Ultimately I’ll have to make up my own mind, I know that. But there are just too many options for me right now because of the price range I’m shopping at.
My target is a car under $20,000, with the sweet spot being around $16,000 to $17,000 I've never really owned a high end or rather higher end sports car and/or proper GT So i'd like to get something a bit more high end this time around. The number one deciding factor is reliability. I seriously need this car to last a while. And since I’ll be keeping it for a while I want it to be fun enough that I can happily live with it for a few years.
Here’s the cars I’m looking at:
’99 – ’01 Corvette C5
I love this car. I’ve loved it since they first came out. This is a dream car for me. But I have never had a reliable car made by GM. Every GM car I have bought was garbage. So the thought of a really expensive one to repair without a warranty and 10 years old makes me worried. But everytime I see a black one I can afford my brain goes to mush and I forget all the other cars I’m looking at.
Infinity G35 coupe
Again I love this car and am the one I’m leaning toward the most. But the mpg’s suck as bad as an SUV. But the advantage this car has over the Corvette (imo) is it’s newer and less likely to need a ton of repairs. The part i lke the most is all the great characteristics of the 350Z, but with a back seat if needed in a pinch, And a bit more comfort.
Nissan 350Z - Altima SE-R
I like this car and it’s basically a cheaper, lighter more efficient G35. And the fender flares are amazing. I know a few people with both G’s and Z’s and they say they are reliable as all hell. Factor in these are a lot newer than a 10-year-old vette and these 2 are strong contenders. The Altima is a long shot, i love Gam & Dr.pails old one quite a bit...but kinda plain looking practical, and really too big for what I'm looking for. This is after all my mid-life crisis car i want next. LOL But at the same time practical, big, and 4-doors with a manual hooked up to a VQ motor is a very tempting package. I like to mountan bike and surf...and this car with seats folded down would hold my bike/and gear/beach gear easily, and still be a blast to drive on a back road. So it's not exactly out of the running.
Subaru Legacy GT – 5-speed
I just love this car it’s evil fast (STI motor) and looks classy. But does look kinda plain.
Hyundai Tiburon GT-V6
Well I know that my Z24 used to beat the crap out of these all the time. Which means they are not exactly fast for a V6. And really for the same price I can get a much faster and better car in the 350Z. But I just love the styling of this car.
Cobalt SS-T
This one is a long shot. I do like them. But really it’s a bargain box car with a turbo for $22,000. For the same price or less I can get a much better car. This intrigues me though as my only new car purchase. Mostly because R&T did an article of the top 10 most fun cars that get an EPA rating of 30 or more mpg’s. And they unanimously agreed the Cobalt SS-T is the best fuel-efficient car you can buy right now. Because it’s great on gas, and extremely fun to drive. They picked it over the Miata and Mini Cooper. That impressed me. However again I am wearry about buying a GM product though. The last time i bought a new car and needed it to last (my Z24) it was the worst peice of sh*t i've ever owned. And only had it for 3 years...i needed it to last a lot longer than that.
So those are the options i'm looking at. and really it's mostly a 3-wy battle between the Z, the G, and the vette. And most everyone is 50/50 o the Vette. Half say GM builds them much better than any other car theybuild and i should be fine. Others remind me that it's still a 10 year old car and regardless of build quality it will need some maintence. so im very conflicted. I'd love a Newer GTO, Last gen Trans-Am, or Z28 too, but people selling them (boh Dealers & private) are smoking crack with some of these asking prices. I will notbuy a 1998 Trans-am for $16,000. I'm sorry that is still a 10year old "pony" car and not worth that much. Especially when you can get C5 vettes from 1998 for that price, or a little more. so i'm not going to waste my time geting in the ass from greedy T/A, Z28, GTO owners/sellers. So they are out. So is the Scion tC, mostly because Unexpected Errors troubles with his, and little issues i hear about them on the web.
other than all that, i need some opinions. info, or even personal experiences with any of these cars to help me get edumacated on the pros and cons of them all. thanks guys.
"Formerly known as Jammit - JBO member since 1998" JBOM | CSS.net
Those F-Body prices are ridiculous. Go Private. 16 Grand will get you an extremely low mileage 01+ 6spd Manual LS1 nowadays, possibly with some Mods.
www.LS1Tech.com
Then again, that may not be the route you want to take.
BTW - why do you want to buy a car? That would help.
i love me the legacy gts!!! that gets my vote
I need one. My Suzuki has a blown transmission, 4WD transfer case is shot (so no 4WD), needs all new suspension (rides like a tank), Needs a timing belt (expensive repair on a Suzuki), And the A/C is ruined...i'd need to replace the entire heater core to get it fixed, and now it has a leak i can't find that fills the drivers footwell area every time it rains. It's a train wreck, but i intend to keep it and fix it over time, pass it onto my Neice who will be 16 in 2 years. But right now i just want a car that when i get out of work i don't have to dread riding in it.
And no i don't want any modified used car. It needs to be relaiable and I don't trust ANY mods to a car that I personally did not do myself. And the worst F-body prices ARE private. Those people are on crack, the dealers are just as bad. I won't over pay for an F-body.
"Formerly known as Jammit - JBO member since 1998" JBOM | CSS.net
Normaly I would say G35, but I never knew G35's have bad gas mileage. I didnt know that and I love them with a passion.
If maintenance, price, and reliability are a huge concern. I guess I would try the Altima coupe and see if it's what your looking for. All Altimas I have seen have taken beat downs very gracefully and went way past 200,000 miles on the odometer. Go test drive one.
Get the vette, you wont regret it. The LS1 is an amazing engine. My cousin has a 02' T/A and he has had no problems with that car.
Surf around on LS1Tech for alittle bit a get a feel for the problems other vette owners are having with theirs.
