Bad news about my GA

[XtremeGrandAm]

My steering in my car is getting worse and worse....To get my car back after the accident cost my dad $1,000 because of our deductible. My dad isnt happy and he feels my car is no longer safe and "I will not have a memner of my family driving in a car in that condition" So because of this. He is now taking over my battle with GM. He however doesnt want me buying another Pontiac or GM. And since I only work part time I cannot go against what he wants (my credit rating is good but my income isnt). So pretty much in the near future we will be getting rid of my car and I will have to purchase another. I'm sad that I couldnt keep my GA longer...maybe after im out of school and working full time I can purchase another one as a 2nd car. Anyway...Just wanted to update everyone.

I think I'll post a poll and see what other cars you guys like that arent GM. Maybe you can give me some kinda idea.... I will appreciate any suggestions. And please keep this thread positive :)

[Bogeystar]

Go with the RSX then!

Rock on Ass Heads! :rockdude:

[antirice]

actually the focus SVT is good, does the car have to be brand new?

[Jason Lesbirel]

The SRT-4 will stomp both the RSX and the SVT Focus. Now, if the Focus RS was available, that would be another story......

The Neon is, right now, the hot car - it actually won outright a contest in Sport Compact Car, long a haven for the Hondalovers, for Car of the Year (2003).

The 2.4 Turbo is published at 215hp at the flywheel, and SCC dyno'ed the car and found it puts out 223 at the wheels. And it has 250lb-ft of torque......bring on the RSX........

[MJE95GAGT]

I say go for the Neon SRT-4, or you can wait for next year since a lot of times when new models are made there can be mechanical glitches the first year but are usually fixed the following. Or maybe the RSX or Jetta. Or you can save up like 3g's more and get a new Stang like I am, but then again insurance and gas would be a *****.

[XtremeGrandAm]

Originally posted by antirice
actually the focus SVT is good, does the car have to be brand new?
No it doesnt have to be brand new. Used car suggestions are ok too.

[TA^Guy]

If you must purchase something other than a GM atleast stay in the GM family and buy a WRX. If not the SRT is nice, but the Neon's track record sucks.

[XtremeGrandAm]

Originally posted by MJE95GAGT
I say go for the Neon SRT-4, or you can wait for next year since a lot of times when new models are made there can be mechanical glitches the first year but are usually fixed the following. Or maybe the RSX or Jetta. Or you can save up like 3g's more and get a new Stang like I am, but then again insurance and gas would be a *****.
A mustang wouldnt cost me 3K more you can get a new mustang for 20K( I'm not too big of a mustang fan, I think they are nice but over rated) my max is 24K on a new car. A used car would be a higher APR so less than 20K on a used car

[Jason Lesbirel]

The 2.4 is a very good motor - nowhere near as many problems as the 2.0 litre.

[Jason Lesbirel]

And you can get into an SRT-4 for $20K.......:bigok:

[SmokinGT00]

i say get what you want, even if dad doesn't want you buying another GM or whatever. isn't this all of your money going into this next car? i say go for something that has a mod market, if you want to mod your next car that is.

[antirice]

'86 El Camino! modded with a 383 Stroker.....work with me here....


or what about a SVT contour?

[XtremeGrandAm]

Originally posted by SmokinGT00
i say get what you want, even if dad doesn't want you buying another GM or whatever. isn't this all of your money going into this next car? i say go for something that has a mod market, if you want to mod your next car that is.

Thats not an option. My dad will have to cosign for a car since i work part time. I dont make enough a year to be financed for a car. I also live with my parents and they help me out. So its not smart to go agaisnt them.

Also let me add some things to go by the lowest im going on a used car model year is 1999.

atirice- good suggestion but the contour is too boring for me.

[antirice]

here we go!
http://www.auto-rv.com/AdImages/jpg/CI0420085.jpeg



1998 MITSUBISHI
ECLIPSE GS. 60,000 mi., AT, fully loaded, very clean, runs great, many extras, lime green, body like ÒFast and Furious. $12,500. Ft. Wayne, IN

Buzzzz buzzzzz :ben:

[XtremeGrandAm]

Originally posted by antirice
Buzzzz buzzzzz :ben: [/B]

:agree: I dont think so. Thats such a rip off too 1998 for 12.5 I dont think so. If i get an eclipse im not going to be a ricer...thats just not me:)

[antirice]

how about a used Caddy? El Dorado, Catera, Seville?

[XtremeGrandAm]

Originally posted by antirice
how about a used Caddy? El Dorado, Catera, Seville?
Nah. I cant drive larger cars or suv's (long story) I'm not much on luxury cars. Cadilac is also GM which we cant go with :) I'd like to stick with either a small suv or cars like the ones listed at the top

[antirice]

out of that list, I like the Focus the best

[ShutterBug]

i say go with the Focus SVT

[wiccanferret]

Focus SVT's are dog slow. You want a cheap, quick car? Get a Hyundai Accent. But then again the new ones are atrocious. I guess the neon...The Mazda 6 looks kinda neat too, tho.

