need some input on new car

[ms6acton]

so i totalled my little ms3 about 2 months ago and i have been driving my 92 dodge stealth. well she's starting to die on me so im just gonna buy a used car. im trying to stay in the 10-15k range cause im buying a new condo too. so heres what ive come up with thus far in no particular order

04 srt4
04 330ci
06 cobalt ss
02 s2000
05 g35x
02 is300
04 rx8
03 protegespeed
04 eclipse
06 lancer ralliart
03 rsx s
04 a4
im taking into consideration fuel type since gas just keeps going up.
and i kno this is a mazda forum so it may be biased towards the 2 mazdas on there. any input would be great

 

[Capt Crunch]

If you want performance and you plan on modding, SRT-4. If you want a fun, reliable daily, RSX-S.

 

[blake_peanut]

IS300 or RSX-S for me.....

Edit: That ralliart actually has a decent pull to it, not a bad choice either.

 

[ms6acton]

i dont kno how much modding i will be doing to this one. probably just my daily driver. althought ive said that with all my cars. and slowly start pouring money into them.

 

[noGOfast]

If it were me... I'd get the s2k.

 

[builthatch]

3rd gen mitusbishi montero...

oh, wait, that's not on the list.

hmm...

g35x is a very nice car if maintained. they can be had for CHEAP; they take such big hits from new.

that really is the only car on that list that i'd consider. s2k is pretty useless unless you have the real estate in your area to use one. they are not that fun to drive otherwise IMO. i'd say the RSX but that k20 isn't what you think it might be when it gets to high mileage...they aren't the old honda engines, lol. timing chain changes and clutch changes, which used to be simple procedures (well, used to be timing belt) are now super PITAS.

ideally, if that is your price range, you might be better off just finding a clean 6th gen honda of your choice and swapping in a b18c from hmotorsonline. It'll run forever, is easy to work on (like nothing else, actually!) and offer good performance and wild gas mileage.

 

[///M Compact]

330ci or s2k

 

[Mazda3OnSpeed]

i would have 2 agree. you can do that or the srt 4 is not that bed ether. (thought) or how about (gossip) an RX7 =]

 

[nate0123]

6S v6 manual (220 hp regular gas)

 

[Alexsered]

so i totalled my little ms3 about 2 months ago and i have been driving my 92 dodge stealth. well she's starting to die on me so im just gonna buy a used car. im trying to stay in the 10-15k range cause im buying a new condo too. so heres what ive come up with thus far in no particular order

04 srt4
04 330ci
06 cobalt ss
02 s2000
05 g35x
02 is300
04 rx8
03 protegespeed
04 eclipse
06 lancer ralliart
03 rsx s
04 a4
im taking into consideration fuel type since gas just keeps going up.
and i kno this is a mazda forum so it may be biased towards the 2 mazdas on there. any input would be great

Go with the rsx s.
04 srt4-has been dogged by so many people, car is no longer stock or babied.
04 330ci-the service on the car will kill you, so expensive
06 cobalt ss-resale value is low and it's slow, not reliable GM car at all
02 s2000-RWD will kill you if its not bright and sunny outside.
05 g35x-This is an okay car, doesn't hold the value as much
02 is300-good car, but too big and RWD issues
04 rx8-RWD issues and POO POO reliability, sucks on gas bad
03 protegespeed-Reliability issues, also hard to find on that is not dogged
04 eclipse-not a popular car, and really boring to drive
06 lancer ralliart-Boring, and you might as well get a regular lanceer
03 rsx s-WINNER High resale value, even if it is dogged, honda does a reallygoodd job with their engines, will last forever
04 a4-VERY HORRIBLE reliability, service will kill you, basically don't buy an AUDI unless its new and has good warrenty.


I know alot of this has todo with opinion, but I know all the cars you have listed. Go with the rsx s, you won't be disappointed for the price.

 

[ms6acton]

i went and took an rsx-s out for a test drive today, and i must say its a pretty nice car. not nearly as fast as my old speed3 or stealth but still a really nice drive. and really comfy leather seats so far thats in the lead. also i forgot to mention that i live in canada so we get tonnes of snow. anyone have any suggestions that werent on my list? thanks everyone for their input!

 

[duy856]

i went and took an rsx-s out for a test drive today, and i must say its a pretty nice car. not nearly as fast as my old speed3 or stealth but still a really nice drive. and really comfy leather seats so far thats in the lead. also i forgot to mention that i live in canada so we get tonnes of snow. anyone have any suggestions that werent on my list? thanks everyone for their input!

rsx is a nice car :] lol. what about an 04 wrx? its awd. fun in the snow!

