Advise on Buying a Car?

[jerkasaur]

So what do you people suggest for a very cool looking Convertible that doesn't cost more than 20, 25,000 dollars?

I looked so much for some kind of a list or something but I couldn't find one without the website wanting zip code, any advise on that would be appreciated too.

 

[<RJMC>]

get a horse

 

[Krynn72]

In before grammar nazis.

Also, if you're dumb enough to think something can happen when a website asks your zip code, you dont deserve a 25,000 dollar car.

 

[lePobz]

Get an oldskool targa-topped Supra Mk4 Turbo (The one with the 2JZ engine) ... They are pretty rare, but you can get one with that budget.

Oldskool beats the new crap any day of the week.

 

[AJ Rimmer]

Get a flying one.

 

[Krynn72]

Don't buy one. Cars are expensive piles of metal that serve no purpose but to extort you out of even more money through the gasoline you need to operate the things. You should walk or ride a bike instead.

Yeah, maybe if you live in TORONTO! BA-ZING!


Or any other major city.

 

[Escaep]

So what do you people suggest for a very cool looking Convertible that doesn't cost more than 20, 25,000 dollars?

I looked so much for some kind of a list or something but I couldn't find one without the website wanting zip code, any advise on that would be appreciated too.

Depending on where you live, you can use CraigsList to give you an idea of what to look for. Doing a quick search in Miami, FL i found a Pontiac Solstice (convt.) for $18,700. http://miami.craigslist.org/car/528076480.html

 

[jerkasaur]

Also, if you're dumb enough to think something can happen when a website asks your zip code, you dont deserve a 25,000 dollar car.

What? I don't think anything is gonna happen genius, some people (around 6,267,694,087) happen to live outside USA and Canada you know...

 

[taviow]

get a horse

This is the best advice. You won't be disappointed, I have 3, I keep them inside my house and I just have to take a shower with them every day, but that's not a problem. They are... a bit... dirty too but that's ok.



[/joke]

 

[Krynn72]

What? I don't think anything is gonna happen genius, some people (around 6,267,694,087) happen to live outside USA and Canada you know...

See, thats important information that you should have shared with everyone genius. Now nobody knows where you're looking for cars at, nor what kind of currency your talking.

 

[jerkasaur]

See, thats important information that you should have shared with everyone genius. Now nobody knows where you're looking for cars at, nor what kind of currency your talking.

see, I'm pretty sure no one thought I meant Zimbabwean dollars when I said "dollars" at the first place. Krynn, I like you man, why are you being such a dick right now?

 

[Barnz]

 

[jerkasaur]

Depending on where you live, you can use CraigsList to give you an idea of what to look for. Doing a quick search in Miami, FL i found a Pontiac Solstice (convt.) for $18,700.

wow, this is a very good looking car. like the color on this one:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Jazz-realcar.jpg

 

[Krynn72]

see, I'm pretty sure no one thought I meant Zimbabwean dollars when I said "dollars" at the first place. Krynn, I like you man, why are you being such a dick right now?

I have an itchy penis.

And agreed. That car is a sexy beyotch.

 

[lePobz]

Oh god, don't buy an American car!

... or an indian car!

Japanese is the way to go.

 

[Phobie]

get a horse

I'm going to second this motion.

 

[Parrot of doom]

You want a TVR. This was mine:

4 litres of V8 awesomeness and insane acceleration, with an exhaust that killed old ladies as it passed, and made dogs jump into hedges.

 

[repiV]

Where the hell do you get 25,000 dollars for a car from at 17? That's insane.

 

[Deleted member 56031]

Where the hell do you get 25,000 dollars for a car from at 17? That's insane.

This.

 

[ailevation]

IMO the best you can do with a convertible around that price range is to probably look into a maybe a 03' or lesser year 325ci vert or if you're lucky a 330ci vert.

Not my recommendation but, if it suits you, there are Miatas and Cooper verts you can look into.

 

[phantomdesign]

I have a 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder & love it! It has superb handling and great pick up. Stock engine and you'll kill mustangs, camaros, muscle cars, other roadsters, and most stuff up to a corvette. It's also pretty hawt too. You can get a 2000 for around $9000, or a modified one for slightly more. Newer (it's years are 2000-2005) will cost more of course. It's also semi-rare at 5000 units per year.

IF you buy one I highly recommend looking in the classified sections at www.mr2oc.com and www.spyderchat.com; I've seem some insanely good deals there which make me cry . . . cars with 2zz engines & turbos, custom suspension, rims, no bodykit for not much more than I spent on my car!

