Your next car

[TD2K]

I should never watch Top Gear, too many cars I want but which I can't afford or won't pay that type of money for ;D

I have a 2002 WRX that I've had chipped. It's a great little car, lots of power and it's fun to drive. It's not for everyone, it is noisy on the highway but I've had it for about 6 years and love it.

I was thinking what would I buy next? Go to a Subaru STi or change brands? A Porsche Boxter sounds like a fun car. So does a BMW Z4. I'd love a Nissan GT-R but the price is more than I want to pay. Plus I was reading a review of it in Road and Track and I think they had to replace the tires at a price of about $1600 if I remember correct and I was thinking OMG considering how long they lasted (not long).

I'll take handling and the driving experience over 'comfort'. Reliability is key and handling is second.

Be interested what suggestions people might throw out?

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

If I had my way...I would be driving a '57 T-bird. white with red interior! ;D

[Opti]

The Porsche Boxster is a fun car but maintenance costs are pricey. Oil
changes are in the neighborhood of $200 at the dealer, I think it holds
around 8 quarts of oil. Plus any convertible you may need to replace the
top fairly early in its life if it wears badly. I know someone who may replace
theirs' and the car is about 5 years old.

In the end it really comes down to what you are willing to spend. The tire
cost on the GTR doesn't surprise me much as tires with really good
traction are costly and because they have really good traction they wear
out quickly compared to normal tires. What do you like about the WRX?
What made you choose it over your other options six years ago?

[Opti]

Cheesy, if I were independently wealthy at least one of my cars would be a Porsche. I've always wanted one even before the first time I got to drive
someone's Porsche. <insert fast car emoticon>

[wvugurl26]

The STI's really fun TD. My friend's dad got one. Plenty of power to throw you back in your seat when you hit the accelerator.
I like having AWD but I am definitely getting a bigger engine next time. My car sucks for accelerating quicly. Which is not fun with some of the short on ramps/merge areas around here.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

Jan 8, 2011 14:54:12 GMT -5 Opti said:

Cheesy, if I were independently wealthy at least one of my cars would be a Porsche. I've always wanted one even before the first time I got to drive
someone's Porsche. <insert fast car emoticon>

I've wanted a '57 T-bird since I was 11 or 12. ;D

[Opti]

Jan 8, 2011 15:07:07 GMT -5 Cheesy FL-Vol said:

Jan 8, 2011 14:54:12 GMT -5 Opti said:

Cheesy, if I were independently wealthy at least one of my cars would be a Porsche. I've always wanted one even before the first time I got to drive
someone's Porsche. <insert fast car emoticon>

I've wanted a '57 T-bird since I was 11 or 12. ;D

They are cool. There are many cars I wouldn't mind owning including the
old gullwing Mercedes.

[TD2K]

< Oil changes are in the neighborhood of $200 at the dealer >

Is that just because it's a Porsche and that's what the dealer can charge?

[Opti]

It's partly because its a Porsche, no idea how easy or hard oil changes are
and in part that "normal" cars usually have 4-5 quarts of oil and the Porsche is basically double so additional cost for oil and time at the least.

I learned a little yesterday that sometimes manufacturers make these
systems more complex than I would have expected. The guy at the garage was kind enough yesterday to show me a line diagram of my BMW's valve cover(oil) to give me an idea how they had to get to it and
what systems it affected.

One thing you could do though. I discovered last year you can join the Porsche Club of America if you say you are in the "process of acquiring a
Porsche". (It is a process, ordering is far more customized than a BMW.)
Go to a few local events and talk to some of the members they tend to
know and love their cars.

[TD2K]

< What made you choose it over your other options six years ago? >

Took one out for a test drive (it was used) and feel in love with it

I had about a 6 year old Accord before that, was re-ended and the car was written off. I didn't go through much of a decision analysis (what do I want, what would I like) though it would have been a great exercise.

I wanted something 'fun' to drive. Didn't want a pickup and didn't want a full sized car, looking for something smaller. I had a 1982 Toyota Supra years ago and really liked that car.

