Help me pick a new car!

10500 Views 77 Replies 19 Participants Last post by 06_warrior, Jul 23, 2012

ADOversa

Discussion Starter · Jun 9, 2012

Once again I am thinking of picking up another car. I know that a Versa will never be the sportscar I would like. I have a company vehicle that I drive 95% of the time, as well as a Rogue that I will hang onto, so I am looking for something where practicality is not exactly important. This will pretty much be a strictly weekend fun vehicle. I have a kind of shortlist in mind, as well as a price range, but there is still flexibility on both.

So far my shortlist (bear with me... I know its all over the place) is:

1) 1st Gen. (2004-2007)Cadillac CTS-V... you might remember I was extremely close to buying one before, but it fell through. Big 400hp V8 and 6MT with RWD... seems awesome but has a chincy interior. Awesome sounding exhaust systems are available.

2) 2005-2007 Lotus Elise. Its on the shortlist to take a closer look at, however I am not sure about the size of it... I'm 6'1 225# with pretty wide shoulders.

3) Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ... I like the looks of them but unsure of the Subaru 2.0L engine. My parents had some bad experiences with Subaru engines in the last year and Subaru was less than helpful, so I'm a little unsure but willing to take it for a drive anyways.

4) Genesis Coupe 3.8 6MT. Possibly get a deal on a leftover 2012MY? I would like to buy new but still can't decide if I like the looks of the 2013 as much. I've driven one and it is a super nice driving car. Decent thrust, slick shifting 6 spd, crisp handling... so far I think it is in the lead.

5) Early 987 Boxster S. Its a Porsche... facelifted, decent power, excellent handling, creature comforts, convertible. Near the top of my price range.

That my top 5... just posting here to get some more opinions, maybe there is one I missed, so looking for input!

My basic qualifiers that I won't budge on are that is has a manual transmission and rear/all wheel drive. I want something more gear towards handling than top speed as there aren't alot of high speed roads around here but there are alot of twisties. Price range... no real minimum, but putting 30k as the top end, but thats flexible for the right car.

So lets have some suggestions!

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1 - 20 of 78 Posts

JoshG

· #2 · Jun 9, 2012

I'd go with #1. I'd go for a sedan though.

V_for_Versetta

· #3 · Jun 9, 2012

I'm a fan of the look and feel of the Scion FR-S. Although I myself would rather go with the style and elegance of a 350z or a G35 but that's me.

athikerguy4life

· #4 · Jun 9, 2012

I'd take the brz/frs. They are supposed to have AWESOME balance and handling, and you can be sure there will be a big tuning scene for them. I drove one last week and it felt great! I'm 6' 220 and it felt comfortable enough. The Genesis coupe is nice too, but I don't have any experience with them to say either way, other than how it looks.

ADOversa

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jun 9, 2012

V_for_Versetta said:
I'm a fan of the look and feel of the Scion FR-S. Although I myself would rather go with the style and elegance of a 350z or a G35 but that's me.

Oh man... I don't know how I forgot a Z car! Thats why I am posting here... so you guys can make my decision even tougher! A 350Z convertible should fit in my price range pretty well too eh?

I would love to have a convertible since I haven't had one before.

There are just so many good cars out there....

athikerguy4life said:
I'd take the brz/frs. They are supposed to have AWESOME balance and handling, and you can be sure there will be a big tuning scene for them. I drove one last week and it felt great! I'm 6' 220 and it felt comfortable enough. The Genesis coupe is nice too, but I don't have any experience with them to say either way, other than how it looks.

Cool! Guess we are a pretty close match for size, so that is good to know! I have no experience with the FR-S/BRZ other than seeing them around, but I have driven the Gen Coupe and LOVED it. Otherwise the only car (aside from the FR-S/BRZ) on my list that I haven't driven would be the Elise... which could be tough. I checked the availability in my Province and there currently only seems to be one for sale, and it is a race model, hardtop and S/C, not to mention a newer model year, and they are asking $90,000. I doubt they would let me test drive it

JVersa

· #6 · Jun 10, 2012

I like the lotus, small engine + light body = really fast. Every video I watch on one the driver cant stop talking about how well it handles.

