Help me pick a car V2.0

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2015 1:10 pm

MikeWhitney wrote:

I know nothing about Minis. Can anyone tell me why I would not want to get one, or which one(s) to look for?

Stay away from the early turbo models, '07-'09. Somewhat failure prone. When looking for Jordan, we searched for a '05-'06 supercharged. Purchased at 42k and now has over 100k w/ no major issues. Just now starting to turn up some minor electrical glitches. VERY fun car. Recommend a posi diff. Need to call the dealership w/ the VIN to verify, not sure of any other way to know.

They are tough to work on. Case in point is the alternator. Have to remove the front bumper and slide the front end assembly forward on a couple of 5" long bolts. Taps are in place to allow you to screw in the bolts. You'll also need the tensioner tool so you can remove the belt. But this is all simple stuff in regard to your mechanical prowess...

I've driven Jordan's several times and the car drives like it's on rails. We found one w/ the "chrono package". This has the dual gauges on the steering column and changes the center speedo to alternate gauges like oil pressure, oil temp and water temp w/ real working gauges I might add, no dummy pointers...

ChrisBarefoot · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2015 7:40 pm

Plenty of decent looking Mazda 3's. Not sure if it fits the 'not dog slow' requirement.
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/ctd/4989199372.html
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/ctd/4987609607.html

Mazdaspeed 3 w/ lots of work needed...also pricey.
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/4981744574.html

Pricey and maybe boring but it works.
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/ctd/4983747887.html

Scott Johnson · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2015 8:30 pm

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/4921299803.html

Legacy GT *wagon*, needs work. Not much detail in the ad, but it might be your kind of project. If it's a manual, then it's a unicorn and you should buy it. The ad does have automatic listed, but also "5 cylinders" so who knows?

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

There are TWO interesting, fast early/mid-2000's cars in my top 5 list right now that you guys are forgetting

I think I also need to go drive an EP Civic Si and a base mini to see what they are like...

Chad Culbertson · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2015 10:00 pm

Base Mini's are slow as dirt. I test drove a base mini and a S a few months ago at carmax. The base mini was incredibly boringly slow, also the suspension felt soft. The S was a HUGE improvement over the base, it wasn't 420 RWHP like what I normally drive every day, but it was enough I thought I could be happy with it, I couldn't live with the power on the base mini.

I drove a turbo S and it was a nice feeling motor, it spooled low rpm so you could still accelerate some in top gear which was nice and what i'm used to with a V8.

I guess for a beater a base model mini might work, and i've been considering looking at them as a beater for either myself or Jessi since she's driving 43 miles one way and myself over 30. The Camaro is averaging barely 20mpg on 93 octane and the Jeep is doing quite well at 21-22 lol.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Got it, crossing the base mini off the list, thanks

clinehall · **Posted:** Wed Apr 22, 2015 7:16 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

I know nothing about Minis. Can anyone tell me why I would not want to get one, or which one(s) to look for?

Let me wax poetic.

I think the R53 (for those who don't speak Minidouche-a lesser known dialect of BMWdouchespeak) that is the 2002-2005 S. Is the the most fun example. Later examples are dummed for a wider appeal. Throw on a smaller supercharger pulley and it really is quit quick. No major failure points. The internet will alarm you of shock tower mushrooming but being a bmw fanboy you are aware of that problem. Interiors hold up well, drop the back seats and you can haul all kinds of crap. Safe as anything out there, we've totalled two and survived where lesser cars we might not have.

After driving them for 13 years I still love driving it in town, on the highway, and especially on twisties.

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/ is the best internet site.

clinehall · **Posted:** Wed Apr 22, 2015 7:20 am

Also, the other best mod is a Whalen weighted shift nob. I've done a short throw shifter and this and it is way superior. Amazing change in feel. I was going to drive your old P car today but after all this I think I'll drive the Mini!

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Wed Apr 22, 2015 8:31 am

Richard Casto wrote:

Volvo V70 (V70R?) - Bigger car, but maybe interesting if you get a fixer upper V70R?