I had also driven a later model Accord with a V6. One downside was it was automatic and I really wanted a manual though with the new automatics out there now, I might consider one. The Accord had a lot of power, very quiet and smooth riding, nice car. The WRX was just a fun driving vehicle even before I got it chipped. It doesn't have the power obviously of the STi but it's not shabby, it will put you back in your seat when you wind it up. When Mich first drove it after it getting chipped I warned her it was a lot 'peppier' than it was before and she punched it to get back onto the freeway, she quickly found out what I mean :-). I also considered the STi but it was in the area of another $10k and I didn't really want to spend the extra money. I would likely spend it now but back then it was the right decision. While I'm sure I would love the STi, I sure don't regret the WRX.

The other thing I like about the WRX is that it's all wheel drive. We don't get a lot of snow here but we do get a few dumps each year and I get around a LOT better than other vehicles. I've gotten up the hill to my house several times when with my Accord I had to leave it and walk up. I've also driven by other cars that are having problems trying to get up the hill, the WRX just motors up the hill with no problem. I've had problems with deeper snow that the all season tires I use don't cut it so I have a set of snow tires I bought for last year. As luck would have it, we never got any snow worth mentioning

I drove on two sets of Toyo Proxies 4. Nice tires, good handling but on the noisy side. Last time I switched over to Nitto NeoGens, very similar handling to the Toyo Proxies, I can't really say which ones are better. I drove out to Trail BC to see my brother there on Highway 97C and found out there are some corners when they say "slow to xx", they mean it. I took a couple of corners that definitely upped the pucker factor.

I took a performance driving course and I'd like to take another one and get some more track time.

[TD2K]

The Dodge I've heard is more of a classic muscle car isn't it? I've seen that comment in both in Road and Track and on Top Gear coincidentally last night. Top Gear was going through the mountains in a Corvette, a CTS and a Challenger and it was not the happiest car on a twisting road and that's exactly where I love driving my WRX.

[TD2K]

On a side note, Top Gear had a clip with the Velociraptor. Not my vehicle but still, it was fun to watch.

www.caranddriver.com/news/car/10q1/2010_hennessey_ford_f-150_svt_raptor_velociraptor_500-car_news

[rick]

Ford GT 40

[Opti]

TD, I'm not current on what's out there now so hopefully people will post some better suggestions. I would check out the STI. I car shopped a lot
before I bought mine. I was so sick of test drives I never made it to the WRX and I was a bit shocked at the insurance costs at the time. For twisty
driving I'm more aware of non-American brands. I might try the new Volvo S60 to see if it really is more fun now. I'd probably check out the BMW Mini even though its real tiny. Possibly the Hyundai Genesis, a low end Infiniti G35, see if Acura's TSX is worth checking out. Every once in a while a Cadillac comes out that's fun to drive not just smooth and cushy.

Interesting about the Toyo Proxes. Never tried them, but thought about it
a couple times. I really enjoyed the Bridgestone Potenza's when they fit my budget, I think the Direzza's are now the tire of choice in that category.

I had an Accord once as well. I hit the bottom of red-line in my BMW when I first got it as the tires weren't as sticky as I was used then I realized the acceleration characteristics of my new car were quite different. I probably need barely street legal tires on the car to accelerate from a stop like I did in my Honda. LOL.

Let me know what you decide to look at and how you like them.

[hogrster]

If money were no object I would have a car collection like Jay Leno and just live in my garage. But I have to live on no money. Bought the wife a diesel Jetta 2 years ago. LOVE this car! I just did the 40,000 mile service myself. A word of warning though, you need to be an engineer (like me) to work on it or get REAL buddy buddy with the dealer. I understand Mitsubishi is bringing a small suv to the US with a diesel engine. It sounds like they bought the VW engine to put into it. Which is fine with me now that I have all of the specialty tools to work on it. However Mitsu doesn't believe in e-mail and all attempts to find out about the vehicle have not been responded to. Guess I'll have to buy a diesel golf.

[The J]

It all depends on when my car gives out on me. If I can get 2-3 more years out of it, I'll probably look at getting a ~5 year old luxury car (maybe a G37). If it goes sooner, I'll have to get something less expensive.

