What does the RACER community drive?

[2o6]

Just curious. I bought my 1st car last week, a 1996 Plymouth Neon coupe.

 

[2o6]

Now buying a new (to you) car is for sure going to bring up biased people, what it comes down to is which car you like. I will admit before I got my PT I was looking heavily into ZX2's as well (I wanted a 5 speed one, most were in that fire engine red as well). Its also that some people live in different parts of the world so prices for specific vehicles may be different then in other parts of the world.

But my PT besides oil changes and tires and lower control arm bushings. hasn't been much of a problem really. (lower control arm bushings are quite common on them). gas mileage isn't impressive at all, I'm achieving 19mpg in the city, but I should note I have aftermarket wheels that are heavier then factory.

That's what I'm worried about. MPG's for the PT aren't that great.....

The Neon, I've never seen it as a bad car myself as far as I know it gets pretty good gas mileage its good on power, and I'd imagine its a bit better in the turns then the PT lol.

1st Gen Neons are awesome. 2nd gen Neons don't handle anywhere near as well.

Now being who I am and being a bit of a Ford fan (of their current products at least). I know the 2nd gen Focus (or is it 3rd gen here not sure, 08-11 models though), those were based on the Mazda 3 platform, and they drive very nice. the older ones I didn't like the styling so much nor the driving position, but from what I've heard good little cars.

The US (I live in Ohio, not somewhere in France as people like to think......) Ford Focus has been the same from 2000-2011. We never got the MK2 Ford Focus which is shared with the Volvo S40 and Mazda 3. Our Ford Focus is essentially the same as it was when it was introduced in 2000 (Save for the switch from the ZETEC motors to the DURATEC motors). I prefer the 2000-2004 models, IMO they look the best.

The Mazda Protege looks good, not sure its really as reliable as the other ones though. but I'd imagine being a small car it handles itself quite well on the roads.

I dunno. My brother has an 02' Corolla, and it's pretty teensy inside. I prefer to sit more upright, something the Protege doesn't offer.

Hyundai's, boring but good cars as I've heard.

Honda Civic, my limited experience with a 4 cylinder Accord, was quite terrible. the car never would run quite right, but it was 10 years old.
That's new. Hondas have an excellent reputation for reliability....it's why Civics in particular are so expensive (in the used market) in comparison to other compacts.

Was it an Automatic Accord? I know that Honda had an issue with AT transmissions in the Accord.
I do have one suggestion not sure if its in your price range though 2o6, but might be worth a look (and if you got it I would officially envy you) is a Chrysler 300M, not really less disposable but one sweet car nonetheless one from about 2001 should be right in your price range. 300M Specials are a little more desirable, but not running for much more. as far as i know the trans in those is good, engine, good, suspension good. worst part is gas mileage, which is like mid 20 to low 20s.

Too big, and I need to change my own gears. No automatics.

You could always look at the cra... I mean Cavaliar though I've heard bad things about those.
Not a chance. The basic platform of the Cavalier was essentially unchanged since it's introduction 1983. Cheap, horrible in corners, noisy, unrefined, not that quick......

I dunno, I really don't like the 850. The 9-3 is nice, but I'm scared of something breaking right after I buy the car.

 

[francomk]

I dunno, I really don't like the 850. The 9-3 is nice, but I'm scared of something breaking right after I buy the car.

You should buy yourself a bicycle, then You must calculate with break-up, no matter which used car it is...

 

[FVR]

Mazda Protege (or 323) in Europe was one of the most reliable cars, that's a fact. I drove few times friends 2001 323F 2.0 Sportive and it's quite a good car. 130hp, sporty look & performance, standard firmer suspension and body kit, one of the best 5 speed manuals and above all full equipment... I wanted to buy it from him, but it was pricey and I wanted more powerful car so I bought my 2000 Laguna V6 - 190hp (7.5s 0-100km/h, 235km/h Vmax) sounded better for a nearly the same price... And it is, no problems at all (considering Renault's reputation)... Best thing off all - You get that wtf look when you storm by the unsuspected geezers... Hehe, my first sleeper car

 

[Harey]

I dunno, I really don't like the 850. The 9-3 is nice, but I'm scared of something breaking right after I buy the car.

You know I live in the US too right? infact look up I'm in the state above you (Michigan).

I do agree the 1st gen Neons were awesome, and the 2nd gen ones were well, not so much.

The Focus hasn't been at all the same from 2001-2011 (there was a refresh in 2006, and a total redesign in 2008). I like the 08-11 models for driving but from what I've seen of the 2012 models, I'd rather have that one lol. But not sure if the 2.0l used in the Focus was derived from the 1.9l in the Escort (which from my experience is stone dead reliable).

and yes it was an automatic Accord, but the engine was the one having problems, not the trans. and i was just throwing the idea of the 300M out there, no intention of you accepting such a large vehicle though. and the Cavaliar (I purposely made an attempt to call it a name because I know they are junk, and suspected you knew as well)

Could always go with a Geo Metro, the choice vehicle for a lot of hyper milers. (or go down the wrong path and get the Geo Tracker).

