ATTN: Lohman and other auto experts

[magman007]

Hey guys, If you couldnt tell from the title, it is time for a new ride. Currently the minivan is just getting on my last nerve, i want something fun to drive, and i want something that doesnt suck gas like a whale sucks water(which is interesting, because i swear they are related somehow).

Also, i need to be able to fit a sizeable amount of crap in this car, as i will be driving it to and from kansas for school.

So here is what im looking at.

Acura Rsx type-s: Out of most of the cars on my list, this one is the one car i keep refering back to, good looks, folding seats, and a hatch back. Not to mention pretty quick for an NA 4 banger, and apparently alot of fun to drive, while still being sensible and fuel efficient, also its sport tuned so i can give it a little hell.What i dont like about it, is it does not come with a nav system option. This irks me a bit, because i wont have money for one later, as i will be financing this car. Il have enough to live off of each month, rather comfortably, and to pay the bill. Not to mention car and driver decided it was the best cheep sport car.

Civic SI: This is another on my list, about equal in most respects with the rsx, with the edge going to the rsx in the speed, handeling, and shifting respectably, just slightly detuned to give the acura the lead, is also really catching my eye. For the reason that it does have an Limited Slip Differential, its a honda, its sporty, and has the nav system option, which i could just tack into my monthly bill. The things that bother me though, is the gas pedal is now drive by wire, which apparently is a little finickey, and makes the driver feel a little detached from the actual driving aspect. Also, it does have rear folding seats, but i still doubt id be able to fit as much in the honda as the rsx.

Vw GTI. This is on my list because ive always been a fan of vw, and because its the only non manual car i would consider buying at the moment, because it has the optional DSG paddle shift that is apparently really good. It has room, speed, and is supposedly fun to drive. its got good power as well supposedly. im not too keen on the styling though, and this would pose a problem, as it will be my car for a good while, and it will want to be something im wowed by in terms of styling, seeing as how its going to be something i take pride in.

Subaru WRX: The wrx is one of my dream cars, i love them and i love everything about them.Fun on the road or the dirt(dirt roads of course) fast, and AWD. I think it would be a very fun car, especially out here in Kansas where the winters are terrible and there are multiple dirt roads and highways to tear it up on(safely of course) The problems beaing 1 its one of my dream cars, not my dream car, but at this moment in life, its a dream car, because its just slightly out of reach, and i have always wanted one. That being said, i think i would want it my way, because it is at the very top of my price limit, so i wont be able to afford the STI(which is how i would want it) and i wont be able to put many factory options on it that i can get in the other cars, for a reasonable price. also, the lack of rear folding seats, really cut down on the amount of stuff i can fit in it for school, and i do have a good amount of stuff.

Mazda 3. Many of you know i love this company, i love their cars, and their innovation in the market. My mom has one and ive been impressed. Its a fun car, but its a bit of a utility car. Sporty in feel, not in spirit. It isnt that quick, and just wouldnt be as fun as the others. it does hold alot though, but the fact in the back of my mind that really stands out, is i could get a better equipped ford focus, for the same price as the base model 3 hatch. Now the focus is nice and all, but too many people have them, that isnt something i want to be a part of, something that absolutely everyone seems to drive, and it doesnt stand out in the slightest.

Im not really interested in the cobalt SS or the Dodge srt4, neither of them have impressed me, and the srt 4, while fast for cheep, is still a neon, and i have heard of some quality issues with them. And i pretty much just dont like chevy. The g6 isnt on the list either, as it doesnt impress me. The scion tc should be on that list as well, but for the price, id want the turbo, and i dont want to install it my self, nor do i want it to be a separate charge. they should just release a turbo version, and i think id be happy with that, but really, it doesnt have enough grunt, and its pretty girly.


opinions? reccomendations? I realize the test driving is going to play a big role in the purchase, but at the moment, im just trying to size the list down a bit more. Clearly the best car on the list IMHO is the wrx, but that could always be saved for another day, when i can get one the way i want it. Lets hear what you gotta say.

[Lohman446]

Most of the Neon issues (head gaskets) have been fixed post 2000 or so and they have become a decent vehicle for what you are buying. That being said too many people want to compare them to non-economy cars and they do come out lacking. Keep in mind that at one point the Neon RT was the second fastest 0-60 car that Dodge produced, and I'm betting you can guess which one was faster.

I would buy a Honda before an Acura for parts availability though there is a lot of common components between the two if I recall - not really up on either company. Stay away from the constantly variable transmission that Honda offers - far far away and keep abreast of the important parts of the maintenance schedule of either (trans service / timing belt - though this goes for many on the list).

VW - I am very very unimpressed with VW over the past couple years. This is to me one of the most overhyped companies out there. Turbo life expectancies of 100K miles are not uncommon for instance. Far too many steps have been made by the company to keep the service in house (some transmission models it is impossible to check fluid levels without the proper scanner). In many areas this is not a problem, in an area like mine where the closest competent dealer is two hours away that becomes an issue. Price on parts tends to be higher than I would like to see. If I was going for something luxury "exotic" I would look at Audis. Little more prestige for all the same headaches (same company basically).

