I want to buy a new car here soon.....

[nsrZ32]

Well I'm getting kinda sick of my 1998 Sentra SE (R) that I have as a daily. Its a great car and all, just time to make a change. I'm planning on keeping it through the rest of the winter then getting something else as a daily in like April or May (if you're interested let me know, I'll put it up in classified at some point to give people a shot to buy it before I'd trade it in).

I want something new, compact, sporty, fun and affordable....oh and a warranty. I like the WRX but at 25K its overpriced for what you get IMO. So the two main options that come to mind that are of interest to me are.....Scion TC ~ $17,500

Mini Cooper S ~ $21,000

Payments under 300/mo and good reliable fun. Either one of the two would probably be something I'd buy off of a lease when it was up anyway.

I don't want anything older or heavily used as it'll just be daily transport at this time. Also Nissan isn't currently selling anything that appeals to me, Spec-V is kinda blah, and the others aren't really what I want for a daily. Ideally I'd take the MINI but things may change. So going with my ideas above what are your recommendations?

[Bubba1]

A good friend of mine has a Mini-Cooper S and it's a great little car. I've driven it. Absolutely handles like a go cart. Seats are very good. If you can get beyond the oddly layed out dash, it's a fun and comfortable commuter.

A Miata is a total hoot if you're under 6' tall.Very fun commuter, easy on gas, reliable andcarries a warranty. The Mazda 3 is also worth a look as it's pretty tossable and a little more romy than a Miata

WRX is a bargain given the AWD performance. But the interior materials feel very cheap.

I've heard nice things about the Scion but I would expect it to be as peppy as the car you have now, which is not very.

[Bruno240]

i would go with the mini cooper or the miata, those have been favorite cars of mine for a while.

thats my 10 cents, my 2 cents is free. (lol I always wanted to say that)

[Rex]

I'd second the Mini and offer this as an option



Matrix XRS, 170 hp 6 speed, if they only offered the AWD option on the XRS

[nsrZ32]

I'd second the Mini and offer this as an option



Matrix XRS, 170 hp 6 speed, if they only offered the AWD option on the XRS

I agree those are cool with good performance numbers but whenever I see them they always seem to scream "I'm a little mini-van" to me. Don't ask me why, but they do. So I'll have to pass on that

A good friend of mine has a Mini-Cooper S and it's a great little car. I've driven it. Absolutely handles like a go cart. Seats are very good. If you can get beyond the oddly layed out dash, it's a fun and comfortable commuter.

A Miata is a total hoot if you're under 6' tall.Very fun commuter, easy on gas, reliable andcarries a warranty. The Mazda 3 is also worth a look as it's pretty tossable and a little more romy than a Miata WRX is a bargain given the AWD performance. But the interior materials feel very cheap.

I've heard nice things about the Scion but I would expect it to be as peppy as the car you have now, which is not very.

I've driven the Mazda 3 and its a fun car but something about it just isn't me. And the WRX is fun, but the price is too high for what you get IMO and the few I've driven (both stock and modded) have left me wanting.

As for the miata, I never considered that. What do the Mazdaspeed versions sell for? I havent driven one in probably 5 years so I'll have to check it out.

The Scion is nice, a girl up the street from me has a blue one, but I have a feeling that's going to leave me wanting. I'll go drive one this week though. The MINI is number one without a doubt, just a matter of finding one how I want it and getting the lease right when I can sell my sentra.

[pnissan2]

I go with the john cooper mini but its more expensive but iirc its over 200hp. Otherwise id go with scion tc. You could search for a used wrx too.

[Rex]

Yeah, I can see what you mean by mini-van, but the potential with the TRD support makes the idea pretty good.

Here's a couple more pics, cause that's what I do .




Modified by Rex at 3:47 PM 1/2/2005

[GEO]

Best and foremost best daily driver is:

2004 MazdaSpeed Protege

http://www.motortrend.com/road...mazda/

[cstang1968]

How bout the srt4? Here in SD they're going for around 18k for the 04 models

[Axel Grungy]

i test drove a scion with a freind of mine and wasnt very impressed. id take the mini any day of the week if i had the money, but im sure repairs wont be cheap...

[BadMojo]

i test drove a scion with a freind of mine and wasnt very impressed. id take the mini any day of the week if i had the money, but im sure repairs wont be cheap...

Mini doesn't have a great track record as far as reliability goes,, but it sure is cool.

I haven't been in a tC, but saw one in person and found the styling to be pretty bland. Also, I've heard more than a few tC owners complain about cheap interiors and lots of creaks and rattles on new cars.

FWIW, I'm looking at the following to be my daily driver by about October/November:

- Mazda 3 5 Door- Subaru Impreza 2.5RS- Dodge SRT-4

The SRT-4 is clearly the most expensive of the three and is more fun than I can describe. Problem is, I'm afraid I'd get killed on depreciation on the SRT-4.

If you're looking at a $21K Mini, you could probably get yourself in to a much more reliable RSX-S for not too much more.

[nsrZ32]

How bout the srt4? Here in SD they're going for around 18k for the 04 models

Yeah there's a ton of them around here. I just don't know if I could bring myself to driving one of those glorified neon's everyday. I've considered it but.....I'd probably have to kick my own *** if I looked out my window to see that in my driveway and know I put it there.

Best and foremost best daily driver is:2004 MazdaSpeed Protege

Nah....not really what I'm looking for. Great reviews but they don't do it for me. Has that same glorified 4 door look of my sentra.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I'm definately going to have to take a look at a handful of different cars to make sure I end up with what fits me best.

