What Kind of Car Do You Drive?

[eyelids]

My '02 Ford E-150 Gimp Van... Got it with 6 miles on it in November '02 and it barely has 40k miles on it now... I haven't driven it regularly for a couple years now since my muscle spasms have gotten so bad... :main_no:

 

[Stitch]

Yeah, I was looking at the mazda speed 3, but if I get a new vehicle, I want an upgrade, and other than personal preferences it's kind of on par with the celcia in stock form. Page back to that vette

What kind of upgrade? Ride quality? Performance?

I don't think any current stock Celica can hang with a Mazda Speed 3.

I was looking at either the WRX or the Legacy. I don't like the new body style of the WRX, so that is no longer an option and I'm not sure though if the Legacy fits me. So since I'm missing my Jeep real bad the decision right now is to get a new JK.

 

[98XJSport]

What kind of upgrade? Ride quality? Performance?

I don't think any current stock Celica can hang with a Mazda Speed 3.

I was looking at either the WRX or the Legacy. I don't like the new body style of the WRX, so that is no longer an option and I'm not sure though if the Legacy fits me. So since I'm missing my Jeep real bad the decision right now is to get a new JK.

Performance mostly, a more fun 2 door that gets 30+ is actually hard to find. The celica's downfall is it's actually hard to drive from a performance acceleration standpoint. The base model 5 speed can walk all over the performance model if it's an auto. If it's a 6 speed then it's hard to keep it in it's powerband in the 1-2 shift for a good driver. Put a bad driver behind the wheel, and it's suddenly a lot slower.

But to me performance means a light nimble car with enough power to settle you back in the seat. I drive ~50 miles one way to work, so the ride's gotta be enjoyable. The celica is rev happy. 180 crank horses in a ~2400 pound car is a blast. The Mazda is faster, but from what Ive heard doesn't corner as well and doesn't connect the driver with the road. It's all opinion, though.

But it's tons of fun, Lotus Elise engine Don't get me wrong, its definatly not the fastest out there, but it's often overlooked.

Hopefully you get back into the jeep world, it's like a sickness, you can't get away you almost always want to go back. The lifted JK's are starting to grow on me, still not sold on the fenders/flares though.

 

[Stitch]

Test drive the Mazda 3, you'll be connected with the road. My Protege5 is great in the twisties, but it is a dog in the straights. Mazda fixed that with the Mazda Speed. I haven't heard any one talk about the Celica since it first came out. :huh:

I love the Elise, I have some pictures set up for my screen saver. If it had about 50 more ponies I think it would be more popular.

 

[98XJSport]

Test drive the Mazda 3, you'll be connected with the road. My Protege5 is great in the twisties, but it is a dog in the straights. Mazda fixed that with the Mazda Speed. I haven't heard any one talk about the Celica since it first came out. :huh:

I love the Elise, I have some pictures set up for my screen saver. If it had about 50 more ponies I think it would be more popular.

The celica cost way to much for what it is. And same with the elise, just shy on power when aimed at a market for that. They both handle very well and are light, built for road courses. But for the $$$... you can do so much better. I only got the celica cause I got a good deal on it used 6 years later lol.

For the price you can get camaros with 350s, mustangs, F/I civics, all cars that are much faster in a straight line with huge aftermarkets.

 

[Tanga]

I'm sorry to report that I might be selling my jacked up xterra. The gas mileage is getting unbearable, and with the economy beng so uncertain I'm going to play it easy and get something more economical. I'm really eyeing on the new '08 nissan altima coupe, 'tis sweet. I'll be missing that 4 wheel drive in the snow though! (and the occasional off-roading of course)

The new '08 nissan altima. I definitely plan on turning this bad boy into a ricer with some mods, not too drastric though, probably just some exhaust upgrades and a little tinty on the windows.

 

[Leopardbreeder]

That is a sharp looking car ^^

 

[98XJSport]

That is a sharp looking car ^^

Agreed, but how much of a price difference to step up to a 350Z

I can't blame you either, I had to get the celica to afford to keep driving to work, just couldn't do it in the jeep anymore.

 

[Tanga]

Well I'm just starting to look around so it's not definite yet on the altima. The fact that the altima is front wheel drive sort of turns me off, and by the time I get the V6 option we're almost hitting the 30k mark, which makes it more logical to get the 350z. I dunno....

I'm also looking at the new BMW 135i coupe. It's a little less stylish than the altima, but 300 horsepower!! Priced at only 35k you can't go wrong. Tell me any other sports car thats 300 horsepower thats under even just 50k.
But herein lies another problem, in the future the maintenance of the BMW is going to be expensive with the twin turbo.

