What does the RACER community drive?

[2o6]

Just curious. I bought my 1st car last week, a 1996 Plymouth Neon coupe.

 

[unipipe]

290hp S50B30

 

[KS95]

We've replaced the clutch (mis-used by previous owner...), turbo (lols), suspension and belts. We're currently about to get new cam seals and new belts (timing and power steering) and a new water pump.

The timing belt snapped, because oil had came out of the cams from worn cam seals.. Final Destination 5? xD

Just to continue, since then: the car lost all power, the turbo wouldn't do anything, then the engine caught fire.

However, now that's been sorted (mechanic's mistake caused loss of power, a split oil cable caused the fire) it's running like a dream at the moment!

 

[Harey]

However, now that's been sorted (mechanic's mistake caused loss of power, a split oil cable caused the fire) it's running like a dream at the moment!

Until the next problem arises

 

[KS95]

Nah, I can't imagine there'll be one for a while now. The engine's been rebuilt, it should be okay for a long while, unless the transmission goes, but it seems to be fine still

Japanese cars are reliable, it's just that ours had a fair bit of millage on it, and the previous owner ruined the clutch, suspension and turbo. The rest is just age.

 

[Harey]

Nah, I can't imagine there'll be one for a while now. The engine's been rebuilt, it should be okay for a long while, unless the transmission goes, but it seems to be fine still

Japanese cars are reliable, it's just that ours had a fair bit of millage on it, and the previous owner ruined the clutch, suspension and turbo. The rest is just age.

My sister's old escort was reliable. could be put up there with the reliability of the best of them I think. for a couple years we were basically running it into the ground and the car wouldn't have that. nearly 100k miles worth of all city miles on a 13 year old vehicle. the body was getting rusty, the bumpers were faded (yet they were painted bumpers). even so didn't drink oil, at one point had a trans leak, but it fixed itself. only reason we got rid of it was because my sister wanted a new car, which is being less reliable I feel lol. I know that Caliber has been to the dealer more times then that Escort and my PT have been to a dealership combined. But the Escort never was at a dealer, unless it was dropping another car off lol. But I think I will always put those early 90s escorts on a bit of pedestal for reliability, 13 years old and the most expensive part i had replaced on it was either the rad or the exhaust. lol but it wasn't powerful, nor pretty, but it got the job done. if that thing isn't a reliable car, I don't know what is. Of course my other sister had a escort that was a year older, and when something would break on it, we would wait to see if my other sister's car would break the samething (it always did). that was finally gone a year or two ago, blew the head gasket, at 180k miles, mostly freeway I believe, but that thing was pretty much stone dead reliable too, only times it was down was because someone had backed into it.

 

[CelicaGT]

about the Celica's, there's the super strut suspension which actually is quite delicate... so you have to watch out, on polish roads, which are bumpy and full of holes, those super struts don't live for too long :/ mine is wearing out... i'm planning to do a conversion for the normal mcpherson + new bilstein b4 dampers + tein springs, coming soon

 

[KS95]

Yeah, I know what you mean. The SS is a great system, handles really nicely, but they have been known to have some problems. My dad, being an ex rally driver, knows all the great rally driving roads, and doesn't exactly drive down them slowly.. Thankfully our suspension is reletively new, so it should be alright until we can get some tein springs ourselves

 

[CelicaGT]

well if your dad's a rally driver he should know the WRC Celica didn't have the SS it had the usual mac pherson, modified for rallying ofc

the SS is technically nice, but in reality turns out to be too delicate for rally use

I know a company which produces rally suspensions for the GT-Four based on the macpherson, but the price is erm...

 

[KS95]

From what I heard, the road-version WRC did have the SS, but the real rally cars didn't. Maybe I'm wrong *shrug*

 

[2o6]

My sister's old escort was reliable. could be put up there with the reliability of the best of them I think. for a couple years we were basically running it into the ground and the car wouldn't have that. nearly 100k miles worth of all city miles on a 13 year old vehicle. the body was getting rusty, the bumpers were faded (yet they were painted bumpers). even so didn't drink oil, at one point had a trans leak, but it fixed itself. only reason we got rid of it was because my sister wanted a new car, which is being less reliable I feel lol. I know that Caliber has been to the dealer more times then that Escort and my PT have been to a dealership combined. But the Escort never was at a dealer, unless it was dropping another car off lol. But I think I will always put those early 90s escorts on a bit of pedestal for reliability, 13 years old and the most expensive part i had replaced on it was either the rad or the exhaust. lol but it wasn't powerful, nor pretty, but it got the job done. if that thing isn't a reliable car, I don't know what is. Of course my other sister had a escort that was a year older, and when something would break on it, we would wait to see if my other sister's car would break the samething (it always did). that was finally gone a year or two ago, blew the head gasket, at 180k miles, mostly freeway I believe, but that thing was pretty much stone dead reliable too, only times it was down was because someone had backed into it.

