new cars under $20k
new cars under $20k
this summer i plan on buying a new car so i have been looking at all of these cars. the neon is still a neon and all that hp and torque with no lsd = power slipping away. the se-r's are extremely solid cars and reliable with good numbers, but it looks too "normal" for me. civic si is freakin crap. the honda element looks pretty cool though ( i like boxy cars). the lancer is a good rental car and even if i had the $$ for the evo8 it just looks like a pissed off rental car. the svt focus is still a ford. the protoge just doesn't do it for me and the mazda 6 would be the 4 cyl one for the price im looking at and its not too exciting.the rsx is too much $$. my girlfriend has a celica and its a nice girls car. but i like the matrix, it looks different but good. the model i want is the xrs with 180hp. its not that fast but it has potential, the thing im looking at most is reliability and from my experience they are very reliable. i also has a good amount of room for people and if i needed to take anything anywhere. i love my 240 but its getting old and there is a serious lack of space for anything other than 2 people. i'm still in college so it is a practical car but if i see a 97-98 s14 at a dealership i will be tempted to buy it. Your opinions/suggestions will appreciated. thanx
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bruinbear714
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sapix @ RHIT
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Repo Man
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Well, you've pretty much blasted all of the potential cars under 20k. Why would you include the Honda Element with sport compacts? The SpecV would be my choice for under 20k. If it's too normal, put a damn bodykit on it. Vinyl flames, whatever. Triple decker Vader wing. Just don't post pics here and expect not to get flamed! Hehe...
An s14 will not be any more practical for hauling people/things than your s13.
An s14 will not be any more practical for hauling people/things than your s13.
SRT4 is doomed to distruction, you aint getting away with boost pressure like that on that engine with that kind of power for that price.
Mark my words, BOOM.
http://www.projectaspec.com
Mark my words, BOOM.
http://www.projectaspec.com
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s14sr20det
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Mayhem_J30
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i guess you don't like any of them because they're under 20K cars.
but i would go with the SE-R and if not that I would get the Lancer. My sister recently purchased a dark gray OZ Lancer for one helluva price. It's not fast, but it's nice and new and cheap. I think it looks good with what the OZ has. Sure it ain't no EVO but not everybody needs speed, just a car to drive around in.
but i would go with the SE-R and if not that I would get the Lancer. My sister recently purchased a dark gray OZ Lancer for one helluva price. It's not fast, but it's nice and new and cheap. I think it looks good with what the OZ has. Sure it ain't no EVO but not everybody needs speed, just a car to drive around in.
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bruinbear714
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BTW -Altimas are cool too!-
C-Kwik
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Actually, for the price, the SRT is a very good buy. Not sure about Dodge Reliability, but bang for the buck is definitely there. Rather odd boost tuning from Mopar though. Accroding to SCC magazine, it adjusts boost pressure to account for changes in the mass flow of air. Which means at higher altitudes or higher temperatures, where air is less dense, it would incrase boost. So it should perform similarly under all conditions...in theory. Mopar is also coming out with turbo upgrade kits. Just looking at the dyno charts, I can see some serious potential to gain HP by giving up some low-end response. Definitely a car I will have to respect on the road....
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s14sr20det
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if i were u i'd staty away from the SRT-4 for now at least. Not really sure about the reliability of those cars.why don't you check out the jetta 1.8t or a GTi not sure how much they cost in the states, but i'm pretty sure you should be able to get them for around 20g'show much does the mini cooper s cost? just a thoughtbest choice is probably a SE-R Spec V
C-Kwik wrote:Actually, for the price, the SRT is a very good buy. Not sure about Dodge Reliability, but bang for the buck is definitely there. Rather odd boost tuning from Mopar though. Accroding to SCC magazine, it adjusts boost pressure to account for changes in the mass flow of air. Which means at higher altitudes or higher temperatures, where air is less dense, it would incrase boost. So it should perform similarly under all conditions...in theory. Mopar is also coming out with turbo upgrade kits. Just looking at the dyno charts, I can see some serious potential to gain HP by giving up some low-end response. Definitely a car I will have to respect on the road....
check car and drivers report on it. The car is pathetic....
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s14sr20det
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that neon is destined to fail, too much boost for a crappy car. i dont really need a new car but i would like one being that i already have another car im building to mess around with. i dont want another car that im going to start messing around with just something that is going to be very reliable so i dont have to worry about it. i think i might go with the se-r because im partial to nissans
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jEzTeR
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Quote »How about the Mazdaspeed Protege. Its turbocharged and handles nicely i hear. Its around 170 hp, but since its turbo you can squeeze some more power from it.[/quote] I went by the Mazda dealer the other day to check out this Turbo car.They dont have any and wont be getting any.The new car manager said that Mazda charges each dealer so much to even cary the Mazdaspeed products,and they wouldnt make enuff selling them to cover the cost.What a jip! BTW 170hp out of a turbo car sux IMO!:D
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Former_240_s14
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First off....
