What car beats the Si? (sincerely)

[snubnose]

I'm very happy with the Si. But I am still interested in every other cool car under $30,000 available now and coming out soon. It seems that each one has its faults and dealbreakers. What do you think?

RSX type S- not significantly faster to justify a trade-in. Plus, kind of bland looking

EVO VIII- it's a Mitsubushi

WRX- The owners are bitching about tranny problems

350Z- the owners are bitching about an engineering flaw. The tires are wearing out every 3,000 miles and the mechanics can't fix the problem. Back to the drawing board.

VW R32- VW has always had reliability problems

STI- still untested. Ugly.

S2000- I don't like convertibles.

CTR- trade one car for another that's almost exactly the same thing?

The only car that could replace the Si for me would be another Honda sports car with 240 hp, and a hard top.

Maybe the rumored S2200?

[iR-VTEC2]

ok....scratch the 350 on possible car choices for the gf......rats. what about the porsche boxter??? heard any bad things about that car?

[03hatch]

Originally posted by snubnose

The only car that could replace the Si for me would be another Honda sports car with 240 hp, and a hard top.

Maybe the rumored S2200?


thats what i heard...and its a coupe...meaning 4 seats :D

[gito]

What about the Mercedes Benz C230 Kompressor Sport coupe? That one it's under 30K and it has the hatchback theme going on;) and of course it's a MBenz!
Another one it's the Saab-93, I think you can get the Vector version for under 30K, it has 2.0 L with 210 HP and turbo? Very nice and clean!

What impressed me the most what you said about the 350Z, is it true people are having problems already? I thought that was the ultimate driving machine?! .....oh no wait thats BMW:D

[Loudpedal]

Is the Mazda RX-8 going to be around the 30K mark, and be avail. shortly? My current pic for "obtainable fantasy" car.

[IceD out N CALI]

you didnt mention (dare I say it) the SRT-4:o

[CaptainMurphy]

They now have a hard top for the S2000, I saw one at the honda dealership when I went with my parents to pick up my EP, I thought it might have been after market, but I got the S2k brouchure and saw a picture of the Suzuka Blue S2k with the hard top. Not sure how much extra that would set you back though.

It looks very sweet, and you won't have a "convertable"

[taikahn]

Originally posted by IceD out N CALI
you didnt mention (dare I say it) the SRT-4:o

No, actually, you cant say it!

j/k

[Jpax]

Oh and you forgot the Toyota matrix X something the fast one.:confused:

[n8s si]

I've been seeing really nice affordable s2000's in the area for around 22,000 (used with under 15,000 miles). Thats my choice. However, someone i know just bought a 94 acura nsx with 28k miles for $28,000. That car is the cats a$$!

[snubnose]

Originally posted by gito
What about the Mercedes Benz C230 Kompressor Sport coupe?

gito:

I had no idea the C230 was within this price range. I thought, being a Mercedes, it was 35- 40k.

[ep pilot]

Actually I kind of kick myself now after the fact, I have seen adds in the paper for brand new C230 Kompressors for as low as $19800 for the cloth interior and a 6/speed manual. And to boot it's supercharged. I am trying to talk my girlfriend into one of these or the upcoming Acura TSX.


-Ryan

[oberkfell]

I was actually thinking about buying an SI, Matrix, RSX-S or WRX. I drove them all and the WRX won out by a long shot. The tranny problems people are talking about were far and few, and were related to the early 2k2 models.

You can get them for 1 grand below invoice. A pretty damn good price for awd beast.

If Honda sold the type R, I would of gone with it. But, I just can't get over the american version "mini-van look". Of course the ones with the body kits and lowered rides look nice. I just wanted a car I didn't have to put any money into after I bought it.

For a stock vehicle off the showroom its hard to beat the value of the WRX; that is if you can get over the looks of it - which I did.

[gito]

Originally posted by snubnose


gito:

I had no idea the C230 was within this price range. I thought, being a Mercedes, it was 35- 40k.

Yeah you actually can get it for 25 or 26k, thats the price I saw at their website;) www.mbusa.com

Like someone else mentioned you can get the base model for less than that...I think....

[dc5-K20A3]

Another one it's the Saab-93, I think you can get the Vector version for under 30K, it has 2.0 L with 210 HP and turbo? Very nice and clean!

Isn't it called the 9-3 Viggen?

[gito]

Originally posted by dc5-K20A3


Isn't it called the 9-3 Viggen?

It used to be called Viggen, but the since they came out with a totally new design for the 9-3 they changed the name to Saab 9-3 Vector;)

Actually there is 3 new names for the Saab 9-3, Linear, Arc and the Vector.

[95 GSR]

Originally posted by snubnose
The only car that could replace the Si for me would be another Honda sports car with 240 hp, and a hard top.

HONDA? 240? hard top? 03 Accord V6 is ur answer...:D i dont know if u would call it a sports car tho....


just heard from a friend....... 04 Focus SVT ....TURBO... i forgot how much HP exactly... i think it was about 225 to the crank... and its competion is suppose to be the SRT-4 and S2000.

cant wait to see that.:)

[NemesisITR]

$4000 for the hardtop on the S2000. You have to buy the car, then order the hardtop, which is specially built for your car.

[snubnose]

Originally posted by 95 GSR

03 Accord V6 is ur answer.

cant wait to see that.:)

I know the 6 speed Accord V6 is a great car, but I would never escape the feeling I was driving an....Accord, a family car.