JoshG

· #7 · Jun 10, 2012

If you like the Z I'd go for the G35. My brother has had 2 Zs and I fimd them too small. I prefer the G35.

V_for_Versetta

· #8 · Jun 10, 2012

ADOversa said:
Oh man... I don't know how I forgot a Z car! Thats why I am posting here... so you guys can make my decision even tougher! A 350Z convertible should fit in my price range pretty well too eh?

I've seen really good like-new condition 2007 and 2008 350z's going for around 19-23 (that's for the touring editions, the base are a few g's cheaper). Try and get an 07 or 08 if you can, a lot of the interior was upgraded in those models.

I almost bought an 07 350z about a month ago. It was a beautiful Silver metallic finish touring edition with only 29,300 miles on it. Although it was an automatic but the Z's feature a manual mode with em so I would have been fine with it. The dealership wanted $24,000 on it though and they wouldn't budge with me and they offered very little in turn for the V they stated "Well I know your car is in really good condition but the truth of it is, it is a very common car and a cheap one at that. People would just rather buy one new instead of a used one so I'm afraid we can't offer you that much." So in the end I couldn't snag it, but I got to test drive it and damn it would great. It may have a smaller engine than my old GT but the handling was unreal.

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Bluvee

· #9 · Jun 10, 2012

Do any cars come with a T-top, or removable shell? I know chrysler has a Sebring with a hard convertible top. They probably are hard to find. I am a opponent to soft tops. They are hard to keep up and are non-functional in the North. Look at the Sebring hard top convertible. Those are........SWEEET.

ADOversa

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jun 10, 2012

Bluvee said:
Do any cars come with a T-top, or removable shell? I know chrysler has a Sebring with a hard convertible top. They probably are hard to find. I am a opponent to soft tops. They are hard to keep up and are non-functional in the North. Look at the Sebring hard top convertible. Those are........SWEEET.

Surprisingly convertibles aren't THAT bad in the winter. My parents neighbour dailies a 997TT Cabriolet year round and says its great! However, I probably wouldn't drive it in the winter so its kinda a mute point. The hard top convertibles are kinda cool, but at the same time the added weight just isn't worth it to me anyways. Unfortunately the sebring fails to check both of my must have boxes... its FWD and automatic only. The Elise can have a removeable hard top though. Its not electric, but it comes off in 2 pieces. They also have soft tops as well.

JoshG

· #11 · Jun 10, 2012

How about a Charger, Camaro, or a Mustang?

ADOversa

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jun 10, 2012

Can't say I'm a big ford guy... and the charger, while it is a nice car (Uncle has a brand new R/T) and I do like them, its a bit too... practical lol. Camaro is a maybe... I'm sure I can get a V8 in my price range, hadn't really thought about it though. Might be a good option! A quick look on ebay showed me that I can get the V8 with a manual transmission, so I might have to take a closer look at them!

Underscore_Hero

· #13 · Jun 10, 2012

If you are on a budget, maybe try an early 2000's WRX STI, or Lancer Evo VIII.....even an RX-8, definitely good cars for less than $20k? If you want convertible, you have to get a Miata, no other choice really. Converted convertible sports cars sometimes get to heavy and performance takes a dive. IF you get a convertible, get one that was built to be a convertible. IF you are brave, a late model 325i might be cool, but I'd buy Japanese for all used cars....

BluV3R18

· #14 · Jun 10, 2012 (Edited)

2

Here's my pick =)

I like the wheels on this red one

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Rambram1984

· #15 · Jun 10, 2012

Really? It didn't let me just type FR-S?

06_warrior

· #16 · Jun 11, 2012 (Edited)

ADOversa said:
Can't say I'm a big ford guy... and the charger, while it is a nice car (Uncle has a brand new R/T) and I do like them, its a bit too... practical lol. Camaro is a maybe... I'm sure I can get a V8 in my price range, hadn't really thought about it though. Might be a good option! A quick look on ebay showed me that I can get the V8 with a manual transmission, so I might have to take a closer look at them!