Just throwing some ideas out there for you, really the car you buy is up to you though.

 

[Splashonda]

Get a Honda CRX (if you can find a decent one). Great gas mileage and loads of fun to drive!

Here in Europe we had the 1.6i16 with 130hp and about 7l/100km consumption. The i-VT (B16a1 VTEC) had 150hp and 8l/100km. Preety epic in 1990!

And of course, the North American versions (HF, DX and Si) should get even better gas mileage. I wouldn't go for the HF, it's too underpowered!

 

[2o6]

Harey, the Facelift in 2008 was nothing more than an exterior/interior restyling. Underneath, it's the same old car that was introduced in 2000. The US Focus has nothing in common (aside from the 2.0 Duratec) with the Mazda 3 and Volvo S40. The Mazda 3 and Volvo S40 use the new platform called C1, which is shared with the Focus that isn't sold in the US. The US Focus uses the old platform called C170....which is the same as the old Focus.

Splashonda: CRX = Rare, expensive, and old. And impractical. I actually do have people in my back seats......and the North American versions didn't have the tiny little jump seats at the back.

 

[CelicaGT]

Protege will be nice. Drove the 323F 2.0 Sportive which is the same car altho with different details, and for a usual hatchback it drives pretty good.

 

[justasimfan]

Hi there !
I have a 97 nissan s14a silvia aero with the variable valve timing engine (the sr20de engine)
(i was going to make a swap with a sr20det but after 5 years i have it i am still going...heheh )



My other car is a 1998 jaguar xj long soverereign 4.0



And my all time favourite was until it tragic demice the old super lightweight prelude
(it was a 1.8 jdm dual carbed and i had the carbs swapped with 2 weber dual ones...)

 

[BVSX]

nice cars justasimfan

 

[justasimfan]

Thanx man.Sadly the prelude is now a little 1x1 box...

 

[BVSX]

oh boy
btw, don't get that pimp ass sr20det, put in a real engine, 2JZ-GTE, or an RB26DETT if you don't want a toyotas heart under your hood

 

[KS95]

Sr20's are still good engines, not my favourite 4cyl but still good engines.

 

[justasimfan]

The rb26dett or rb25det for the matter are too heavy as they are made by cast iron instead of alluminium.I am talking at least 200kilos and anybody that has made the swap will tell you the car through a monster loses its fantastic handling.

 

[brother_david]

I drive these cars:

R33 GTST, first it had a stock RB25DET, then i built a RB30/26DETT bored to 3.1 litre. Wider front and rear fenders, 400R front bumper, JUN sideskirts, JUN rear flaps, 19" TSW Thruxtons, Jade Millenium paint (R34 GTR NÜR Spec-paint) Rusty bolts airbrushed on the fenders and semi-painted carbon hood. NISMO coilovers, NISMO tension rods etc etc.

Then i also bought this Toyota Aristo, 2JZ-GTE, converted to manual transmission. VIP-bodykit, 20" wheels, TEIN coilovers etc etc.

Sold that and bought this R33 GTR, pretty stock so far, gonna leave it that way to and sell it asap, unnecessary to own 2 R33's. Going to sell my other one too and move on to other larger projects.

 

[Harey]

oh boy
btw, don't get that pimp ass sr20det, put in a real engine, 2JZ-GTE, or an RB26DETT if you don't want a toyotas heart under your hood

a real engine to me would be more like a 428 Cobra Jet, dual quads dual tunnel ram intake, open headers, and a nice big lopey cam. (insert Tim Allen grunt here)

either that or a 440 Max Wedge dual quads on that with cross flow intake. run that thing with open headers and you'll hear it for a mile, and feel it for 1/2 mile, while its idling.

 

[KS95]

There's more to life than V8s..

 

[boomer541]

Had a Sunbeam Imp years ago and never saw a car I couldn't outrun on a twisty road except for my lotus (2).

 

[Splashonda]

Nop, V8's are the peak of raw performance. Especially if it's fitted on leaf springs and drum brakes! ^^

 

[Harey]

Nop, V8's are the peak of raw performance. Especially if it's fitted on leaf springs and drum brakes! ^^

whoa whoa whoa.... we had coil springs back then lol coils on the front leafs in the rear, the early 70s 442 got even more advanced in terms of technology. it had an adjustable air ride suspension. and there were disc brakes, they were just a premium lol

 

[KS95]

No offence, but in my opinion the majority of american cars remind me of the type of guy who thinks he can fix everything by hitting it with a hammer. It's clumsy, it's.. not exactly technically advanced, not imo. And I have no idea why V8's have to be in everything? Especially since they never seem to be be producing more power than 4 and 6 cylinder engines.

I think the last V8 that excited me was the time I saw a Mini with a Rover V8 in the rear, that was pretty cool. Pretty insane, but cool.