Also,

I have been reading reviews about the MB C230 sports coupe. I think that Honda's i-VTEC engine is more refined and durable than the C230 with the turbocharger that might require expensive maintenance after a few years.

[95 GSR]

Originally posted by snubnose


I know the 6 speed Accord V6 is a great car, but I would never escape the feeling I was driving an....Accord, a family car.

Also,

I have been reading reviews about the MB C230 sports coupe. I think that Honda's i-VTEC engine is more refined and durable than the C230 with the turbocharger that might require expensive maintenance after a few years.
MBZ turbocharged? i thought that the kompressor was a supercharger, not a turbo.
m i wrong?:confused:

[snubnose]

You're right. I meant to say supercharged. I think the C230 is a great car, but not significantlly better than the Si.

Also, the C230 has been criticized for its "rubbery shift feel."

Score one for the Si.

[chunky]

Originally posted by 95 GSR

MBZ turbocharged? i thought that the kompressor was a supercharger, not a turbo.
m i wrong?:confused:

it's supercharged, lysholm blower. really nice blower, very mediocre motor.

210hp out of the blown 2.3L I-4?

Dunno about that one. MB makes some phatty motors, like the one in the c320 AMG and the E55, but the c230 coupe just didn't impress me.

I test drove it as well, totally isolated from the road, which is a good thing if you want luxury, bad if you want a sporty feel. the car felt boaty as hell, and it's heft was made very apparent through every turn. the RWD is nice, and the 6spd is nice but has horrible shift feel.

overall, it's not worth the money, the RSX-s is a MUCH better car for the money. roomier, faster, better made - but lacks some of the appointments that benz offers (heated seats, navigation, tilt/telescoping wheel, glass roof, etc etc etc.)

[chunky]

oh, and if you want to trade the si in for another car that has some soul, try the mazdaspeed protege.

it really is a nice car, 170hp/160ft-lb, 5spd with LSD. about the same weight as the si, but has a MUCH tauter suspension stock.

if the mazdaspeed protege was out when I was car shoppnig, I would have taken a serious look at it. priced the same as the si, but has better underpinnings and a factory turbo.

Who am I kidding, I would probably have still bought the si b/c the interior beats the shit out of anything in it's class, and any honda motor makes for a good project motor. I was thinking long term when I bought the si.

[95 GSR]

Originally posted by chunky
benz offers (heated seats, navigation, tilt/telescoping wheel, glass roof, etc etc etc.)
that kind of stuff just rises the cost of the car.

if i had 20,000, i'd buy a EG, built it, and keep the 8,000 thats left over. "but then you would still be driving a eg", like somepeople would say. but thats just me, i

[iR-VTEC2]

haha saab viggen. that's a fighter craft


http://www.imagesupplier.com/saabviggen.html

[kpxplaya415]

mazda 6s anyone?

[chunky]

Originally posted by iR-VTEC2
haha saab viggen. that's a fighter craft


http://www.imagesupplier.com/saabviggen.html

the 9-3 viggen was a special model that honors the fighter plane that saab made.

it's 230hp and does reasonably well for a front driver - acceleration times were comprable to an rsx-s but with more top end speed. saabs have always had pretty tall gearing.

[I SELL HONDAS]

PERFORMANCE:

0-60: 6.1 sec
0-100: 16.0 sec
1/4 mile: 14.8 sec @ 96 mph
Top Speed: 148 mph
The coupe has a taillight treatment kind of like the new Mercedes CL. Whatever you think of the styling, the Accord doesn't stop from being one hell of a car. This new Accord also has the handling to match it's extra power, with 17 inch wheels shodded with 215/50R-17 tires. for $26,360 this car is a blast to drive:p

[2k2civicSi]

Originally posted by 95 GSR

that kind of stuff just rises the cost of the car.

if i had 20,000, i'd buy a EG, built it, and keep the 8,000 thats left over. "but then you would still be driving a eg", like somepeople would say. but thats just me, i

AMEN!!!!!!!

[Tekdemon]

Either the Accord V6 6 Speed or the Mazda 6 make me want them =P

With the Mazda 6 I hear the V6 is a less balanced car overall than the I4 though...but what the heck, I'd get the V6 and 6 speed just because =P hehehehe

[SiR Medic]

Sounds like you should get and Accord Coupe V6!

With a few simple mods, you should get rid of that "family car" feel.

[I SELL HONDAS]

there is no family car feel!!!
trust me.

[2k2_nbp_egg]

I'd personally get the STi. Ugly or not, 300 HP AWD with an ACD pwns a 4g63 powered mitsu lancer shod of AYC and ACD and tezzas'. Actually, i saw my first evo on the road and it did look real good, but....if you could get MSRP on an STi thats the best way to go IMO.
Don't get the cheapest "saturn" benz. Not only is the interior not up to par with it being a benz....but i raced some dude with that car and a renntech 1.5k exhaust system and he took me by 2-3 cars at third? The sad thing is that he paid a little more than 33k for a RWD supercharged i-4 heavy benz, and for that kind of money he should be taking me by 4 cars off the line in AWD goodness, or putting bus lengths on me once his powerband hits. Shit if i had that extra 15k he spent on his car i'd be making him cry with my BOV...and purging on his car :) But whatever, don't listen to other people too hard....get what makes you smile the most and is shod of problems.

[Gibhunter]

Originally posted by snubnose
WRX- The owners are bitching about tranny problems

Fixed on 2003 models. It mostly happened on earlier models modified with manual boost controllers that forced full boost in first gear.
2003 model has stronger gears that can withstand the power.