LoganSnake

I know that Altima and Solara don't really fit in with the rest of the cars I listed, but those are the ones I'm interested in. Could somebody who's owned any of the above listed cars tell me that pros and cons of each. Mainly realiability and handling. Thanks a bunch.

Model years 2000-2002.

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irseg

Mitsubishi isn't known for its reliability, and the newer Eclipses are overweight and slow (the GS-T is not, but those are older than your range and even less reliable).

From what I've read the Solara is a comfortable, reliable car, but it drives like a Buick.

So I'd knock those two off your list right away. The 3.5 V6 Altima is the fastest, it runs mid 14's in the quarter mile which is pretty impressive for a midsize sedan. The Celica and Integra would likely handle better, though.

Have you considered a Miata? They are about as good as you can get for an affordable car that handles well and is reliable.

animal909

celica is slow, even the gt-s, but in the twisties it drives nice. I would rather get that than an integ. THe solara is a nice cruiser, but if you want a bigger car, get the altima. the 3.5 is torquey as heck.

If you are into tuning, look on altimas.net, there is beginning to be a lot of aftermarket support. SSR is releasing a turbo which puts out 371lbs of tq at only 3500 rpm at i think 6 psi.

LoganSnake

I'm not into tuning. Basically I'm looking for a reliable commuter that looks good and is fun to drive. Snow is also a factor. Here in Chicago we get some nice snow once in a while. Would you recoment anything else that's reliable and good to drive?

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SpikeQX99

I've owned a 2001 Eclipse 4 cyl. and it was heavier than all hell, and had very little torque. Kinda a disappointment, looks nice, but rather gutless.

I still own a 1994 Integra, and it's a fun drive. It's my daily driver when I don't take the 350Z to work. It's got a pretty stout little 1.8L engine in it, but it's fairly light and agile too. I like the way it looks, and even being 10 years old, it still gets awesome gas milage.

As for the other cars? I don't really know. But of the Eclipse or Integra I'd say Integra all the way.

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animal909

for snow you are going to want AWD (thats what im told... i live in SoCal and only have seen snow twice =(

hmmm, i know a lot of subarus are awd or maybe a used g35x would be nice. also has the same vq as in the altima but it is a rear wheel based awd platform.

Halx

If I remember, the mid-90's eclipses were AWD. If you need handling, you may wanna try that out.

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LoganSnake

What about 2000-2001 Subaru Imprezas. Anybody has any driving experience with those cars? 2000 base model is around 9,000 so that should be pretty affordable.

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animal909

mid 90's eclipse would be nice especially cause the awd are turbo charged (if the elevation in your area is a couple htousand above sea level, this will help out in acceleration). They are kinda heavy for its size (due to the fact of the awd system) but that shouldnt be a problem since you have all that grip.

NorCal_DC4

I'd consider the Subaru Impreza 2.5RS if you want a reliable AWD sedan or coupe.

The youngest AWD Eclipse will be from '99, and they do have more maintenance issues as they age. They only points in favor of an AWD Eclipse is the abundance of aftermarket performance parts and the factory turbocharging.

Also, the 2.5RS will have better ground clearance than an Eclipse...and the Subaru EJ25 motor is a torquey son-of a gun, despite the lack of turbocharging.

A used WRX would also work, but be thorough in your pre-purchase scruitiny.
There's a tendency for this class of car to be"ridden hard and put away wet".

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merkerguitars

I hate the first and 2nd Gen eclipses...they are a pain in the ass to work on and never seemed to reliable compared to a Toyota. The AWD ones are nice but compared to the reliability of an AWD subaru it's almost night and day. Also the 2nd gen eclipses are way way way too small on the interior.

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LoganSnake

Well, my price range is about $13K max. Would Impreza 2.5RL fall into that price range? I'm a long time Subaru fan, but would never be able to afford a WRX at this time.

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NorCal_DC4

A 2000 2.5RS ought to come in around $11K with reasonable mileage.

I'd link you to Edmunds.com for reference, but I'm on my way out the door.

The short answer is yes, but be sure to check the car out thoroughly. Use a source like Edmunds to inform yourself of any recalls and what not.

Happy hunting!

EDIT: Here you go... Turns out I over-estimated a bit.

Edmunds.com TMV pricing - 2000 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS Sedan

Edmunds.com TMV pricing - 2000 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS Coupé

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Lockjaw

Can't believe I'm saying this but aren't Scions around 13-14k?

mosha

i have a 2k celica and i think it sucks in the snow. other than that i couldnt be more happier. lived in philly with it for about 3 winters, when it snowed that baby was like a sled. here in VA i dont have to worry as much. i put trd springs and a strut bar on it and the suspension on normal roads is amazing.

LoganSnake

Scion xA doesn't look all that hot to me and xB is a coffin on wheels. The only Scion I like is that cT model, but it's new and insurance prices for people under 21 are sky high. Especially on new cars.

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Stare At The Sun

A little info on the eclipse for you.

If you're going to get a pre 2000 eclipse, I do NOT advise getting a model in the years of 1995-1999. 2 reasons;
1. They come stock with the T-25 Turbo a puny thing that doesn't boost much at all. Also, the BOV is a POS.
2. CRANKWALK. Many of those cars "walk" and basically, your entire engine and bottom end goes bye-bye. You can't prevent it, happends to some, doesn't happen to others. But, it's definatly a possibility.

Also, I like the simple looks of the 90-94 models, as opposed to the supra look a like looks of the 95-99.

One last thing, not all of the eclipse/talon(same car) are turbo charged. The turbo charged models include;

GS-T Eclipse- Turbocharged Front wheel drive
GS-X Eclipse- Turbocharged All Wheel Drive
TSi Talon- Turbocharged Front wheel drive
TSI Talon- Turbocharged All wheel drive

Make sure you get the right model!



Back to the original topic;

I think it really depends on what you are looking for in your car;
Imo the Celica has an awesome interior, and dash cluster, and pretty good looks. I am considering buying one myself.

My personal vote goes for the celica, if you want a nice reliable, sporty looking car, with a great interior, i'd get that. Everything else, is to bland for my personal tastes. Just depends on what you really want.

Also, my mother has a 2003 eclipse GT, V6, etc, she likes it, but really, there is nothing to special about it.

However, if you want a "bigger" car, get the Altima, hands down.

LoganSnake

Hey, guys. Me again. I found another car that has caught my attention. How is Mitsubishi Galant? I heard that Mistus were unreliable, but this seems to be getting a lot of good reviews at Edmunds.com

I'm looking at the 2000-2001 model. Closer to base. Any opinions? Thanks.

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Stare At The Sun

Compared to the other cars you were talking about, it seems pretty much like a "bland" car. Not all that much style, imo.

LoganSnake

Yeah, I know. But it's cheaper.

Alright, let's say I have a $7K budget. What would be a nice, reliable car with style to buy for that price range? Car should be no older than 2000 (don't want to be in the shop every week).

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jamessh1

I'd recommend an integra. They are great looking cars with good performance, reliability and res-sale value. I've had my 99 for 1.5 years and modded the crap out of it, and never had any problems. The gas mileage is amazing (similar to mileage when car was stock) with around 100 whp added in mods.

Dizzet

Damn you guys have had the nicest cars damn in denmark we can only dream og these cars because in my age its impossible to have such cars even if I had the money, I still coldent get to drive it on the roads...

taylorspl

95-99 Eclipse/Talon's are reliable, they just require more maintenence than a non-turbo economy car. They also don't walk as much as some people would have you believe. Out of the cars listed I'd get the Integra or Altima.