In search of a car

[Dire91]

Man I haven't posted on here in a while, but as the title says I'm in search for a car. I bought my 97' 240sx about 3 years ago and I'm ready to move on. I bought it with high hopes of dropping a bunch of money on modifications on it like any teenager but due to constant maintenance and lack of money this never happened. I'm now a sophmore in college and am looking for a different car, need something other than a beat up, slow coupe. I've been doing research and have my eye on the IS300 now, 4 door, quicker than the 240, less maintenance/less beat up do to it being a newer car. I'm looking for any advice you guys (or girls) have on the IS or on any other car you would suggest. Thanks!

Edit:
What I'm looking for in a car
- 15+ mpg basically anything that isn't an suv and sucks gas
- 4 door, I may consider a 2 door just the 240 was way to small for more than 1 friend to ride in
- Nice DD, all I would be doing is basic bolt on modifications
- I'm not looking for a rocketship here, just something a little faster than a stock 240sx
- 8-12k
- Year doesn't really matter, just something under 100,000 miles

[AZ89two4Tsx]

What are you looking to get out of it? The IS is not rocket ship.

Mpg?
2/4 door?
Years?
Project or a nice dd?

A BMW would be nice, 3 or 5 series. Plenty reliable if you take care of them. Altima V6s are decent as well.

You need to specify more criteria.

[Bubba1]

Man I haven't posted on here in a while, but as the title says I'm in search for a car. I bought my 97' 240sx about 3 years ago and I'm ready to move on. I bought it with high hopes of dropping a bunch of money on modifications on it like any teenager but due to constant maintenance and lack of money this never happened. I'm now a sophmore in college and am looking for a different car, need something other than a beat up, slow coupe. I've been doing research and have my eye on the IS300 now, 4 door, quicker than the 240, less maintenance/less beat up do to it being a newer car. I'm looking for any advice you guys (or girls) have on the IS or on any other car you would suggest. Thanks!

Edit:
What I'm looking for in a car
- 15+ mpg basically anything that isn't an suv and sucks gas
- 4 door, I may consider a 2 door just the 240 was way to small for more than 1 friend to ride in
- Nice DD, all I would be doing is basic bolt on modifications
- I'm not looking for a rocketship here, just something a little faster than a stock 240sx
- 8-12k
- Year doesn't really matter, just something under 100,000 miles

How about a pee colored QX-4 with Alteeza taillights? It fits your criteria plus If I recall at Carlisle, you and Nala appeared to be closer than two boogers in a hankie. j/k

[OriginalWheelman]

I could be convinced to part with my G50 Q45, but it has 150k on it.

[frapjap]

Do you have the $$ to be buying something that pricey while still in college? Why not stick with the paid off vehicle that you have and buy something more awesome when you're finished up with school.

[93coupe]

Ray beat me to it. What college kid has that kind of dough for a car, just because he doesn't want his kouki anymore? Though, is your budget including what you get for your current vehicle?

I would sell the kouki and get an s13. Seriously. There is no real need for a 4 door at your age (I am assuming you don't need to toss a baby in the back). You're not a taxi service. More friends want to go where you're going? Tell them to drive. More than one girl wants to ride with you? By all means, please do, ladies. They just have to be small enough to ride in the back. I think it is a good system that will, likely, keep you from having orgies with fat girls.

I drove my s14 about 2 hours home from Carlisle with two girls in it (Michele and Tyler) without issue.

I don't care for the IS. They're ugly to me and a small car. If I am going to get 4 doors, it will be a full size sedan.

Heavy just bought a white IS300. Looks alright.

[Dire91]

Ray beat me to it. What college kid has that kind of dough for a car, just because he doesn't want his kouki anymore? Though, is your budget including what you get for your current vehicle?

Yes exactly. I'm looking for a new car more for the reason of reliability. I need a good DD that isn't breaking down all the time, my 240 was out of commission for half the summer, it was a huge pain to get to work some days.

[93coupe]

What the hell put a KA down for half the summer?!

[Dire91]

Blown clutch, discovery of a botched 5 speed swap, hole in the gas tank, lack of money to repair etc...

[93coupe]

Stop beating on the clutch. What was up with the manual swap?

[AZ89two4Tsx]

240s are dirt cheap to repair. They don't really get any cheaper. And the KA is a reliable motor, albeit slow and pretty inefficient. But they sure can take a beating.

If you can't shell out the cash to fix that simple stuff that kept your car out of commission, then there's no way you're going to be able to afford maintenance on a newer car.

Also Ryan, I see what you did there. "Two girls," lol.

