Car opinion, I'm torn!

ahunt01 · 08-05-05, 05:16

Alrighty, I finally got my Bachelors degree, and am not getting ready in a month to start for my Masters. I should be starting my new job soon, so I am contemplating about getting a new sports car in the next couple of months to compliment my 00 Civic and 05 Wrangler.
I'm mighty pissed off at the reliability of the Wrangler, so I'm determined to never buy American again. My Civic is so dang reliable: D
Anywho, I'm leaning towards getting a new Nissan 350 Z coupe.
Also, I am also considering a new Honda S2000.
And finally, I am contemplating a cheaper route, drop a more powerful engine & tranny (Type R maybe) into the Civic, and either leaving it NA or boosting it. Haven't decided if I'd make it a sleeper or make it look sportier without ricing it out. And oh yeah, this car must be daily-drivable & reliable if it's done.

Thoughts? Opinions on either car, and/or the Civic set-up?

Way2SSlow · 08-05-05, 05:25

Would you be keeping the civic to drive as a daily? That's a hard decision. I guess it would really depend on the amount of time I would be spending in them. I like S2000's a ton, and I would like to own one, but because of my height (6'3), I dont think it could be a daily driver for me (yes, I have driven one, and I fit...and I liked it, but tad too small for me to use as a daily). The Nissan has a ton more room (although the last one I drove was actually a G35 Coupe) it isnt really a seriously ROOMY car. If you're planning on driving it frequently, I think my vote would go to the nissan. If you're shorter than I am, and you definitely love verts....go S2000. I think you've got a win-win situation. I'd shop around and see which one you can get a better deal on.....you cant lose either way.

scottabir · 08-05-05, 05:31

Get the Z car!!! the G35 mentioned above is one sexy car though too. I am ont a fan of the s2000 though. so my vote goes to the two mentioned above.

ahunt01 · 08-05-05, 05:44

I'm only about 5'8", so head room is no problem, though I wish it were lol.
Well, the Civic is currently my daily driver due to the Jeep running poorly and the amount of gas it consumes, but I'd rather not get too much into that mess, that's another thread sadly.
The Civic will continue to be my daily driver, regardless if it gets fixed up or not. The Z or S2000 would be a weekend warrior. The only benefit to fixing up the Civic that I can see is that I could have a car that could either keep up or beat the two above mentioned sports cars in the Q mile by putting in about 5-6k into the Civic, or some I’m told. I have no clue about the reliability, longevity, and ability to drive it daily.
But, of course, half the fun of owning a sports car is having a fast sexy looking ride, like scottabir pointed out.

Way2SSlow · 08-06-05, 09:20

I'd leave the civic stock. I think Hondas are some of the best cars on the road, but I dont think that I would ever mod one. IMO if you mod a civic or something, you take away what it does best. Reliability. I would rather buy one of the sports cars, and mod it if you feel the need. I am looking to buy another ride because I have modded mine to the point where daily driveability is starting to be compromised. On the S2000 is wasnt so much headroom that I was complaining about...there just isnt much room in the car period. I felt a slight bit cramped in it...but I guess you have to keep in mind that I drive an Impala SS every day and it's a friggin boat. Like I said it's win win...post pics when you make your decision.

SpoiledMan · 08-06-05, 09:42

A '00 Civic will accept a 195HP Integra Type R engine pretty easily. I'd have to think that this is a pretty reliable engine as it is production. There are many bolt on parts as well as internals that are still just as reliable as the factory parts BUT they are expensive. Anyone that has a DOHC V-TEC powered car will tell you that they have dual personalities. They're perfectly fine motoring along with the traffic and then turning into a rabid pack of bees when you desire the extra fun. The R motor in the lightweight Civic would make it a fun car and such a sleeper. You'd also need the tranny to go along with it as well as the ECU. You can use many of the Type R suspension and brake parts(source the Accord wagon front rotors and redrill them and NSX? calipers) for some pretty stellar braking/handling performance.

Look at some of the Honda technical forums and ask what it would take to get what you want. If you decide to buy a sports car I'd go for the S2000 but I'm biased. They do hold value pretty well but you WONT get a lot of money off the sticker as you may with the 350. If I were looking at the 350, I'd take a harder look at the G35 coupe as it *TO ME* is a much better looking car.

Aurora40 · 08-07-05, 05:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahunt01

I'm mighty pissed off at the reliability of the Wrangler, so I'm determined to never buy American again.

I'd think that would cause you to never buy a Wrangler again, or a Jeep. Anyway, congrats on graduating.

I would suggest that since your life is changing, new job, starting grad school, etc, that it might be wise to wait a bit and see how things settle out before committing to a reasonably large monthly payment for several years.

steck · 08-07-05, 05:55

leave the civic alone. you wont be gaining too much with a modded civic.....it'll still be just a civic!!!

i like the s2000 idea,, but what about searching around for a nice NSX, C5, or a little Boxter??!!

ahunt01 · 08-07-05, 06:22

Heh yeah Aurora, my parents are telling me to do the same. I'll have to wait and see how easily I can pay the bills with this new job to determine if I'll do it or not. Part of me doesn't wish to pay insurance on a sports car at my age...another reason for modding a Civic.
Oh no, I likely won't buy another Wrangler again. Such a shame, because it's such a fun vehicle. I'd like to think I'll get it fixed, but I can see I'm going to have to take it to a more rural shop because the current shop that is unable to fix the problem is also likely unable to hear the pinging. There is too much traffic zooming around to hear it clearly.

Buy a NSX or Porche??? Omg I wish I could afford that lol. I'm a social worker, so even though the pay is good, it ain't that good lol. A S2000 or 350Z is much more in my price range. Although I might as well grab my ankles and lube up when insuring it.

percynjpn · 08-07-05, 06:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahunt01

I'm mighty pissed off at the reliability of the Wrangler, so I'm determined to never buy American again. My Civic is so dang reliable: D
Anywho, I'm leaning towards getting a new Nissan 350 Z coupe.
Also, I am also considering a new Honda S2000.

Well, my first thought is that you shouldn't judge the reliability of the dozens of various automobiles produced by several completely different manufacturers, based simply on your experience with the "one" American vehicle you happen to own.

In that light, it's interesting that you're considering a "Z" (known oddly enough as a "Fairlady Z" over here

; the Z already has quite a bad reputation (both in Japan and the U.S.) for poor reliability, as well as low grade materials and poor fit and finish.

rjstaaf · 08-07-05, 07:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahunt01

snip.....

Oh no, I likely won't buy another Wrangler again. Such a shame, because it's such a fun vehicle. I'd like to think I'll get it fixed, but I can see I'm going to have to take it to a more rural shop because the current shop that is unable to fix the problem is also likely unable to hear the pinging. There is too much traffic zooming around to hear it clearly.

snip....

Mind if I ask what kind of problems you have had with the Wrangler? We have had several Jeeps and have never had an issue with them.

Just curious

sQuashed · 08-07-05, 07:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by percynjpn

Well, my first thought is that you shouldn't judge the reliability of the dozens of various automobiles produced by several completely different manufacturers, based simply on your experience with the "one" American vehicle you happen to own.

In that light, it's interesting that you're considering a "Z" (known oddly enough as a "Fairlady Z" over here

; the Z already has quite a bad reputation (both in Japan and the U.S.) for poor reliability, as well as low grade materials and poor fit and finish.

The Z is incredibly reliable IMHO. If you dont own one , you really shouldnt be talking about it. Also, you probably have no clue as to what "Fairlady Z" is either... To each their own I suppose.