P.S. If you get one, make sure to have the pre-cats gutted, it sometimes causes engine problems. Other than that people don't really have many problems with it.

 

[Higlac]

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/overview.aspx?year=1999&make=Chevrolet&model=Corvette

 

[Top Secret]

I have a 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder & love it! It has superb handling and great pick up. Stock engine and you'll kill mustangs, camaros, muscle cars, other roadsters, and most stuff up to a corvette.

BULLSHIT

A stock LS1 Camaro is capable of a high 12's 1320. I very much doubt a stock MR2 Turbo is capable of 12 second quarter mile times.

*Edit*

Hmm.

http://www.modernracer.com/toyotamr2.html

15.1 quarter mile? That's quite a bit slower than a 12 second car...

 

[Higlac]

BULLSHIT

A stock LS1 Camaro is capable of a high 12's 1320. I very much doubt a stock MR2 Turbo is capable of 12 second quarter mile times.

*Edit*

Hmm.

http://www.modernracer.com/toyotamr2.html

15.1 quarter mile? That's quite a bit slower than a 12 second car...

Your spyder:
Horsepower : 138 hp @ 6800 rpm
Torque : 117 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm
Top speed : 129 mph
0-? mile : 15.1 sec.@ 89.1 mph(manual)

2000-2005 V6 mustang
Horsepower : 210 hp @ 5300 rpm
Torque : 240 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm
Top speed : 113 mph(electronically limited)
0-? mile : 15.0 sec @ 92.1 mph(manual), 15.3 sec @ 91.0 mph(auto)

Your car can't do shit. A base model mustang is both faster and has more torque and power than your car. My 1996 engine makes 220 lb-ft of torque, you make over 100 less than that. And my '96 isn't speed limited. I can get it up to 146 if I had a large enough stretch of road, as it stands, I've only gone 115.


People who talk smack and can't back it annoy me.

 

[Top Secret]

Your spyder:
Horsepower : 138 hp @ 6800 rpm
Torque : 117 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm
Top speed : 129 mph
0-? mile : 15.1 sec.@ 89.1 mph(manual)

2000-2005 V6 mustang
Horsepower : 210 hp @ 5300 rpm
Torque : 240 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm
Top speed : 113 mph(electronically limited)
0-? mile : 15.0 sec @ 92.1 mph(manual), 15.3 sec @ 91.0 mph(auto)

Your car can't do shit. A base model mustang is both faster and has more torque and power than your car. My 1996 engine makes 220 lb-ft of torque, you make over 100 less than that. And my '96 isn't speed limited. I can get it up to 146 if I had a large enough stretch of road, as it stands, I've only gone 115.


People who talk smack and can't back it annoy me.

Did you quote the wrong person?

 

[phantomdesign]

Average Camaros have a LS1? ha ha.

Sorry, I should have been much cleared since everyone presumes (boring) drag racing. I was talking about track/street racing. Other than the Saleen mustangs in the area (They have a place in Troy, MI, a couple miles from where I live) they always lose on tracks or small street drag racing (usually about 0-50). One of my worst ass kickings was when I was racing a mustang during the Woodward Dream cruise and a Saleen S7 flew past both of us *eek*. Mustangs are horrible around corners and have poor response from my observations, tough it could be just the drivers.

I won't pretend my car is the most amazing thing in the world, it's handling is just . . . . AWESOME!

 

[Tyguy]

it depends...do you want a fast car or a comfortable car

Do what i did...get a brand new mazda rx-8 and pimp it out

 

[xcellerate]

Do what i did...get a brand new mazda rx-8 and pimp it out

he said he wants a convertible.

For $25,000...you could buy almost any convertible you wanted. I don't really see why you're asking us...

solstice, eclipse, mustang, corvette, 3-series, a4, z4, mini...but the 'coolest' I think at least, would be an S2000, and I'm a VW guy.

 

[Top Secret]

Average Camaros have a LS1? ha ha.

Sorry, I should have been much cleared since everyone presumes (boring) drag racing. I was talking about track/street racing. Other than the Saleen mustangs in the area (They have a place in Troy, MI, a couple miles from where I live) they always lose on tracks or small street drag racing (usually about 0-50). One of my worst ass kickings was when I was racing a mustang during the Woodward Dream cruise and a Saleen S7 flew past both of us *eek*. Mustangs are horrible around corners and have poor response from my observations, tough it could be just the drivers.

I won't pretend my car is the most amazing thing in the world, it's handling is just . . . . AWESOME!

Nah, I'm still calling bullshit. If you are implying that your car could "hang" with Mustangs and Camaros, you were obviously not referring to their cornering ability as your average van handles as well as a Mustang or Camaro. It's obvious. Just don't imply to people that your MR2 is going to be close at all with a LS1 or 4.6 Modular Mustang in a drag or street race.

