Looking for something a little more sporty that my grand am, thinking like a used rx-8 or 350z or GTO.

You guys have any reccomendations, I dont wnat a money pit, i dont want to spend 2000 a year in repairs, and im not going to buy a car with more than 50k miles.

8/8/2006 11:36:18 AM

rx-8 catch a tiger by the no. 350z's are overpriced imo, gtos are gas hogs.

[Edited on August 8, 2006 at 11:38 AM. Reason : asdf]

8/8/2006 11:37:30 AM

http://www.cars.com

http://www.edmunds.com

http://www.carmax.com

etc

8/8/2006 11:37:55 AM

So you are looking for a larger sports car then?

8/8/2006 11:43:18 AM

new civic si?

8/8/2006 11:46:31 AM

Dont buy no RX8! they are shit 3 of my co workers and my tattoo artist had them they all had shit go wrong with them. stay away from them.

[Edited on August 8, 2006 at 11:47 AM. Reason : ,]

[Edited on August 8, 2006 at 11:47 AM. Reason : ,]

8/8/2006 11:46:35 AM

The cars you're listing go from fairly light and nimble to heavy and fast. You should drive them before deciding.
Ahmet

8/8/2006 11:47:44 AM

Im looking for something rear wheel drive or all wheel drive, (not looking for a civic or a sentra or something like that).

I kinda want personal opinions, i kinda like the ideas of the RX-8 (nimble quick) but the brute force of the gto also appeals.

I really need to get in some practice on a manual (ive driven one before at different points, but never for more than 1 or 2 trips)


[Edited on August 8, 2006 at 11:49 AM. Reason : dd]

8/8/2006 11:48:40 AM

Just say fuck it and buy a lambo

[Edited on August 8, 2006 at 11:50 AM. Reason : and let me drive it ]

8/8/2006 11:49:41 AM

used M3?

8/8/2006 11:51:39 AM

I wouldn't touch the GTO. I know it's just anecdotal evidence, but everyone that I know with a Pontiac has had a piece of shit.

I'm really enjoying my S2000. The price was good and it's a lot of fun. Would have considered the 350z Roadster for more torque and bigger cabin, but I would have paid almost twice as much for it.

8/8/2006 11:54:55 AM

GTO = Holden = Not pontiac

8/8/2006 11:55:37 AM

^^ s2000 great ride.

8/8/2006 11:57:51 AM

my S2000 is for sale, and it will crush a 350Z.

$23k, and it's as reliable as a Civic. it does have 62k miles, though.

and it's in Pensacola, which is 10 hours from Raleigh.

[Edited on August 8, 2006 at 12:02 PM. Reason : very nice stereo, $4000 worth of Fikse wheels, Mobil 1, Comptech SC and exhaust]

8/8/2006 12:00:30 PM

Quote :

"GTO = Holden = Not pontiac"

I thought about the Holden Monaro (sp?) before I posted that, but I'd still be worried about it getting touched by the Pontiac stick. Does Holden actually manufacture the cars, or did they just create it?

8/8/2006 12:08:16 PM

Rx-8 is slow, IMO.

8/8/2006 12:27:56 PM

comes on a boat from australia

8/8/2006 12:45:17 PM

WRX FTW

8/8/2006 12:53:43 PM

^^^says the guy with a mid 90s v6 mustang?! The RX-8 can hit 60 in 5.9 with a good driver. thats probably 2 seconds quicker than his grand am and at least 3 faster than your mustang. Its not really fast, but not the least bit slow.

But I say buy Duke's S2000. As far as I'm concerned a Honda with 100,000 miles on it = most everything else with 50k.

8/8/2006 1:09:56 PM

Trsut me interest in the s2000, i just remember reading posts that soudned like he was having some problems with it and the turbo when he first got it, however i do not know if they have been resolved.

8/8/2006 2:43:27 PM

the s2000 is supercharged

the miata he had was turbo'd

8/8/2006 2:54:29 PM

he had problems with the turbo miata when he first got it. I don't think he has had any problem with the S2k.

8/8/2006 2:55:27 PM

Quote :

"says the guy with a mid 90s v6 mustang?! "

I never called my car fast...not to mention mine isn't even worth $2000

8/8/2006 2:58:22 PM

gargs, have you ever driven an rx8?

8/8/2006 3:04:59 PM

Just to throw another option in the hat if you find yourself at all interested. 2003/4 Mach 1s are currently in the $19-24k range... stock or modified. I was in a similar situation not too long ago and that is what I wound up with, so of course I am biased

8/8/2006 3:10:45 PM

I cant drive a stang. Just cant do it. No fords.

