I just can't decide. I got a few grand burning a hole in my pocket, and can't decide what to do with it. I've got
Nissan 350Z
Honda S2000
Nissan Altima SE 3.5
was looking at
Infinity G35
Mazda RX-8
Honda Accord 2dr V6
Toyota Camry (Solara) V6
Subaru WRX Ti
but performance was not that great for the price. I like the accord and Camry, but I just don't have kids to haul around. The WRX is the best 0-60 time, but reliability and the fact that it's an ugly looker prohibits me from owning it. Too bad, they almost made a winner there.
I'm looking for about $23-$28 cash price, but may put 50% down just to avoid letting a few thousand separate me from a vehicular. My winter car (the Nissan Altima I currently have) is fading fast. @ 190k miles, I need to replace it.
The A/C is no longer working, and the dreaded hot/humid MN summer is closely approaching. I am not putting $600 into a car I don't intend to keep for more than a few months.
I was going to buy a 'hotrod' this fall when prices subside, but now is as good a time as any as there are a lot of 1-2 yr old used vehicles that have been hard to move with the low rate financing going around.
Replies (12)
swez on 04/18/2005 16:41:39
Considering the brutal winters there, the Subabru seems like a sensible option. AWD, plenty of ponies under the hood, but a bit ugly as stock. Maybe a few body mods will suit your taste for both speed and looks.
About your A/C... usually a leak in the freon system can be sealed with a leak sealer and then just add about 1-1.5 lbs of proper freon product (R134a on most newer cars) to the system and you should be good to go. As long as the compressor has not locked up, should be good to go in 30 mins.
A refresh kit can be had at any good autoparts store for well under $20.00. Just read the directions before diving in.
1. 1 can Leak sealer
2. 1# of 134a refriderant
3. 1 can of compressor lube mixed with freon
4. An Install line hose for suction side of compressor (some come with valve and psi gage)
Do this when ambient temps are above 70 degrees. Below that, the refriderant may not develop enough pressure to empty the can fully. Drop can in warm water (110 degrees) for a few minutes, then add freon.
Swez
PS Car systems have 2 test valves in the A/C system. One is a larger diameter line (suction side, low pressure) and a smaller line (pump side, high pressure). You will only be using the suction side for this application. Not to worry if you slightly overfill the system w/ new freon. The system has a high pressure blow off regulator to bleed off extra pressure. This is easy. A child can do this well with practice and some oversight.
Mr._Miyagi on 04/18/2005 17:51:33
Hey man, I tell you what, get that STi, they are just such a good car for the price. My buddy has one and it is just fantastic fun. I also do like the G35/350Z though, and if you want AWD, the New G35x I believe has it, also, i believe an increase in HP.
ttocs on 04/18/2005 18:24:49
g35 is a great car imo... I have done a few installs on them and been impressed with the quality and comfort, and amazed how easy a system went in it.
I will not allow you to complain about hot summers up there..... I have had no AC for 3 summers now, it is already 95, and not even close to stopping yet..........
montego_27 on 04/18/2005 18:56:31
Hey Brian, check out the Acura TSX. I went out in one the other night, ended up behind the wheel (after my sister had a few too many) and I was amazed with the performance and luxury of this car. Checked out a link:
http://www.acura.com/models/model_index.asp?module=tsx
MrBrownstone on 04/19/2005 14:37:18
Hey ttocs
At Least it's 'dry' heat :-) But on a serious note, I wear business attire, and a 4th degree pit sweat is not a good selling point.
At any rate, I took the G35 out because basically it was a slower 350Z and nothing more than that. Funny thing about Nissan, but you can get the same features as their Infinity counterpart much cheaper..except the Maxima, which should just be discontinued.
Might have to go with the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish to replace my McClaren F1. Tee hee...
ttocs on 04/19/2005 17:25:05
new G35 was supposed to be around 280 hp I thought, seems like that would be enough in that small of a car.
Yea, dry heat.... In a couple of months when I roll my window down it will feel like I am infront of a really big hair dryer. In good news though I can wear almost anything I want to work(generally shorts and a t-shirt). Once I am here it doesn't matter what I have on as the first thing I do is put on a gortex gown complete with hepa filter, and cruis into a year round climate controlled 74 degrees.....
MrBrownstone on 04/20/2005 13:31:28
The G35 has horsepower, but it doesn't make it to the wheels. It's 0-60 time is nearly 1 second slower than the 350Z!!! Smooth car, but the Altima is a better buy and $7500 cheaper and performs better with 40 less HP.