Subaru. Not as impressed with Subaru as most people are. Nice cars but don't expect them to hold up like there rally car counterparts. Have heard of several conditions of exploding transmissions and clutch assemblies from kids who were too rough on them and found traction. There decent, I considered one but was put off by the price.

Mazda I think makes an awesome car for the money. I would only own an RX8 because I of the lack of a good dealership structure. that being said in the right area they may be a great little car.

If you like the Mazda you might look at some of the sportier versions of the Focus. Not sure where this fits on your list of acceptable but they do have reasonable performance and decent fuel mileage numbers, along with decent cargo space. You are going to get a comparable car to the above for a bit less money. (Then I reread your post.. hmm)

Dodge has some little wagon just being released, but I would steer away from anything first year, especially from Chrysler.

You missed the Malibu, but did note you didn't like Chevy so its out.

Toyota Matrix / Pontiac Vibe seem to be about all you missed on these. Good cross engineering between two very good companies. I doubt it has the sportiness your looking for though. If I had to have an AWD wagon (and I think AWD over FWD is highly overrated) this would be high on my consideration list.

[rkjunior303]

If you like the Mazda you might look at some of the sportier versions of the Focus. Not sure where this fits on your list of acceptable but they do have reasonable performance and decent fuel mileage numbers, along with decent cargo space. You are going to get a comparable car to the above for a bit less money. (Then I reread your post.. hmm)

the Focus SVT is a great little car and its well under $20k. The Civic Si hatchback, too. I was looking at coupes bt they were selling them at $2-3k over MSRP because of limited availability.

I <3 my new wrx.

[magman007]

Lohman, dads got an rx8, and im free to drive it when home, so ive got that base covered. I appreciate your imput deffinitely.

The mazda3 is a fine and fun little car, and it turns heads, but its more of the mazda on the front of the car, than the "oh those are fun to drive" factor it has going for it. It IS fun to drive, but i dont know, im looking for something a little different, as i said, mom has one, and i would not be opposed to owning one.i just wish it had a little more umph under the hood, especially for a 2.3L.
seems like the acura and the wrx are still the top 2 contenders... time to test drive Oh, and of course the gti is getting driven, if only to play with the paddle shift.

[ThisStarNeverFalls]

On the VW, why not possibly look into the VR6s?? Dont have the trouble of the turbo being there and your pulling more out of the 2.8L(200HP) engine than the 1.8T(180HP). I bought a 98 VR6 Jetta a year or two ago, and drove the hell out of it, fast little car, espically if the engine was put into a hatch back.....not to mention decent redline. Just an option to consider...I currently drive a ZX5 focus, im 5'9 175 and I find the driver area to be EXCELLENT on room, the back seat is a little eh, and plenty of space in the "trunk/hatchback" area ( had a box with two 12's and could still carry groceries) Car isnt the fastest thing on the road, but the handling on them is EXCELLENT by far and the little 2.0L puts out decently enough to chirp in 2nd, really depends on what you want and prefer, that was just my .02 cents

[rkjunior303]

, im 5'9 175 and I find the driver area to be EXCELLENT on room, the back seat is a little eh, and

apparently, you've never met the wookie.. he's like 6-4, 275.

[magman007]

im only 6 foot rob

[SCpoloRicker]

I'd say take a look at WRX wagons.

[ThisStarNeverFalls]

I have a friend whos about 6'3 and weighs about 300 or so, and he can fit into my car without too much trouble....

[magman007]

yea, i can get in and out of the mada 3 hatch with no issues, its a nice ride, just slow. Im tired of slow

Ricker, il deffinitely be looking into them, but i dont think il look too hard, im not a fan of the styling, and as i said, if i was to get a wrx, id want it my way... but il have to see.

any one have any experience with the Type-s Or the Si?

[PBCapo]

audi s4...wagon if you need more room?

[RapidTransit]

The Type-S and the Si pick by driving what you feel is most confortable to you, I can't count the number of times I've sen the beauty of AWD get stuck in the snow while my RWD car still puts along.

[ThisStarNeverFalls]

From what I understand, the Si and the acura rsx type s is almost the exact same engine just in a different body style, I kind of found the Si seating to sit pretty low and has a great feel to the car, cant say much about the acura, never driven one...

