More Advice on a sports car purchase (celica, eclipse, rsx, ,wrx, altima)

Thanks for all the help and advice, however, I think some posters mistook my question.

I am in my twenties - I am not shelling out cash for a super-turbo RWD hyper-sports car here. I'm just looking for something that is nice, incredibly reliable, and fast as hell.

It sounds like the Celica, WRX, and Altima are the best way to go?

If you have any other opinions on what the best low-end sports coupe is, let me know - this is all great advice. Thanks particularly to the posters who provided specific details about the Celica.

Andrew

Reply to
Andrew
Loading thread data ...

Falling asleep through Andrew's post...

Altima is not a sports car, by definition

Reply to
Pahsons - Somnolent

Depends on whose definition you use. I think he should use _his_, but that's just me....

Some have posted a sports car has to be blindingly fast in a straight line. Then a TR6, Elan, or X1/9 aren't sports cars, which I would find absurd.

Instead of telling us all what a sports car *isn't*, "by definition", why don't you suck it up and tell us what it *is*?

Cheers!

Reply to
Stephen Bigelow

Falling asleep through Stephen Bigelow's post...

Okay, WRX

That's not how I single out a sports car

I have a broad definition of a sports car, as Miatas and Diablos both fit into thier. But I don't consider the Altima one because within it's same platform, the Maxima has a stronger engine.

Reply to
Pahsons - Somnolent

snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com (Andrew) wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@posting.google.com:

WRX - and take a performance course so you know how to get the best out of it.

Alex Devlin

Reply to
Alex Devlin

I am looking for a car that has a fast acceleration (high horsepower to weight ratio) and looks good and is reliable (low maintenance)

Which of the cars do you recommend? I don't want to spend more than

25K. I'm looking at low end here.
Reply to
Andrew

Altima and WRX may not have all the reliability you are hoping for. Celica probably does.

When "sports cars" were popular in the sixties, the Lotus Elan was generally regarded as the ultimate roadster. As Italian GT cars such as Ferrari, Lamborghini etc. came out, that was a departure from the idea of "sports car." These GT's were very extravagant cars, and included A/C, electric windows, and other luxuries. Today, the closest thing to the Lotus Elan roadster would be the Miata. In fact, this is now a better pure sports car than the original Elan ever was!

As to performance, the Miata can be driven right up to the ragged edge! Its skidpad figures are right up there with Porsche etc. Like most "real" sports cars, it is not a star in the raw top speed and acceleration competition. But for fun driving twisty roads, it's hard to beat! On the reliability aspect, I can say that with 90K miles on one of the first ones, I have had absolutely no mechanical problems! They say this excellent engine will be good for 250K miles in such a small car!

Good luck finding a car you will like!

Reply to
Ronald Baker

Hi Andrew, Might I suggest that you check out the Mitusbishi EVO VIII, I know its a little more than you wanted to pay but seems to be worth the extra coin.

formatting link
Grant

Reply to
Grant

Reply to
simpleton

This is probably blasphemy... but have you test drove a Mustang GT lately? Their handling isn;'t all that bad and they are definitely fast. Reliability? Well... the 4.6L engine is pretty solid. But Fords are cheap to fix and you'll get a warranty.

Reply to
Gary Seven AKA: "Mister Fuckhead"

A '69 Mustang, it will appreciate in time if you take care of it.

manual or auto? coupe or 4-door? 4 cyl. vs. 6 cyl. (insurance considerations)

Reply to
Uncle Mike

Is it just me or does it seem like there are 3 types of "low end sports cars":

1) The non-sports car just added with a spoiler and better interior (Corolla S, Camry Solara, Mazda 626, etc)

2) The low end car that looks good but isn't crazy fast (Celica, Eclipse, RSX, etc)

3) The low end car that doesn't look that good, but is damn fast (WRX, Mit Lancer, etc)

Do you always have to trade off looks for horsepower (well, at least without having to pay more than 25-30K). This is my first sports car

- I don't want to spend too much money, but I want the look factor, even if I have to trade off hp. That may the only reason I wouldn't get a WRX.

Sounds to me still from what people are saying that Celica and RSX are the only low end sports car that have decent styling and decent performance at a low price. Please correct me if I'm wrong?

Reply to
Andrew

snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com (Andrew) wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@posting.google.com:

These are not sports cars. You may as well put a spoiler onto any car and call it sports if this fits what you want.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think the Celica looks ugly but the WRX and EVO are just this side of ugly.

I think you need to have a long hard think to yourself about what it is you want in a car. Out of the ones you listed I would take the WRX or EVO for sheer driving pleasure. If others don't like the look of it then tough! You drive it so you know what it can do. But if you want your peers to "OOO & AAA" over your car then just look round and see what all the kiddies are driving.

Alex Devlin

Reply to
Alex Devlin

Well, if we're going to nic pick the Mustang isn't really a Sports car... its a muscle car with OK handling. My advice would be a new

2002 GT (V8) manual. If I had to do it all over again I would have looked harder at the Stangs - whether I would have bought one... I dunno. The reliability would def be a concern. Fords are not as reliable as Toyotas/Lexus, Hondas/Acuras... But there's a Ford dealer on every street corner so that might offset it. The best advice I can give is make a list, and test drive each one on that list. Write down likes and dislikes.
Reply to
Gary Seven AKA: "Mister Fuckhead"

You definitely don't want a WRX. Anything turbo is a problem waiting to happen.

Celica is OK, but visibility is poor. You have to use mirrors and can hardly see out of the back at all. The acura may have better visibility so I'd give that a shot.

If you're considering an Altima, then you probably wouldn't like the cramped space, poor visibililty, and harsh ride of many sports cars. Try the Nissan SE-R sport sedan, or just the plain Nissan SE. Maybe the Civic EX, nice car and somewhat sporty. Miata's are great but very small.

I would guess you'll end up with an Altima.

Reply to
brianb

If you're going to nitpick, you have to define sports car, not just blather on about what it _isn't_.

Reply to
Stephen Bigelow

Lol.....still can't do it I see. You're still attempting to define it by what it _isn't_.

What is a sports car?

Blather away...

Reply to
Stephen Bigelow

You're right... come to think of it he won't be able to get a GT for under $25,000 anyway.

Reply to
Gary Seven AKA: "Mister Fuckhead"

Reply to
simpleton

"You definitely don't want a WRX. Anything turbo is a problem waiting to happen."

huh? says who? been driving turbo cars since '91 and never experienced a turbo related failure. i've busted plenty of shit due to the power from the turbo but the turbos have never busted. you've never owned a turbo have you?

Reply to
simpleton

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.