Looking to buy a used car

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95b16coupe

Well-Known Member
I'm posting in here because the members lounge gets the most traffic, and also because i'm not sure where else i would post.

So i'm looking for a decent commuter car. I don't drive a lot. maybe 40-50 miles a week. I would like to take a few more longer drives to see family, but my truck gets shit for mileage, it's hard to park in the city, has few feature comforts of newer vehicles. If i'm paying cash for a car, i'm looking for something under $6000. It's not that I can't afford more, i just don't really want to.

Here is one prelude i found. I might go look at it tomorrow. the important thing is to get some feedback on this gen prelude.
1999 Honda Prelude SH, Fully Loaded, 93k miles, RED, 5 speed

So I'm tossing out some ideas. I would prefer to pay cash for something. I only need the car for maybe a year to a year and a half. At least until I know how long I'm going to be in this job for. I don't want a huge car payment if i plan on quitting and going to school full time.

I would like something that will have decent resale, be reasonably comfortable, and something i wont be embarassed to be seen it. I'm 30 and can't rock a 1993 civic lx with no hub caps.

Other options include a 97-98 240sx, but i can't find one ANYWHERE. Possibly a newer civic or an SI. I have considered an Integra, but it's hard to find one that is stock and in good shape.

I could pick up a g35 and have reasonable payments, or something else a lot newer. Ideally I would just get an E92 M3, but like i said above, i might be at this job, a different job, or going to school full time at this point next year.
 
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I love those preludes.

Aren't the SH's with the rear wheel sterring crap though? or was that the gen before?
 
I dislike the S14, but I really have no foundation on that.

That Prelude seems nice, I'd check it out. And since you're so uncertain on your future, I would definitely not take a loan out on a vehicle. Driving a shit box Civic for 10 years is better than driving a Mercedes for 1 then a bicycle for 9.
 
looks like a good price on the lude
and low miles, seems like a keeper

those are the seats i had in my 91 civic when it got stolen...
 
I love those preludes.

Aren't the SH's with the rear wheel sterring crap though? or was that the gen before?

yes all SH branded ludes have the ATTS.
 
I love those preludes.

Aren't the SH's with the rear wheel sterring crap though? or was that the gen before?


edit: ATTS isn't the rear wheel steering. seems as if it is more comparable to an LSD
Type SH was the addition of Honda's Active Torque Transfer System, an electronic system that distributed torque to the outside drive wheel in cornering situations. Its purpose was to minimize understeer and thus mimic rear-wheel-drive cornering characteristics.
 
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That Prelude seems nice, I'd check it out. And since you're so uncertain on your future, I would definitely not take a loan out on a vehicle. Driving a shit box Civic for 10 years is better than driving a Mercedes for 1 then a bicycle for 9.

well, i wouldnt' be that hard up. i still have my truck and a motorcycle. my savings account is fine. if i didn't work for 2 years, i would just deplete my savings, but i could live.
 
The fuck am I talking about? You've got a year and a half anyway. Go out and buy yourself a G55 AMG.
 
The fuck am I talking about? You've got a year and a half anyway. Go out and buy yourself a G55 AMG.

hahaha, well the idea behind this would be that if i know where i'll be working, i'll just go buy something a lot newer. I just don't want to drop $18,000 on a car just to upgrade in a couple years and have it lose $5000 in value.
 
Theres really nothing new I'd be interested in anyway. Maybe I just have to get older, but right now I'm pretty much over anything newer than 2000.
 
Theres really nothing new I'd be interested in anyway. Maybe I just have to get older, but right now I'm pretty much over anything newer than 2000.

you wouldn't want an E93 M3? or how about a 335. maybe a G37? there are a lot of cars between 2008 and 2011 i would like to own.
 
any other thoughts on this particular car i posted? anything i should look for? any weak spots in engineering?
 
if you are going to be looking to resale it in the next year or 2, dont go with a trend car like a 240.

to keep resale value up, i would go with a subaru (just about any of their models hold their value), any bmw m3 would be good, or newer 3 series. or, just the straight family cars like the corolla (used should have already taken the huge resale value hit, i dont see them falling much more in the next year) or the protege.

with a 6k budget, you have a lot of choices. id just stay away from whatever has already been a trend, because they wont be worth shit shortly.
 
e36 M3. They have their quirks but are generally bulletproof. 2 close friends and my brother have them. Fuel economy isn't that great (low-mid 20's average).
 
to keep resale value up, i would go with a subaru (just about any of their models hold their value), any bmw m3 would be good, or newer 3 series. or, just the straight family cars like the corolla (used should have already taken the huge resale value hit, i dont see them falling much more in the next year) or the protege.
i was thinking about something like a 330. maybe even a 325. but i'm worried about maintenance and repair costs on a bmw. with a honda, i know them inside and out. plus, an H22 is easy to work on.

e36 M3. They have their quirks but are generally bulletproof. 2 close friends and my brother have them. Fuel economy isn't that great (low-mid 20's average).

i've thought about an m3, but i'm still thinking resale and reasonable comfort. i dont' want to get into something that is 15-20 years old.
 
By 1999 they should have worked out all the kinks in the new design... Should be just as bulletproof as any late '90s honda out there.

A friend of mine took a wrecked one and dropped the motor/trans and brakes onto his '96 Accord wagon...
 
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