Stay away from the V70R...having owned two of them, bought new, 2004 and then a 2005 that Volvo swapped us into since the 04 was about to be lemoned. The 2005 was a 6MT some here might remember, and by the time it had 16k miles on it, it too showed many of the issues the 04 one had such as failed rear wheel bearing, front axle splines play issue, etc, but the worst thing about these cars (P2 V70R/S60R) is that the rear suspension is an awful design. It has too much toe-in on compression, so when you hit large one-side bumps, you get rear end bump steer -- it's simply awful. Volvo came out with stiffer rear bushings to "fix" the problem, and we had that "fix" done on our 2nd one, but it didn't do anything. After driving the Pennsylvania turnpike in late 2005 and continually dealing with scary rear bump steer, I sold the car right away (at that point, 11 months into ownership, it had over 10 warranty visits some with multiple claims like the driver's side heat failing, exhaust deflecting into driveshaft during heavy rain, etc, etc).

All that said, for a stock wagon the 6MT was fun. With Corsa R-comps, PFC01 pads in the stock Brembo calipers, and a decent alignment, I was able to turn 1:24-1:25 on South course without too much trouble.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Wed Apr 22, 2015 10:13 am

Chuck Branscomb wrote:

Richard Casto wrote:

Volvo V70 (V70R?) - Bigger car, but maybe interesting if you get a fixer upper V70R?

Stay away from the V70R

I thought someone here had said to stay away from the Volvo in an earlier thread (?), but couldn't remember who.

Richard

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Wed Apr 22, 2015 10:57 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

There are TWO interesting, fast early/mid-2000's cars in my top 5 list right now that you guys are forgetting

I am not very good at this, but I will continue to add to the list in an attempt to hit your two mystery cars...

Toyota Celica 7th Gen (no idea if they fit your cost criteria)
BMW 318 hatch (too expensive given your criteria?)
Audi A3/S3 (not likely?)
Golf GTI (but you said no VW!)
Scion tC (I am not a fan actually)

Richard

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Ok here's the list in order of how interested I am. The ones you guys missed are in bold

1. Mini Cooper
2. Acura RSX Type S
3. Ford Focus SVT
4. EP Civic Si
5. Celica GTS
6. Mazda Protege 5
7. Saab 9-3
8. Subaru Impreza/Outback/WRX/Saab 9-2x
9. Mazda 3
10. GTI VR6

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Wed Apr 22, 2015 12:06 pm

MikeWhitney wrote:

Ok here's the list in order of how interested I am. The ones you guys missed are in bold

1. Mini Cooper
2. Acura RSX Type S
3. Ford Focus SVT
4. EP Civic Si
5. Celica GTS
6. Mazda Protege 5
7. Saab 9-3
8. Subaru Impreza/Outback/WRX/Saab 9-2x
9. Mazda 3
10. GTI VR6

This doesn't have the $1500 S4 that I linked you to on Facebook? Does that mean no interest?

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Wed Apr 22, 2015 1:02 pm

I'll sell you my S4...not for $1500 of course since it's running great, all service up to date, very well taken care of, etc, but it does have 192k miles on it now.

Andrew Jonell · **Joined:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:43 pm **Posts:** 1350

MikeWhitney wrote:

Ok here's the list in order of how interested I am. The ones you guys missed are in bold

1. Mini Cooper
2. Acura RSX Type S
3. Ford Focus SVT
4. EP Civic Si
5. Celica GTS
6. Mazda Protege 5
7. Saab 9-3
8. Subaru Impreza/Outback/WRX/Saab 9-2x
9. Mazda 3
10. GTI VR6

The RSX Type S has a pretty awful interior, still an Integra. The Protege5 is too expensive for what it is; the Mazda3 is a significantly better car.

I like the EP3 Civic, and the Focus SVT is pretty solid. The last gen GT-S also seems to be a winner, but it might be impossible to find one with a stock bumper/wing (2 fast 2 furious).

My vote is for an EF chassis (1987-1991) Civic RT4WD wagon so I can live vicariously through you.

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