Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: republic on April 03, 2006, 08:54:53 AM
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I'm thinking of buying one, does anyone own one? If so, how do you like it?
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noooooooooooooooooooo. Get a camaro, drop a 454 big block in it with a turbo 400 tranny, a solid read end and maybe some flowmasters. That will get you to work on time
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I've been disappointed in every hyundai I've ever driven. I like some of the Hondas and Mazdas. I hated my wife's toyota and most toyotas I've driven have a horrible seating position with the pedals too close to the seat so you either have really cramped legs or the steering wheel is too far away.
If you aren't put off by the new body style, the new civic is supposedly nice. The same goes for the Subarus... The WRX is a pretty hot performer but you'll give up some comfort and if you don't have the dealer take off the huge rear spoiler, every cop in town will give you a ticket just for looking like retard... er... I mean street ricer er boi racer er tuner or whatever.
Better yet, buy a pontiac GTO. If you don't like how it looks, buy a body kit. But the car itself is very fast and handles nicely, and it has the awesomely smooth and powerful LS series aluminum V8. My firebird gets up to 30 mpg on the highway using a 305 hp LS1 so the gas mileage isn't even all that bad if you don't floor it all the time.
A suprisingly nice car was a rental pontiac G6... I drove one for 2 months while TDY and it was actually pretty nice. The upper body seat bolsters were a little tight for me but otherwise the car was much nicer than I expected.
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I'd love to have a Camaro, G6, or a GTO but...
I'm very limited on cash, I need something with 4 doors, good mileage, more room the better, MUST have a manual transmission...and new or used...cost less than 15k.
I'm always amazed when I goto a dealership and say, "I want a manual transmission." They just stare and blink at me...
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I recommend the Scion if you have a hip lifestyle.
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I'd say get a honda. I've been impressed by them. Better yet, get a used 2004 or 2005 civic, from before they screwed up the way it looks. My Mom owns a 1999 or 2000 civic and has been waiting for it to die because she wants something else, and it just won't quit. We killed a starter motor and we resigned ourself to a dirty several hour job pulling and replacing the starter, but to our suprise we found that Honda made the starter accessable from the top and we only had to pull the airbox (2 screws) and remove 3 bolts to remove it. The whole job took maybe 30 min without a manual, including time spent looking around the garage for the right size tools, etc.
For reliable and safe little cars, I really liked the older civics. The new civics are supposedly just as good mechanically but I personally think they look like a doorstop wedge. A nice certified used civic still under factory warranty might be the perfect thing if you like the car. I found the civic handling to be crisper overall than most other small cars, and even the small engine models aren't too irritating either.
Test drive first...
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Mrs RTR wants a Smart Car.
All she really does driving wise is getting to work and the occasional shopping sorties. All local and city driving.
The great gas mileage appeals to me, but I don't know enough about the car to really tell if it's a safe buy or not (not to mention a safe car, it seems pretty small).
Any body ever have any experiences with these cars?
RTR
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They're all over Europe and my guess is that they're probably deathtraps in an accident. My wife wrecked a little nissan micra which is a bit bigger than a smart car, and the car was totaled by an approx 35 mph front-quarter collision. The entire car bent so badly that only 3 wheels were on the ground after the crash. The car that hit her was a VW passat and it was almost completely undamaged structurally. The only damage to the VW, and the reason why it was totalled, was to the engine. The Passat was probably rebuilt by a wrecking yard and resold (illegally) within a few months.
There are plenty of cute cars that have a little more bulk and safety features...
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eagle
Smart cars are suprisingly strong...if u can watch 5th gear...they drive a remotly controlled one into a concrete barrier at 70mph......the metal frame stayed intact , one door opened as normal....of course all the plastic body panels shatterered ...
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Originally posted by eagl
I'd say get a honda.
I would agree with you here Eagl...they make a great car(s)
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How about a Mono-cycle? :) (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200660316001)
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Hon-duh's are so smurfy..
The Elantra is a nice ride I like the way they look and a great warranty to put some of there compeditors to shame. If you like the looks of the GT 5dr, look at the Mazda 3 5dr.