[XtremeGrandAm]

Originally posted by wiccanferret
Focus SVT's are dog slow. You want a cheap, quick car? Get a Hyundai Accent. But then again the new ones are atrocious. I guess the neon...The Mazda 6 looks kinda neat too, tho.
Are they, they dont have any available around here.I've driven a normal focus it was ok...kinda like my saturn. Nothing special but its acceptable I forgot about mazda!!!! I like the new mazda 6. The only hyundai I would never consider is the new tiburon V6 with 6 speed. ( I knew I would forget a bunch of cars on the list)

[master]

how about a used Audi A4 quattro? or a new SAAB 9-3? Infinity G35?

[Night Wolf]

well, $24k is alot for getting a car, atleast to me :D

anyway, I knoe ME, and what I wanted (and what I WAS going to get before I got my Grand Am) was a '97+ Cadillac DeVille

but you said you can't go GM? damn that sucks

well, try and stay American here :D

some impots worth looking at, are the new Mazda 6, and I am not sure how much they are but the new Altima, now I never cared for the Altima (or any Nissan for that amtter) but Motor Trend said the new Altima was the fastest front drive prodction car they ever tested @ 0-60 in 6sec.

damn though, there are some great deals to be had with GM ('99 Grand Prix GTP for one)

or......... how about this?

get a new Ram 1500, sure for $23 you can get what would be a bottom feeder with chrome bumbers, A/C, sound system with a cd player, and some other basic stuff, but you also get the HEMI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! then you can really show the imports what American metal is all about, when they start to fall apart and all, you can just hall their azz back

ok, anyway if it was me, and I was in the same position as you, minus the no GM thing, I would definitly get a 2000 DeVille (look around, you'll find one for $20k) but since you have a no GM rule, then I would have to go with either:

(and does the used car HAVE to be '99 or newer?)

but maybe a Taurus SHO

or *maybe* the new Neon (I hate the eailer gen's though)

I would consider the new Ram :D

the Mazda 6

(and this is streching it, becuase I don't like imports) the Toyota Matrix

expand your budget alittle, and get a new RX-8 (gotta love the Wankel rotary)

few others I don't remember

not that this is just my opinon, and persoanly the no GM and '99 or nwer really messes things up, but that's the way it is.

I am sure whatever you get though you'll be happy with (or you wouldn't get it, right?) and none of those cars are *that* bad, I guess I am differnt, I would rather be crusing in a huge land yatch, then a thiny compact, I would never drive anything smaller then my Grand Am, and I would really love to drive a huge Caddy, but things don't always work out the way we would like them to

ahh, ok now I am just blabering, anyway that is just my :penny:

[donalson]

there is no real right answer for you... what do you want to do w/ the car? i know my priorities are much diff then yours so our oppionons will be different, i'm also much more of an import guy, i love my eruo and jap cars (not taking away from my GA but it's got a horid chassis as far as handeling goes but the 2.3L quad OHC does it's job very well (it'll be even better when i have a chance to swap to the HO head and bits though :)

i personly need a back seat starting very soon, my wife is 5 months prego so i've got a kid coming soon, due to this fact i also want something thats relativly safe and such...

my wepon of choice = 2 older cars rather then 1 new one, i've got my "toy" which is my '86 toyota mr2 soon to be turbo and then there is my work car, the '92 geo prizm (corolla) (i'm a pizza delivery guy at the moment so it's a perfect car for the job)

we where also lucky enuff to be given a low milage '94 GA which is the "family car" the geo will work as a back up if anything goes wrong w/ the GA... but i always have my fun car :)

right now i'm looking at a more legit job and in that case i'll be looking to sell the geo and find something that is more utility orented namely a truck that can tow the mr2 or something along those lines.

before you go and even test drive figure out your needs and wants... overlook this and you may be very dissapointed w/ whatever car you choose... also if you do your own work on cars consider 2 used cars 5grand will buy a lot of used cars... figure a miata for fun and an old jetta for hauling people or something :) when something dies on one car you always have a backup car to drive

mark

[Artic]

I say the neon :)

[sunrunner_pei]

I'm probably alone in this, but I took a Mazda Protoge 5 out for a test drive, and I actually really liked that little car. It wasn't flat-out fast, but handling was very crisp and precise, and with the 5-speed, the thing was very zippy through traffic and even on the highway. And for a wagon, the car has a lot of neat little touches that really appealed to me. When I was replacing my '99 SE2, it was a strong contender. It lost out because I didn't want to go with anything smaller than the GA, which limited my options severely.

