Waving good by to a good car

[-BraXta-]

Yup..

verdict finally... came through from the insurance place..

my car is a write off..

So now im in the market lookin for sumptin..

I was leaning towards a Nissan Maxima..

But i would like to hear what other cars people can think of that are nice and luxurious but not too denting on the cash flow =D

[mrpayner]

Hey man that's sad.. What sort of budget do you have to play around with?

AP

[woofy]

Geeze that from having the bumper smashed? our bumper was totalled from being backed into and it only cost like 1200 to be fixed up again with a new one. My parents have a 98 Maxima, the Sports touring version, its auto but boy that V6 in it takes off. It has been a great car for them, plenty of room in the back, lots of power, and isn't as big to drive as a falcon or commodore. Pity the new ones are so ugly and big with that 350Z motor in them.

[Laser the Amazer]

If your spending that sorta money look at the Honda Accords Euro. Much nicer car then the Maxima.

My work has Nissan and Honda Franchises and I much rather the Euro over the Maxima and the Euro is $15,000 cheaper and available in a 6 Speed Manual.

The Maxima's drive like a boat and the stability control is more a hazard then a helpful thing. I have my Lynx with just about everything whiteline and the Euro takes corners just as quick and handles just as good if not better.

I would also look at the Subaru Liberty they are quite nice.

get out there and get driving a few things and see what takes your fancy. One thing I love with my Job I get to drive heaps and heaps of different cars, So I get to know whats good and whats not.

Rob

[pr1mo]

you could get a decent lexus with that sorta cash i imagine
or a mazda millennia thatd be sweet

[mazdamanik]

why not go to an RX-7 or even an RX-8? or get a second hand cheap thing and wait for the MPS 6

Personally i have a soft spot for the mighty Supra's =)

[chicaboo]

Ahhh, there's nothing more fun than car shopping! Don't overlook things like depreciation, running costs and registration. I'm all for 4's now! Here's a little obligatory list to get you thinking:

Volkswagon Golf 2.0 FSI (yummy!)
Honda Accord Euro 6spd (monster power from a 4cyl!)
Drive a POS and wait for the Suzuki Swift GTi (hello public transport, goodbye independance)
Same again for the updated 6 or 3MPS (fark off those Altezzas please!)
Mazda3 MaxxSport/SP23 (dah!)

[goldsp]

haha i think you are all missing he said not dinting the cash flow too much.

whats your budget ?

[tidy protege]

across the various budgets id go the following
30-40grand-sp23 luxary pack
40-50grand-Honda Euro, Followed by the mazda 6
50-60grand-liberty 3R, Mazda6 MPS

[chicaboo]

All the cars I mentioned are south of $40k, can't say that for other suggestions. Tisk tisk... Hey, if you're looking 2nd hand, I hear BA Astinas are nice. :p Seriously, I'd love a turbo for my next car, something like an S14 200SX maybe?

[-BraXta-]

whoa whoa whoa !!

40G !! .... lol

im lookin more max 15g =P haha and im thinkin 1998 maxima =P

lol

woofy... it wasnt just bumper damage..

Was pretty screwed .. snapped control arm.. and more..

ill take photos tommorra of inside engine bay and undercar k... then you will realise why its soo expensive =D

But yeh... im in the price range of max prolly 16g..

and its gotto be luxury =D
and maxima is one of the best i can think of.. we used to have one too woofy and it was great and a 30G =D

they are nice cars =D

[Cosmo Dude]

I like the HD 929 (bet that came out of left field :D ) 3.0l quad cam V6 (G series engine not a K series), all electrics and leather on most. They go for $12,000ish and if you realy want power then substitute a 1UZFE Toyota 4.0l V8 :D :D :D

[twilightprotege]

luxury - you could get an older 3 series bmw for that easy.

i think www.redbook.com.au and places like that allow you to enter what you want to pay and what you want and they give you options

[woofy]

But yeh... im in the price range of max prolly 16g..

and its gotto be luxury =D
and maxima is one of the best i can think of.. we used to have one too woofy and it was great and a 30G =D

they are nice cars =D

Yeah my parents have the 98 version of the 30G but the sports touring one with skirts spoiler etc, very good car and its the version before they made the bumpers stick out more. My parents ahd the option of getting the next model up last year but he didn't like the bumpers and having to go to the std version, have a look out for the touring ones they were good.

and for the rest of you, why was I the only one who realised he wasn't talking about a brand new car...but if he was...teh euro is what we have our eye on.

[Nate]

dude! thats terrrible news ... dont forget to get out the shifter!

and BMW 7 series ... early 90's ones go for around $15 000 apparently :P

[-BraXta-]

well with the maximas i never knew what the differences about the S touring, 30G, 30J and 30GV

so i think i gotto research into it some more =D

[CRA23]

too bad to see a nice car go :(

soarers are nice cars and with the later model 1je vvti single turbo are very nice cars and go fast 2, u can pick them up imorted for around 12-16000 now
or
keep it in the family and get like a mazda/eunos 500 or 800 they are both very nice cars

[woofy]

i looked up my parents one...the badging is "30S Touring" the vehicle code for it on redbook is NISS98CS the only prob my parents have had, was the stereo headunit died, thats it.