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Originally posted by republic
I'm thinking of buying one, does anyone own one? If so, how do you like it?
I have one 3 years, 1998 GLS (made in USA )
130.000 miles
No rust, dents , have to change oil nothing more, once temperature sensor was broken,
I punch rubber cover for drywing shaft so i have to replace it, car still running.
Milage is around 28-30 mpg in town (2 litre engine)
If you look for cheap car , not most confortable on the world, but good enough for 4-5 hours of driving.
Imho seats are more confortable then in new civic i drive too.
Overall i like it
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Originally posted by republic
I'm very limited on cash, I need something with 4 doors, good mileage, more room the better, MUST have a manual transmission...and new or used...cost less than 15k.
I bought two 2005 Sonatas at auction. One for my son's fiance with 18K miles for ~$13K and one I sold to another guy with 8k miles for ~$14k.
Right now, 2005 GLS Elantras are bringing $9500-10300 with about 18-22K miles on them That leaves you 4 years of warranty or 38,000+ miles, whichever comes first.
Very tough to find a manual tranny at auction though.
I liked both the Sonatas that I bought. Both were previous rental units but in great shape. Drove one back from Dallas to KC; ran like it was on rails. Nice little car for the money.
If I needed something smaller, I sure wouldn't be afraid of an Elantra, especially with that warranty. As has been mentioned, though, the seats aren't the best for long haul driving.
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Originally posted by republic
I'd love to have a Camaro, G6, or a GTO but...
I'm very limited on cash, I need something with 4 doors, good mileage, more room the better, MUST have a manual transmission...and new or used...cost less than 15k.
I'm always amazed when I goto a dealership and say, "I want a manual transmission." They just stare and blink at me...
There is a used 2003 VW Passat V6 just down the road from my house with a 5 speed manual and leather seating. It's got 35K on it and IIRC the guy wants $16,500 for it. I drove it and the thing runs like its on fire. I can get you his phone number but he is here in Alabama and I don't know if you would want that.
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http://www.euroncap.com/content/safety_ratings/introduction.php
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I love my Hondas: '98 CR-V, '04 CR-V and a '04 Civic. Yes, I am boring.
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How much money u want to spend? You want new or used? You want small and sporty, or u want wife+kid, or u want to be able to bring your customers out for lunch.
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Originally posted by SFRT - Frenchy
You want new or used?
That's a good question. I bought all my cars approximately 1 yr old and saved thousands of dollars. If you can wait long enough, you will find just the right car at the right price. If you were buying now, try to find a car that is an '05 model with less than 10-15k miles on it and make a deal that satisfies you. When you get a car with such low mileage, it's essentially a new car and past the 'break-in' period.
It may take a couple days to complete the negotiations but stick with it...if you make an offer that is fair, they will come around. (take a look at the book value of the car you are looking to buy and determine what it is worth to you)
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I would prefer used...seems like there aren't really any large Hyundai dealerships within a reasonable driving time from where I live. There's like 9 million Ford/Chevy....but only 2 Hyundai within a 2 hour drive.
Only thing I'm firm on, is it must have a manual tranny, no slush box. I enjoy driving, and even little cars with little motors can be fun wwith a stick. I picked Hyundai simply because it looks ok, and the price is good. Now if i could only find one.....
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Try Carmax; I have bought from them before and they seem to be pretty reputable around here in the Birmingham, AL area.
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Originally posted by expat
eagle
Smart cars are suprisingly strong...if u can watch 5th gear...they drive a remotly controlled one into a concrete barrier at 70mph......the metal frame stayed intact , one door opened as normal....of course all the plastic body panels shatterered ...
It's a very strong car indeed. However if two moving vehicles collide it's all about the difference of mass. Two Smart's hitting each other may be more safe than two SUV's hitting each other, but if a Smart hits an SUV the result is obvious.
Anyway I'd take something else than a Smart, it's overpriced and has a bad fuel efficiency compared to it's size.
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Try ebay :) And look at Scions too, they ome cheap, and a bunch of fun upgrades available.