8/8/2006 3:11:59 PM

haha thats cool - kinda how I am with Camaros. I'm not anti-GM/Chevy or Pontiac for that matter... but I think they are fucking ugly... Trans-Ams and especially Vettes I like... but in the meantime I have enough power and turn enough heads whether I want to or not with the Mach

shit while I'm busy killin time at work I should elaborate on my buying experience...

I test drove a 350Z... don't waste your time unless you want mostly a pure sports car in an overpriced box. I say that because it feels and drives very rigidly like a sports car.. 2 seats.. huge ass end with no back seat yet still very little trunk space.. TERRIBLE blind spot.. but it has some power

If you like the 350 - go test drive G35s. Far more amenities for daily driving, same power as the 350Z, and if you want used... you can get them in the right price range no problem.

GTOs felt like driving a damn tank on wheels. Plus... look at it... nuff said.

I personally don't call Evo's or WRXs comfy.. but you can snag one of those too in the right price range.

I also test drove the latest VW GTI. Not a car for me by any means.. but it felt kinda sporty (lets say nimble) when driving it... but it sort of moves into a category of its own away from the sports category IMO... no matter how much VW pushes them as a pocket rocket.

Check out used Vettes and WS6s. Lots of potential for someone beating them up - but also very affordable in that range.

When I decided on the Mach I wanted something that felt comfortable to me... had some features I prefer (leather, decent factory sound, unique look)... but I still wanted it to be daily driven if needed. I did a lot of shopping for BMWs and G35s because they fit the overall package for power and comfort... but their price for what I got turned me off. Mach 1s, 2003 Cobras, used Vettes... not the most "comfortable" but you can tend to find cars like that in flavor you want.

thats all i've got for now

[Edited on August 8, 2006 at 3:26 PM. Reason : edit]

8/8/2006 3:15:08 PM

He wants something that is nice. If you want good power go with the GTO, it is a far superior car to the mustang.

My choices would be used G35 coupe/sedan, used 330i, used m3 (e46 not quite 25k yet), and used c5 vette.

8/8/2006 3:19:41 PM

WRX, S2000, G35, Mustang

[Edited on August 8, 2006 at 3:41 PM. Reason : or a bimmer]

8/8/2006 3:41:44 PM

I think the Mustangs are inherently more reliable and powerful than the GTOs...especially if talk about Mach1s

but I am a n00b

8/8/2006 3:50:49 PM

that's the dumbest shit i've ever heard you say.

8/8/2006 3:59:30 PM

I have an 04 WRX STi - it is at 53K though. All maintenance records, including oil changes, oil analysis and recalls. I need something more practical. $23K which is NADA trade in value. I just put new tires (BF Goodrich KDW NT) and brakes (Hawk street). Both have about 1K on them. Engine is stock save for intake silencer delete and never boosted over stock.

Taken last Saturday:



[Edited on August 8, 2006 at 4:03 PM. Reason : gfds]

8/8/2006 4:00:02 PM

^I'm jealous (I've always been jealous). Great price! Not modded too That's a rarity.

P.S. 53k miles? You must have driven that thing up and down the East Coast twice... my 04 only has 32k miles and it's a daily driver with about 10-15 trips to the mountains.

8/8/2006 4:08:01 PM

s2000

8/8/2006 4:16:51 PM

I wish I could lose 4" off my legs so I could actually drive a S2000.

Its made for Japanese midgets.

8/8/2006 4:25:42 PM

my friends selling his VW R32. its a sweet car.

8/8/2006 4:45:26 PM

You could pick up a new Camaro when they come out for 08? Would definitely be something different from what everybody else has.

Plus the V-8s are going to have the cylinder-deactivation system like the Vette has so it should get nice gas mileage.

8/8/2006 5:02:47 PM

between the three you listed id go for GTO. it actually has nice fit and finish, vette engine and nice interior. 16/21 mileage and 500whp is like $3k away.

8/8/2006 5:04:28 PM

Quote :

"You should drive them before deciding."

Yeah seriously, those are all different types of cars. I'd say a WRX for most practicality, and Rx-8 for being somewhat practical and very good handling, but shy of torque. And don't believe all that shit you hear about them being unreliable. The earliest production ones needed the ECU reflashed from the dealer because of some flooding issues, but besides that if you are willing to check the oil on them once and a while they are fine.

