My dad won't let me get a standard and these are the cars I am looking at. I can't complain about this because he is paying for the car. I am leaning towards the 04 Solara V6 SE sport. RX-8 is just too sexy though.

Are you crazy, get the RX8!!

Not that I will be racing or anything but I heard the RX-8 0-60 is really slow. Solara has more HP, faster 0-60, and also looks pretty sexy with its new style. It is about 3000 cheaper also.

since ur getting an auto...get the solara (better mileage) and a bit faster. The ride is really smooth too.

The '04 solara new exterior style is very appealing but doesnt compare to that of the rx-8.

I think the V6 Accord would be an even better choice if you're worried about lack of power. Or, dare I say, Altima 3.5S, but they handle like snot. You also might want to check out the, Mazda 6S or GTI. The Rotary just doesn't lend itself well to ATs because of the low torque and how much they like and need to be reved. If you just like it for the looks and don't mind it's not going to have great acceleration then by all means get the RX-8.

Ike

I hate Toyota man. They dont come up with anything themselves! Like the back headlightsof the Corolla was stolen from the Mazda6. The front of the 2004 Solara looks like it came off the new Pontiac Grand Prix and the back of it looks alot like the Monte Carlo. Ican keep going if you want. If you buy the Solara I bet you wont be able to pull fast turns the way my Rx8 does. I betyou the Solara doesnt feel like it is glued to the road either. And people arent going to lookat your Solara and think it looks like itsexotic. How can youeven compare this car to the Rx8?? I dont care man get a Solara! I like having a rare car and youll be one less pesron I will worry about seeing on the road in an Rx8!!!

Originally posted by Bankotsu
Not that I will be racing or anything but I heard the RX-8 0-60 is really slow. Solara has more HP, faster 0-60, and also looks pretty sexy with its new style. It is about 3000 cheaper also.

Uh, I think you should double check your info. I have not driven a solara, but the posted times in car mags do not support your statement.

Drive both, see which you like better.

Nice dad, my first car was a 79 firebird, put together from 2 wrecks. Cost $1000. Lasted 5 months before I was hit by a drunk. 3 weeks in hospital.

Originally posted by klegg


Uh, I think you should double check your info. I have not driven a solara, but the posted times in car mags do not support your statement.

Drive both, see which you like better.

Nice dad, my first car was a 79 firebird, put together from 2 wrecks. Cost $1000. Lasted 5 months before I was hit by a drunk. 3 weeks in hospital.

Are you sure you are checking out the '04 Solara's 0-60? It is somewhere around 7.5 on some website I saw. Also, this is not my first car. I been driving a 1989 Toyota Cressida(old Avalon) for about a year and a half now. No wrecks yet either.

Sorry, did not realize you were talking about the automatic. To tired to read.

Solera may have better reliability, hard to say.

Originally posted by JeRKy 8 Owner
I like having a rare car and youll be one less pesron I will worry about seeing on the road in an Rx8!!!


sry to say but the rx-8 is not rare. There is already 3 rx-8s in my block. On top of that, my cousin and a friend each has one too...

if u want a rare car...should have saved an extra $15G and get the M3. Easier said than done i guess :p

Originally posted by manbar



sry to say but the rx-8 is not rare. There is already 3 rx-8s in my block. On top of that, my cousin and a friend each has one too...

if u want a rare car...should have saved an extra $15G and get the M3. Easier said than done i guess :p

Oh c'mon!...M3's ain't rare. You want rare, get a steak!...ohhh...wrong topic. Oh! right! cars....if you want a rare vehicle got get a Peugeot or even better a Renault (in the U.S.!..if you get one, let me know!)

:D :p :D

Originally posted by RX8-TX


Oh c'mon!...M3's ain't rare. You want rare, get a steak!...ohhh...wrong topic. Oh! right! cars....if you want a rare vehicle got get a Peugeot or even better a Renault (in the U.S.!..if you get one, let me know!)

:D :p :D

My step mother owned a Fuego, talk about a piece of crap... I remember one time the auto seatbelts attacked me wouldn't stop trying to close tighter, so she turned the key off and the car kept running... I drove a Renault turbo diesel around france for a couple weeks in June though, and damn that car was a trooper and was much better than the Turbo Diesel Mercedes I usually get.


Anyhow... back on topic. Toyota makes great, reliable, boring as hell cars. Until they make a Supra again or make the MR2 a real car again I don't think I would consider one unless I'm one of those people that put 40+k miles on a year and need to most dependable car on the market. I just don't see anything the Solara can do that the Accord doesn't do better, the new ones are actually pretty nice cars, and I'm by no means a Honda fan.


Ike

Since your dad's paying for it, get the RX-8 for heaven's sake! The Solara is for old farts who want a semi-sporty car with a quiet, smooth, soft ride.

