Sporty Cars in the $15,000 - $18,000 Range - Suggestions?
 

Within the next month I'm planning on buying a new vehicle. I'm a nineteen year old college student, and have a fair amount of money to spend on a new vehicle, so of course I'm looking for a car which best fits me and does exceptional in the great scheme of things, attracting the opposite sex. :) I've nearly made up my mind on buying a 2000 Mr2 Spyder, because I love the way it looks. It's only a 140 horsepower vehicle, so not that strong though. Although, I'm only searching for the best looking car for about the 16,000 dollar range. I'm hoping to put a veilside bodykit on it and possibly 18's as well (eventually), so a car that can look exceptionally well after being modded are also suggestions that I'd like to hear from you all.

To give an idea, the car that I've found so far that I like the most is this:

http://galleries.wheels24.co.za/cars.../images/07.jpg


And the same car after being modded with the veilside kit and wheels:


http://urbanracer.com/gallery/galler...pyder/0002.jpg



If there are any known problems with this car or any suggestions on cars somewhat like this one, I'd love to hear them. I don't want to buy a car then decide this isn't what I reallly would like to have. Thanks in advance. :)

Scott

as far as problems with it, i would think it should be a decent car, my dads owned a bunch of toyotas from a tercel, celica, and up to a supra and the only down fall has been the body stayin rust free, other than that, they all ran forever.

i dunno bout that kit tho, looks kinda funky by the front of the doors but... to each his own. if you like it, go for it.

That's cool. I've been told pretty much the same by a lot of friends of mine about toyotas, they seem to be pretty reliable vehicles.

Thanks for the feedback.

Scott

If you can go up to $20K, I'd suggest a Dodge SRT-4.

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articl...neon_srt-4.jpg

Underrated at 215 HP, it is the benchmark on economy performance.

If you really are determined to stay in the $15-$18K range, I'd suggest a 97-01 Honda Prelude -

http://www.edmunds.com/media/roadtes...e.f3-4.500.jpg

You will love the 200 HP VTEC engine and the fit/finish is awesome.

Paul

Get a V6 Mustang. Around 200 horses and could pull one off for the price you are looking for. Mustangs are easily modified as well so you will not have trouble finding parts that fit.

That SRT-4 is definately a sweet looking car. I don't know that I've seen one actually before either, which is a good thing. On the other hand, not a fan of mustangs or preludes. I made myself promise one day that I'd never own a mustang. 4 different people in my graduating class had a mustang... I refuse. lol

Once again, appreciate the suggestions, especially the SRT-4, that really is a nice lookng car.

Scott

i dont like mustangs either. i dont think they are very pretty lookin.

we used to have a joke goin round. "sure we could race, but even if you win, your still drivin a mustang." i guess it was funny at the time, lol, now.. i dont care what you drive as long as it makes ya happy. just dont be a dick about it.

or is that something that people with slow cars say. ha.

you could get a used civic and blow the other 12 g's on performance parts, make one that actually runs strong and isnt just winged and NAWS stickered........

i'd like to see a stock lookin civic that could blow the doors off of anything in its path...

more so, i'd like to see a Mitsubishi Expo LRV do it.

sleepers fuckin kick ass!

;)

Sleeper -> Beware of the minivan

Heh heh heh.

Paul

I actually thought about the civic route, but my roommate drives one. Lol Ugh... such a hard decision.

Scott

i've had many wet dreams about a 9second caravan...


ok no i didnt. but that'd be the ULTIMATE.

hahah!

i used to have a 1979 honda civic 1200, i so wanted to drop in a newer civic motor in it, ok, its not DROP IN, but anyways... even a stock dx motor would have been sweet, shit the 79 had 52hp when it was new, imagine it with like 90. :lol:

I like the Tiburon Plus it has a 10 year 100k mile warranty.

http://www.hyundaiusa.com/images/sho...iburonBig1.jpg

http://www.hyundaiusa.com/images/sho...iburonBig4.jpg

Click me

I dunno. Fot that kind of money, you can get a really sweet deal on a used camaro.

http://www.afxracing.net/cars/cowl1.jpg



http://www.afxracing.net/cars/cowl2.jpg


1999 z28

This one is for sale right now (not by me) for $13,000. It has 47 K miles, practically new.

Mini Cooper...

Doesn't look sporty, and the engine isn't incredible, but the handling is superb and it's made by BMW.

Sentra SE-R Spec V
Dodge SRT-4
Used Z28 (unreliable but WAY fast)
99-00 Civic Si

any of those would be fine, but please, I beg of you, don't slap an ugly ass body kit on it. All they are is excess weight designed to make slow cars look fast. If you wanna mod, go find yourself a Fox body 5.0 Mustang and go nuts.

Super Street has an awesome body kit for the SRT-4 (not in production, but maybe in a while)

http://www.projectviper.com/srt4/ss/myversion.jpg

if i was you, and i was going to buy an impractical 2 seater, i would save up an extra $4k and get a '97 vette. remember when attracting chicks that your car can look as fast as it wants, but they will know, when they sit down and you take them for a spin, whether or not your car is as fast as their Eclipse or Civic or whatever they drive.

and then you'd have a vette, that'll just attract EVERYBODY *droool*

If you like the MR2 have you looked at the miata?

Not sure if are aware or not but the MR2 has only slightly more storage space than a motorcycle. I know that practicality isn't really an issue with sports cars but at least the miata can store an overnight bag.