Take one for a test drive and see what you think. :)

[Travis99GT]

Get the SRT-4 or pay a bit extra and get a Mazda 6... those cars are SUPER impressive, not to mention great looking.

[p8ntman442]

The neon, get real guys. this is a band-aid car. it covers the wound of not having a fast 4cyl american car, but the thing is not a great car. dont buy it cause its the fastest on the road, for the money. the turbo lag on those things suck. The car is set up for straight line, and it looks ugly like the rest. Buy a nice car, and if you want it to go fast, mod it out. the neon is pushed to its limits as is.

[RocketFast321]

Dude get a 89-95 Jeep Cherokee 4x4. Limited if you can find one. Think about this you can go mud rideing then hit the interstate and gave the grand am people a run for there money. It gots that 4.0l stright (inline) 6 in it. I would of got one my self but I could not find a black 4x4 limited.

[G-Dam96]

ahem...1966 cherry red Mustang, 3 speed, in damn near perfect condition. And they want less than $6,000. Stick with American made. Get something solid. Look to the past. 'Nuff said.

[Travis99GT]

Originally posted by p8ntman442
The neon, get real guys. this is a band-aid car. it covers the wound of not having a fast 4cyl american car, but the thing is not a great car. dont buy it cause its the fastest on the road, for the money. the turbo lag on those things suck. The car is set up for straight line, and it looks ugly like the rest. Buy a nice car, and if you want it to go fast, mod it out. the neon is pushed to its limits as is.

As with about any car you buy from the factory with a turbo. The lag sucks, thats something you end up dealing with. I've yet to read a negative report about the new neon. Whole new drivetrain, its not the same piece of junk they used to make. I personally would buy the Mazda 6 over any of these listed. That car has gotten great ratings and everyone knows a well built mazda lasts forever with regular maintenance :)

[LoneRangers15]

The Eclipse is American made, by the UAW too. I think the focus is made in Mexico.

[TA^Guy]

http://www.auto-rv.com/AdImages/jpg/CI0420085.jpeg
Wow all that and extra wheel gap! Sweet, when can I get some low profile tires and slap them on small wheels, I want my car to look ghetto too!!!

As for turbo lag...
You know I always kind of bad mouthed turbos before due to their lag and was always leaned more towards centrifugal superchargers. But the actually turbo lag in cars these days aren't nearly as bad as one would think. Actually it often helps in controling tirespin during launches. I don't know if you've driven a SRT yet or not but so far every artical I've read claims it's a great buy for the $$$.

[Travis99GT]

All depends on turbo set up, impeller size, intake and exhaust ports, stuff like that.... But you all have my opinions and I'll shut up now :agree:

[XtremeGrandAm]

I test drove for about 30 min a 2003 Hyundai Tiburon with the 2.7L V6 and 6 speed manual transmission. I at first test drove it as a joke just because I was plain curious. But that car exceeded every expectation that I had. The only complant I really had was the ride was a little stiff and the seats could have been a bit more comfortable. But for what it is it seems like a great car. Affordable, powerful, nicely tuned exhaust (terrible gas mileage 18/26 but that doesnt really bother me)

[donalson]

Originally posted by p8ntman442
The neon, get real guys. this is a band-aid car. it covers the wound of not having a fast 4cyl american car, but the thing is not a great car. dont buy it cause its the fastest on the road, for the money. the turbo lag on those things suck. The car is set up for straight line, and it looks ugly like the rest. Buy a nice car, and if you want it to go fast, mod it out. the neon is pushed to its limits as is.

do you know anything about the neon's liniage or dodge's for that matter? the mid '90's the neon ACR DOMINATED SCCA solo II, it was outfited w/ some very trick suspension peices (down to koni adjustable struts as memory serves), they also offered a fairly nice monitary compensation for winners, amazing how well a "girls car" w/ absolutly no options sold so well relative to such a niche as solo II (auto-x for you not in the know) i see them doing very similar things w/ this car... the only thing holding it back on paper right now is the lack of a legal camber adjustment but thats easily remidied w/ a few complaints to dodge by owners.

not to mention that mopar has always had factory backed/approved upgrades... installed right at the dealer, they did this back w/ the 2.2L turbo motors... they where silly nuff to slap on of those things into an omni and call it the GLH (goes like hell) crap it even had the SHELBY name on it... that does say something.

mopar already has upgrade kits for the 2.4L stage I = 235hp/260ft/lb stage II = 270hp and 270ft/lb stage 3 is 300hp/300ft/lb... considering dodge claimed the car makes 215hp (figured at the flywheel) and i've seen several mags dyno this car at over 220 to the WHEELS it just makes you think what 300hp realy means :)

my only real complaint (never having driven it) is remove that damned rear wing :-/ i can't stand huge non functional spoilers let alone on FWD cars (they are however pretty sweet on 1000 lb auto-x machines :)... maybe some rice boy would like to buy it for $100 or something?

if i had $20g's right now and was told to pick a NEW car it would have to be this one

the mazda 6 however does look pretty sweet.

mark

[Crackers]

Depends how long you plan to keep the car and what you will do with it.

