I am looking to buy a new (to me) car within the month. I have a MAX budget of $12,000 but in cash, no financing. I have considered all of the following but would like some advice from those who may have experience (past or present) with owning or driving some of these cars. I too have driven all of them, but years apart and don't exactly remember them all so well.

I am in college, I have a Jeep that I can drive if I need to because of weather. I don't need to haul much, but I also do not have a garage either, no big deal.

I am looking for the most satisfying car overall for the price. It must be reliable, I understand certain maintenance needs to be done and I am ok with that but by no means do I want to get into a car that is going to be a handful. The car will see driving as much as possible, maybe an occassional track trip or two for fun. I want something that can with stand performance driving when I want to, and calm A to B driving when that's the job.

Here are the contenders:

2003-2004 Nissan 350z:

Pros:

They look and sound nice, handle pretty well and have a good amount of power for what it is. Rear wheel drive is a bonus too.

Cons:

Questionable reliability, I have heard of plenty of transmission problems and engine problems, people on their 2nd transmission and engine etc etc. VQ35's even early ones have had oil consumption issues and I wouldn't have one with a warranty. I can find one with fairly low mileage (50k+) for my price which would be nice

2000-2003 Honda s2000:

I love the car, I can find plenty in my price range but oil burning concerns me. They are said to be very reliable and there is no question of whether I want one or not but again I don't want to deal with engine problems that are significant if I don't have to...

2004-2005 Dodge SRT-4:

Yes it's a Neon, but it also has a great engine (tough too), tough transmission, a quaife LSD stock and responds to mods very well. It is FWD though which isn't ideal, and a lot of douche bags drive them... but it's a reliable car, fun to drive and Sport Compact cars project SRT-4 pulled a 1.01g with Mopar S2 coilovers. They are fast with bolt ons too (exhaust and WGA = low 13's)...

Acura RSX Type S:

Nicely built, look nice too but no torque, expensive to mod and get tromped by SRT-4's for a third of the modification price... Meh, I don't even know why it's on the list.

2002-2005 Subaru WRX:

I like the bugeye ones, because there is no STi version state side for it to be wannabeeing. Turbo lag sucks with the EJ20, but it handles pretty well, I love how it looks but the questionable drive train strength as well as the questionable longevity and strength of the EJ20 bothers me. Plenty are used and abused by kids doing differential crushing 5500rpm clutch dumps.

Acura Integra Type R:

Great car, scarce and cool but it's still FWD and probably going to get stolen... J/K

2004-2005 Pontiac GTO:

Cheap, reliable, surpisingly well built (Holden) and FAST with an LS1 for the 2004 and the 6.0L 400hp LS2 for 2005... I've found plenty in good condition for my price range. The Automatic transmission BLOWS however, it is often confused for a damn Grand Am or Grand Prix and...

Mazda RX-8:

No...

2006 VW GTI:

Overall good car, but questionable reliability and FWD kill it for me...

2005+ Subaru Legacy GT:

Cheap, good performer... I like the car a good deal but it is notorious for stock turbo issues which are expensive, unpredictable and there is no sollution beyond busting out $1,000 bucks for another one.

G35 Coupe 6MT:

I'd love to have one of these and I can find them in my price range with out a million miles on them but like the 350z issues I fear that the G35 will be plagued with the same.

I am open to other suggestions. Looking for help on the issue. Thanks

 

G35 Coupe (05 and up) AT


why?:

Fun car and no problems that you get with MT version.

 

Id get the GTO, i was looking at one until i saw the G
Faster, Sportier (IMO), more fun to drive.
Also should get a little better gas mileage (i think), and cheaper to maintain.

 

I can't believe you are just blatently disregarding the RX-8. I have a friend with one and they are an incredibly satisfying car to drive - perhaps a bit underpowered, but it handles like a dream, has good looks with minimal modifications to the body (factory kit looks awesome) and is great on an autocross course.

As far as the others - the RSX and Integra Type R - both nice, but probably not what you are looking for it sounds like.

Honestly, if you're giving up on the G - i think the GTO or the WRX are your top picks. I love the bugeyed Suby's as well!

Good luck - definitely let us know where you end up.

P.S. - please don't get the SRT-4 - true it's fast, but it's still a neon.

 

s2k

 

+1 :d

u seem like u dont want ANY problems and want to drive a reliable car.

outa the whole list i would have to say the s2k is the most reliable.

somewhat good gas milage too.

 

i would have to say s2k or rsx,integra or wrx with that list, reliable great cars that can be fast too.

i don't know where you are getting the reliability problems idea with the 350z and g35, because if you really look at it, it is the huge minority having problems and ones that do have problems are generally the early ones such as 03.

 

since when is a wrx reliable ?

 

i like the wrx! but dang bro u come to a g35 website and diss us like no other dont hate on it til you have had one

 

cause on the flip side i wouldnt trade my car for any of those listed

 

G35 or GTO. My buddy has a GTO and with a couple grand you can make them into beast. Make sure you get the LS2 motor though.

350Z- Maybe. Really small inside.
S2000- Hell No
RSX Type-S- Not my style. My girlfriend drives one though.
Subura WRX: Would if I couldn't get a G35,GTO,or 350z.
Type-R: No thanks. Rather have a V6.
RX-8: Never really liked those
VW GTI: Never liked them
Subura Legacy GT: Is this a joke?

 

are we talking about non modded or modded? non modded most wrx's dont have many problems.

 

^ turbo will always have problems when not handled properly

 

I'm not dissing G35's and 350z's... but in my price range I can only get an early model.

 

Ls2 gto.