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[woofis]

alright well im gettin my license pretty soon and im starting to look at cars. i have about 10000 to spend give or take a little.  so my question is what kind of car should i get? i was looking to get an rx8 but thats too much. im leaning towards an acura rsx or an integra. what are your thought? i want something that rides and looks nice...
if you are willing to help please post cars ranging to 12k max.... thanks alot in advance!

[Rylinkus]

I'm sorry, but you seriously did business with someone with the username McFondle??  That's amazing.

That being said, 10K is a lot to have to spend on a car. I'd test drive a few things and see what suits your fancy the best. There's tons of things to think about. Gas Mileage may eliminate V8s, like Camaros and Mustangs. A nasty winter may eliminate other RWD cars like 240Sxs, and the like. Do you have anything of size you're gonna want to haul? Bike? Drums? Something like that? Do you want 2 doors or 4? It's really hard to say what you should get. I know if I had 10K in my pocket right now Id be looking for an AWD car thats fun, so maybe a WRX or Audi A4. Both pretty quick. Both pretty classy. Drivable in Maine year round. And both come in Wagon form.

[woofis]

well, im not too picky but i want something nice.... i dont really care about the doors. 2 or 4 is fine. i definitly want something good with gas. im really looking for something sporty... alot of people have mentioned the wrx's to me but its just not my style. thanks for your advice. (and yes i did get scammed by a guy name mcfondle...it just recently hit me how stupid i was )

[jesterrace777]

QUOTE(woofis @ May 16 2006, 12:41 AM)

well, im not too picky but i want something nice.... i dont really care about the doors. 2 or 4 is fine. i definitly want something good with gas. im really looking for something sporty... alot of people have mentioned the wrx's to me but its just not my style. thanks for your advice. (and yes i did get scammed by a guy name mcfondle...it just recently hit me how stupid i was )

I think what Rylinkus is trying to get at here is that you need to give us more info.  How old are you?  Have you looked into insurance costs?  What do you intend to use your vehicle for?  Is that 10K a loan, gift, ect?  You do know that the national average for gas prices is supposed to hit over $3.50 per gallon this summer, right?  Do you want a really fast car or just a Fast and the Furious wannbe machine (ie ricer)?  We really need some info here.  

[Rylinkus]

All I was trying to get at is simply how important things are for you. Ill give you examples. If I were car shopping right now I'd be looking to replace my truck. And I'd still have my Camaro. I live in Maine and have 2 fun summer vehicles and really just need something to drive in the winter thats safe. SO I'd have a list of criteria something like.

-Needs to be drivable in the winter
-I prefer standards
-Need something I can put my mountain bike on or in. (Meaning wagon or roof rack)
-Decent gas would be nice (Commuter car. Gas is more important then speed in this)
-4 Doors would be nice, more usable, etc
-No rag top convertibles
-No RWD
-Still fun to drive


So for me that leads me to the WRX and Audi (Wagons). Both fit ME very well.

But if you wanted a topless car and needed only 2 seats as you dont have a bike to transport, or drums, or friends, then maybe a Miata makes sense. I'm not saying be picky. I'm saying think about what youre gonna do with the car and maybe that will help you get some ideas. If you're in a band like my cousin a wagon or at least 4 door car is important. He needs to move his drums. If you go to the movies with your little brother and your best friend a lot having a car that has 4 seats may be damn important. If you're paying for insurance or gas by yourself it may eliminate some cars. (Acuras and Hondas are a bit expensive to insure as theyre one of the more stolen cars)

[woofis]

ok let me be more specific....

-needs to be decent with gas
-2 or 4 door is fine.(i dont need to put anything in it. i.e. bike or drums)
-this will be the car i take to college in 2 years so i need a car that will travel alot of miles without giving out. /
-a nice sporty car would be nice but nothing to small(miata you mentioned is way to small)
-convertible is always a plus but definitly not necissary.
-nothing too old. (below 98 is old in my books.)

that about sums it up... to get an idea of the look im going for i can show you guys a pic of an rsx and an rx8... i know they are 2 totally different cars but they are the top 2 im looking at. i would like an rx8 but im leaning towards the rsx because its alot cheaper than the rx8.

rx8...


rsx...

[ubernewb]

a miata is too small but you dig the rx8? not exactly a whole lot bigger..

also, if you're looking for longevity, i'd probably steer clear from the rx8 as well.. i know they've "improved" the  rotary design (people i've talked to that specialize in rotary's might disagree with that) but they aren't exactly the most reliable engines on the planet. and when they do have problems, be ready to dump a lot of cash into it. don't get me wrong, i love them to death, but i wouldn't count on one being my sole source of transportation. course, you'd be fine with it for quite a few years and there's a pretty good chance that you'd tire of it and move on to something else by then.. but hey..

personally i'm getting rid of my cars altogether.. selling off the supra and the mx6 and picking up a bike. that and a pickup to drive when the weather goes to shit.. also nice cuz i can toss the bike in the back when i move.

[twistedsymphony]

I agree with ubernewb, the Rx8 isn't the most reliable vehicle, it's also not the most gas economical vehicle either. The RSX might be good for something that meets your requirements, you might also want to look at a Jetta or a Golf. Depending on your tastes maybe even look at the Ford Focus, Scion tC, or the Mazda 3.

I can completely understand you not wanting an Impreza or Miata, I find the bug-eye subaru to be kind of ugly and the Miata to be too feminine for my tastes, but there are lots of other cars out there.

Also based on the fact that you showed an RSX with a body kit... you might want to look at what some of your other options would look like with a little bit of work.

For instance a late model Jetta is pretty doscile from the factory but looks quite classy with a Rieger body kit.

[lostboyz]

go with VW GTI or TDI nice smaller cars with either lots of punch or rediculous gas mileage

[Tripme]

You also have to factor in insurance........and RSX like that is gonna drop you back 500+ dollars a month.

[Owtlaw333]

I would only recomend VW if you get the later models (will last you well over 200k miles). I haven't heard too many good things about the build quality of the newer ones.

[ubernewb]

you know.. after thinking about it for a sec, i'd totally go with twisted's idea of a Tc .. great little car. roomy, good on gas, pretty quick, and insurance is pretty good on them too. also, when you want a little extra oomph later on they make a ton of bolt-ons.. from intake/exhaust to full turbo set-ups. i seriously suggest you take a test drive in one.. i think you might like it.

[jesterrace777]

I strongly advise AGAINST going with a VW.  As a whole they are fun cars but as with just about any german machine. . . .MAINTENENCE IS A BITCH!!!!!!!!!  Parts will be VERY EXPENSIVE.  Don't think that if you get a new one that you are okay either.  I know a lady at work who has Passat that is less than a year old and she already had to take it into the shop for something out of the ordinary.  About the only VW I would recommend would be a classic bug/bus.  Parts are a dime a dozen for them and you won't find another car over 30 years old with more of them on the road.  I concur that Rotary engines are out.  Honestly it sounds like you are looking for a ricer.  So why not get a Honda or an Acura and rice it to your content.  

[twistedsymphony]

If you're into american cars you could also look at the Cobalt. I have a few freinds who own them and they really like them.

I think the tC is the best out of everything mentioned though, I know a few people with them too and they all love them. Probably the most spacious inside too.

Stock:


Modified to the hilt:

[Granulated]

VW Jetta 1.8t FTW!

You're a Sophomore or a Junior and you have 10k to spend on a car?!