"Project 69'"
1969 Chevrolet C/10, 1/2 ton, 2wd
-Boosted LS1?
-Richmond ROD 6-speed(will get sometime)
-Posi 12-bolt(built w/eaton posi unit and richmond 3.73 gears)
-Disc brake and 5 lug swap
+little extras
the guy i work with has a c5 vette and another guy i work with has an older (i would say early to mid 90s vette) and they dont have any problems with theirs. then again they dont drive their car every day though.
The reliability of an F platform is directly proportional to how often the right pedal gets mashed to the floor.
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2002 Sunfire -->
- Ractive steering wheel
- ASA 17" EM9 + Nexen N5000 215/45/17 (steelies for winter)
- D-Spec Lowering kit @ 1.4" (issues currently
)
- Rockford P250.1 + MTX MZS1004 + Panasonic CQ-C8313U head unit
- Barely legal tint.
^^^^ The longer you redline it the longer it lasts.
I'd choose the Subaru. I think it looks nice and clean, and I am partial to AWD.
pretty sure that the 2.5 in the gt is NOT the Sti motor. from what I remember, the ej257 is the Sti motor whereas the ej255 is the legacy motor. both are 2.5 but there are differences between the two. that being said most of the turbo motor parts should interchange.
personally, i'd go for the Legacy GT. they ride nice, handle well, and have plenty of power. upgrades are abundant too.
If fuel economy is a concern (and it usually is), I'd consider an LNF cobalt. The LNF is capable of 30+ mpg easy. For reference when I picked up my solstice GXP, I got 32mpg on the first tank of gas with the top down and moderate driving style on highways/back roads. Plus the chassis of the SS/Tc has been revamped, and although its still not an independent rear suspension, its a hell of a ride in the corners. Given some of you're other contenders (legacy, altima) maybe you'd want to wait for the SS/tc sedan?
Also, a tune on the LNF yields an easy 300BHP, and there is an upgraded K04 BW that is supposed to pick up about 50hp in the upper RPM's. GM has finally done something right with their ECU - this thing is a pleasure to tune with the factory WBO2 sensor and seemingly unlimited injector (direct injection). Once the 255kPa boost limitation is conqured all hell will break loose with this platform.
Say no to Korea. They can look as nice as they want, they're still a big heavy box of fail under the hood, anywhere that has some kind of electrical connection, or anywhere where something moves or stays stationary.
My vote goes to a G35. By the sounds of it, you aren't really looking for big mileage anyways.
2010 Honda Fit LX
G35 is where its at, and the gas mileage is no where as bad as you're making it sound. One of my best friends has had one for close to a year now and we've been on several road trips with it, including going out to Denver and back from the middle of Iowa. On that trip it slammed 27mpg combined between the city and the interstate no problem, we definitely weren't drafting or hypermiling or anything. Around town he usually gets 21-22 ish just because you've got a lof of shifting to do with the 6 speed in town.
350z while it might seem like the cheaper option is going to murder you on insurance, if you don't believe me you should price the two out with your insurance rep.
Beyond this I could see you in a new VW Rabbit pretty easily, seems like a good car for you.
Nope. I will never own a VW. They are garbage.
I'm thinking it will end up being an '08 Cobalt SS-T. For the price you can't beat it's combo of hp & mpg. I was all about the G35 till i thought long and hard about the tough Michgan winters we have, and I'm not feeling a RWD car on icy snow covered roads. I also remeber how well my Z24 handled those horrid weather conditions. Factor in the real back seat, and the space to fold down the seats and swallow my bike and large items this car is the best choice. oldskool thanks for the info on the tuning, that helped.
"Formerly known as Jammit - JBO member since 1998" JBOM | CSS.net
buy a brand new car just in time to throw her around in the salt and winter CRAP.
LOL wait til spring, at least then it will be nice for 6 or more months.
Fall 08 Omaha/western Iowa area meet...
CLICK ME!
The VW Rabbit comment was just a cheap shot because they suck ass.
I figured it'd be good to get a rise out of you, guess I overestimated.
z yaaaa wrote:buy a brand new car just in time to throw her around in the salt and winter CRAP.
LOL wait til spring, at least then it will be nice for 6 or more months.
Yeah i thought of that too, but i can't wait. I need a car. I'm actually looking at a pair of slightly used '08's. I'd rather not pay for a new $22,000 car when they drop to $18,000 the second you drive off the lot. I hate having to put my new car through winter hell like that...but thankfully my work has an enclosed parking structure so for the 12 hours a day i work it will be covered.
KFLO wrote:The VW Rabbit comment was just a cheap shot because they suck ass.
I figured it'd be good to get a rise out of you, guess I overestimated.
LOL
troll
j/k
"Formerly known as Jammit - JBO member since 1998" JBOM | CSS.net
Jookycola wrote:Nope. I will never own a VW. They are garbage.
I'm thinking it will end up being an '08 Cobalt SS-T. For the price you can't beat it's combo of hp & mpg. I was all about the G35 till i thought long and hard about the tough Michgan winters we have, and I'm not feeling a RWD car on icy snow covered roads. I also remeber how well my Z24 handled those horrid weather conditions. Factor in the real back seat, and the space to fold down the seats and swallow my bike and large items this car is the best choice. oldskool thanks for the info on the tuning, that helped.
No problem! There are now some threads on solsticeforum.com regarding a beta tune for higher mpgs. i forget the guys username, but he does a lot of testing for wester's garage. They are the first to crack the PCM code for the LNF, and they just keep getting better it seems.
Now that my GXP is past break-in and I'm on the gas more, its still not getting lower than 29mpgs. That includes a 130mph run down the interstate (oooops!).
Good luck w/ the purchase.