The Solara was a contender for my new car because, being an old fart of 51, I wanted a semi-sporty car with a quiet, smooth, soft ride. But the RX-8 is relatively quiet and soft for a sports car (especially with the smaller wheels), and has terrific handling, so I decided to go with the RX-8 before I got too old for a real sports car.

If you're a guy, it will impress the chicks better than the Solara. Don't forget, the Solara is a Camry. 'Nuff said.

I plan to get a Solara when I'm sixty. Get the RX-8 you lucky kid!

You cannot make this decision until you've driven both cars. Then, get the one you like the best. Lucky you!

Now, since you asked for our opinions, here's mine:

The new Solara is one of the ugliest cars I've seen in some time. It looks like a dog that's been beat and is running away with its tail between its legs. I mean, butt ugly.

If you are leaning towards the Camry Solara, I'd suggest adding the Accord V6 coupe to your choices. It'll give you a more "sporty" feeling and looks A LOT better.

Just MHO. :)

Originally posted by IkeWRX


My step mother owned a Fuego, talk about a piece of crap... I remember one time the auto seatbelts attacked me wouldn't stop trying to close tighter, so she turned the key off and the car kept running... I drove a Renault turbo diesel around france for a couple weeks in June though, and damn that car was a trooper and was much better than the Turbo Diesel Mercedes I usually get.


Anyhow... back on topic. Toyota makes great, reliable, boring as hell cars. Until they make a Supra again or make the MR2 a real car again I don't think I would consider one unless I'm one of those people that put 40+k miles on a year and need to most dependable car on the market. I just don't see anything the Solara can do that the Accord doesn't do better, the new ones are actually pretty nice cars, and I'm by no means a Honda fan.


Ike

Wait a minute IKE....I owned a beat to hell Fuego, too. You're right....they were crap. Then again, that's why Renault doesn't sell cars in this country anymore (except for their Nissan division).

The Solara looks boring. When i went into the dealership and went for a test drive, the salespeople even said I wouldn't like it compared to the RX8. The Solara's big thing is it is quiet. I like to sound of my Rotarym I want to hear the engine purr or whatever the noise is.

Plus the interior of the Solora is too silver- looks cheap.

Basically, the two are about the same price when you match up options.

That is my opinion.

Also, if you are going to be racing, you will more then likely not be taken as a racer because of the car. It does not have the reputation.

I won't be racing. Well I have to see the '04 Solara in person before I judge its looks. I saw the RX-8 in person and it looks great.

Originally posted by manbar



sry to say but the rx-8 is not rare. There is already 3 rx-8s in my block. On top of that, my cousin and a friend each has one too...

if u want a rare car...should have saved an extra $15G and get the M3. Easier said than done i guess :p

I have seen a lot of M3s, Still have not seen another 8 on the road in NJ. Did see one in phila, in a hospital parking lot.

As to sex appeal, the 8 is the hands down winner.
Do not know how old you are, but Girls love sports cars.

Meh, I don't need help of a car to get a girl.

why the solara in the first place? if it is not going to be the rx-8 because you don't like the performance in auto trim or you want to save some money on gas, really the accord v6 or the Mazda6 S(v6) should IMO be the cars you consider. definetly drive them both.

I will look into a Mazda 6 then. I have been looking at the Accord V6 coupe EX for awhile also.

Just throwing out my recommendations for you:


1) 2003 Hyundai Tiburon GT V6

2) 2003 Mazda MAZDASPEED Protegé Sport Compact Sedan

3) 2004 Mazda RX-8 AT

The Mazda6 does produce about 200 HP - it does look sweet and fully loaded it is cheaper then the RX8.

The Tiburon is still a Hyundai - poor reliability

Your right.
The Tiburon is still a Hyundai - poor reliability

But everytime I see the car I take a double take and say that's sweet. Then I realize it is just a Tiburon. It's been doing that to me for almost a year, and a lot of people really like them, and buy them. Sooner or later you have to say,they are a good cheap car.

I agree - they look great - almost Ferrari like, but it is still a Hyundai. I have heard some bad stories about Hyundais. Also, did you hear about their "horsepower issue" that was settled in Texas?

Originally posted by myrx8
I agree - they look great - almost Ferrari like, but it is still a Hyundai. I have heard some bad stories about Hyundais. Also, did you hear about their "horsepower issue" that was settled in Texas?

10 year, 100,000 mile warrenty. Really can not beat that, and the car does look sweet!

Originally posted by klegg


10 year, 100,000 mile warrenty. Really can not beat that, and the car does look sweet!

I'm glad my husband and I aren't the only ones that think the Tiburon is really nice looking. I've never given Hyundais a second glance, but the Tiburon is startlingly easy on the eyes.