Also, on the 0-50, I'm still calling bullshit. Good day.

 

[Higlac]

Mustangs are horrible around corners and have poor response from my observations, tough it could be just the drivers.

Just the drivers.

If you are implying that your car could "hang" with Mustangs and Camaros, you were obviously not referring to their cornering ability as your average van handles as well as a Mustang or Camaro.

Bullshit. My Mustang handles better than most camaros and a lot of imports. It's all about how you drive the car, if you spin the tires, get your foot out of it, if it squeals in a corner, don't turn the wheel any more, or slow down.

Toyota MR2 Spyder skidpad test: 0.87
Ford Mustang skidpad test: 0.87

No difference.

 

[xcellerate]

Just the drivers.
Bullshit. My Mustang handles better than most camaros and a lot of imports. It's all about how you drive the car, if you spin the tires, get your foot out of it, if it squeals in a corner, don't turn the wheel any more, or slow down.

Toyota MR2 Spyder skidpad test: 0.87
Ford Mustang skidpad test: 0.87

No difference.

skidpad doesn't reflect the car's handling characteristics...it's just sort of a generic base to start reviewing suspension.

and just for advice if by "squeels in a corner" you mean understeer, you can unwind the wheel to widen your radius and start to get back on it again.

But, most of the car's abilities boil down to the driver. I have a friend in a base model mini on all season tires that can outrun everyone I know down back roads; simply because he's flat out a better driver, even though they have the 'skidpad advantage'.

 

[SimonomiS]

get a horse

Thirded.

 

[The Monkey]

Get a Trabant.

 

[Top Secret]

Just the drivers.



Bullshit. My Mustang handles better than most camaros and a lot of imports. It's all about how you drive the car, if you spin the tires, get your foot out of it, if it squeals in a corner, don't turn the wheel any more, or slow down.

Toyota MR2 Spyder skidpad test: 0.87
Ford Mustang skidpad test: 0.87

No difference.

First, Any performance enthusiast knows that a skid pad test is about as useful as bench racing.

Second, I never implied that Camaro's handled better than Mustangs.

Third, overtaking a 6,000 dollar Honda Civic Si on a track is nothing to brag about when you're driving a $25,000 car. (Assuming GT). I doubt a stock GT could overtake many similarly priced imports, given equal skill level of drivers. Unless your counting trucks and vans. Of course this is "just my opinion".

 

[xcellerate]

well, car and driver did a test around the full VIR course, and here were the times:

Mazda MX-5 --------------- 3:29.3
Honda Civic Si ------------ 3:26.5
VW GTI DSG --------------- 3:25.1
Ford Mustang GT ----- 3:20.9
Chevy Cobalt SS ---------- 3:20.6
Mazda RX-8 --------------- 3:19.0
Dodge Charger SRT8 ----- 3:18.2
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo MR - 3:13.5
Nissan 350Z Track ------- 3:12.5
Ford Shelby GT500 -------- 3:11.0
BMW M6 -------------------- 3:10.0
Porsche Cayman S -------- 3:09.5
Chevy Corvette ----------- 3:09.3
Lotus Elise ----------------- 3:09.2
Dodge Viper SRT10 ------- 3:01.6
Chevy Corvette Z06 ------ 3:01.1
Ford GT -------------------- 3:00.7

 

[taviow]

Everything is wrong here. I will explain:

I'm going to second this motion.

Mrs. Phobie, you actually THIRDED this motion and

Thirded.

Mr. SimonomiS, you actually FOURTHED this motion because

get a horse

This is the best advice. You won't be disappointed

I SECONDED it.

<world collapses>

 

[Top Secret]

well, car and driver did a test around the full VIR course, and here were the times:

Mazda MX-5 --------------- 3:29.3
Honda Civic Si ------------ 3:26.5
VW GTI DSG --------------- 3:25.1
Ford Mustang GT ----- 3:20.9
Chevy Cobalt SS ---------- 3:20.6
Mazda RX-8 --------------- 3:19.0
Dodge Charger SRT8 ----- 3:18.2
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo MR - 3:13.5
Nissan 350Z Track ------- 3:12.5
Ford Shelby GT500 -------- 3:11.0
BMW M6 -------------------- 3:10.0
Porsche Cayman S -------- 3:09.5
Chevy Corvette ----------- 3:09.3
Lotus Elise ----------------- 3:09.2
Dodge Viper SRT10 ------- 3:01.6
Chevy Corvette Z06 ------ 3:01.1
Ford GT -------------------- 3:00.7

Thank you for proving my point.

