Pretty detailed list of car options. Help me out.

[Tpduke112]

So here I am, Im an 18 year old college freshman. I drive a 1996 Nissan Maxima, which my parents gave me. I love the car and I love my parents for giving me such a great car to start with. Problem is that it is an automatic and it has more miles on it than I would like (145,000). I thought of modding it, but then decided that it was pointless. I have a craving for throwing back gears and I want something more sporty with 2 less doors. I have a job and I make pretty good money. I will be able to afford something in the 10,000 to very low teen range by the beginning of sophomore year (this fall). I have been carefully weighing my options. Though faults havent lead to me ruling any cars out, it has dropped some cars on the totem pole. Things that I would like (but dont necessarily have to have) are AWD>RWD>FWD, LSD, Forced Induction is a plus, reliability is a plus but I know tons of mechanics and I know my way around an engine ok, cool factor (nice and sporty looking), and not too old (I would really prefer it to be newer than my Maxima. My list looks like this as of right now (in this order).

1. 97-99 Eclipse GSX (I dont want a GS-T and I am leaning toward this car very, very strongly. AWD+Turbo=Heaven. It also has a huge aftermarket and can be fast for cheap. I know, reliability is an issue but a well taken care of car is a well taken care of car).

2. 98-01 Camaro Z28-SS (I grew up a domestic guy (my first car was a 88 Camaro Iroc-Z, second was a 96 Monte Carlo Z34) and I have always loved f-bodys. Im just really into imports now though. Though this is the case, the F-Body is still very high on the list and it is a very viable candidate).

3. 94-99 3000gt VR4 (Reliability again, and I really want a 97-99 but it is a bit out of my price range (I dont want to find a cheap one and deal with its problems)).

4. 93-94 MR2 Turbo (Love the mid engine, RWD combo, but its a little too old).

5. 01 Acura 3.2 CL-S (Doesnt really fit with the rest of the list, but I have always love it. It is very sporty with 260 hp and you gotta love the luxury. Problem is it's FWD and I dont know if it is quite sporty enough).

6. 93-95 RX7 (a little old, and the rotary is a complicated engine.)

7. 94-01 Integra (cheaper means more money for mods, but I dont want FWD).

8. 95-99 240SX (cheaper means more money for mods and it is RWD, I just think it is kinda ugly and drift ricers have grabbed ahold of it and they are dragging it down).

9. 02 RSX-S (Very nice looking and sporty, but its FWD and its at the very top of the price limit).

10. 00-02 Celica GTS (Cheaper than the RSX, but is still edged out because the RSX is better looking. Still FWD).

Other options: Prelude, G20, 5-Speed Maxima,
Non-options: SRT-4, WRX, Civic, Accord, Mazdaspeed Protege, and anything Ford doesnt appeal to me.

What do you guys think? Did I forget any options. My mind isnt set, but Im really leaning toward the GSX with the Camaro running up its tail. What would you guys do if you were me? Any input is appreciated. Im sorry for the long post, hmmmm, if you read the whole thing, Ill try to give you some rep points (still not sure if I can even do this). Thanks alot.

[4dmin]

^ i wouldn't buy any of those, i would buy a 1.8t Golf/Jetta

if you have to buy one Teg, its a beautiful car, just leave it stock and work on the motor.

[Kevykev]

aaahhhhhhhh you remind me of my obtained my first car.

anyway, you need to filter out that list because you have options on there that you clearly dont prefer ie:FWD Integra

sounds like you need to go for reliability as well, that also eliminates more choices.

By the way this thread might be moved.

[The Yousef]

go with the lude!!!!!!...or as jaimie said earlier...put a 5 spd in the maxima and mod fuck out of her...

[IndianStig]

Get the MR2 or the Celica, get a blower if you get the celica and your set too kick the ass of most others on the list

[Bishop]

well some of those are going to have much higher insurance. Which means more $

[Tpduke112]

My parents pay for my insurance (I really love them) and they were fine with the quotes that we got on the GSX, MR2, and RX7.

[Tpduke112]

^ i wouldn't buy any of those, i would buy a 1.8t Golf/Jetta

if you have to buy one Teg, its a beautiful car, just leave it stock and work on the motor.

Jetta and Golf? Not really my cup of tea...... Thanks though.

[Kristi]

i say get a 5 speed maxima - but that is me, i have a maxima, a 99, and I love it.

if i had to choose between any of those cars besides the manual max, i would say the cl-s or a mr2 turbo

[Tpduke112]

go with the lude!!!!!!...or as jaimie said earlier...put a 5 spd in the maxima and mod fuck out of her...

My maxima has more miles than Im comfortable with. It has been pretty well maintained, but not the best. It wasnt mine until it had about 120,000 miles. I also dont want a 4 door sedan. I want a more sporty car.....

[Tpduke112]

I dont know. Im really really leaning towards the GSX. It's just that car that the first time you saw it, you fell in love. Ive wanted one since they were released in 97. They arent as unreliable as everyone says, but they do have there problems. What do you guys know about them?

