Hey guys,
Finally able to spend some money on a new used car. Wanting to keep it around $6500. Right now I'm considering the following
Civic si 02+, Matrix xrs, Vibe gt, Sx4, and Focus svt.
Anything with similar performance for around the same $$?
I was also considering mazdaspeed protege and sentra spec v but drove a msp protege and didn't care for it and can't find a spec v that hasn't been beat to E36 M3 and/or riced out.
Thanks Dan
Miata.
Seriously we need more info? Is that cash or financed? Cash opens it up a bit to older stuff. Financed means typically there is an age limit. Is there an age limit? Does it have to be a hatch for some reason? About three years ago $6500 almost got me into a 2007 Volvo V50 (wagon)AWD 6 speed with the high pressure turbo. Stupid lot wouldn't budge from $8100 for a car with a check engine light and evidence of body repairs despite the clean CarFax. It sold a day later for $7500. So there are lots of options out there if you don't mind higher miles/slightly older stuff.
First generation Mazda 3; there, the thread is all done. 
c30 fall into that price range yet?
Looking to finance half. Wanting to keep it no older then '02. Doesn't have to be a hatch but does need to legitimately seat four.
I thought Mazda 3 but is it better or as good than what I listed?
Regardless of the reputation for reliability, the GTI for me is the quintessential hot hatch.
In reply to dankspeed:
Actually, I'm not sure, since I haven't been able to drive those cars, but the Mazda 3 and the GTI should be added to your list to test drive. Also, the Vibe and the Matrix are the same car, so that can be just one vehicle on your list;they are definitely the worst of the group. You have to test drive them all honestly, so you can buy the one you like the most, not the one that we like the best.
In reply to Mr_Clutch42: Thanks clutch. I do plan on driving them all if I can find good examples for sale. I'm aware the matrix/vibe are the same. Why do you feel they're the the worst of the bunch? Speaking to the gti. I owned a couple A2 jettas and were burned by the poor reliability. Are the 200* VW's any better?
First, the Vibe/Matrix, as well as the SX4, are NOT hot hatches in stock form. They both require a lot of work to be called somewhat sporty. They are too tall, and their suspension too mushy.
With that out of the way, what do you plan on doing with the car? Autox, track days, just DD duty? How much praticality do you need? Because if you don't need back seats, I would also suggest a look at Celica GT-S's.
For DD duty, I would go with a Civic, a FSVT, or a Spec-V. They all make great reliable DD's that aren't too bad on gas.
For autox, the chassis of the MSP is so good that it makes you forget the crappy engine. The FSVT has a great chassis too, but the gearing is wrong for most autox.
For track days, the FSVT and Spec-V are great. Locally, the Spec-V's are dominating the FWD time attack scene. But I agree that they are hard to find un-riced, and if you really don't want any reliability issues with the engines, you need an 06 model. The FSVT are hard to find too, and they seem fragile when trashed.
Celica GTS. Skip the mazdaspeed Protege.
The man says hatch and people come at him with everything but. The EP3 Civic Si (02-05) is a decent car. They are sporty, get decent MPGs, and have Honda reliability. People hate them because they don't have double wishbone and they came with a less sporty K20. It only has two doors so there is a downside if you are getting people in and out all the time. GTI is the longest running hot hatch in the states but there is the reliability issue!
I really wish we got Peugeots' here.
As I stated in my earlier post I need to seat four people. Looking at a celica I can't imagine anyone is sitting in that back seat. That's why I threw up the matrix xrs because it has the celica drivetrain but will seat four. Plan on it being a dd. Haven't had a fun dd for awhile but I plan on doing some suspension mods.
Focus or Mazda3. None of the others are "hot" IMO...
Go look at a GTI
I've found a MINI cooper S in your price range.
dankspeed wrote: Looking to finance half. Wanting to keep it no older then '02. Doesn't have to be a hatch but does need to legitimately seat four. I thought Mazda 3 but is it better or as good than what I listed?
The FSVT has pretty terrible resale value; you could either get an amazing example for your budget, or get an okay example for the cash half of your budget. Just know that if there is no record of a timing belt change, it should be changed immediately. FSVTs require premium and get pretty lackluster gas mileage. Mine has been pretty reliable, and still drives pretty well at 125kmi. The storage space is great. Keep an eye out for the "European Appearance Package;" they all have HID lights, Recaro front seats, and multi-spoke (opposed to 5-spoke) wheels. They don't carry much of a premium used over the other cars. I think that all EAP cars include the winter package, which has heated seats and traction control. Most cars that I have seen include sunroofs.
And the FSVT is one of the few hot hatches of a decade ago that comes in 5-door format. Just about all of them do nowadays.
DirtyBird222 wrote: The man says hatch and people come at him with everything but.
I did throw C30 in there.. but it got totally glossed over
I just went through the same process, and bought a Focus SVT. You'll be reading about it soon.
If you add the GTI, the Mazda3, an the MINI Cooper S to the test drive list, there is no way you will end up with one of those other ones as a fun daily driver.
You'll make the compromise on reliability for the fun factor.
That will probably move the Mazda 3 to the top of the list.
What does "legitimately seat 4" mean? 2 adults plus 2 kids, 2 adults regularly plus 2 adults occasionally, or 4 adults regularly for long trips?
In reply to SVreX:
I want to be able to seat two adults and two teens. My son is a tall 12yo. I considered a mini cooper s but I think the reliability piece or lack of it out weighs the fun piece. Same with the gti. I understand vehicles require repairs now and then but what I've read on this board is the mini is a money pit. Same goes for the gti. I swore of VW's after owning a couple jettas.
mad_machine wrote: c30 fall into that price range yet?
Sorry, I did gloss over your post. The 08's are just a hair over $10k.
My favorite driving choices; Mini hands down, Mazda and Si were pretty close with the nod to Mazda. I chose the Si for dependability and it hasn't been near a shop in 10 years. Runs like new. I can have project cars without ever worrying about my dd.
At this point whatever one you choose may depend on previous owner's maintenance.
My vote is GTI but I'm biased towards them. For that much you can get a good example of a MKIV (99.5-2005). If you can find one that isn't at too much of a premium for price a higher mileage 337 or 20th Anniversary model may be possible. These both had an appearance package, Recaros, better suspension, etc.
The 1.8Ts are good solid motors that are responsive to tuning. Get it chipped with an APR, Unitronics, etc. tune and you'll definitely wake it up and make it a fun car. Coil packs were an issue that went under recall. The timing belt and water pump MUST be changed around 80K so make sure that happened or be prepared to do it immediately after buying it if you do get one.
I owned a 98 Jetta and an 02 Jetta in the past and drove both into higher mileage territory and I found the 02 (MKIV chassis) to be more reliable and less prone to electrical gremlins. Cruise control worked fine, ABS worked fine unlike my 98. I did have to replace the window regulators but that was kind of to be expected. Didn't really have any major issues on my 02 until this spring when I hit 180K and they were mostly long term maintenance parts I should have addressed sooner. All in all for a 180K car I was mostly trouble free for my 5 years of ownership.
Omni GLH. Skip the 'hatch' part and get a neon SRT4
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