Originally posted by IkeWRX


My step mother owned a Fuego, talk about a piece of crap... I remember one time the auto seatbelts attacked me wouldn't stop trying to close tighter, so she turned the key off and the car kept running... I drove a Renault turbo diesel around france for a couple weeks in June though, and damn that car was a trooper and was much better than the Turbo Diesel Mercedes I usually get.


Anyhow... back on topic. Toyota makes great, reliable, boring as hell cars. Until they make a Supra again or make the MR2 a real car again I don't think I would consider one unless I'm one of those people that put 40+k miles on a year and need to most dependable car on the market. I just don't see anything the Solara can do that the Accord doesn't do better, the new ones are actually pretty nice cars, and I'm by no means a Honda fan.


Ike

Quick note about Renault Fuego's....back in Argentina, Fuego's were the hottest thing during the '80s....trust me, there is people who would kill to get their hands on one of those in decent shape. Reliability-wise, they were not shabby, but again, those were built in France and imported to Argentina..the price tag was really high.

OK, going back to the thread: I would support Ike's recommendation about the Honda Accord V6. Honda is pretty well known for reliabilty..however, try to find a dealer that won't give you a hard time!, they all think they are God, in god's land.

Don't get my statement wrong, the Tiburon does look good. But isn't that 100,000 warranty just for the drivetrain?

Originally posted by Bankotsu
Meh, I don't need help of a car to get a girl.


Why? Because girls are all over you anyway? You have so many that you don't know what to do?

You have so many girls that a sports car could not add anything to your "image", it could only detract from it?

Originally posted by myrx8
The Mazda6 does produce about 200 HP - it does look sweet and fully loaded it is cheaper then the RX8.

The Tiburon is still a Hyundai - poor reliability

The M6 is 220hp in the S model and pulls much harder than the RX-8 AT I drove, it also handles pretty damn well for a FWD car.


Hyundai ranked second (tied with Honda) in the most recent new car survey from Consumer Reports. Times change, at least for Hyundai they seem to have... They had nearly half as many reported problems (per 100) for new vehicles as Mazda did. This doesn't mean they will be more reliable cars in the long run but it does mean that Hyunda is getting much better since a few short years ago they were one of the lowest ranked automakers.


Ike

Ike, just for giggles, do you know how they compare to subaru? and nissan?

For 2002 models, the average was 18 problems per 100 vehicles, vs. 21 in 2001.
Brand Problems per
100 vehicles
Toyota 10
Honda 11
Hyundai 11
Subaru 13
Nissan 15
BMW 20
Chrysler 20
Mazda 20
Volkswagen 20
General Motors 21
Mercedes-Benz 22
Ford Motor 23
Source: Consumer Reports

Thanks for the info. M/B is shocking!

Fuegos....the one I had was a turbo model I bought used with 33K miles on it. Early 80s car bought in the late 80s. I thought I was getting a good, low mileage car. I found out in quick order why it had so few miles....it spent most of its time in the shop. It was garbage...electronics, water pumps, shift linkages, body parts falling off, etc. Finally, at around 50K miles, the turbo blew. I took my loss and scrapped it.

My son bought a current gen Elantra. Gotta say, for the $10K he bought it for with A/C, power everything, side airbags, cruise....it is a lot of car. It is built very well. While he's only got 12K miles on it, he's had zero problems with it and it's built very well. Then, there's always the 5 year bumper-to-bumper and 10 year drivetrain warranty. Hyundai has come a long way. If they had a car that I wanted, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to buy one.

I've had my RX8 for a month and a half and have yet to see another one on the road. I live in a fairly sizeable midwestern city, too. Don't know where the rest of them are, but the Mazda dealers in my area are selling every one they can get their hands on so there has to be at least about 40-50 of them around here somewhere. My dealer says his RX8s are either pre-sold or sell within 24 hours of them hitting his lot.

My brother got an Elantra - looks good, along with other Hyundais.

But, I may need to change my opionion on the cars reliability based off what I have seen here.

Sorry, if I offended anyone.

Originally posted by IkeWRX


The M6 is 220hp in the S model and pulls much harder than the RX-8 AT I drove, it also handles pretty damn well for a FWD car.


Ike

The problem I have is that I see them everywhere I go. They do look good, and with the aero package they look great.

Originally posted by myrx8
My brother got an Elantra - looks good, along with other Hyundais.

But, I may need to change my opionion on the cars reliability based off what I have seen here.

Sorry, if I offended anyone.

No offense taken. I just think that the recent efforts for quality/reliability at Hyundai should not be dismissed out of hand because of their past. They've made great strides.

More suprisingly, is the slide that Benz is experiencing, over just as short a period of time.

Someone said it before. Mercedes used to build the best car they possibly could in any given class and then put a price on it. Now, it looks like they let the "bean counters" take over and the Mercedes cachet has fallen precipitously.

Originally posted by IkeWRX


The M6 is 220hp in the S model and pulls much harder than the RX-8 AT I drove, it also handles pretty damn well for a FWD car.


