Automotive Forums

I am in the market to buy a used vehicle, as my Nissan Sentra has tallied an impressive number of miles and as good and faithful as it has been, it won't last forever.

I've saved my money and I have a maximum budget of $10k (financing no more than $3500) for a used car. I've decided that I want something a little more...interesting than a 4 cylinder compact car. This vehicle will also need to be reliable, have good low end acceleration (it doesn't have to be a Corvette, mind you, just reasonably quick; I want it to push me back in the seat at least some), and good looks. This vehicle will have a manual transmission, a backseat (more for cargo than people), and preferably be front wheel drive or all-wheel-drive so it will be safe in inclement weather.

Sadly, such a vehicle is not made. So once again, I will have to settle for less. I have compiled a list of three vehicles that come close, and I was hoping that anyone who has owned these vehicles could confirm if my information about them is correct. Also, if there is any vehicle I've overlooked, perhaps someone could point that out to ***

Possibility 1: 1998-2001 Honda Prelude. I haven't been able to find one to test drive, but it's 200 horsepower engine only develops 150 or so lb-ft of torque. This is about the same as some 160 hp engines. That tells me that the Prelude probably doesn't start to pull real hard except at high rpms, which is irritating. The Prelude also falls short on looks. However, it's got bulletproof reliability, and it is probably faster than a Celica.

Possibility 2: 2000-2001 Toyota Celica GT-S. I have managed to test drive a couple of these. They handle like they're on the rails and they get high marks for style. It also delivers Toyota's unparalleled reliability. However, the engine is gutless at low RPM; the Celica falls short on low end torque in a big way. Until you get it wound to around 6000 rpm, it doesn't pull a whole lot harder than my Sentra. It just KILLS ME that this car was not offered with a factory turbocharger or a V6. It's no wonder Toyota discontinued it; it's slow. To get good low end power, I'd have to go looking to the Eclipse, and there's reasons I'm reluctant to do that.

Possibility 3: 2001-2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT (V6). This car is a winner on low-end torque. The handling isn't up to the Celica, but it'll do. The manual transmission is one of the most forgiving and fun to use manuals I've ever drove. And it's a sharp looking vehicle. One of the most beautiful machines on the road, IMO. On top of all that, there is something indefineably fun about the Eclipse that has nothing to do torque, horsepower, handling, or any other stat you can think of. However, I'm suspect of its reliability. I can count on a Celica to go to 150k miles with minimal trouble the way my Sentra has, however, I'm not sure an Eclipse will manage that same feat. Some owners have stated that they've had minimal issues with it, whereas others have told some horror stories that are the cause of my indecision. This is why it infuriates me that Toyota made the Celica so weak; I am forced to choose between a car with the performance I want or one that I can count on to run. But instead of giving the Celica the torque upgrades it so desperately needed, Toyota concentrated their money into the Scion tC, yet another stylish, but slow car. I guess Honda and Toyota thinks we like driving around in cars that are all show and no go. At least Nissan has not been infected with this mentality, but they don't have a mid-range sporty coupe like most car manufacturers; with Nissan it's either a sedan or a 350Z, which is way out of my price point (but would sure be nice to have).

I can probably get an Eclipse with around 60k miles for around $8k to $10k. If I thought for even a moment that if I took care of it that it would last me to 150k miles without a bunch of shop visits for engine, transmission, and electrical repairs (trim, power window motors, and little stuff like that I don't care about; I can live with fixing that stuff myself if I have to, and I hate working on cars. This should tell you how much I enjoy driving this car) I'd buy one tomorrow. If anyone has owned a 2001 or later Eclipse and drove it till it dropped and could give me some idea of how it holds up once it gets into high mileage, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks in advance for the help and sorry for the book.  

You shouldn't have too many problems with the Eclipse. While I'm not a huge fan of the gen3 eclipse, its not a particularly bad car and properly maintained it shouldn't give you too many problems. I have a Mitsubishi of a similar vintage(03 Lancer) that hasn't given me a single problem in the 80k miles I've put onto it. The only complaint I've ever heard about directed at the gen3 eclipse is that its not as good as the gen2(which its not, perfomance wise)