8/8/2006 5:34:12 PM

gotta rep the S2000
and you can find one for ~15k

8/8/2006 6:38:51 PM

that STi is nearly identical to my old one, fun car, bad for a daily driver

8/8/2006 6:47:35 PM

Quote :

"Trsut me interest in the s2000, i just remember reading posts that soudned like he was having some problems with it and the turbo when he first got it, however i do not know if they have been resolved."

that was the turbo Miata...it was much, much more aggressively built and tuned. It was noticeably nastier (in both power and handling) than the SC'd S2000 is, but it broke a lot (the fact that there were over 200k on the chassis had as much to do with that as anything else, though).

here's what I've had to do to my S2000 from 37k miles to 62k miles, other than scheduled maintainance:

1. had to have the rear axle nuts tightened to Honda's updated maintainance spec, as per the service bulletin (they'd work their way loose, and my torque wrench wouldn't go up to 250 ft-lbs or whatever crazy torque they're set to now)
2. blew a fuse on the aftermarket stereo
3. heater circuit on downstream O2 sensor shit the bed (who cares. soldered a resistor in to keep the CEL off)

oh, and it devours those gumball rear tires...but hey, that's the price you pay for good grip and a lead foot.



oh, and I've made the NC/FL round trip three times in it...but yeah, I think tall people would have a hard time in an S2000.

[Edited on August 8, 2006 at 8:48 PM. Reason : asdf]

8/8/2006 8:47:40 PM

you mean to keep the CEL permanently off?

Is that even allowed?

8/8/2006 8:52:12 PM

^Duke's fix involves the O2 sensor's built-in heater (designed to help it read accurately when the car is just started and at idle). He basically wired in a resistor to provide a closed-circuit load to fool the ECM into believing the heater circuit is functioning (it's burned out, and you have to replace the sensor @ $60-$100 to cure the problem). There's nothing wrong with the sensor itself, though.

It won't keep the light permanently out. It just fools the ECM into not flagging an error for the heater circuit failure.

8/8/2006 9:01:10 PM

i'm not really too concerned with what's allowed...it's my CEL, as far as I'm concerned.

but no, the CEL is still 100% functional, except that it doesn't read a code from the heater circuit of the downstream O2 sensor, which is completely useless anyway (other than as a big-brother to throw a code if you remove the cat, which I would do if I planned on keeping the car, and it's pretty easy to "trick" the CEL into not noticing that).

all i did was look up the resistance and current rating of the heater circuit (13 ohms, and i don't remember exactly how many amps...or maybe it listed watts and i figured out how many amps it needed to handle. whatever.) and solder in an equivalent resistor. that way, the ECU doesn't notice anything out of the ordinary.

8/8/2006 9:12:03 PM

JOSH YOU ARE GOING STRAIGHT TO HELL. DO NOT PASS GO. DO NOT COLLECT $200.


YOU ENVIRONMENTALLY INSENSITIVE COCKBAG.

8/8/2006 9:18:14 PM

Quote :

"that STi is nearly identical to my old one, fun car, bad for a daily driver"

Yep. It is an incredible car when there is no traffic. The problem is, I'm almost always in traffic and can't enjoy this car. If only I was a baller and could aford this and another DD.

8/8/2006 9:30:30 PM

that's why i'm selling my S2000. it's a perfectly good DD, but i live 5 minutes from everywhere that I drive to with any regularity, and I don't know of a single twisty road anywhere near me. Couple that with the fact that I don't want any tickets while I'm in flight school, I have a daughter on the way, and I don't really have much time for recreational backroad thrashing, and I decided that I would rather just sell the car and have extra money to invest and save (between buying a half or less as expensive car, and the fact that I'll get something that gets at least a little better fuel mileage, that uses smaller, cheaper tires that probably last longer).

I'll get back into the sports car scene in a year or two.

8/8/2006 10:30:18 PM

GTO 6.0 plz

8/9/2006 12:13:01 PM

Quote :

"I think the Mustangs are inherently more reliable and powerful than the GTOs...especially if talk about Mach1s"

Consider the GTO never had less than 350hp (first year) and then 400hp after that...thats a pretty retarded statement.

Quote :

"I wish I could lose 4" off my legs so I could actually drive a S2000. Its made for Japanese midgets."

How freakin tall are you? I'm 6' 1.5" and I fit just fine in my dad's MY05.

8/9/2006 1:07:43 PM