[gtikid]

^ i wouldn't buy any of those, i would buy a 1.8t Golf/Jetta

i'm with him...GTI's are the shit...but from the list you posted...i'd go with the GSX, just because i used to be a former eclipse owner myself...the MR2 is badass even if it is more than 10 years old

[Chuckster]

on that list i would go for the srt4, mr2, SS camaro

me for 10gs = 91 vette, 98 ITR, swaped 95 civic hatch, 91 5.0, WRX

looking to spend more = evo, sti, R32(and someday drop a tt in it), s2k, vette

[Brett]

The Z-28 SS is a pretty sweet ass car right out of the box, Especially if you can find one of the last year and get the one with the corvette style exhaust option ( Better looks and more HP )

[uncle_el]

you're in college, just stick with what you have.

[BOOSTED2KLUDE]

Of course, from me the Lude would sound like it would be my obvious choice. But, for 10 large I would look for something different than the other cars everyone is going to by with that same 10g's. Coupe = mid 90's SC300 5-speed (rare, huge performance upside). Sedan = Galant vr4 (rare, 4g63 awd...."evo daddy") One of my employees is selling his heavily modded gvr4 for like $7k, and it's a beast!

[IndianStig]

^^show me more, please PM me!!

[pinoyboy]

I say go with the camaro. All the cars are fwd except the 240sx and and gsx. The gsx could end up having crankwalk. When that happens, you basically have to get a new engine.

The camaro is a really good choice, epecially if you get the SS with an LS6. Your looking at 13s stock and more power can be made easily

[Tpduke112]

^???? Only 4 out of the 10 cars are FWD?

[The Yousef]

I say go with the camaro. All the cars are fwd except the 240sx and and gsx. The gsx could end up having crankwalk. When that happens, you basically have to get a new engine.

The camaro is a really good choice, epecially if you get the SS with an LS6. Your looking at 13s stock and more power can be made easily

dude...a black z28 SS=hotness...through some black rims on her...with some black 5%tint....would be awesome...

[IndianStig]

Camaros good but I say get the CL if you want a big coupe thats not much fun on the turns but still powerful. And plus the CL has the hott ass interior and the reliability!

[mocha latte cupcake]

240....(Rb powered) or teg...(boosted) maybe a MR2 but insurance will rape you

No gsx... good luck no breaking something
No cl... got love but gaurentee you won't like it judging by your other cars in the list
NO FD... Rotary's are good but better have money for repairs
No RSX... Good luck finding a RSX-S for 10 G's
No Camaro... get a boosted import and they are much faster
No VR4.... rare to find, heard they break easy plus they are heavy as fock
No Mr2... Good luck on a cheap insurance bill (unless mommy is paying it)
No Celica... Good luck once again finding a decent 1 under 10,000

[Buford®]

I'd say go with the CL Type-S. Not because I'm biased or anything. My next choice would have to be either a 5th gen ('94-'97) Accord, or an SC300 (even automagic), or an MR-Duce turbo'ded. That's just me though. There are tons of after market support for any of those cars. The CL's aftermarket is a little less. But, CompTech offers almost everything under the sun for the CL-S, but, it comes at a hefty price. Although, you do get true, dyno-proven power (and lots of it!). That's just my two.5 cents......

[IndianStig]

SC 300, how much can I get one for these days? (is it under $16000)
and how would insurance be on a 15 yr old?

[Buford®]

I say get the CL if you want a big coupe thats not much fun on the turns.

I beg to differ. It is a very well-handling car (despite it's weight). Was rated as one of the best handling big FWD cars, and has the best stability control systems by Motor Trend (or may be Road and Track?). I'm please with the handling on mine. Could always be better, but not bad at all. Throw some CompTech sway bars on there, and it will handle with some of the best, especially if you drop it.

But still powerful. And plus the CL has the hott ass interior!

I totally agree!

and the reliability!

That's true..... Execpt for the transmission...... Those things usually go out like people change their underwear. Especially the Type-S's.

[mocha latte cupcake]

more than your life....

[Buford®]

more than your life....

Probably more than his life policy. LOLOLOL

[mocha latte cupcake]

Ryan likes cookies! -random comment of the day

[chmura]

^ i wouldn't buy any of those, i would buy a 1.8t Golf/Jetta

if you have to buy one Teg, its a beautiful car, just leave it stock and work on the motor.

[Buford®]

Ryan likes cookies! -random comment of the day

Speaks the truth. You know... I'd also like to have a cookie right now, too.

[ct9a gsr]

Everyone's going to have their own biased opinions on what you should get. Perhaps you should weigh out what you value more in a vehicle.

Also, be careful listening to some of the crap people say about some of the cars on your list... half these comments I've read so far are far from being educated... (camaro's, vr4's, sw20 mr2's, and fd rx-7's are all FWD, right?)

[RandomGuy]

fuck no stick with nissan...

MY PICK : G20T.... manual... those are BADASSSSS and can get QUICK, cheap... i love nissans. Its veratile ,yet fast... u even get the 2 other doors as a bonus heh.