what car would you buy? your opinion is encouraged

jeep9mm

New Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Charlotte, Wilmington
I am getting out of the 4x4 game. I want a used car that can be had at around 20K. I want less than 30K miles and year 2003 is the oldest I plan on buying. Its gotta be manual and relatively fast, but most importantly reliable. Also, i want relatively decent gas mileage and so I am not really looking nor like mustangs, camaro, or the like

Suggest others that I have not thought of and post your opinions of the cars I am considering...thus far they are:
- 2005 Subaru Legacy GT (my favorite thus far...awd, 250hp)
- 03-06 Honda Accord V6 6 speed
- 03-04 Acura TSX

man, is it tough to find these cars...help a brotha out

thanks
 
The Acura and Honda will both have higher insurance rates if that's something you look at. And I Know a guy that had the tranny replaced in his 04 V-6 Accord within 30k, not that they are all bad or have problem like the Odysseys, but that's also something to look at. Try Consumer Reports. I'd vote for any one of the three though.
 
If I were looking for a daily driver it would be Toyota or Honda. I've owned two Toyota trucks (still have the second one) and they have been great small trucks. I've never owned a Honda but my brother is a Honda specialist so I know where to go if I have a problem.
 
The Honda will have better resale than the others hands down. Beyond that, they all are pretty good cars. AWD and high HP usually equals shorter engine/tranny life if you enjoy driving it hard.
 
Something to keep in mind..... Parts for Honda/Acura are usually more expensive than others - sometimes outrageous. I know you're talking about a low mileage car, but something to think about if you want to keep it a while.
 
If yo uwant fun to drive, good mpgs and reliable, but less price tag, consider a Mazda6 V6. You could ptob get an '05 or maybe 06. My buddy averages 30+mpg on his, and I think the nwere warranties are 5 years (4 at least).
Or you could get a Mazdaspeed6, that's a screamer... ut spendy $$ and lower mpgs.
Zoom zoom Zoom!
 
I work for honda and that is what I vote for, I work for the south blvd store and we have a good used car collection and we take care of our customers a little to much haha.
 
If the quality of a Mazda 6 is the same as the mazda 3 stay the hell away.....

As for your choices... Honda Accord V6 hands down, the best vehicle you could possibly own, and get it Honda Certified, it will give you bumper to bumper til 75 or 100K miles for not much more $$$$.. See your local honda dealer
 
I have heard nothing but great things about the accord and I bet that V6 six speed combo is fun to drive, but at my price range its only available as a coupe bc that powertrain only came out as a sedan in 2006...but i may be able to live with a coupe, but I prefer 4 doors.
anyone have any knowldege on the subaru gt?

and thanks for the suggestions...how is VW's reliablity anyways? and is Scion quality as good as Toyota's?


keep the replies coming
 
I've had good luck with my mazda 626. I've but 75,000 miles on it after it already had 75,000 miles. I like mazda. Pretty much anything made in japan isn't going to be that bad. Mazda just doesn't have the name like honda does, so it is going to be a little cheaper, esp used. That being said, if i were you i'd look in to Nissan Maxima, those things can haul ass.
 
VW you are stuck going to the dealer for most repairs but i think they have a 5 year 40k mile warantee.

I havent heard anything bad about scion's and they have a toyota driveline. Look under the hood and it has Toyota VVti all over it.
 
Toyota makes Scion, exploder...

What about a used Infiniti G35? I love the coupes.
 
FWIW, I have had horrible luck with the VW New Beetles, mostly electrical, and ABS system which they share with the Jetta and the GTI. Ours at 55K on a 2001 (driven by my fiance, since 7K) had a $3,600 repair bill at the dealership for non warranty repair items to fix all of the dash lights.
 
Go for the Subaru!!! I have a 99 Legacy GT for a DD and it is great. I frequently go to the mountains of WV and VA during the winter months and the AWD is awsome. My dad liked my LGT so when it was time for himself to get a new car he bought a 2006 LGT. My dad said "IF I drive like a pussy, I can get 23 mpg city/hwy and 28 hwy" I have not driven the other two cars you listed but I am pretty sure they are not faster than the LGT. There are plenty of Honda/Acura on the road, go for something different and get the LGT, I do not think you will not be dissapointed.
 
A friend of mine has, I believe, a 2006 legacy gt. Might be an '05. Either way, it is a fun, fast car! Nice on the inside, good looking outside, AWD and Turbo.

Of the three you listed, it'd be my choice.
 
I have an 02 Honda V-6 2 door and man that car is quick.. we have about 60,000 miles on it and we love it..

That car is slower than my Dodge... (magazine guy 15.8 vs my 15.5 sec before the turbo & injectors) :flipoff2:
 
Its gotta be manual and relatively fast, but most importantly reliable. Also, i want relatively decent gas mileage

I have a friend with a 6-speed firebird that gets almost 30mpg on the interstates. of course that drops dramatically when you race from stoplight to stoplight, but its got something none of the other suggestions have ..... a V-8.
 
That car is slower than my Dodge... (magazine guy 15.8 vs my 15.5 sec before the turbo & injectors) :flipoff2:

hah yea i am looking for at least an 03...when the new line of accords came out and the v6 meant 240 hp not 190 or so...also equipped with acura's type s 6 speed...maybe this accord is faster than your dodge!
 
Yeah, the newer ones are turning 14.5's, and I know I'm in the 14's now, so it's a question of can someone launch and shift like the magazine guys... All I gotta do is build some boost and floor it.

14.5 is quick though... IIRC 5.0 mustangs in the early-mid 90's were turning that...

My vote is for the Subaru just because the TSX is kinda like a rich kid's ricer, and Accords are a dime a dozen.

Just get an Element.. :gay:
 
Subarus are nice if you're a female who's "celebrating diversity". The Forester and outback scream that fact, the WRX and STI are exempt.
 
Any opinions on Subaru's reliability? My dad owned a 1992 years ago and it was very reliable, but that was a while ago. Big Woody...how is the Legacy GT not exempt? It has more hp than the wrx(not the sti, tho) and it looks i think much better because it is less ricey.
I just dont think anyone with a college degree or older than 23 should be driving what some WRXs look like. In fact, personally I think that even if you keep the wrx stock, it still looks sort of ricey..but im mostly criticizing the ones with huge spoiler and huge ass subaru rally stickers and all that jazz.
 
I just bought a Scion xB (the toaster looking one) mostly due to size of the interior combined with 30mpg around town and the 17k price tag NEW!

This thing is a Toyota with different branding, motor has Toyota symbols, etc as does the glass, etc. If you want something Toyota without the higher price tag, look at the Scions, you can be in a NEW car for your 20k.

Mine came in at 19k with the special pkg and sunroof, etc. Front wheel drive wheel get you thru any snow NC gets, and if icy even 4x4s really should stay home.

Speed is not all that.. but mpg...literally double my excursion/diesel so my gas cost was cut in 1/2 (+ diff betw reg fuel and diesel too)

Sam
 
Back
Top