[Carbon Blue]

heres what i think you should do, go out test drive the cars that are within your reach (financially that is, because theres nothing worse than having your dream car and not being able to drive it because your working 24/7 for it) anyways now back to car opinions,

I seriously think that you will be content with the acura rsx-s. The motor that was issued in the 2002-2004 model year was the k20a2 with the 6speed transmission. It is a very perky car to get you around town and is great to flog around the track. Modifications for the acura and honda crowd are endless and you will not be let down with the options that are out there. Stock rsx-s run about 14.8 -15.2 in the 1/4 mile with a good driver and have great slalom speeds to match. My friend has one with hondata/intake/exhaust/full coilvers and minor other things and its a blast to drive! It handles awesome in the canyons and banging gears to that 8600rpm fuel cut is insane. The car feels like an arcade game with a smooth shifting tranny and clutch and when vtec kicks in, its an awesome sound that you will never forget (lift or vvtli on the gts sounds even better!). He gives the car plenty hell and its been perfectly fine with ZERO motor/tranny problems 4 years later. The only flaw i see with this car is that in the 2002-2004 model years, the leather for both the passenger and driver seat are garbage. Cracks began appearing in no time but nothing like the honda warranty couldnt fix (its not TEARING CRACKS or holes in the seat, you would just expect more and many people ignore that fact. Im just picky with those things). My friend had the seat covers changed and the new style leather is a definite plus. So if you want a reliable sporty car that will get you around town with a grin on your face, the rsx is the way to go. Now onto the 2005-2006 model rsx type s. The japan version motor which was issued in the rsx aka "integra" in japan is known as the k20A. The k20A came with a better flowing intake manifold, more aggressive intake and exhaust cams, free'er flowing exhaust, a 4.7 final drive, and many other upgrades with those being the major ones. For the 2005-2006 model the rsx received the K20z1 which is pretty much the same as the K20A. With minor mods people are cranking out 210fwp with the newer style motors and that new 4.7 final drive is a MAJOR PLUS!!! I have a good amount of friends that drive rsxs and all are very content with their purchase. (The stock michellins are garbage for pushing the car 8/10ths around the turns) People are now running 13.7-13.9 with regular bolt ons and minor ecu tuning with these cars My question to you is do you really need that navigation system? Do you REALLY get lost that often?what will this offer you besides having something cool to stare at? if you do then mabey you might need one The 2005-06 model also came with revised front headlights and rear tailights with minor changes to the guages and leather material. The 05-06 type-s came with 17inch 5 spoke rims as opposed to the 16inch 5 spokers on the 02-04. Now dont get confused with the lower hp numbers for the 2006 rsxs, thats because SAE changed their standards which renders all hp readings for all 2006 cars lower than what they actually are. If i were you, it would be the rsx hands down! great looks, great performance, cheaper, and RELIABILITY!!!! If your looking for another car that is like the rsxs, the celica gts may be another car for you to look at. It offers a 1.8L 2zzge that puts down 180hp and usually about 165fwp. This car offers even better handling capabilities with a more sporty feel. The motor equipped is the 2zzge in the gts and 1zzfe in the gt. The only downside to this car is that mods are almost non existant compared to the rsx. Intakes, exhausts, suspension setups are available and only one known full computer are available for the gts there is just more choice available for the rsx. It is only now after being 5 years in production that cams had finally come out and in the year 2005 the celica was discontinued. The fastest model year celica would be the 2000-2001 gts with the 8350 fuel cut. In 2002 they reduced the fuel cut to 7800rpms which made landing the second cam very hard and slowed its 1/4times by a few tenths. This could be fixed by picking up an 00-01 ecu and a knock sensor which would bring it back to its 8350 fuel cut. Toyota did this because when the celica first came out its shifter gates were so close (shifter gates were revised in 02-05) and many inexperienced manual drivers were blowing their motors (due to misshifts from 3rd to 2nd gear at high rpms Sometimes even from 5-2 ) anyways toyota thought that by reducing the fuel cut that they would be able to resolve this issue of blown motors (of course that didnt help because it doesnt matter what your fuel cut is, if your going 80 and decide to put it into 2nd your going to blow it!) In 2003 the celica was switched over to drive by wire and the 8350 fuel cut was restored but the option of using an aftermarket standalone ecu was not possible due to the drive by wire). In the years 2004-2005 the 7800rpm fuel cut was brought back Even though this car may put down lower hp numbers this car makes up for it in weight! Weighing 200+ pounds less than the rsx this car is a definite roller coaster in the canyons. Stock celicas have been known to run 14.8s in the 1/4 with the fastest all motor celica getting a 13.5 without cams and on the stock restrictive header. The braking is SUPERB to that of the type S but many seem to prefer the more daily practical ride of the type s. The rsxs and gts are pretty much a drivers race when the two are put against eachother, but the k20 definitely has the modders edge to it. The bseries, kseries and 2zz motors are very stout high performing motors. You may not believe me but a stock RSXS/gts will be head to head with your dads rx8 and in many cases the rsxs and celica gts will end up pulling up top in freeway pulls (assuming you land both on the second high lift cam). Sorry if my post seems cluttered, PM for any questions you got!!! But in the end it all just comes down to YOUR PREFERANCE!!! after all you are paying it

[Carbon Blue]

From what I understand, the Si and the acura rsx type s is almost the exact same engine just in a different body style, I kind of found the Si seating to sit pretty low and has a great feel to the car, cant say much about the acura, never driven one...

exactly what he said, The motor issued to the new civic si is identical to the k20z1 issued in the 05-06 rsxs. With the addition of an LSD and with the motor being slightly detuned. The civic has slalom numbers that rival the vipers, but with the low availability of civic si's in dealerships expect a slight mark up in price.