Looks like the FWD Cobalt is just as fast as the Mustang, while costing 5k less... ouch...

Also, the M6 can only attain .89 g's on a skid pad, yet it's an entire second faster than the GT500, which has the same amount of horsepower and a better skidpad rating of .9 g's. Hmm...

 

[Higlac]

well, car and driver did a test around the full VIR course, and here were the times:

Mazda MX-5 --------------- 3:29.3
Honda Civic Si ------------ 3:26.5
VW GTI DSG --------------- 3:25.1
Ford Mustang GT ----- 3:20.9
Chevy Cobalt SS ---------- 3:20.6
Mazda RX-8 --------------- 3:19.0
Dodge Charger SRT8 ----- 3:18.2
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo MR - 3:13.5
Nissan 350Z Track ------- 3:12.5
Ford Shelby GT500 -------- 3:11.0
BMW M6 -------------------- 3:10.0
Porsche Cayman S -------- 3:09.5
Chevy Corvette ----------- 3:09.3
Lotus Elise ----------------- 3:09.2
Dodge Viper SRT10 ------- 3:01.6
Chevy Corvette Z06 ------ 3:01.1
Ford GT -------------------- 3:00.7

Looks like the FWD Cobalt is just as fast as the Mustang, while costing 5k less... ouch...

Also, the M6 can only attain .89 g's on a skid pad, yet it's an entire second faster than the GT500, which has the same amount of horsepower and a better skidpad rating of .9 g's. Hmm...

Keep in mind, inexpensive aftermarket parts can do wonders for the Mustang. I believe that since the Cobalt is already supercharged, if you supercharge the Mustang, and get simple suspension upgrades, as in the GT500 then I believe that you will have a significant performance boost. Hmm, the BMW M6 also costs about $60,000 more than the Mustang. Although the Chevy Corvette ZO6, costs about $25,000 less than the BMW and is a full 10 seconds faster.

 

[xcellerate]

Keep in mind, inexpensive aftermarket parts can do wonders for the Mustang. I believe that since the Cobalt is already supercharged, if you supercharge the Mustang, and get simple suspension upgrades, as in the GT500 then I believe that you will have a significant performance boost. Hmm, the BMW M6 also costs about $60,000 more than the Mustang. Although the Chevy Corvette ZO6, costs about $25,000 less than the BMW and is a full 10 seconds faster.

okay, we can't start talking modified vs. modified because that's just retarded. A stock mustang GT lost to a cobalt SS around a track, end of story. You say we need to supercharge the mustang because the cobalt SS is supercharged, well how about the cobalt gets 4 more cylinders since the mustang has a v8? We people start arguing hypotheticals that's when the conversation goes off a cliff. "Well the ______ is more expensive than the _____, so we can just take that money and buy track slicks and a stage 15 turbo kit." ....

Besides:

Driver John Heinricy piloted a race-prepared Cobalt SS Supercharged on a challenging road course at the Buttonwillow Raceway Park, besting both the legendary Nissan Skyline and the new Volkswagen Jetta by more than seven seconds. The Cobalt SS, which is based on Chevy's new factory-built front-wheel-drive Super Sport, posted a time of 01:51.31 around Buttonwillow's #13 track configuration, which was fast enough to eclipse the marks set by the All-Wheel-Drive, twin-turbo Skyline (01:53.021) and the nitrous-charged Jetta (01:57.628).

All are modified cars, and look who won. Of course only the cobalt was factory backed and driven by an SCCA champion. Just shows to go you what driver talent and better engineering can accomplish. And by engineering, I mean built by better engineers who are smarter at things like suspension geometry compared to your off the shelf Blitzkreig Racing! garage that modified the other cars.

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt SS - 01:51.318
2004 Mitsubishi Evo 8 ------ 01:52.561
2000 Nissan Skyline GTR --- 01:53.021
2000 Honda S2000 ---------- 01:53.147
2002 BMW CSL -------------- 01:54.689
2005 Mitsubishi Evo 8 ------- 01:55.007


...again...just an example. I'm sure some nismo team has a skyline that would tear the cobalt up, but I'm just showing that it's silly to argue modified cars.

 

[noQ]

So much car-homos in one thread. (no offense guys)
Torque seems to give a lot of people here a hard-on.

Isn't the purpose of a car to be practical (cheap, comfortable, minimal fuel consumption, enough room etc) ?
Not to be some shiny piece of metal that costs your shitloads to buy and to use (fuel, service).

/ends opinion and raises shield to avoid flying objects.