 

[///M Compact]

04 330ci-the service on the car will kill you, so expensive

Oh really? I have a 113K mile 1995 3 Series track rat as well as a 2004 X3 with 60K. The maintenance/repair costs for the 3er have averaged @$50/month since I bought it new in November 1995- and that number includes three sets of sticky ZR-rated track rubber. The X3 costs @$66/month to run. In comparison, my 2007 MS3 costs $50/month to run.

02 s2000-RWD will kill you if its(sic) not bright and sunny outside.

Please tell me that you are joking. Seriously, if you lack the ability to drive an s2k in the rain I strongly suggest selling any automobiles you do own and using the proceeds to buy bus tokens.

I know alot(sic) of this has todo(sic) with opinion, but I know all the cars you have listed.

Well, THAT is obvious...

 

[spdjnke]

Hey MS3Acton

As a former member of 3Si and owner of a 92 Stealth RT/TT, if you want to spend less money and get more bang for your buck I would say get a TT version of the 3kgt. Not to sell you or anything my buddy whom everyone knows on the 3SI site is parting with his 92VR4 show car in your price range if not less, let me know if your at all interested. PM me and I can give you all the details.

 

[Alexsered]

Oh really? I have a 113K mile 1995 3 Series track rat as well as a 2004 X3 with 60K. The maintenance/repair costs for the 3er have averaged @$50/month since I bought it new in November 1995- and that number includes three sets of sticky ZR-rated track rubber. The X3 costs @$66/month to run. In comparison, my 2007 MS3 costs $50/month to run.



Please tell me that you are joking. Seriously, if you lack the ability to drive an s2k in the rain I strongly suggest selling any automobiles you do own and using the proceeds to buy bus tokens.



Well, THAT is obvious...

Have you ever tried to take the S2000 in the snow? There is ZERO weight on those rear tires, I had more like driving a 5.0 GT mustang in the snow than an s2000.

I don't know how you get by keeping the BMW maint. so cheap, just an oil change at the BMW dealership here was acouple hundred dollars. I have a friend that I work with that just bought an 2008 335xi, that thing is sweet, twin turbo's and all, but he said if he didn't get the free maint. plan, there was no way he would have bought one. I was also shopping for a used M5 before I bought my mazdaspeed3, but after talking to people onthe m5 board, it was insane how much it cost to maint. a used BMW.

 

[Sacrilicious]

i went and took an rsx-s out for a test drive today, and i must say its a pretty nice car. not nearly as fast as my old speed3 or stealth but still a really nice drive. and really comfy leather seats so far thats in the lead. also i forgot to mention that i live in canada so we get tonnes of snow. anyone have any suggestions that werent on my list? thanks everyone for their input!

wrx or sti if you want good snow performance! evo works too, of course. AWD blows away FWD and RWD when it comes to snow performance. don't forget that subbies also have a very extensive aftermarket, so you can get more power cheaper for your subbie than we can for our ms3.

 

[///M Compact]

Have you ever tried to take the S2000 in the snow? There is ZERO weight on those rear tires, I had more like driving a 5.0 GT mustang in the snow than an s2000.

Fitting good winter tires and utilizing the traction control that resides between your ears helps a great deal.

I don't know how you get by keeping the BMW maint. so cheap, just an oil change at the BMW dealership here was acouple hundred dollars.

Just like Mazda dealers, some BMW dealers charge what the market will bear. My local dealer changed the ATF and transfer case oil on the X3 for only $208. And the same dealer performed the 60K(Inspection II) service, a brake fluid flush, and repaired some curb rash on the LF wheel for $424. In comparison, a 15K service and brake flush on the MS3 work beater cost $353. And I'm not scrimping on service; both BMWs get fresh Mobil 1 0W-40 at @7.5K intervals and all service called for is performed when it is due. I do most of the oil changes myself and I also use an indie BMW tech for a lot of the service on the 3er(an oil change, new plugs, coolant flush, new air/fuel filters, fresh synthetic in the MT and diff, balance/rotation of the tires, and a four wheel alignment was $495).

I have a friend that I work with that just bought an 2008 335xi, that thing is sweet, twin turbo's and all, but he said if he didn't get the free maint. plan, there was no way he would have bought one.