[nsrZ32]

Mini doesn't have a great track record as far as reliability goes,, but it sure is cool.

I haven't been in a tC, but saw one in person and found the styling to be pretty bland. Also, I've heard more than a few tC owners complain about cheap interiors and lots of creaks and rattles on new cars.

FWIW, I'm looking at the following to be my daily driver by about October/November:

- Mazda 3 5 Door- Subaru Impreza 2.5RS- Dodge SRT-4

The SRT-4 is clearly the most expensive of the three and is more fun than I can describe. Problem is, I'm afraid I'd get killed on depreciation on the SRT-4.

If you're looking at a $21K Mini, you could probably get yourself in to a much more reliable RSX-S for not too much more.

My friend's girlfriend owns a Mazda 3 as does a lady by my house and from seeing them and being around them I wouldn't want one. Don't like them at all. As for the depreciation on the SRT4 I agree 100% as the neon has the worst resale value of any car so why would the turbo version be any different. And on the RSX-S idea, there are so many around here, and I don't want the honda/acura thing going on. Only a couple honda products I'd happily drive (del sol, NSX, last gen lude) and the RSX isn't one of them. Plus my dude has one and has nothing but trouble with it.

[Ty SE-R_92B13]

Well I'm getting kinda sick of my 1998 Sentra SE (R) that I have as a daily. Its a great car and all, just time to make a change. I'm planning on keeping it through the rest of the winter then getting something else as a daily in like April or May (if you're interested let me know, I'll put it up in classified at some point to give people a shot to buy it before I'd trade it in).

Let me know when the time comes. I've actually been considering a 95-95 G20, but I miss my 98 Sentra SE so I could go for one of those again. Detail, pics, ballpark price, etc. to [email protected].

I found this in Cincinnati, 2002 Nissan Maxima SE 6-speedHard to find, 6sp/255hp, Bose audio, one owner, Nissan serviced, Nissan Certified, 6yr. 100,000 miles limited warranty!!! ~30K miles on it for ~$18K.

[ForsakenTH]

imo i think you should get a base 350 but thats probably a little over your price range and not exactly a daily. i would go with the mini but i dont know much about them.

[krazy skwerel]

Mini, it has style and is just a cool little car.

[jdmfreak]

Mini Cooper S hotness all the way. Then you can drive down stairs and in the subway.

[MainEvent212]

as a mini cooper S owner, i say go for it. The newest models are awesome...the 02 (mine) it a little quirky but i hear they got it all worked out...the styling is a lil different (valances and lights) but w/ the works tuning package it is killer...i wanna go touring car style widebody but my mom dosent really like the look haha

[jdmfreak]

Hmmm....Think GT4 would have a widebody race one?

[HashiriyaS14]

Well, first off, no one actually pays $25k for a WRX. I paid $21,700 for mine, and it was a factory order, so it wasn't like they were struggling to get it off the lot or anything. At ~$22k, it's a damned good deal.

Interior materials in 2004+ WRXs aren't bad at all, certainly better than the Protege.

You can get an RX-8 for like $23k too, just don't get navigation/leather and all that crap.

[nsrZ32]

Let me know when the time comes. I've actually been considering a 95-95 G20, but I miss my 98 Sentra SE so I could go for one of those again. Detail, pics, ballpark price, etc. to [email protected].

Sent you an e-mail.

Well, first off, no one actually pays $25k for a WRX. I paid $21,700 for mine, and it was a factory order, so it wasn't like they were struggling to get it off the lot or anything. At ~$22k, it's a damned good deal.

You can get an RX-8 for like $23k too, just don't get navigation/leather and all that crap.

I might have to go check out a different scooby dealer then. As for the RX8, it really wouldn't be practical for the winter. Can't imagine a rwd sports car handling real good in more than just light snow.

[UncleBen]

Holy shiz a 6spd 6th gen max(i think its 6th, w/e)......ooooooooo........I'd buy that in a heart beat if I could..

[mmatl16]

I dont think i would get a mini cooper since its heavier than most bmw's

[gniknave]

As a daily you can't beat the fun factor of the Mini. But why a NEW car and not a certified used car thats maybe 2 years old? You can get a lot more for your money that way.

[jEzTeR]

Of the two I would get the mini!

I drive a 03 Vibe [same as Matrix] as my DD (company car) and its a great car/van/truck/thing.

LOL

I have to load it up quite a bit and the gas mialage is good. Performance isn't too bad either.

A used Maxima would be my choice if I was going to buy something though. That 6-speed is nice.

[HashiriyaS14]

http://www.fitzmall.com/carfin...e=NEW

If you're paying more than the prices at this place, then you're getting ripped off. I think I saw a WRX sedan on there for like $21,300 or something like that.

Just don't get big repairs done there.....

[Ty SE-R_92B13]

But why a NEW car and not a certified used car thats maybe 2 years old? You can get a lot more for your money that way.

That's exactly why I posted that 2K2 6-speed Maxima.

[PalmerWMD]

18 month old Nissan 350Z's are 20-22k.

Fred..

[BadMojo]

Well, first off, no one actually pays $25k for a WRX. I paid $21,700 for mine, and it was a factory order, so it wasn't like they were struggling to get it off the lot or anything. At ~$22k, it's a damned good deal.

I had no clue that WRX's go so cheap. Hell, I was saving up for a 2.5RS but if I can get a WRX around $22K...well, damn!

Did you have to do anything special to get that price?

[PalmerWMD]

Food for thought:http://nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=91360