What do you do in a gown and a hepa filter? Follow Paris & Nicole Richie around sniffing their butts?
MrBrownstone on 04/21/2005 15:26:11
Evidently, I just had a sex change, because I decided not to decide. Couldn't come up with the deal I was looking for, so I balked.
At any rate, will try next month. Cars are just too hot right now. In MN, cars sell from the first melt to the dog days of summer....with a little resurgence with the late fall new car push.
swez on 04/21/2005 19:51:59
Fix the A/C as mentioned earlier and ride it out until you find a deal you can live with.
The cheapest car we ever own, is the one we drive that is paid for.
Swez GRIN
uochronos on 04/21/2005 20:05:17
you ever drove the subaru WRX MrB? if not i suggest a test drive because yes there looks are the looks only a movther could love but dear god they are fast as hell and handle like a dream very nice well rounded car.
also the RX8's are very nice as well supposedly the new generation rotary engines are alot more stable then the past generation RX7's.... rode in one seemed to handle well and accelerated nicly.
ttocs on 04/22/2005 09:42:40
"What do you do in a gown and a hepa filter? Follow Paris & Nicole Richie around sniffing their butts? "
Who doesn't know what that smells like? This link explaines a little about it. If you go to page 2 you can see the suit/gown. I tis a great job but a strange reality.....
http://www.intel.com/education/cleanroom/
MrBrownstone on 04/22/2005 15:14:54
I drove the WRX 2 years ago, and the was the only reason I was considering it. It's decent features, ample trunk room for the toonage, but overall, just looks like a high schooler's Civic. Performance is awesome, no doubt.
The RX-8 is actually slower than the Altima SE-R. Why Forzda even bothered releasing it with all their other performers is beyond me.
The old RX-7 engines rode the redline all day long...gotta love the Wankel. The new one, can't hang with most V-6s today. The novelty of the RX-8 wore off before it even hit the lots. Too bad, I owned one of the 7s of old, and nothing like taking cloverleafs at 90mph one handed with the pedal floored. It hurts to think how Forzda ruined that car. Such potential, wasted.
Nissan 350Z
Honda S2000
Nissan Altima SE 3.5
was looking at
Infinity G35
Mazda RX-8
Honda Accord 2dr V6
Toyota Camry (Solara) V6
Subaru WRX Ti
but performance was not that great for the price. I like the accord and Camry, but I just don't have kids to haul around. The WRX is the best 0-60 time, but reliability and the fact that it's an ugly looker prohibits me from owning it. Too bad, they almost made a winner there.
I'm looking for about $23-$28 cash price, but may put 50% down just to avoid letting a few thousand separate me from a vehicular. My winter car (the Nissan Altima I currently have) is fading fast. @ 190k miles, I need to replace it.
The A/C is no longer working, and the dreaded hot/humid MN summer is closely approaching. I am not putting $600 into a car I don't intend to keep for more than a few months.
I was going to buy a 'hotrod' this fall when prices subside, but now is as good a time as any as there are a lot of 1-2 yr old used vehicles that have been hard to move with the low rate financing going around.
Replies (12)
swez on 04/18/2005 16:41:39
Considering the brutal winters there, the Subabru seems like a sensible option. AWD, plenty of ponies under the hood, but a bit ugly as stock. Maybe a few body mods will suit your taste for both speed and looks.
About your A/C... usually a leak in the freon system can be sealed with a leak sealer and then just add about 1-1.5 lbs of proper freon product (R134a on most newer cars) to the system and you should be good to go. As long as the compressor has not locked up, should be good to go in 30 mins.
A refresh kit can be had at any good autoparts store for well under $20.00. Just read the directions before diving in.
1. 1 can Leak sealer
2. 1# of 134a refriderant
3. 1 can of compressor lube mixed with freon
4. An Install line hose for suction side of compressor (some come with valve and psi gage)
Do this when ambient temps are above 70 degrees. Below that, the refriderant may not develop enough pressure to empty the can fully. Drop can in warm water (110 degrees) for a few minutes, then add freon.
Swez
PS Car systems have 2 test valves in the A/C system. One is a larger diameter line (suction side, low pressure) and a smaller line (pump side, high pressure). You will only be using the suction side for this application. Not to worry if you slightly overfill the system w/ new freon. The system has a high pressure blow off regulator to bleed off extra pressure. This is easy. A child can do this well with practice and some oversight.