Aye...decisions decisions, I thought buying a new car was supposed to be fun.

 

[98XJSport]

Well I'm just starting to look around so it's not definite yet on the altima. The fact that the altima is front wheel drive sort of turns me off, and by the time I get the V6 option we're almost hitting the 30k mark, which makes it more logical to get the 350z. I dunno....

I'm also looking at the new BMW 135i coupe. It's a little less stylish than the altima, but 300 horsepower!! Priced at only 35k you can't go wrong. Tell me any other sports car thats 300 horsepower thats under even just 50k.
But herein lies another problem, in the future the maintenance of the BMW is going to be expensive with the twin turbo.

Aye...decisions decisions, I thought buying a new car was supposed to be fun.

Try not to get caught up in only horsepower #s, the catch with the powerful "luxury" cars like that is that they weigh a ton. And like you said, big $$$ to fix things. But from what I hear, it doesn't take much to get tons of power out of them:devilish:

 

[Tanga]

Yikes, you're right. I just looked at the BMW's weight, 3,440 lbs! WTF!! And it's not a big car by any means.

 

[98XJSport]

Yikes, you're right. I just looked at the BMW's weight, 3,440 lbs! WTF!! And it's not a big car by any means.

And if Im doing the math correctly, thats something like 11 hp/lb. In perspective, my car only has 180 horses. BUT it weighs 1,000 pounds less, 13 hp/lb. So in that respect, my car is more powerful. Now a lot more goes into which is faster, better etc. Gearing, tranny, tuning, aftermarket, torque. But it just shows how easy it is for the manufacturer to play # games.

Also keep in mind the extra weight probably makes the car safer and drive better in the snow. Probably more comfortable, too. Mine feels like Im driving a go-cart lol.

 

[Stitch]

Tell me any other sports car thats 300 horsepower thats under even just 50k.

But herein lies another problem, in the future the maintenance of the BMW is going to be expensive with the twin turbo.

Subaru Imreza STI $30-35K 300HP ALL-WHEEL DRIVE Rally car!!!

Or you could go a model lower and get the WRX $22-28K 230HP.

I don't care for the new body style personally I like the '06 instead. The Legacy isn't a bad option either. :main_thumbsup:

 

[98XJSport]

Subaru Imreza STI $30-35K 300HP ALL-WHEEL DRIVE Rally car!!!

Or you could go a model lower and get the WRX $22-28K 230HP.

I don't care for the new body style personally I like the '06 instead. The Legacy isn't a bad option either. :main_thumbsup:

Either that or an EVO is definatly on my list. They run the rally locally it's a blast to see them come around a corner and catch a little air.

 

[Stitch]

I do like the current style of the Evo better then the STI. Both close in price & horse power, plus they are both all wheel drive (I'd give the STI the edge there though).

 

[98XJSport]

From what Ive read, evo has the performance edge (very slight) but isn't as comfortable as a DD compared to the sti. Not sure about the 2008s though.

 

[Stitch]

From what Ive read, evo has the performance edge (very slight) but isn't as comfortable as a DD compared to the sti. Not sure about the 2008s though.

I was just meaning all wheel drive perfomance in the snow/dirt.

 

[98XJSport]

I was just meaning all wheel drive perfomance in the snow/dirt.

Aren't they both, with electronically controlled center differentials that can be set to slippery/pavement/gravel, or something like that?

Either way they are both good cars, I would choose the STI also. But definatly a car you want to check out really good before buying, good chance they've been beat on. Plus insurance can be pretty high on both vehicles.

 

[Stitch]

I'm not sure what their specs are but I just look at that fact that all subaru's have all wheel drive that's been tested for years. The Evo is the only "car" that Mitsubishi makes with all wheel drive. I think the Subaru has some different drivetrain options when compared to the Evo. I'll have to go look in one of my Car and Driver magazines. For me, I test drive it. I don't really go off of what's printed in the magazine when it comes to buying. It's how I connect with the car, that's how I make my decision.

 

[98XJSport]

For me, I test drive it. I don't really go off of what's printed in the magazine when it comes to buying. It's how I connect with the car, that's how I make my decision.

Truer advice has not been spoken.:main_thumbsup:

Thats why I didn't get an eclipse of the same year, it just didn't feel as good. Plus so many horrible reviews on quality. Thats another reason I would get an STI over an EVO, overall build quality.