1. THe neon srt-4 "or whatever the call it" just like everyone said...too much boost=boom!!!, not to mention it will be unreliable in other areas also, mark my words!!!!!
2. The mazdaspeed prot. is worthless, it handles well for a fwd, but just like Jezter said 170horse for a turbo is embarrassing "but still not as much as my spelling is, lol"
3. If I were you I would look again at the SE-R, I love the very agreesive front bumper, I love it! Not to mention 170ish horse and 180ft.lbs-ish of torque, lsd, 6spd!!!
4. If you want room but the altima, since a sport compact is just that, a COMPACT!!!! No matter how many doors you got, its gonna be a tight squeeze regardless.
Hope this helps. Hell, just go buy a s14!
1. THe neon srt-4 "or whatever the call it" just like everyone said...too much boost=boom!!!, not to mention it will be unreliable in other areas also, mark my words!!!!!
2. The mazdaspeed prot. is worthless, it handles well for a fwd, but just like Jezter said 170horse for a turbo is embarrassing "but still not as much as my spelling is, lol"
3. If I were you I would look again at the SE-R, I love the very agreesive front bumper, I love it! Not to mention 170ish horse and 180ft.lbs-ish of torque, lsd, 6spd!!!
4. If you want room but the altima, since a sport compact is just that, a COMPACT!!!! No matter how many doors you got, its gonna be a tight squeeze regardless.
Hope this helps. Hell, just go buy a s14!
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Bubba1
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If you're determined to buy new, you do many choices with $20K, but you get what you pay for:
Neon: They perform/handle well well. I actually took one on some hot laps at Lime Rock a few years back. Fun. Problem is they're very typical Chrysler products. Cheaply made, crude, unrefined, and not particularly reliable. They new ones kinda odd looking to me too. I'd rent one, but not buy one
Focus: Actually a very nice performing car but Ford has had so many warranty problems (including many recalls) with them, it's comical. Embarrassing. Poorly built, but nice handling cars.
Mazda protege. Small, but performs adequately. handles well. More reliable than the american alternatives but will not inspire you.
Honda Civic. You could probably get a stripped one for about $20K. Reliable, well made. A lot of people here hate hondas, but despite the criticism, they're nice little cars.Honda Element are huge cars onthe inside. but they are rather hideous looking. If you don't care what your car looks like....
Hyundai: They have an terrific warranty but they are cheaply made, and do not retain their resale value. You gotta dump it before the warranty expires.
Nissan: you could theoretically get a 2.5S Altima for under 20K but it'll be stripped. Nice, well made car. (I have a '02 Altima myself but its loaded, and I paid more than $20K)Sentra. not quite as refined as the civic but well made, reliable, peppy and very tossable. The small nissan would be my 1st choice for $20K and under
Toyota Echo/Prius: Forget it. Reliable and economical, but slow Fugly.
Subau 2.5 RS. I think these are a little over 20K, but nice AWD car.Not particularly attractive, and they feel cheap but they handle well, fairly reliable and are practical.
You have to make your own choice, but test driving is lotsa fun. Enjoy.
Neon: They perform/handle well well. I actually took one on some hot laps at Lime Rock a few years back. Fun. Problem is they're very typical Chrysler products. Cheaply made, crude, unrefined, and not particularly reliable. They new ones kinda odd looking to me too. I'd rent one, but not buy one
Focus: Actually a very nice performing car but Ford has had so many warranty problems (including many recalls) with them, it's comical. Embarrassing. Poorly built, but nice handling cars.
Mazda protege. Small, but performs adequately. handles well. More reliable than the american alternatives but will not inspire you.
Honda Civic. You could probably get a stripped one for about $20K. Reliable, well made. A lot of people here hate hondas, but despite the criticism, they're nice little cars.Honda Element are huge cars onthe inside. but they are rather hideous looking. If you don't care what your car looks like....
Hyundai: They have an terrific warranty but they are cheaply made, and do not retain their resale value. You gotta dump it before the warranty expires.
Nissan: you could theoretically get a 2.5S Altima for under 20K but it'll be stripped. Nice, well made car. (I have a '02 Altima myself but its loaded, and I paid more than $20K)Sentra. not quite as refined as the civic but well made, reliable, peppy and very tossable. The small nissan would be my 1st choice for $20K and under
Toyota Echo/Prius: Forget it. Reliable and economical, but slow Fugly.
Subau 2.5 RS. I think these are a little over 20K, but nice AWD car.Not particularly attractive, and they feel cheap but they handle well, fairly reliable and are practical.
You have to make your own choice, but test driving is lotsa fun. Enjoy.
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Former_240_s14
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BB Turbo
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Well, one of my family memebers is in the market for a new car under 25k, so hes trying to decide between a new SI, rsx type s, or a GTI VR6, which has 200hp, or the 1.8T which has 180hp, we test drove the SI, very resposive, nice turning for a FWD, today we are gonna test drive the rsx and GTI, flame on.