On 28 Jun 2003 08:43:37 -0700, analystresearch2002@yahoo.com (Andrew)
wrote:

>I'm looking into the usual suspects:
> Toyota Celica
> Mitsubishi Eclipse
> Acura RSA
> Hyundai Tiburon

I was doing the same 6 months ago. Here's my experience.

Hyundai was out of the question since it's a Hyundai.

The Celicas handle really well, and feel a bit like a sportscar, in
the sense that it's begging for some fun twisties. I do not like the
engine, it is so weak at low rpms it's ridiculous. However, somewhere
around 6000 rpm, it feels like giant leaped out of the wood and kick
the car in the trunk, as it just flies forward.. "All the way" to 7500
or something. I wanted an auto (too much traffic here), and that
didn't work well at all with the rev happy celica. You need a six
speed with this, so you'll have 5 usable sweet spots (high rpms),
rather than an awful 4 speed auto. It looks very feminine - like a 80
product from Sony.. oh, I did try the GTS and the GT. Get the GTS.
Also, the celicas get a huge boost from a cheap cold air intake, I
think it's about 15 hp at the wheel or something.

Acura - pretty much the same as the celica. Doesn't feel as good in
handling, but not sure if that is because of poor handling, or the
fact that it's a luxury car. While the celica was pretty fun to drive,
the acura was boring. The looks are extremely boring. Had a bit more
low-rpm punch than the celica, but still a rev machine. No soul.

Eclipse - now this is one sweet looking car. It is a big and very
"american" car, which is all bad in a sportscar context. The handling
was not good at all, even though it comes with 17" wheels stock. The
V6 was a dream compared with the others.. Some like the revvy
valve-beaters, but I want either displacement or a turbo. The 5 speed
felt pretty peppy, in big contrast to the auto, where about 40-50 HP
is lost the powertrain. I did get an eclipse, I got a great deal on a
used one, a GT convertible auto, 1,5 year old, still with warranty,
and 12 grand less than a new one.. great when buying used, but awful
if getting a new one. I like the Eclipse, I find it to be a great
compromise between handling, comfort, looks and performance. A
sportscar? hardly.

Two others to consider: The VW GTI, both VR6 and 1,8turbo, and the
Subaru WRX. If you can stretch the budget, look at the Mitsubishi EVO
and Nissan Z too.

 

April, 2003 "Annual Auto" issue of Consumer Reports. Their Annual
Buying Guide. Repair records etc. Recent J.D. Power's reports (Google).
Forbes (magazine) - http://www.forbes.com/2003/04/12/cx_mf_0414test.html
MotorWeek - http://www.mpt.org/
Autoweek - http://autoweek.com/

Happy Hunting!

"Alex Devlin" <Alex@127.0.0.1> wrote in message
news:gAnQa.33082$o86.12590@news1.central.***.net.. .
> nospam@hey.com.invalid (lurker) wrote in news:3f11fbe5.1739976824
> @news.comcast.giganews.com:
>
> <snipped>
>
> >
> > Two others to consider: The VW GTI, both VR6 and 1,8turbo, and the
> > Subaru WRX. If you can stretch the budget, look at the Mitsubishi EVO
> > and Nissan Z too.
> >
>
> The VW GTi isn't as good now IMHO but still a nice driver and good for day
> to day town hopping. Although.... the VR6 4 wheel drive (was available in
> Europe, not sure about here in the USA) was a smile generator :-)
>
> Alex Devlin

 

get a supra, awesome power and handeling.

 

On Mon, 14 Jul 2003 01:21:16 GMT, Alex Devlin <Alex@127.0.0.1> wrote:

>> Two others to consider: The VW GTI, both VR6 and 1,8turbo, and the
>> Subaru WRX. If you can stretch the budget, look at the Mitsubishi EVO
>> and Nissan Z too.
>>
>
>The VW GTi isn't as good now IMHO but still a nice driver and good for day
>to day town hopping.

I'd still rate it higher than the celica and acura, and it does look
better than the Suburu. I would definitely look at VW/AUDI if an auto
tranny was desired, they are pretty tight unlike many of the awful
slushboxes out there..

 

nospam@hey.com.invalid (lurker) wrote in
news:3f13100b.1810670877@news.comcast.giganews.com :

> On Mon, 14 Jul 2003 01:21:16 GMT, Alex Devlin <Alex@127.0.0.1> wrote:
>
>>> Two others to consider: The VW GTI, both VR6 and 1,8turbo, and the
>>> Subaru WRX. If you can stretch the budget, look at the Mitsubishi
>>> EVO and Nissan Z too.
>>>
>>
>>The VW GTi isn't as good now IMHO but still a nice driver and good for
>>day to day town hopping.
>
> I'd still rate it higher than the celica and acura, and it does look
> better than the Suburu. I would definitely look at VW/AUDI if an auto
> tranny was desired, they are pretty tight unlike many of the awful
> slushboxes out there..
>

I would still have a VW GTi but the first ones were more fun to drive and
not as sterile as the newer versions.

Alex Devlin