Mr._Miyagi on 04/18/2005 17:51:33
Hey man, I tell you what, get that STi, they are just such a good car for the price. My buddy has one and it is just fantastic fun. I also do like the G35/350Z though, and if you want AWD, the New G35x I believe has it, also, i believe an increase in HP.
ttocs on 04/18/2005 18:24:49
g35 is a great car imo... I have done a few installs on them and been impressed with the quality and comfort, and amazed how easy a system went in it.
I will not allow you to complain about hot summers up there..... I have had no AC for 3 summers now, it is already 95, and not even close to stopping yet..........
montego_27 on 04/18/2005 18:56:31
Hey Brian, check out the Acura TSX. I went out in one the other night, ended up behind the wheel (after my sister had a few too many) and I was amazed with the performance and luxury of this car. Checked out a link:
http://www.acura.com/models/model_index.asp?module=tsx
MrBrownstone on 04/19/2005 14:37:18
Hey ttocs
At Least it's 'dry' heat :-) But on a serious note, I wear business attire, and a 4th degree pit sweat is not a good selling point.
At any rate, I took the G35 out because basically it was a slower 350Z and nothing more than that. Funny thing about Nissan, but you can get the same features as their Infinity counterpart much cheaper..except the Maxima, which should just be discontinued.
Might have to go with the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish to replace my McClaren F1. Tee hee...
ttocs on 04/19/2005 17:25:05
new G35 was supposed to be around 280 hp I thought, seems like that would be enough in that small of a car.
Yea, dry heat.... In a couple of months when I roll my window down it will feel like I am infront of a really big hair dryer. In good news though I can wear almost anything I want to work(generally shorts and a t-shirt). Once I am here it doesn't matter what I have on as the first thing I do is put on a gortex gown complete with hepa filter, and cruis into a year round climate controlled 74 degrees.....
MrBrownstone on 04/20/2005 13:31:28
The G35 has horsepower, but it doesn't make it to the wheels. It's 0-60 time is nearly 1 second slower than the 350Z!!! Smooth car, but the Altima is a better buy and $7500 cheaper and performs better with 40 less HP.
What do you do in a gown and a hepa filter? Follow Paris & Nicole Richie around sniffing their butts?
MrBrownstone on 04/21/2005 15:26:11
Evidently, I just had a sex change, because I decided not to decide. Couldn't come up with the deal I was looking for, so I balked.
At any rate, will try next month. Cars are just too hot right now. In MN, cars sell from the first melt to the dog days of summer....with a little resurgence with the late fall new car push.
swez on 04/21/2005 19:51:59
Fix the A/C as mentioned earlier and ride it out until you find a deal you can live with.
The cheapest car we ever own, is the one we drive that is paid for.
Swez GRIN
uochronos on 04/21/2005 20:05:17
you ever drove the subaru WRX MrB? if not i suggest a test drive because yes there looks are the looks only a movther could love but dear god they are fast as hell and handle like a dream very nice well rounded car.
also the RX8's are very nice as well supposedly the new generation rotary engines are alot more stable then the past generation RX7's.... rode in one seemed to handle well and accelerated nicly.
ttocs on 04/22/2005 09:42:40
"What do you do in a gown and a hepa filter? Follow Paris & Nicole Richie around sniffing their butts? "
Who doesn't know what that smells like? This link explaines a little about it. If you go to page 2 you can see the suit/gown. I tis a great job but a strange reality.....
http://www.intel.com/education/cleanroom/
MrBrownstone on 04/22/2005 15:14:54
I drove the WRX 2 years ago, and the was the only reason I was considering it. It's decent features, ample trunk room for the toonage, but overall, just looks like a high schooler's Civic. Performance is awesome, no doubt.
The RX-8 is actually slower than the Altima SE-R. Why Forzda even bothered releasing it with all their other performers is beyond me.
The old RX-7 engines rode the redline all day long...gotta love the Wankel. The new one, can't hang with most V-6s today. The novelty of the RX-8 wore off before it even hit the lots. Too bad, I owned one of the 7s of old, and nothing like taking cloverleafs at 90mph one handed with the pedal floored. It hurts to think how Forzda ruined that car. Such potential, wasted.
Copyright ClubKnowledge 2009 * All Rights Reserved
