My Hit List of Used Cars - your advice needed

[insomnia]

Hi guys,

Well I'm putting together a list of potential cars to purchase within the coming months. This would be my first vehicle and I've got a budget of around $10k, but would probably be best if I spent less on the car itself so I could fit in some modifications in the budget as well. I want something fun, tune-able, fast of course. I'd like to do a bit of body work w/ a body kit, paint job probably and decent rims. Heres my ist of cars I'd be happy with:

1989 – 1991 Toyota MR2
1989 – 1991 Toyota Supra (Turbo)
1987 – 1990 Nissan 300ZX
1988 – 1990 Mazda RX-7
1992 – 1995 BMW 325IS
1992 – 1998 Acura Integra
1992 – 1998 Honda Prelude
1989 – 1990 Skyline GT-R / Skyline GTS-T type M (Imported, this is a big ass MAYBE. Maybe even next year.)

Your advice is much appreciated, if you have an opinion on any car, please post it and lets hear it!

Thanks

[Sorath]

u wont be able to find a skyline gtr for 10k, id say have at least 20k before u decide on the gtr however u can get an s13 for 8 grand

[2.0turbo]

Supra.

What no Talon on the list?

[statick]

all these cars are pretty different, fwd, rwd, reliable, not so reliable, fast, and not so fast. wut exactly are YOU looking for in a car.

[paulsaddress5]

for 6 grand u could get a rx7 turbo 2:dunno:

[insomnia]

Originally posted by statick
all these cars are pretty different, fwd, rwd, reliable, not so reliable, fast, and not so fast. wut exactly are YOU looking for in a car.

RWD FWD doesn't matter much to me. Everyone wants something reliable. And of course, I'm looking for good opinions and information which is what this board is full of!

Sorath: Yeah GT-Rs are more expensive, but I still put it on the list.

[statick]

well if its was up to me to get any1 of thsoe cars, i would say getting 97-98 prelude, or a 94+ integra GSR would be good for 10 grand. they are both reliable, fwd (so better than rwd for winter), neither is as fast as a 300zx, mr2, supra or skyline, but decently quick and hav lots of potential for speed. I think u can knock off skyline from ur list. finding a good condition 1990+ mr2 or 300zx won't be easy either.

[HTN SWCHS]

keep the bargain finder handy, if you spot any of these at a very cheap price then go for it, except the rotary (unless you have a winter beater handy)

[insomnia]

Originally posted by statick
well if its was up to me to get any1 of thsoe cars, i would say getting 97-98 prelude, or a 94+ integra GSR would be good for 10 grand. they are both reliable, fwd (so better than rwd for winter), neither is as fast as a 300zx, mr2, supra or skyline, but decently quick and hav lots of potential for speed. I think u can knock off skyline from ur list. finding a good condition 1990+ mr2 or 300zx won't be easy either.

Hey there, not sure how the market for these are in Calgary, but I've found some on the Ontario trader. Found about 6 300ZX's in the price range, 3 MR2's in my price range, 4 Supras as well. So they're out there, there Integras and Preludes are plentiful as well.

[lancer04]

Calgary used cars prices are much higher then ontario and b.c. I find it alot cheaper to go to vancouver to look for cars , but then again its a hassle for the 12 hrs back and forth from calgary-- then finding out the vehicle is a piece.

so knowing that ur in toronto you should find the cars your lookin for , around ur price range , I saw a 89 skyline gt-r for 14k in the calgary auto trader last month while i was lookin for a car , so good luck to you. I hope you find a skyline :thumbsup:

[finboy]

i would go for a turbo sw20 (mr2) but thats just my opinion

[PGTze]

My advice would be go with whatever situation happens to work out best at the time. What's probably gonna happen is one of those types of cars will be for sale at the right price and in good shape and when the best deal comes along you should jump all over it.

[insomnia]

I just figured something out. I could get a Supra or MR2 and do an engine swap for relatively cheap. Although I know nothing of swapping engines, is this a feasible idea?

[boostless]

for 10 K id say grab a 90+ 300zx non turbo, w/ a bad/blown motor for cheap, once those things get 200 000 km + on the original motor theres little chance ur gonna get a decent amount for them...and swap it over to twin turbo, might exceed ur limit slightly by a grand or 2, but outta any of those other cars uve mentioned stock vs stock its faster...

