The "help decide the next car" thread

[rabbit]

Sup ppl, Bruno here. I've got a lonely rabbit that needs a buddy.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/Phox0999/Car%20Stuff/H2O2010.jpg

A faster, RWD but not above $15k buddy and it must handle well too! Im a VW guy with lots of VW buddies but I don't wanna only own one brand all my life.

Now I'm looking at:
NC Miata - not very commonly stanced and drives like a deam!
350z - always wanted one, a bit common in the stance world since they do it so well
E36 330ci - Really want a 135i but can't justify the price yet

I'd like to hear some opinions on these and maybe add more cars to consider. pix for examples are encouraged!


Recomended Additions:
Porche Boxter
S13/14
S2000

[rabbit]

Miata inspiration:
http://roadstergarage.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/4297428778_03d8f488e2_o.png

One of the biggest reasons I'd like the NC is I could reuse my 17in Works seeing as they're already 5x114s

[ShootJoeC]

My vote is for Miata. 350z's are nice but its a big ass car, not my personal style.

[DRedman45]

Buy a boxster...stay german...or if you can do awd and get a TT and do a haladex tune and make it more rear biased

but i vote porsche boxster 1st...and and none of the cars you mention are as fast as it


and btw your car looks nearly identical to my rabbit i traded in...except i had smoked markers, not window things...and fake wheels:mad: haha

[ColdxFront]

Buy an S13/14 Silvia. Or an 240SX and ditch the KA24 for an SR20. More sideways than any of the previously mentioned cars.

[Schumey]

Buy an S13/14 Silvia. Or an 240SX and ditch the KA24 for an SR20. More sideways than any of the previously mentioned cars.

That or R33 :)

[rabbit]

@ Joe. I agree with ur thinking. The 350 is a pig wen compared to a Miata, the power is the only thing that saves it.

@DRed. MK1 TT is out of the question, I do love the new one but it's out of desired price and AWD. Now I worked at a Porsche dealer and OMFG even a regular boxter handles insanely well and r no slouch power wise either! Only problem is having driven most of the 2006-10 range, I can say if I buy Porsche, it will be a Cayman S, hands down! Maintenance would be the killer tho but I'll add a standard boxter to the list

@Cold. In high school I always planned on a 240, but Wen the drift craze picked up they started to disappear quickly as the drift community is small in the NY tristate area. I'd like to but honestly, having an 07 spoiled me enough now that Id want something a bit newer, but definitly an option, especially if I find a semi-mint unmolested example.

[rabbit]

That or R33 :)

I believe u mean swap in the motor? As in RB25DET or a 26DETT
That would be nice, but I'd have to step up my mechanic game because I would definitely wanna DIY the swap

[Schumey]

Nah, I meant a complete R33 skyline ... or do they just come as AWD in the states?

[kingston]

Buy an S13/14 Silvia. Or an 240SX and ditch the KA24 for an SR20. More sideways than any of the previously mentioned cars.

agreed

[rabbit]

Nah, I meant a complete R33 skyline ... or do they just come as AWD in the states?


we dont have em here at all. the only examples are imported.

[Hulla Dump't]

ill go with the miata the 350 is not my kind of taste either kinda too big thats my opinion

[Kiro]

If you're considering the Miata, then you also might want to consider a third generation MR2 like coneklr's (http://www.canibeat.com/forum/showthread.php?874-and-along-came-a-spyder):

http://a.imageshack.us/img705/8682/chilis.jpg
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1903/imag0067r.jpg

Great handling car, great community, mid-engined RWD Toyota. A bit under-powered, to be honest, but it doesn't take much to get it faster.

The older second generation MR2, like slwrthnu's, may also be a good choice. Lots of aftermarket support is available, and the 3SGTE engine can handle a good deal of power (proven up to 800hp to my knowledge).

http://www.rspeed.org/forums/gallery/data/664/fml01.jpg

[Joe!]

MR2 is sexy but I'd still lean towards the miata, so nice with stance. And power can be on tap.

[rabbit]

not really feeling the MR2's. the third gens are nice but i couldnt see myself driving one

and yea, ther are a bit too slow as well

[mshriver]

I like the idea of a miata. You also might think about an s2000... They look so good stanced

[98z24ragtop]

I wish I fit in Miata... lol that still gets my vote though

[Tweek]

What about an S2k?