[Razi]

240sx are dirt cheap to repair fo sho!
Well maintained, they can do anything.

I've taken it on a 200mile round trip, twice, with no problems at all.
And you've seen that 1500 (or something) road trip thread we had there.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Yeah man, your logic is flawed.

"I can't afford a $500 repair, so I'm going to drop $8000 on something else".

[FutureDRFTer]

Wrx.
Sentra Spec-V (DD, cheap reliable fun?)
BMW e36.
IS 300.
Mazda(speed) 3.
Rx-8.
Random 4door Honda.

Commuter car status. Idk about the list, just stuff to look into? What do you want to drive though? Just fix the 240 right, then it will be fine. Don't half a** it.

[Red coupe]

Ray beat me to it. What college kid has that kind of dough for a car, just because he doesn't want his kouki anymore? Though, is your budget including what you get for your current vehicle?

Yes exactly. I'm looking for a new car more for the reason of reliability. I need a good DD that isn't breaking down all the time, my 240 was out of commission for half the summer, it was a huge pain to get to work some days.

You do realize that for like 1/4 the cost of that reliable car you could fix any issue with the 240 and probably even replace any part that could even potentially be an issue for the foreseeable future?

edit: oh apparently by now you do know, lol.

[Dittoz7]

Sell it
Buy civic
Pick up Nala
"Hook up" with chucks

[PapaSmurf2k3]

^ in my medicated state, I just went to click on the "like" button to your post. It was not there.

[Dire91]

Thanks for the help guys.

Yeah man, your logic is flawed. "I can't afford a $500 repair, so I'm going to drop $8000 on something else".

It's not that I can't afford the repairs, there is just a huge amount of work that needs to be done to the car for it to be in the shape as a car I would shuffle out an extra 1k for. If that makes sense.... Just want a DD that I can get into every morning without thinking "oh s*** I need to fix this, that and that etc..."

[ProudNissanFreak]

Sell ya my 03 Civic, 60K miles, 4 door, 5 spd, 7.5k :P

I'd go for a Subie though. Or an NB Miata.

[dre1507]

Thanks for the help guys.

Yeah man, your logic is flawed. "I can't afford a $500 repair, so I'm going to drop $8000 on something else".

It's not that I can't afford the repairs, there is just a huge amount of work that needs to be done to the car for it to be in the shape as a car I would shuffle out an extra 1k for. If that makes sense.... Just want a DD that I can get into every morning without thinking "oh s*** I need to fix this, that and that etc..."

In other words, you have grown out of your 240 season, and you're looking for any possible reason, even if illogical, to get rid of it. It's ok man. If you got it, then spend it.

[wingFeather]

Man, I would have traded your position any day! I drove a really old high mile diesel in college. Slower than hell especially up hills. One time it broke down a hundred miles from the nearest shop. I had to hitch a ride with a trucker to get to a pay phone. Never had to change the oil because it burned a quart a week.

[Bubba1]

It's not that I can't afford the repairs, there is just a huge amount of work that needs to be done to the car for it to be in the shape as a car I would shuffle out an extra 1k for. If that makes sense.... Just want a DD that I can get into every morning without thinking "oh s*** I need to fix this, that and that etc..."

May I ask what led you to buy such a can-of-worms 240sx that you have now? I'm guessing it was an emotional purchase. the reason I ask, is If you're looking for a reliable daily driver, and there are many fun models to choose from, if you aren't more careful in investigating how it's been treated/maintained as you were on that 240, you could easily end up with another money pit, despite it being a model that has a good reputation.

If you're looking for something cheap,nimble, good on gas, and entertaining to drive,
choices include RSX, Miata, Integra, WRX, Civic, Accord, Altima coupe, Mazda 3. the list can go on and on. I'd persnally stay away from VWs and rotary engined cars (makes you a slave to the local dealer).

[breadbox]

Get a d21 pickup ext. cab. lol

For real get a frontier.

[Amays U G37S]

Sell that money pit and get a Lexus.

[Dire91]

[quote="Bubba1"]May I ask what led you to buy such a can-of-worms 240sx that you have now? I'm guessing it was an emotional purchase./quote]
I was very young and bought it on impulse basically. DIdn't do much research into the exact car I was buying, trusted the seller when he said he had the 5 speed swap done profession etc...

[Rex]

You should be able to find a <100k 2002-ish Maxima (possibly manual) for well under $10k, as long as you're willing to drive a little to get it.

[MinisterofDOOM]

http://www.kbb.com/used-cars/lincoln/ls ... eage=75000

And those KBB quotes are actually fairly high.