Hyundai ranked second (tied with Honda) in the most recent new car survey from Consumer Reports. Times change, at least for Hyundai they seem to have... They had nearly half as many reported problems (per 100) for new vehicles as Mazda did. This doesn't mean they will be more reliable cars in the long run but it does mean that Hyunda is getting much better since a few short years ago they were one of the lowest ranked automakers.


Ike

But its still a FWD car...could be a subtle difference but it exists, the same way as if we were comparing an AWD with RWD..depends what do you expect from the car. How many good RWD choices are there under 30K with decent perfomance?

My wife traded in her very loaded V6 (5 speed) Solara on an Acura CL Type S so I have a lot of experience with the Solara's. The Solara is nice but having driven a friend's RX8, the 8 is in a totally different class. The Solara is a quiet, powerful, comfortable car that handles like a Buick. The RX8 is a quieter, powerful car that handles like a sports car. In my opinion BMW should be running scared because the 8 is a much nicer car than any 3 series I've driven. As other people have mentioned, the Accord V6 coupe would be the sportier ride compared to the Solara. I would still get the RX8 over virtually anything else I've driven in that price class. It is a truly remarkable automobile.

Originally posted by Bankotsu
I will look into a Mazda 6 then. I have been looking at the Accord V6 coupe EX for awhile also.

If you're not in a big hurry to get something - check out the Mazda 6 hatchback that's suppose to be coming out sometime this fall or early next year.

IMHO. I'd vote for the Accord coupe over the new Solara (I have yet to see one on the road, but I just don't like the "look" yet -- maybe next year I'll change my mind, but I don't thing so)

Will your father let you consider the Acura RSX at all?

Or for less money but just as fun to drive there's the MP5 (that's the route I took early this year when I needed to get a car suddenly - plus having the 2 extra door makes my life easer)

:D

Originally posted by dmholmes
... As other people have mentioned, the Accord V6 coupe would be the sportier ride compared to the Solara. I would still get the RX8 over virtually anything else I've driven in that price class. It is a truly remarkable automobile.

I agree completly with dmholmes too!

:D

Stick with the RX-8, unless it comes down that having a car that delivers great MPG is real important to you, than go for the Accord coupe or maybe think about the all-new 2004 Prius Hybrid ...

;)

Originally posted by mmjames
Just throwing out my recommendations for you:


1) 2003 Hyundai Tiburon GT V6

2) 2003 Mazda MAZDASPEED Protegé Sport Compact Sedan

3) 2004 Mazda RX-8 AT

I gotta agree with you. the tiburon can turn some heads and i'd choose it over the solara, the speed protege would be a fun car (turbo is always fun), and the rx-8... i need not say anything.

Thanks!! I guessed I some may have agreed with me, but I did not expect that many would feel the same way about the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon GT V6.

Originally posted by mmjames
Thanks!! I guessed I some may have agreed with me, but I did not expect that many would feel the same way about the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon GT V6.

It is a very nice car, but for a little more money IMHO, a (new or couple of years old) Celica or RSX drives and handles much nicer! Used might be even about the same price range?

;)

I saw the 04 solara on the road today
The only way I knew it was the toyota and not the lexus es300 from the front was the toyota symbol
It looks better in person

Thanks Mike for the info. I will check out all the cars I want sometime. I won't be getting a new car in awhile though.

My list:

RX-8 Auto
'04 Solara
Accord Coupe V6 EX

I would try to get a IS but its $30,000.

the back of the 04 solara looks excatly like the sc 430 lexus coupe.
It must have the same lip spoiler

Originally posted by Bankotsu
Thanks Mike for the info. I will check out all the cars I want sometime. I won't be getting a new car in awhile though.

My list:

RX-8 Auto
'04 Solara
Accord Coupe V6 EX

I would try to get a IS but its $30,000.


You really should add the Mazda 6 to that list like others mentioned, it's probably one of the best bang for the buck cars out there. The 2003 Maxima (if you can find any new ones still) have a hell of an engine as well and the SE handles decenly, but it feels like a sedan. Are you just against the whole 4 door thing?
GTI and RSX Type S are other good 2 door choices.

Ike

The altima seems like a good car for the mony, looks good and has nice engine. never drove one, but maybe one for the list?

Originally posted by klegg
The altima seems like a good car for the mony, looks good and has nice engine. never drove one, but maybe one for the list?

Same engine as the Maxima, and it's a great engine and I think the overall looks of the Altima are better. However, the Maxima SE handles a little better and has a much nicer interior for about the same price. There also seems to be less torque steer in the Maxima compared to the Altima. If you don't care much about the twisties and just want a highway cruiser they are both great cars and you will fall in love with the engine. Both also have timing chains which is a nice feature and will save you some cash in the long run.


Ike

I just like the way a coupe looks better. I don't mind a sedan though.