[rabbit]

I wish I fit in Miata... lol that still gets my vote though

have u tried sitting in the new models? i couldn't fit in the older myself. im 5'11 for reference


@mshriver & tweek. i like S2000 but couldnt see myself driving one. plus going from vw to a honda (or vis versa) seems sacrilegious! :)

but if i did find a great deal i would't pass it up, ill add it to the list

[mshriver]

^ understand what you mean coming from the VW world myself.... But I think as long as its clean, true VW owners wouldnt care if you had a rabbit and a vteccc

[Joe!]

S2000 V8 conversion. Do it, you won't.

[rabbit]

S2000 V8 conversion. Do it, you won't.

lol ur right, I wouldnt. I would do the 2.2 stroker kit tho. I remember watching old Hot Version International vids with the "touge monster" amuse S2000, thing was a beast. Still got beat by a lightly modded 350z tho :P

Google pic

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:jUqgOT-kH4sMXM::aclassblog.wordpress.com/page/25/&t=1&usg=AFrqEzePrVnbxWa5p3NYg04Vlz-sm7z8Cg

[Joe!]

Just looking at that picture makes me regret suggesting it, hard top S2Ks are not nice :(

[rabbit]

I'm in the north east (shitty wheather) so coupes > roadsters. I'm leaning towards NC Miata, it will proabaly be a power retractable hard top version. And if I get any roadster, it will get a hard top (if they make one)

Edit: Just realized ur in the UK Joe. So u know all about cold and rain! But I know u guys love ur drop tops over there too. I just love the coupe looks

[jsu1012]

I know what your saying about going from a vw to a honda but I say the s2000 .

[ColdxFront]

Just looking at that picture makes me regret suggesting it, hard top S2Ks are not nice :(

U mad? The Spoon and Amuse (that white GT1 that materialised online a few years back, fuck) hard top S2K's are drop dead goregous.

Rabbit - Sucks that you guys don't really have access to the import market like we do here in the UK, S-Chassis cars are relatively easy to pick up for a reasonable price. We never had to put up with the KA24 either, exclusively CA18/SR20.

[rabbit]

I test drove a NC Miata (touring w/bilstien shocks) and I loved it! Fit super comfortably too. Next up should be 350z at a dealership near my job (rt 17 near Lodi NJ for the locals). I have yet to search for 2S000s but all this push twards one warrants at least a test drive.

[jsu1012]

I have yet to search for 2S000s but all this push twards one warrants at least a test drive.

Cool , let us know what you think about the 350 and the s2k .

[rabbit]

@ coldxfront. I wanna move to the UK just for the cars! But ur vehicle laws suck tho ( from wat I've read). I learned to drive in a KA powered Stanza, u guys aren't missing anything.

[rabbit]

Cool , let us know what you think about the 350 and the s2k .

I don't know why I havnt yet, but ill do a Forza 3 comparison tonight just for fun :P I'll post up lap times

Edit: come to think of it I already know the results should be 1st 350z 2nd S2k and 3rd MX5. Let's see if I'm right

[jsu1012]

I don't know why I havnt yet, but ill do a Forza 3 comparison tonight just for fun :P I'll post up lap times

Edit: come to think of it I already know the results should be 1st 350z 2nd S2k and 3rd MX5. Let's see if I'm right

lol right on . i'll try this on gt5 for shits.

[rabbit]

Tsukuba Circuit (Full) best out of 5 laps
All 100% stock

1:05.503 for 350z (2003 Fairlady Z)
1:06.947 for 2003 S2000
1:08.354 2007 MX-5 (Hardtop)

i've been neglecting anything other then Call of Duty games like most other xbox owners and so im pretty rusty. but it went down exactly as i expected.

oddly enough i lost traction more often in the MX-5. the Z on the other hand, grips well and throws around it's weight with no problems just like many automotive reporters say. the S2k was very much the middle ground of the 3 and i found every time i'd catch up to the Z's Ghost replay, i'd fall back as soon as the Z hit full throttle.

i only wish i could really test drive all three on a track and in real world conditions :P

[rabbit]

Thead back from the dead!

[Flopsdacat]

VQ power all day. Keep it that way. Z/G. Your welcome. Thread closed.:)