No doubt Honda & Toyota build better cars. They will last longer and have fewer repairs. But you give up styling and other options.

If you need space (for kids), no 2 door car will be fun.

I like the Acura (reliable and kinda sporty).

But, take my opinion for granted as I own a Windstar for family reasons! (sold my GA last year!)

[L!m3]

2003 Accord. They aren't the best looking things in the world but the V-6 ran a 14.5 in the 1/4. Nice interiors too....oh shit did I just recommend a honda?

[Pte Socks]

well i dont knwo about you.. but the main reason i went with a grand am is i can actually fit into my car! im 6"4 and i had driver training in a neon and civic.. now if your a big guy.. you'll understand why you hate those cars and most imports.. the only way i could drive them was with my head out through the friggin sunroofs! why do you think i hate imports so much! they are built for migits!

[Pte Socks]

honest man.. of all those cars suggested.. go with either a tiburon.. shit.. cant remember hows its spelled.. just dont get one of the older models.. they are pretty ugly.. go with the new ones.. the other cars would be the wrx , or focus. those would be my best choices.. they are all great cars

[donalson]

Originally posted by Unrealoaded
well i dont knwo about you.. but the main reason i went with a grand am is i can actually fit into my car! im 6"4 and i had driver training in a neon and civic.. now if your a big guy.. you'll understand why you hate those cars and most imports.. the only way i could drive them was with my head out through the friggin sunroofs! why do you think i hate imports so much! they are built for migits!

i beg to differ... i'm 6'5 and 320 lbs (yes i'm FAT) i have a MUCH easier time fitting in most imports then domestic cars... the GA is rather cramped inside, i fit better in my '86 mr2 (very small sports car) then i do the american midsize (or is it considered compact?) car

i've owned a number of sub-compact jap cars and fit very comfortably in them including civics/crx's (man those inteiors are ROOMY)

but you'll never knwo what you fit untill you take a test drive.

mark

[XtremeGrandAm]

Originally posted by L!m3
2003 Accord. They aren't the best looking things in the world but the V-6 ran a 14.5 in the 1/4. Nice interiors too....oh shit did I just recommend a honda?
haha its ok we will forgive you :P

[Thin_J]

I would also go for the Mazda 6 as a first choice, or the new model Tiburon as the second.

I test drove a 6. Incredible car. I only wish I could afford one.

[Dman97SE]

Whatever you buy, DON"T buy a Ford Focus. I have heard too many rumors that the left rear wheel will fall off on some models. I know rumors are not supposed to be taken under consideration, but the amount of rumors that I've heard makes me almost feel sorry for whoever had this happen to their focus. I like the '97 - '99 Mitsu. Eclipse, it's just a beautiful car.

[Toutsuu]

Sorry to hear about your ga dude... only issue I've had with mine other than the hole exhaust valve thing is the steering making funny noises. Still haven't figured that one out... anyways good luck with whatever you decide to get next.

[XtremeGrandAm]

What about the Nissan SE-R V Spec what do you all think about that it has a 6 speed manual with 175hp also. It looks pretty impressive

[Bouchie11982]

DEFINATELY GET THE SRT-4 its such a hot car....but try to get it in white or black, or possibly a metallic red, ( if they make them in those colors) i can also agree on the mazda 6, its a great car too.

[CHollman82]

If I were you I would get a used BMW, those cars are built like tanks, and they are quick as hell. But off that list I would get the SRT-4, a kid at work just got a new one and its a beast, unfortunately he's not very good at stick shifting, lol. I beat him racing him to 60, but once he learns how to launch it and the proper shift points he will kill me

[HondaCivicsSuck]

GTP 97-02

[3 DeeJay]

Another to consider maybe is the Audi...how ever you spell it.. Friend has one and its got everything and its pretty sweet car.. but I think they cost a lot, I'm thinking. maybe not... They are nice cars.. I am sorry but I'm not a fan of neons(SRT-4). I think either the Jetta or the Acura would be cool.. They both are really nice cars and pretty cool looking cars.

[dearim]

Here's what I suggest:

'03 Hyundai Tiburon V6
'02-03 Hyundai Elantra GT 5-door (kinda looks like a Saab, so much so that my buddy calls his wife's a 'Saab 9-1')
'00-01 Acura Integra GS-R four-door (I like sports sedans better than coupes)
'01-03 Mazda Protege ES
'03 Mazda 6s
'03 Nissan Sentra SE-R

I cannot in good conscience recommend a Chrysler or Ford product.