I almost bought a ZX2, but I was moving too slow, and the one I wanted ended up getting sold.

--------------------


I'm really looking to get rid of my Neon Coupe after the winter. I like it, but I would like something newer and less disposable.

My contenders (3-4K USD)

- Ford Focus (Sedan likely)
- 2nd Gen Dodge/Plymouth Neon
- Chrysler PT
- Mazda Protege
- Hyundai Elantra (2001+, GT Hatch preferred)
- Honda Civic
............ anything else?

 

[CelicaGT]

KS95 - the road version did have the SS, like any other ST205, but the rally version never had it - as Toyota just knew it was too delicate for rallying... so they used the usual macpherson

 

[Krisz]

I almost bought a ZX2, but I was moving too slow, and the one I wanted ended up getting sold.

--------------------


I'm really looking to get rid of my Neon Coupe after the winter. I like it, but I would like something newer and less disposable.

My contenders (3-4K USD)

- Ford Focus (Sedan likely) :bad:
- 2nd Gen Dodge/Plymouth Neon :bad:
- Chrysler PT it has cool exterior
- Mazda Protege :bad:
- Hyundai Elantra (2001+, GT Hatch preferred) :bad:
- Honda Civic maybe
............ anything else?

Imo most of these cars in the list are the most boring ones you can get. I mean they have no soul and everybody has them. I don't know where you live and what prices there are, but I would rather look Saab's, Bmw's, Volvo's and so on. For example I would buy Volvo s70 T5 for about 4k. Okay it's old, looks like a box and has front wheel drive but atleast it can bring smile on your face when you accelerate. But everybody has their own opinions and preferences, I just hate these small fwd citycars.

 

[CelicaGT]

Mitsubishi Eclipse?

 

[KS95]

The only ones on the list I would say maybe to is the Mazda and the Civic. But I agree with Krisz, I'd rather have something that would put a smile on my face, and the Volvo sure does sound good

 

[2o6]

Mitsubishi Eclipse?

HAH. No. 2001+ cars are horrible, (It drives no better than a Galant, which in itself is nothing special) and before 2001, most of them have been riced out or have a billion miles on them.

The only ones on the list I would say maybe to is the Mazda and the Civic. But I agree with Krisz, I'd rather have something that would put a smile on my face, and the Volvo sure does sound good

Keep in mind I'm in the US. Volvo didn't sell that many 5-speed manual V/S70's. The ones in this price range are the beat to death automatic NA 5-cyls.

Imo most of these cars in the list are the most boring ones you can get. I mean they have no soul and everybody has them. I don't know where you live and what prices there are, but I would rather look Saab's, Bmw's, Volvo's and so on. For example I would buy Volvo s70 T5 for about 4k. Okay it's old, looks like a box and has front wheel drive but atleast it can bring smile on your face when you accelerate. But everybody has their own opinions and preferences, I just hate these small fwd citycars.

Saab (9-3)- The Focus has a better chassis and is better on gas, just as quick and cheaper. It's also far more reliable and much less expensive to fix. Parts for the US Focus are pretty cheap, but parts for any non-mainstream foreign car is pretty slim. And to top it all of, Saab really never made too big of a dent in the US market.

Volvo - No thanks. Not the most reliable, hard/expensive to fix.

BMW- There are no decent BMW's for 3-4K USD.

Besides, the Focus drives better than the Protege. The PT Cruiser has the most HP, but it's also the heaviest. The 2nd Gen Neon drives pretty well, but I don't want another version of the same car I have now. I'm also quite partial to the MKIV Jetta/Golf/New Beetle. Beetles are dirt cheap, too.


I hate people that hate FWD cars; they're awesome and 9/10 times (in everyday use) it doesn't matter what wheel drive the car is.

 

[FVR]

Sweet worries... I'd say go for Golf 4 with manual transmission. I assume you live in the States so you prefer a petrol engine, in that case 1.8T 20v 110kw (first choice) or 1.8 20v 92kw are pretty much all what you need - 110kw goes well, engine is great and reliable + US models are usually better equipped than European. 1.6 8v 75kw goes well to, but it feels underpowered and drinks like 1.8's and it isn't exactly a thriller...
Anyway, good luck with the search...

