need dj advice - buying a car

[dice]

Okay I'm deciding between these two cars

1991 Toyota MR2 Turbo w/ 109,000 miles, stick, T-Top sunroof

1994 Honda Accord w/ 100,000 miles, auto, sunroof, larger interior, V-tek engine


If anyone has any experience or knows anything about these cars or can give me some advice please share. This post will be the final factor that I take into account before making a purchase. I'm looking for reliability above all else but at the same time I want a car that girls like.

 

[diablo]

Any reason you don't wait a few months, save a bit more, and buy a car that doesn't have 100k+ miles? I'm sure you have your reasons, but it doesn't make much sense to me to buy a car that will soon turn into a money pit, where you throw money into it because random stuff starts breaking down for no reason at all.

Here's an example:

You buy the MR2: $2600 (kbb.com value)
After buying it you realize there are some things you need to fix immediately: $800
You drive it around for a few months and have something else go wrong: $400
You get it out of the shop and within 3 days something else happens (this happens all too often, ask anyone): $300
You drive it for another few months before something else goes wrong: $300...

The list will continue, and this is probably on the low end money-wise regarding what will happen, but you've already spent $4400... then when you finally get around to selling your car, you'll end up having to sell it for less than you paid - probably in the area of $1800. All in all you've lost a good amount of money that otherwise could have been spent for something else if you'd waited a few months and bought a car that was actually decent instead of spending it now on something that isn't...

A decent car would be under 10 years old with less than 75k miles. While not on my list of cars to buy, an example would be a 1998 Honda Civic HX Coupe with 75k miles - KBB.com values it at $5,000. Think about it - you get what you pay for.

Oh, and a word about the V-tec engine... only get it if you enjoy paying serious cash for gas. One of my earlier cars was a Honda Prelude with a H22 motor (vtec) and it ate gas for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

 

[Bible_Belt]

The Accord is probably the better choice, but you obviously want the MR2. Do some research to see if the engine and especially the turbo will age well. The old Nissan turbos had to idle for 10 minutes before the engine shut off or the old oil baked inside it, killing it after 60-80K mi. In general, a turbo attachment is the weak part of any engine. They tend to break, disabling the car and costing a lot to repair. But research the MR2; maybe Toyota can make a decent turbo.

edit: reviews of the MR2 seem very positive:
http://www.epinions.com/auto_Make-1991_Toyota_MR2/display_~reviews

as good as the Honda:
http://www.epinions.com/auto_Make-1994_Honda_Accord/display_~reviews

I want a car that girls like.

Get the MR2. You know you want to.

 

[S-lemond]

Originally posted by Bible_Belt
The Accord is probably the better choice, but you obviously want the MR2. Do some research to see if the engine and especially the turbo will age well. The old Nissan turbos had to idle for 10 minutes before the engine shut off or the old oil baked inside it, killing it after 60-80K mi. In general, a turbo attachment is the weak part of any engine. They tend to break, disabling the car and costing a lot to repair. But research the MR2; maybe Toyota can make a decent turbo.

edit: reviews of the MR2 seem very positive:
http://www.epinions.com/auto_Make-1991_Toyota_MR2/display_~reviews

as good as the Honda:
http://www.epinions.com/auto_Make-1994_Honda_Accord/display_~reviews

I want a car that girls like.

Get the MR2. You know you want to.

yea go for it

 

[dice]

If you read the reviews for each, the MR2 doesnt seem to last as long as the Accord, in fact the one review with more miles than 100k (120k) said his valve seals are going.

 

[nosexbox]

Fixing an MR2 is a b*tch, trust me. Friend had one, cost him a ton. Broke down often, too.

Accords, especially early nineties before they shedded the boxy look, are "money" (to speak a la nineties). They fix up well, too... e.g. rims and the such.

The thing with an MR2 is that you're always driving it, if you know what I mean.

But I hate automatics. Ugh.

 

[Skel]

Buying a car that girls like? How about buy something you like? I always found it really AFC for guys to drive around in cool cars hoping they will get laid because of the car they drive. I personally drive a ****box and could care less what anyone else thinks about my car.

 

[TurboOverCubicInches]

A 1991 MR2 is a good car WHEN:

-You have extra money to throw around and can afford a 2nd "toy car"

-When you already have a newer, lower mileage, reliable daily drive around, because the MR2 is not a car you will want to drive everyday, not with 100,000 miles on it


The accord would be a better choice for now it seems, since i gather you are younger and reliability is most important.

An MR2 is not very reliable. I am a Sports Car Club of America driver and the MR2 is one car I always wanted. But also...it is notorious for surprising younger drivers with its un-orthodox handling charcteristics. Which also would mean higher insurance, and the engine position and turbocharger don't help your cause either in that department.

In other words get the accord.

 

[TurboOverCubicInches]

The old Nissan turbos had to idle for 10 minutes before the engine shut off or the old oil baked inside it, killing it after 60-80K mi. In general, a turbo attachment is the weak part of any engine.

Thats common of many turbo cars of the 1980's and even 1990's. Its called "coking" and theres a device called turbo timers that remedy this problem.

Just playing DJ know it all, sorry heh