That just proves that your pal doesn't know what he's talking about, or-more likely-the dealer is trying to scare him into always owning a newish BMW in warranty. All that car needs is an oil change every 7.5K-for piece of mind 15K "by the book"($45 DIY, @$100 at an HONEST dealer or indie BMW shop), an Inspection I at @30K($100 DIY, $200-$250 at the dealer or indie, a brake flush every two years($110-$160), and the Inspection II around 60K($350-$400). The thing doesnt even get plugs until 100K. If it was my sled I'd also change the transmission/diff oils as well as the fuel filter at 50K($300), but BMW doesn't call for it.

I was also shopping for a used M5 before I bought my mazdaspeed3, but after talking to people onthe[sic] m5 board, it was insane how much it cost to maint. a used BMW.

I'll be the first to admit that an M5 isn't cheap to run, but those cars have a very complex powertrain. There is no way you can extrapolate the running costs of an M5 on to an E46 3 series- they are totally different cars. Buy a nice 330i and you can keep it in top shape for less than $800 per year- even if(like me) you track the thing every couple of months.

 

[Sacrilicious]

good lord, please tell me you didn't actually pay $353 for the dealer's so-called "recommended 15k servicing"? look over your manual and see what the ms3 REALLY needs at that mileage: an oil change and tire rotation. DIY for like $40...if you use good oil...=/

the point of the matter is that BMW 3 series can be maintained for $800 per year if you make sure you don't get ripped off, but a ms3 can be maintained by a mechanic/dealer for $100-$200 if you apply the same smart shopping skills.

 

[Alexsered]

Fitting good winter tires and utilizing the traction control that resides between your ears helps a great deal.



Just like Mazda dealers, some BMW dealers charge what the market will bear. My local dealer changed the ATF and transfer case oil on the X3 for only $208. And the same dealer performed the 60K(Inspection II) service, a brake fluid flush, and repaired some curb rash on the LF wheel for $424. In comparison, a 15K service and brake flush on the MS3 work beater cost $353. And I'm not scrimping on service; both BMWs get fresh Mobil 1 0W-40 at @7.5K intervals and all service called for is performed when it is due. I do most of the oil changes myself and I also use an indie BMW tech for a lot of the service on the 3er(an oil change, new plugs, coolant flush, new air/fuel filters, fresh synthetic in the MT and diff, balance/rotation of the tires, and a four wheel alignment was $495).



That just proves that your pal doesn't know what he's talking about, or-more likely-the dealer is trying to scare him into always owning a newish BMW in warranty. All that car needs is an oil change every 7.5K-for piece of mind 15K "by the book"($45 DIY, @$100 at an HONEST dealer or indie BMW shop), an Inspection I at @30K($100 DIY, $200-$250 at the dealer or indie, a brake flush every two years($110-$160), and the Inspection II around 60K($350-$400). The thing doesnt even get plugs until 100K. If it was my sled I'd also change the transmission/diff oils as well as the fuel filter at 50K($300), but BMW doesn't call for it.



I'll be the first to admit that an M5 isn't cheap to run, but those cars have a very complex powertrain. There is no way you can extrapolate the running costs of an M5 on to an E46 3 series- they are totally different cars. Buy a nice 330i and you can keep it in top shape for less than $800 per year- even if(like me) you track the thing every couple of months.

I'm not trying to say you are lieing, but anybody that know anything about cars would be very hard to agree with you that maint. a BMW is that cheap. BMW and CHEAP cannot be used in the same sentance, I don't think anybody here is going to believe that a BMW is cheap to maint.

that is also too much work to keep an s2000, getting snow tires, trying to drive it in the snow, or rain. I say, get the rsx s and you won't regret it at all. Really cheap to maint. the parts are everywhere and FWD is always easier to drive than RWD ifyou can't afford AWD.

 

[///M Compact]

I'm not trying to say you are lieing[sic], but anybody that know[sic] anything about cars would be very hard to agree[sic] with you that maint. a BMW is that cheap. BMW and CHEAP cannot be used in the same sentance, I don't think anybody here is going to believe that a BMW is cheap to maint.

Well, I've only owned, wrenched on, and raced BMWs since 1983, so I can't possibly know as much about them as you; after all, you have a friend who owns one.

that is also too much work to keep an s2000, getting snow tires, trying to drive it in the snow, or rain. I say, get the rsx s and you won't regret it at all. Really cheap to maint. the parts are everywhere and FWD is always easier to drive than RWD ifyou[sic] can't afford AWD.

Again, anyone who actually needs FWD or AWD to drive in the rain should do everyone else on the road a huge favor and start using public transit...