new job = new car soon need help shopping

[s3xrapt0r]

just started my new job today 9.00 an hour 35+ hours a week.... i love my probe and all but its not as fun and it dosent seem like the best platform to mess with... yea you can klze swap and all but i am looking for something a little more fun... i want another 300zx but the engine in them is a pain in the ass :\ im still a n00b when it comes to tuning/mods.. pretty much i want a nice car preferably RWD or AWD that will be good for a beginner. im thinking of something along the lines of a Talon TSI, 240sx or impreza, older supra, or AE86 if i can get my hands on one LOL... i will most likely get the TSI since there pretty decent priced and are a good platform to play with.. just want some input even after researching im still at a stand still... they all look like good options to me anyone got any thing to say about my options ???

[Proven]

If you go the pre-2001 Impreza route check out rs25.com. You may even be able to pick up a swaped one (wrx engine swap). DSM wise I think you can't go wrong although your dealing with an older turbo engine and some issues may come up (oil leaks, tranny issues, blown turbo etc.). Before you make any choice def. research it in and out.

Whats your price range?

[s3xrapt0r]

meh price range is prefer around 5 or 6k nothing to crazy but nothing really cheap i found a few nice tsis for around 2500

[tr4c3]

Oh god it's you. There was enough of you on njtuners haha. You can find a swapped 240 for 5-6k. Depends on if you want to do your own work or not.

[Scapegoat]

$9/hr and you're ready to break your bank account? keep the probe and save up money. that way when you get a real job you can afford to get something nicer and new

[coleycole]

+1 on saving up your money. I like the options you are throwing out above, but game plan to pick one of those up a year from now after you have saved up some money. $315/ week isn't going to get you to far when your new whip needs a new trans, motor etc. Keep in mind the cars you are looking at have been targeted by tuners (some good, some bad) for some time now and it is hard to find them untouched. Just be smart with your money, and don't make a purchase on a $2,500 car until you have $5,000 in the bank.

[Elliott18t]

Originally Posted by Scapegoat

$9/hr and you're ready to break your bank account? keep the probe and save up money. that way when you get a real job you can afford to get something nicer and new

Originally Posted by coleycole

+1 on saving up your money. I like the options you are throwing out above, but game plan to pick one of those up a year from now after you have saved up some money. $315/ week isn't going to get you to far when your new whip needs a new trans, motor etc. Keep in mind the cars you are looking at have been targeted by tuners (some good, some bad) for some time now and it is hard to find them untouched. Just be smart with your money, and don't make a purchase on a $2,500 car until you have $5,000 in the bank.

x3..

[ASIAN JUL]

$9 an hour at 35 hours a week hardly seems like a time to go out buying a car.. wait it out and save up some money first

[240sxDann]

I agree with all above statements. Wait and save up a decent amount. The only thing worse then not being able to afford food and gas is not being able to afford new parts for your car

[jjm4life]

save your money

[Oakes]

Save it like I did

[Shoolig]

Just hustle on the side, 9 bucks an hour is plenty to go out and buy a 300ZX TT or w/e you want with. It depends on what your other expenses are, 9 bucks an hour is fine to afford all the cars you mentioned... it's plenty.

If you really wanted to you could go out and get a used SRT4 or GTO if you have someone to cosign for you.

Just to put it into perspective if you go the DSM route.

Price and time to fix problems:

Blown Turbo: 1G AWD, FWD, 2G FWD, 2G AWD: 2-3 hours, plus 70-140 dollars for a new turbo. No big deal.

Blown Trans: About 4-6 hours if you don't hit too many snags.
1G FWD: 150 bucks for trans
1G AWD: 150 bucks for trans
2G AWD: 400ish for the trans
2G FWD: 500 for the trans, they're stupid expensive.

Blown motor: 500-1000 dollars for a decent motor plus a day or two to swap it in and out.

If you buy a 1G you will be able to afford it with no issues.

I've spent over 1,000 dollars last month keeping my TSi running after 2 blown transmissions.

Also- I know a few people with brand new cars working full time at 9-10 bucks an hour, so, you could go that route if you wanted.

I was able to pick up a 300ZX TT when I made 5.50 an hour, part time.


Oh, another thing:

Do a compression test, shift at redline, floor it... a lot on test drive, don't buy a car with ANY leaks NO Matter What!!!!!!!, make sure the owner knows his ****. I will walk away from a car instantly if the owner doesn't know his car well (needs to know mileage on timing belt, maint done, how much boost it's running, etc) unless it's a rediculous deal. If it has a boost controller and no boost gauge punch them in the face for me.

Have fun!

[FazdaGt]

just for the record...

i drive a corvette daily, and i still miss my probe almost daily.

granted mine was highly modded, and as fast as my vette, but it was fun to say the least.

[Shoolig]

Originally Posted by FazdaGt

just for the record...

i drive a corvette daily, and i still miss my probe almost daily.

granted mine was highly modded, and as fast as my vette, but it was fun to say the least.

That's because your Vette doesn't spin like a high powered FWD. Go put some crappy tires on it, cam-tune-boltons, and I promise your FRC will make you laugh like a 5 year old getting tickled when you punch it 1-2-3rd.

[s3xrapt0r]

thanks guys yea i have no other expenses i already have enough in the bank for an other full year of insurance. as long as im working or doing something useful around the house my cell phone bill gets paid since i have never abused it.. so pretty much im all set to start saving for my car im not going to take a look at anything until i have 5k in the bank. for now its just Craigslist window shopping lol. my best friends dad and brother are mecanics and so is my dad so if i have a problem i bring it to philly at his place or i drive down the street to my friends house even if its something crazy like a swap ill just have to provide the engine crane.. im also keeping the probe in storage incase of an emergency like what happened to my ZX when the engine blew.. so i wont be stuck with out a car again like i was before at least if something happens ill have a car to get to work with and make money for the parts and repairs... i think ill go with a 240 or a TSI both are pretty common when it comes to part outs and crap if something ****s up

[piku]

Originally Posted by Shoolig

That's because your Vette doesn't spin like a high powered FWD. Go put some crappy tires on it, cam-tune-boltons, and I promise your FRC will make you laugh like a 5 year old getting tickled when you punch it 1-2-3rd.

I had a 1994 white probe for a month. It was the base 4 cyl engine and 5 speed. I couldn't sell that car fast enough. I don't know what I was smoking when I bought it. Maybe I was hoping it'd be fun like my old escort gt was.... it wasn't.

[s3xrapt0r]

lol yea my probes pretty fun at times it can give some hondas a good run around me but i REALLY want to get something that will put me up there in the "oh ****" category ;) just found a mk3 supra for a DAMN cheap price just needs some TLC i gotta take a look at it though once i get the bash and talk it down ;)

[ndubz]

If i were in ur situation Id go 1JZ supra or 240SX. TSis are to iffy on mechanics for me. just a preference. But if you want an o **** car, a big turbo supra, or a well modded RB25 silvia works wonders. Plus, your options with those cars are pretty much endless with regard to what you want to do with the car.

[illmatic1690]

just for my own knowledge cause im sorta in the same boat as the OP, for those of you who did engine swaps on your car like a 240 for example, how did you get it to pass inspection when it came time?

[keff108]

Save for a fast and reliable car. And 9 an hour isnt much to start looking for a car.