 

[KS95]

Imo, golfs are very boring. The only thing I like about my friends new £32k (ridiculous!) Golf R, is the fact that the rear-view camera is hidden behind the VW badge.

 

[Harey]

Now buying a new (to you) car is for sure going to bring up biased people, what it comes down to is which car you like. I will admit before I got my PT I was looking heavily into ZX2's as well (I wanted a 5 speed one, most were in that fire engine red as well). Its also that some people live in different parts of the world so prices for specific vehicles may be different then in other parts of the world.

But my PT besides oil changes and tires and lower control arm bushings. hasn't been much of a problem really. (lower control arm bushings are quite common on them). gas mileage isn't impressive at all, I'm achieving 19mpg in the city, but I should note I have aftermarket wheels that are heavier then factory.

The Neon, I've never seen it as a bad car myself as far as I know it gets pretty good gas mileage its good on power, and I'd imagine its a bit better in the turns then the PT lol.

Now being who I am and being a bit of a Ford fan (of their current products at least). I know the 2nd gen Focus (or is it 3rd gen here not sure, 08-11 models though), those were based on the Mazda 3 platform, and they drive very nice. the older ones I didn't like the styling so much nor the driving position, but from what I've heard good little cars.

The Mazda Protege looks good, not sure its really as reliable as the other ones though. but I'd imagine being a small car it handles itself quite well on the roads.

Hyundai's, boring but good cars as I've heard.

Honda Civic, my limited experience with a 4 cylinder Accord, was quite terrible. the car never would run quite right, but it was 10 years old.

I do have one suggestion not sure if its in your price range though 2o6, but might be worth a look (and if you got it I would officially envy you) is a Chrysler 300M, not really less disposable but one sweet car nonetheless one from about 2001 should be right in your price range. 300M Specials are a little more desirable, but not running for much more. as far as i know the trans in those is good, engine, good, suspension good. worst part is gas mileage, which is like mid 20 to low 20s.

You could always look at the cra... I mean Cavaliar though I've heard bad things about those.

 

[2o6]

Imo, golfs are very boring. The only thing I like about my friends new £32k (ridiculous!) Golf R, is the fact that the rear-view camera is hidden behind the VW badge.

In the US, the Golf/Jetta is considered a premium alternative to the Chevy Cobalt(And the new Cruze), Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic.

Sweet worries... I'd say go for Golf 4 with manual transmission. I assume you live in the States so you prefer a petrol engine, in that case 1.8T 20v 110kw (first choice) or 1.8 20v 92kw are pretty much all what you need - 110kw goes well, engine is great and reliable + US models are usually better equipped than European. 1.6 8v 75kw goes well to, but it feels underpowered and drinks like 1.8's and it isn't exactly a thriller...
Anyway, good luck with the search...

The 1.8T is a price premium over the the 2.0 (2.slow) Jetta/Golf/Beetles that are on sale. The ones in the 3-4K price range is the Jetta/Beetle/Golf 2.slow (2.0L 8V, producing 115HP) and really only the Beetle and Jetta. Hatchbacks typically don't sell well in the US (although that seems to be changing with cars like the new Fiesta and Honda Fit) unless they're cutely styled (Chevy HHR, Chrysler PT, VW Beetle). Likely, I'd end up with a Jetta sedan, not a Golf. If I were to get a VW 1.8T car, I'd have to go up a class size and look for a Passat. I've seen a few Passat 1.8T's in this price range. I prefer to have a smaller car, but the extra space could come in handy. The only Diesel engine we got was the 1.9 TDI (90HP) which is rare as all get out. If you do find one, expect to pay a hefty premium over a 2.0, VR6 or 1.8T car, because not only are they rare, but given the recent surge of demand for small diesels (VW is the only automaker that isn't premium or sells trucks to offer a diesel in their cars) they're in demand. Also, they typically have four times the mileage of a petrol/gas powered car.

Also, the US never got the 20V NA 1.8L.

 

[francomk]

Keep in mind I'm in the US. Volvo didn't sell that many 5-speed manual V/S70's. The ones in this price range are the beat to death automatic NA 5-cyls.
Volvo - No thanks. Not the most reliable, hard/expensive to fix.

Besides the fact, I´m in central Europe, if I were you, I would go for Volvo 850 ;-)
It´s reliable car and I want to buy one 850 Estate (or the V70) in the next few years. Volvo´s seem to be expensive to repair. But think about the fact, that they won´t break up as often as other cars in this category of comfort and safety