Buying a second car...need advice

[davidrob]

I was just got hired for my first real job as an engineer and now im looking to purchase a car so I can make the ex more specialized for off road and not have to use it as my daily driver. The vehicles I'm considering are the Hyundai tiburon gt, acura rsx, Volkswagen GTI 1.8t or nissan SER vspec. I am still in school and don't want the payments to be too ridiculously high. Somewhere less than 350 a month. But im wondering if anyone has any experiences with any of these cars and can give me some advice.

 

[Alec]

In that crowd go with the Acura or VW. Of course I'm biased, but I say the VW I love mine. The Tib and Sentra won't have the build quality of the other 2. The Acura is nice, but the GTI is a better well rounded car IMO, and you have the added space of the hatchback and the backseat is huge. Whatever you do get the manual tranny. Go drive it, you'll have fun.

The payments may approach the high end of your budget, but it's well worth it. I bought the VR6 for the added torque, NA driveability, 6 speed. I'm not gonna mod the motor too much (warranty), so the VR6 is a better starting point.

check out www.vwvortex.com

 

[davidrob]

Yeah I orginally thought that the build quality of the acura and volkswagen were superior, but I've read and heard great things about the V6 tiburon. Also, any advice on the Civic si, thats supposed to be a decent car as well. The other car I'm "considering" is the srt-4 neon. I'm not a huge fan of how it looks and I hate dodge vehicles but its hard to argue with 230 hp and 250 ft lbs of torque for $20k.

 

[Alec]

I agree the SRT4 is a great deal, but...

It's still a Neon!!!

For the same reason: a Tiburon is still a Hyundai.

You don't get nearly the value from a Civic Si as you do from the others.

 

[terdrocket]

Alec, I saw the R32 @ a car and truck show this weekend. $30k for one sweet car. It made me drool.

I'll quick hyjacking this thread now...

 

[springtensi0n]

hey, my roomate is selling his 2003 Sentra SE-R Spec-V. if you want, ill ask him what he wants for it, if you're seriously interested. His mods are only a nismo cold air intake and a cat back exhaust, but that car moves. im sure he wont mind meeting you half way (from CT). let me know if youre interested. i can get his AIM SN if you want to talk to him about it. i do konw hes willing to go under kbb because he cant afford insurance on it anymore =/

 

[jayhawkexplorer]

Sorry to say Alec, VW is not doing nearly as well with reliability as its reputation says it does. I keep reading about all the problems people have had with VW's, not to mention the (I've heard) higher repair costs. Out of that group, I'd go with the Tiburon. Its the best looking, you'll get a loaded one for a lot less then a loaded RSX or VW, you get a great warranty, and Hyundai's reliability is improving greatly. They were even with Toyota and beat Honda in the new J.D. Power initial quality study this year, if I remember right.

 

[Paexplorer94]

Yeah I have to say at this point I'm leaning towards the tiburon. Although definatly not the same quality as the acura, I can get a v6 and leather for several thousand less. Plus I'm not gonna be keeping this car for more than a few years until I can afford a new mustang.

 

[STEVE-O]

Hmmm if i were to get a new VW it would be that new R32. One was sitting at my local VW dealer the other day so i went and took a look at it. I want one. But, it still stickers for like 32k. A little out of your range i would say. The SER spec v is decently quick. About the same quickness as a new v6 mustang 5 spd. (only know because my brother and i raced one at the strip like 5 times in my brothers stang) The Spec V does get mad wheel hop though, if you want to drag race i wouldnt get one. RSXs are ok. eh, i dunno they dont impress me that much but they are quick little suckers. As long as you get a type-s that is with the 6spd. And the Tiburons look good IMHO and have that crazy warrenty and a v6. But they are indeed still a hyundia. <---- my somewhat educated thoughts. In reality I say wait a few years and get the new cobra when it comes out.
Oh and you live in pittsburgh. Good stuff.

 

[J Zee109]

DEFINATLY take the Acura. A friend of mine has a 2003 RSX Type-S. That thing has some pretty serious top end for a 2.0 4 banger. The base model RSX is decent too, just don't get the auto. Its incredibly slow. He pays a little over $300 monthly, but I'm not sure of the plan hes on.

 

[Paexplorer94]

If you could, try to find out what plan he is on. Id definatly go for the acura if I could get my monthly payments just over 300 for an rsx type s

 

[springtensi0n]

i read a recent article that put the R23 against a evo and sti. they it hung right up there with them, and it handled better than both bot the evo and sti. suprising for such a heavy car...


i want one.

 

[STEVE-O]

Originally posted by springtensi0n
i read a recent article that put the R23 against a evo and sti. they it hung right up there with them, and it handled better than both bot the evo and sti. suprising for such a heavy car...


i want one.

Word.