[A790]

1989 – 1991 Toyota MR2 - Good handling cars. Prices should be alright. Have a cult following!
1989 – 1991 Toyota Supra (Turbo) - Big and heavy, but fast. Not really great in the winter. Expensive to maintain depending on how it was treated (you can bet that it was rough)
1987 – 1990 Nissan 300ZX - Nice cars. Try for a 91+ twin turbo... that's when they shine. Hard to work on though (cramped engine bay)
1988 – 1990 Mazda RX-7 - Don't really have a lot of experience, but there are followers up the wazoo.
1992 – 1995 BMW 325IS
1992 – 1998 Acura Integra - Honda reliability; huge aftermarket. Nuff said.
1992 – 1998 Honda Prelude - See above :)
1989 – 1990 Skyline GT-R / Skyline GTS-T type M - Expeect $15,000 for a GOOD GTR. Around $8500 to $10,000 for a GOOD GTS-t Type M.

My advice? If this is your FIRST car, and ONLY car, stay away from the Skylines. The engines were never found within North America, and neither were varients of the engines. If something breaks, it's coming from Japan. Expect downtime unless you have a second car. The RB20DET in the GTS-t Type M is a good, solid motor. So its the RB26DETT in the GTR. However, all things break down every now and then and I don't think you want to be bussing it for a week or two waiting for parts.

For your first car, I'd go with either an Integra/Prelude or a 300ZX. All three are reliable, quick, and have a good aftermarket. Just my $.02

Good luck and happy hunting!

[Redlyne_mr2]

If this is your first and only car I would stay away from all of those.

[EK 2.0]

First car??...

1990 Teg man...

[Xtrema]

Originally posted by Redlyne_mr2
If this is your first and only car I would stay away from all of those.

That would be my comment as well. All are great as project cars but if you want to use it day to day, stick with an unmodded Honda.

[Nalgene]

I would be very careful about getting cars from ontario. They use salt HEAVILY over there in the winter... which means rust!
I am looking for my first car under 10k as well... but probably wont end up buying till August or so. I have found www.hotwheelsauto.com has some pretty good prices going. If you dont like what you see there wait awhile, although im not to sure how often they get new inventory. I missed the awesome Misubishi Eclipse Spyder they had there... probably would be impratical for the winter though. :tongue:
Just my 2 cents.

[working_on_iy]

get a 240Z make some mods, call it a silvia.... notmuch of those out there:bigpimp:

[A790]

Originally posted by working_on_iy
get a 240Z make some mods, call it a silvia.... notmuch of those out there:bigpimp:

Or, just get a silvia :D

[Neil4Speed]

You should REALLY consider adding an 91+ Acura Legend to that list, amazing cars!

[euro_racer]

i dono if this interests u or not but a couple days ago i saw a 1995 bmw m3 for $15'000 in ontario with 150 km

[CryoCarnage]

My opinion is you get what you want most. Want high insurance, get any of those cars. :thumbsup: heh stupid insuranxce. Anyway my vote goes to the supra. Im buying a shell soon and swapping either a 1jz or 2jz in there. Depeneds what happens in afew years to see if i can afford a MK4 instead.. if you are pretty handy with mechanics or know someone who is, go to www.Readytofix.com Salvaged cars for cheap. Im considerign one if i can fidn a good conditioned one with a bad engine. I cant stand body damamge, engine damage for me is easier to fix. But thats just me... To each his own i say!

[ehos]

Your list includes the most overrated, overpriced cars out there.

(Except maybe MR2 Turbo, the NA isn't so hot).

The 300ZX is big, heavy, unreliable, expensive to fix. You'll have to luck out and find the one out of a 1000's that is not a lemon. Underpowered unless you have the TT.

Surpas are reliable, but fat. You will pay dearly for the name.

RX7, save extra for the engine rebuild. Otherwise, if you get a good one, they are VERY nice cars. Will need much more maintenece than the others.

BMW, hugely overpriced for an old car. Good luck with spare parts or repairs. And it's a big, not too quick car.

97+ Prelude = good car. The rest = you'll pay almost the same for a much worse car in every way.

Don't know anything about Tegs, except people love them (never owned one).

Same for the Skylines, but RHD would be fun. Good luck with parts. And the fact you paid 10G's for a $3,000 throw away car in Japan.

IMO, all of these cars don't really make ideal first cars. Ideal first cars should be cheap (almost throw away cheap), easy to fix, cheap parts, good on gas. Ugly looking. :)

[240droptop]

Originally posted by 2.0turbo


What no Talon on the list?



:dunno: I don't see the probleam

jks jks

;)

my budy selling his 90 300zx looking to get around 7-9k

[streetarab]

Originally posted by EK 2.0
First car??...

1990 Teg man...
:werd: your gonna fuck around with it, and your gonna break it, and you dont want to be paying to fix something that is redicolously overpriced


Originally posted by ehos
IMO, all of these cars don't really make ideal first cars. Ideal first cars should be cheap (almost throw away cheap), easy to fix, cheap parts, good on gas. Ugly looking. :)
:eek: like a CAPRICE!!!:hitit: oh wait, good on gas? forget it then:(