Acura RSX
VW Rabbit

 

Well, since she was in an accident and (thankfully) wasn't injured, even with the car totalled (though with an old car it may not take much to total it), my guess is that she is going to be safety-concerned. That, IMO, rules out the Mini (which you said was on her list), and other small sports cars that some posters suggested like the S2000 and MR2. Their small size and snappy handling, of course, gives agility that can be used to steer around a potential accident (if room is available), but for the type of accident that she was involved in, would be of little use if you are just sitting somewhere and some jerk plows into you from behind. And the small size of these cars obviously means less protective structure aound you. The MR2, IMO, is an especially poor choice fror rear-ender protection because the engine, transaxle, and the entire fuel system is right back behind your head.

The Acura RSX suggestion is a reasonable one...I see nothing wrong with that. It has a superb manual transmission and clutch (as do all small FWD Honda products). It also has an excellent reliability record and is good on gas......an important consideration with today's prices. Just make sure it can run on 87-octane....I think so, but I'm not sure.
If she needs a little more room to carry people or things, the TSX sedan is also a good alternative. It also has a manual transmission option. But again, make sure you can use 87-octane.

 

RSX, yes. VW's? Generally too unreliable and prone to electrical problems. But the Rabbit, though, so far, seems to be one step above some other VW's in reliability...might be worth considering. But the Rabbit doesn't have the leather seats that were listed as a prerequisite.....it is an entry-level model.

 

2nd gen Acura TL 99-03 can be had for a dime. Nice cars with great interiors. Stay away from the Type S models though due to trans issues unless replaced with the newer trans.

 

I don't think the defective trannies were just limited to the Type S.

 

Love the RSX, unfortunately its hard to find one that's not ruined by modifications or salvage title.

 

doncha hate that!!!



RSX all the way.....if you can find a deal like this.....

type s
7700 miles
$13750



http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...0&cardist=1292

 

Thanks for everyone's input.

The requirement for leather seats is throwing off a lot of cars out of the list.

It doesn't have to be new. She actually would prefer used if she can get a great deal.

Lexus is out of the question because of manual tranny rarity, and it truly is out of her budget. Acura is her favorite brand, but she is willing to look at other makes and models.

I think it's best that she goes for a lot of test drives, but driving without a car in SoCal is horrible. Hopefully, she finds the time to get the right car for the right price soon...

 

Sorry to call you out Mike, but I honestly don't understand why this is such a big deal to some people. Sure, 10 years ago when Premium cost 20% more than Regular, it mattered, but now, it's less than a 5% difference, and will continue to shrink for the foreseeable future. For comparison purposes, this is equivalent to a difference of 1mpg for a car whose economy is in the mid 20s, or 1.5mpg for one that's in the upper 30s. Would you immediately disqualify a car because it got 1mpg worse than another one you were looking at? I certainly wouldn't.

And what if the car that takes premium gets 2mpg better than the one that takes regular? That means it's cheaper to pay for 91/93 than 87. Rejecting a car solely because it requires high-octane fuel is cutting off your nose to spite your face, IMO.

 

Let me guess, that's based on consumer reports? I know MANY people with VWs who love them and have had NO problems. Passats, GTIs, Jettas, etc.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a VW.

 

Just a different perspective, but I prefer filling the tank in the Miata with premium for $38 vs. $76 of 87 in my Explorer.

 

Personally, I like most VW models, but VW's Quality and Dependability ratings from JD Power aren't very good either.

 

How about the Mazda 3 or Speed3?

Any thoughts or comments regarding it?

 

I was just about to suggest this. They are great little cars. You may not find the MazdaSpeed3 in the price range but you will definitely find a regular 3 in that price range. MPG is not great like some other little cars. Although they post something like 23/31 (I can't remember), we get around 25 with mixed driving and 28 or so with mostly highway driving.

I think it is worth a look for your friend.

 

RSX hands down. Those seats in the RSX are fantastic! Oh, and the drive