of country driving on public roads, at speeds only a little in excess of the posted limit. I'm starting to wonder if the WRX might be the dark horse here, they seem very agile.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

The 2l ones give ~150bhp, 2.3 170bhp, and both 2.5l/2.8l give around 192bhp, difference being in the torque. And I'm yet to encounter an RWD car that would be as communicative as E36. Miata could be one of those, but here in Finland they're around same prices as E36 328i's etc..

 

[robulus]

The 2l ones give ~150bhp, 2.3 170bhp, and both 2.5l/2.8l give around 192bhp, difference being in the torque. And I'm yet to encounter an RWD car that would be as communicative as E36. Miata could be one of those, but here in Finland they're around same prices as E36 328i's etc..

Man my short list is getting long. I think the issue with European cars will be maintenance costs. But the interior is definitely appropriate for a gentleman of my years...

 

[Murcie_LP640]

Personally I'd be sticking with Japanese. For sure the E36 is a decent little thing to drive, good chassis and what-not however power is lacking and as a German car it's going to cost an arm and a leg in maintenance. The 318i has the least to go wrong (hence why they seem to be by far and away the most popular) however it's got the most lethargic engine in the line-up.

The thing is though for your price range you can also delve into the E46 range where it starts to come good. I'd still be picking a V5 Bora over them but I'm partial to VAG cars; Beemers are still a decent choice.

 

[robulus]

Quick question. Is there any performance difference between the sedan and the hatch in the 98/99 model WRX? I'm looking at these because they generally have airbags. I like the hatch, but just want to check they have the same reputation as the sedan.

 

[robulus]

And the winner is.....

VW Bora 4motion!

Thanks to everyone for your input, especially Murcie_LP640 who somehow named the perfect car in his first sentence, even though I didn't latch onto it at the time.

I almost bought a WRX, but the deal fell through at the last minute, and I had a couple of nagging doubts. Firstly, the fit and finish on these is pretty much bog standard for a compact Japanese car, nothing to get excited about. I was also uncertain about the engine, it certainly delivers once the turbo kicks in, but under 3000 revs it feels very pedestrian. It demands a certain driving style. I was much more impressed with the V6 Alfa Romeo GTV I drove, which had a lovely even torque response right through the revs.

So I went back to square one. I decided that since the main thing putting me off a lot of contenders was front wheel drive, I'd go to carsales.com.au and look at every rear wheel drive and four wheel drive car in my price range. There were quite a lot of them, and many were trucks.

That made it simple: RWD BMW. 4WD Subaru. Or hang on, what's this... Bora 4motion... 4WD, 2.8L V6 delivering 150kw... close ratio 6 speed gear box.... all leather interior with every luxury option.... much cheaper than the comparable WRX.... must test drive.

I test drove one, and have bought another one interstate sight unseen (based on a prepurchase inspection). I went over budget a bit. Expecting it middle of next week. Will report back.

Thanks again, this board really came through for me.