I cannot find a damn car!!!
Speaks French in Russian
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,397
Likes: 100
From: What is G?
Originally Posted by mmarshall
I think I've got the car for you...unless you are very tall or very big.
Check out a non-turbo Mazda Miata. Less than 25K brand-new, lots of fun in the sun
with the easiest-to-use manual convertible top on the market, reasonably good mileage, burns regular 87-Octane gas, has enough power in the mid-to-high RPM range to give you at least a little spunk, an excellent reliability record, low maintenance costs ( even the fabric roof is durable by ragtop standards ), good trunk space ( by small sports-car standards ), RIGHT-NOW steering and handling response with almost zero body roll, a delightful snick-snick shift lever and clutch, and is a blast to drive on twisty roads. Believe me, this car is anything BUT boring to drive... 
and at a low price. 
The downsides
are 2-seater insurance rates, lousy traction on slippery roads, a stiff noisy ride, due to short gearing and firm underpinnings, that is tiring on long-distance Interstate driving , difficult entry / exit and lack of seating space if you are over about 5' 8" or so, and of course the fact that soft-top convetibles are easy to break into...but a bolt-on hardtop roof is an option.
Check out a non-turbo Mazda Miata. Less than 25K brand-new, lots of fun in the sun
with the easiest-to-use manual convertible top on the market, reasonably good mileage, burns regular 87-Octane gas, has enough power in the mid-to-high RPM range to give you at least a little spunk, an excellent reliability record, low maintenance costs ( even the fabric roof is durable by ragtop standards ), good trunk space ( by small sports-car standards ), RIGHT-NOW steering and handling response with almost zero body roll, a delightful snick-snick shift lever and clutch, and is a blast to drive on twisty roads. Believe me, this car is anything BUT boring to drive... and at a low price. The downsides
are 2-seater insurance rates, lousy traction on slippery roads, a stiff noisy ride, due to short gearing and firm underpinnings, that is tiring on long-distance Interstate driving , difficult entry / exit and lack of seating space if you are over about 5' 8" or so, and of course the fact that soft-top convetibles are easy to break into...but a bolt-on hardtop roof is an option.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 5,813
Likes: 1
From: The Bay Area, CA, USA
Originally Posted by Hameed
Get a Toyota Celica - looks very nice and will be very economical.
)Even the base Celica GT is super fun AND economical. Awesome cargo space too with the rear seats folded. I know, because I owned one. I averaged about 31mpg-33mpg in mixed driving. The razor-sharp steering response and the clear road feel always set me in a mood for a dogfight (landing me countless tickets BTW
).You should be able to get a 2000 model year one for cheap now.
Last edited by XeroK00L; Apr 27, 2006 at 11:08 AM.
I'd go with the tC in my opinion. Its a Yoda, so you know you wont have problems with it... and if you get bored, you can mildly mod it and get it looking nice while keeping the efficiency.
And plus... it looks just damn hot!
And plus... it looks just damn hot!
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,474
Likes: 252
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Originally Posted by magneto112
Yea thats what I was thinking of too, but he shut the entire Mazda lineup down above.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 5,813
Likes: 1
From: The Bay Area, CA, USA
Originally Posted by Stage3
I'd go with the tC in my opinion. Its a Yoda, so you know you wont have problems with it... and if you get bored, you can mildly mod it and get it looking nice while keeping the efficiency.
Last edited by XeroK00L; Apr 27, 2006 at 11:33 AM.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,474
Likes: 252
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Originally Posted by manila_boy
get a used S4 
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 5,813
Likes: 1
From: The Bay Area, CA, USA
Originally Posted by mmarshall
Say what? That car costs serious money....and serious money to repair and service. An S4 in the price range he is looking at would have to be a VERY used one...and cars like this are usually not exactly driven by grandma to church on Sundays.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
Originally Posted by Dx3
It is hard being a car enthusiast and also being smart with a car purchase. Everything that seems fun is too expensive, and everything that is the right price is just plain boring
I need to just go out and get an Accord and deal with it - but I know I will be regretting it as soon as I do it.
I looked at an IS but at 20mpg and $16k I figured that really isn't an economical dd. I have re-read all of the cars people listed in my last thread and none of them are doing it for me.
I need to just go out and get an Accord and deal with it - but I know I will be regretting it as soon as I do it.
I looked at an IS but at 20mpg and $16k I figured that really isn't an economical dd. I have re-read all of the cars people listed in my last thread and none of them are doing it for me.
Originally Posted by Dx3
Cars I have considered
LS400 Japanese and boring
SC300 Japanese and boring
IS300 Japanese and crappy mileage
Accord Japanese and boring
Scion Tc Japanese and boring
Audi TT not Japanese and not boring
GS300 Japanese and boring
GS400 Japanese and boring
HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!
Jonny
What to do?
Jonny
LS400 Japanese and boring
SC300 Japanese and boring
IS300 Japanese and crappy mileage
Accord Japanese and boring
Scion Tc Japanese and boring
Audi TT not Japanese and not boring
GS300 Japanese and boring
GS400 Japanese and boring
HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!
Jonny
What to do?
Jonny
Anyways, I was having the same problem you were in that I just couldn't find anything that I wanted. The problem was cyclical though. The reason I couldn't find anything that I "wanted" was because Japanese cars are boring, but I was only considering Japanese cars because they're the most reliable. But I can't find anything I want to buy because they're boring and I don't want boring But I only consider Japanese because. they're relia..... screeeech
I've liked my nice and reliable Japanese cars too and they have certainly served me well, but they all have had one thing in common. They're BORING. Acutally, my 5spd Maxima is not bad, but the ride is choppy, the interior is incredibly noisey, and the steering is loose (characteristic), and it does not inspire confidence at all on twisty back roads.
For my next car, I have decided to force myself to go outside of my little comfort zone and try something else that is not Japanese. There's more to cars than JDPA dependability scores, and CR reliability survey rankings. With as boring as Japanese cars are, they sure as heck better be bulletproof, otherwise nobody would buy them. There are European and American cars out there that are 10-100x more exciting to me than anything Japan is making. And so what if I (god forbid) might have to take it into the dealership for an issue once in awhile? If the car makes you grin everytime you get in it and you enjoy it a ton, you're not going to care, because nobody else makes a car like that.
No more Japanese automotive appliances for me.