Plus they are just better :) (if you can't tell I own one)

http://www.paradise.raleigh.nc.us/al.../aat.sized.jpg

http://www.paradise.raleigh.nc.us/al.../aau.sized.jpg


However, that said, I really wouldn't recommend a really nice car on a college campus. Unless you are prepared for numerous door dings, possible vandalism, and what not. Sure you see nice cars parked on campuses... but it just doesn't seem like that wise of an idea to me, especially if you really care about it and have put a lot of effort into it.

This what I drive on campus:

http://www.paradise.raleigh.nc.us/al.../aac.sized.jpg

Consider something a little older that you wouldn't mind getting a little banged up but that you still enjoy. I love my GTI. If you like civics maybe consider a CRX or or an early 90's civic, something that is still fun to drive but not worth so much in monetary and personal value.

Christ I just realized I sound like my father :( :p

i agree on the Miata too... you might want to look at it, they can be quick little cars.

Don't really care for the Miata or the Camaro as much as the MR2, but the Tiburon and that bodykit on the SRT-4 are badass. I'm never going to decide... think I'll do some reading on the Tiburon and look into bodykits for it and the SRT-4 too. What's so great about the bodykits and them making the car look better is I don't absolutely have to buy it now, but I can get it later down the road after I have the car and have the money to spend again. :)

Thanks so much for all the great responses!

Scott

I've ridden in one of those MR2's. I don't know if you've driven them, but here's my review:

The friend who was driving had me time a bunch of 0-60 runs. It felt a lot faster than the 8-9 seconds we were getting (no clutch drops or anything), but the main reason was that the car is geared really high to make it feel powerful. Those gears run out around 50 mph though. After that, its a slug. And the engine starting ticking for a bit after the abuse.

Handling was good. There's no visibility with the top up. The interior is really cheap. Fun car though.

At that price, you could probably find a nice 92-96 6 speed vette though, which I think is much better.

as with most convertibles
the insurance companies would really go for that one. lol my 30 yr old boss tried to get one... they told him basically to come back when your married and have kids and they'd give him insurance that he could afford... maybe.

Good point on not having to spend the money now when it comes to body kits. Like I said before, it would be a shame to pour a lot of money into a car only to have some jackass on campus slam his door into or worse slam his whole car into it.


Unless your boss has a horrible record I'd tell him to look for a different insurance company. I know guys who are 25 and own and insure corvettes :)

I agree. I've owned a vette since I was 17. Its an old one, but probably worth more than most 92-96's. Sure insurance is expensive, but its not impossible. If he has money for major body kits etc, I don't think there's a problem (w/o past tickets at least).

Mini Coopers are cheap, agile and they are CHICK MAGNETS. My dad also says they are 'status cars' though I dont agree with him, he still insists that they are.

If you really want fun with a Cooper, save money for 6 more months and buy the Cooper S.

Considered the RX7?

http://members.aol.com/s3tpwr/images/anna%20rx7-02.jpg

http://www.mediawars.ne.jp/~rxseven/rx7-5-2.jpg

All the Rotary goodness a boy could want. And they're something unusual too.

http://www.rx7.com.au/pics/specs-rx7-page.jpg

Rx7....looks good but they are way unrelaible I hear. I guess anything after 40 k miles and your are due for an engine faliure (some seal problem or somehting)..


Hey you want something with a body kit.... Give ya three guess what this car origonally was...






http://www.k1-styling.sk/evo1/exterior/strecha5.jpg



http://www.k1-styling.sk/evo1/exterior/strecha2.jpg
http://www.k1-styling.sk/evo1/exterior/hisi.jpg



The kit runs around 7 K.



and a few links of video

http://www.k1-styling.sk/evo1/video/v3.jpg

http://www.k1-styling.sk/video/video1.avihttp://www.k1-styling.sk/evo2/evospeed0.jpg

New Eclipse^

I agree with the Tiburon, a 170 horse V6, plus you can get it new with the great warrantee.

Miatas are nice as well, and have one of the most reliable engines on the planet. They are not as practical as the Tiburon however, and insurance on a 2-seat RWD convertable is gonna hurt more than on a 2+2 FWD coupe.

nope

I thought it was an accord, and then I checked the link you gave... I can't see any of the original car left in that. Impressive.

yeah you can. the windshield/roof/side windows give it away.. .

Mini coopers aren't that cheap, at least not around Boston. My friend is probably getting one, and it's going to run him about 25K.

SRT-4's are deffinetly the way to go. They are very fast 0-60 5.6 sec. top speed 153, beats a 350Z in accel and has great handling and brakingg, im 18 and i drove one at a dealer, rad car man, deffinetly. 215 turbo. when i drove you can feel the turbo kick in at about 3k rpms, which is early, the stock kit on it is awesome, i love it in black look in to them

get a sick r32/r33 gtr. Check out the Japan Auctions.

That car with the body kit is a Supra. You could look at a Mazdaspeed Protege, they are turbocharged with 170HP, not exactly a rocketship, but the handling is incredible.

if it's a Supra, it looks much better without the kit !

Its not a supra

He is absolutely dead on.

i know for certain you can pick up a r32 or even a r33 gtr between 8000-20000, however try getting that damn car legalized and titled and everything, gonna cost you atleast 17k, not to mention shipping, taxes, bonds and what not. i would know because i have a black 1995 r33 gtr in hong kong right now, but only have about 10k saved up to bring that beast state side.

i'd go and look for a e36 bmw for about 3-4 grand, m3 engine and tranny swapped would run you about 5 grand parts and labor, and that leaves you about 9grand for reiger kits, new racing seats, 18 inch rims, suspension mods and engine performance mods. there's a guy selling his 325 shell with full m3 interior upgrades, suspension and brake upgrades for 4grand , just needs a engine and tranny