Either way, I definitely want a bigger engine in the new car -- having a tiny 4-cylinder, while great on gas mileage, sucks on acceleration.

[Opti]

"I definitely want a bigger engine in the new car -- having a tiny 4-cylinder, while great on gas mileage, sucks on acceleration."

I don't know if its true, someone mentioned that 4 cylinder engines generally have better longevity than the larger engines.

Hogster, if you can tell me how to get a car with literally no money I'd
love to know how.
"But I have to live on no money.

Read more: notmsnmoney.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=cars&action=post&thread=1223&page=1#ixzz1AZIAOKZ2"
"Guess I'll have to buy a diesel golf."

[The J]

Yeah, I've heard that. Going forward, I'm willing to give up some engine life for power.

[Opti]

Jan 9, 2011 14:37:34 GMT -5 The J said:

Yeah, I've heard that. Going forward, I'm willing to give up some engine life for power.

Hopefully the Infiniti won't be too much in maintenance costs. I test drove
a G35 or G37 last year as a birthday present for myself. Nice car.

[The J]

I currently have a nissan -- 212k and still going strong. No major problems. The infiniti should be similar.

[TD2K]

< Going forward, I'm willing to give up some engine life for power >

When I had my WRX chipped they said engine longevity wasn't really affected and I don't drive it on boost all that much, I don't race it at a track, etc. There are people that go past, way past, the point I did for more Hp and they had a car in fact that the owner had blown the engine on doing just that.

NASIOC has an interesting thread "so you want 400 Hp" which is a good amount of Hp in a car the size of a WRX/STi.

With the AWD, you definitely give up mileage which I was willing to do for the fun factor (and you also need to use premium fuel) but the cost differential for premium over regulator on a percentage basis isn't much.

I wonder how much a weekend with the Stig on Top Gear for driving lessons would cost?

[Opti]

And AWD eats tires faster than RWD and FWD.

[wvugurl26]

And AWD eats tires faster than RWD and FWD.

I knew it wasn't my fault I needed new tires after ~30k!

[TD2K]

The higher wear is worth it when you are in less than ideal conditions. I love AWD, I'm not so sure I would make it a must in my next car but I definitely like it.

We had snow here last night so I put on my Michelin snow tires I bought last year and never put on because we didn't have enough snow to justify putting them on. Very, very nice.

[hogrster]

"living on no money" was meant as a metaphor. Not to be taken literally. However, many years ago one of the girls in the office needed new tires for her car. She was making very little money and spent what money she had on partying. I told he to go to a local junk yard because they get new cars that have been totaled and sometimes you can get nearly new tires for cheap. Well, she did. Turns out she went to high school with one of the boys and by the time she got done with them she got the tires, had them mount them and balanced for WAY cheap.
Be creative and think out side the box. : )

[Opti]

"living on no money" was meant as a metaphor.

I figured as much. Its not a metaphor I use because I believe thoughts create one's reality. Thanks for the story.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

TD's right.....I love driving his car and would spend all day entering and exiting the highway, if I could. Now I understand his complaints when he'd get behind an 18 wheeler on the entrance ramps!

I asked how much it'd cost to get my Forester chipped, but it turns out that I'd probably be better off buying a new one with the turbo engine.

FWIW, I still have the original set of tires on my Forester and it's got 34K miles on them. They don't appear to be badly worn at all and I should be able to easily get about 50K out of them, if they continue to wear at the same rate. I have been very meticulous about rotating them every 10K miles though.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I absolutely adore my boss's Infiniti G37. I'd love to take it for a drive some time but am not about to pay that price for a car!

[The J]

Jan 10, 2011 11:06:27 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

I absolutely adore my boss's Infiniti G37. I'd love to take it for a drive some time but am not about to pay that price for a car!

My BIL has a 2011 G37 -- it's awesome to drive. I figure if my car can last me until 2013, I can get a 2009-2010 model for around $20k.

[efco]

+1 for mentioning Top Gear (UK version, right?)

My next car will most likely be a 2.4l Fiat Dino Spider.