I traded my 2011 Versa for a 2012 Camaro. It isn't the SS but for a V6 with 323 horses it's pretty fast. With a 5 star crash rating in every category it is actually cheaper to insure than my Versa was which i would of never had thought. There are tons of company's making cool after market parts. There are a few company's making turbos for the V6 which i'm thinking i'm going to save for after i buy a few more exterior mods. Gas milage is really not too bad with the V6 and i totally enjoy driving my Camaro more than any other car i've had and i've had many cars in the past. If you haven't test drove one you owe it to yourself to test drive one. You won't regret it. The car is one of the best looking cars on the road imo especially if you like muscle cars of the past. I've owned 5 Camaro's in the past and this one is by far the best Camaro imo they ever made. GM hit a home run with the 5th generation Camaro. Good luck to what ever you buy.

08versailles

· #17 · Jun 11, 2012

I hear ya about the twisties. One night after school in the eighties, i drove up and down every mountain access between St. Catharines and Stoney Creek

I don't have that much time on my hands now!
That was with an 82 Rabbit diesel non-turbo, which leads me to my next cliche. Sometimes it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow

Sooooo...i would pick the Scion. Reasonable cost to buy, maintain and drive. It's quick but not bleedin fast [i wouldn't wanna exceed 150 around here anyway], and i feel would depreciate slower in four years than your other picks, with the exception of the Porsche...or maybe i just think too much
Hope it helps, enjoy!

ADOversa

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jun 11, 2012

Underscore_Hero said:
If you are on a budget, maybe try an early 2000's WRX STI, or Lancer Evo VIII.....even an RX-8, definitely good cars for less than $20k? If you want convertible, you have to get a Miata, no other choice really. Converted convertible sports cars sometimes get to heavy and performance takes a dive. IF you get a convertible, get one that was built to be a convertible. IF you are brave, a late model 325i might be cool, but I'd buy Japanese for all used cars....

Thanks for the suggestions! I have done my time with Subaru, and can't say that I know much about Evo's, but I don't particularly like the boy racer image they convey, at least in my eyes. RX-8.... hadn't thought of that one, but I don't like rotary engines. I would love a miata (NB mazdaspeed would be awesome) but the problem I had with them is I feel cramped in them, particularly with the top up, and with it down, my comfortable seating position seems to put the top of the windsheild in my line of sight

. BMW's are blacklisted for me lol. Long story.

06_warrior said:
I traded my 2011 Versa for a 2012 Camaro. It isn't the SS but for a V6 with 323 horses it's pretty fast. With a 5 star crash rating in every category it is actually cheaper to insure than my Versa was which i would of never had thought. There are tons of company's making cool after market parts. There are a few company's making turbos for the V6 which i'm thinking i'm going to save for after i buy a few more exterior mods. Gas milage is really not too bad with the V6 and i totally enjoy driving my Camaro more than any other car i've had and i've had many cars in the past. If you haven't test drove one you owe it to yourself to test drive one. You won't regret it. The car is one of the best looking cars on the road imo especially if you like muscle cars of the past. I've owned 5 Camaro's in the past and this one is by far the best Camaro imo they ever made. GM hit a home run with the 5th generation Camaro. Good luck to what ever you buy.

I think I will definitely go take one for a drive. I'm sure the V6 has plenty of power and is a great engine... but if there are V8's available thats what I'm going for

Lots of good suggestions guys, and that black 350 very bluv posted looks awesome! I have driven one before and it was intoxicating!

Ben_B

· #19 · Jun 11, 2012

Absolutely no contest, Lotus Elise. Best driving car on that list, most unique, total head turner, and great in the corners. Doubt you'll be able to get one for under $30,000 though, but I don't know.

JVersa

· #20 · Jun 11, 2012

If you have not known driving an Evo please test drive one, iv drivin 2 an Evo8 and 10 gsr I didnt care that is was a only a 5 speed, the yellow Evo8 was fun but the 10 even just the seats in that car kicked ass. Plus you can find an older Evo8 or 9 mr if you want a 6speed.

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