[CityEnd]

man that's sad news braxta. good luck with finding your next car.

what do u define as luxury? usualy most luxuries are auto.

can i suggest the euno jc cosmo
http://www.dmrh.com.au/jc_series2.htm

or if u want a 4 door then what abt a toyota celisor?
here's an example http://www.j-spec.com.au/list/index.php?ID=2089
u may not want to go to that extreem, but u get the idea..

or if u want 4 door with perforance then maybe look into importing a toyota jzx-90 range of, chaser/mark II/cresta
it has a 1jz-gte twin turbo engine, simular to the soarer and older supra

[Nate]

cosmo, sx sports trim ;)

[KittyKatSmack]

It is sad news, but also exciting news, shopping for a car, I love it!

Whatever you get, you had better stay a part of this forum, you are one of the family now

*da family reminds me of da mafia*

LOL

[andrewgrazier]

.. you know you wanna 3000 gt :P :D

[arden]

u know u want a navara...
i know u wanna johnno

[pr1mo]

3000GT haha

nah in that budget id be loooking at eunos 500 or an early 90's beemer or a sweet cosmo

u could get a SP20 maybe just?? i dunno not really luxury but meh...

[Nate]

[chant]

Cosmo Cosmo Cosmo Cosmo

.....

[MrShadow]

U know you wanna Sigma...

Sorry to hear the bad news man. Better luck with the next car.

[mike_d87]

so far all the cars have high maintenance. cressida's seem ok, ive never driven one but they even have the spare sitting up right in the boot!!

[-BraXta-]

yeh kitty of course ill stay on the forum

But yeh i dont mind the car shoppin .. but its the insurance dealings thats annoyin
=P

lol navara hehehe nah i want luxury now =D

Hmm cressidas r cool..

but i think the maxima is winning for me =P

[Rupewrecht]

Soarer?

[Nate]

[continues chant]

COSMO COSMO COSMO COSMO ...

[boostedbatman]

I was going to buy an MA70 Soarer before the Astina (eg:mkII Supra) as its a nice low and wide car but not too big and wait for it will fit a 2JZGTE with 1JZGTE angine mounts.
This is where the boosted batman came from esp with the Do-Luck body kit (http://www.do-luck.com/to_so_20.html) And its still going to be my next car albeit my second car in the near future
It is always a sad day to see you car go to the meatworks in the sky and i empathise with you but there is always more wheels on the market so good luck with whatever tickles your fancy

[pr1mo]

you could always get a clean hardtop again and just spice up the seats :)

cheers mike

[CityEnd]

hey i spoted a clean white hardtop on the road with a for sales sticker on it....
from what i can tell, it was a 1.8l
number was 0412096477

[-BraXta-]

yeh but a clean hardtop doesnt come with climate control..
cruise control... and whole heap of other **** =P

lol and i wanna up the engine to a larger V6..

=D

lol just me being picky i guess..

=D

And as much as i loved the astina ..

theres not much play around stuff for it..

but looked for maximas and america have an abundant load =P

hehe

[mazdamanik]

it sounds like ur pritty set on a maxima dude =) u can always to it up like the one in fast and teh furious.....then again maybe not...any car is good as long as ur happy with it so if u want a maxima...go get one

[goldsp]

yeh parts in the US do not bolt straight on to aussie maxima's.

a mate of mine brought a STILLEN mid pipe from the US and it did not fit his car despite being the exact same model as the US car.

[commsguy71]

If you are looking at 'near luxury' type cars, there are plenty to choose from for around $15K.

My picks (from an ownership and driving perspective):
- Mid 90's Lexus ES300
- Late 80s/early 90s Merc 300E (W124)
- Late 80s/Early 90s BMW 535i (E34)
- Honda Legend (91-on, 3.2L)
- Mazda 929 HD Leather pack (91 on)
- Mitsu Verada Xi (new shape, 97-on) - don't laugh, helluva good car for the money!
- Maxima 30GV '96-on (top model with leather and sunroof)
- Subaru Liberty Heritage 94-on (or '98 RX Bilstein pack for something sportier!)

I'm on my 15th car myself, and have 26 years worth of Wheels magazines to back my claims up.

At the end of the day, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Just don't buy a dud which you will need to pay someone to take off you in 3 years time!

Best of luck!

[twilightprotege]

dunno if you saw these :

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=18211&item=4562490995&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=18211&item=4562575905&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

[tidy protege]

go a eunos, you know you want to stay in the mazda family

[pr1mo]

how much do current shape camrys go for that r 02 models? mum has a sportivo and theyre hell nice inside

[-BraXta-]

yeh the new sportivos are sexy..

but still look like a camry with a body kit =P

im actually gonna look into a new car..

so yeh... maybe a 2005 maxima =D

i just want the 3.5ltr =P ahahhaha

i dont wanna go 4cylinder for some weird reason..

and i reakon the new maxima would look pimpin =D

hahah

[pr1mo]

id go an accord euro or a lexus over a maxima

[twilightprotege]

man for that much money get a 2nd hand mercedes c class, 3 series bmw or a4 audi that's only a couple of years old.

merc has the c200 kompressor and the a4 has turbo (and imo the 2-3 year old model looks hot with the s4 body kit)

[-BraXta-]

dont want turbos man..

i want NA..

ive been lookin at Audis..

they are awsome i love the look of em =D

hehe

[twilightprotege]

the a4 is a real lot cheaper then!