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Need help buying a car guys (in Canada)

M

m4gician

Hard-core CEG'er
Joined
Jun 5, 2006
Messages
1,231
Location
Toronto (Woodbridge)
Okay basically here's what I've narrowed down.

I have $13000 MAX to spend (including taxes, all that stuff).

I've seen some acura 1.7EL premiums for between $9999 to $12999 unnegociated. so I might be able to pull that off

I've want an 2002-2004 ALTIMA with the 3.5 V6 and hopefully leather and sunroof

I've seen a Pontiac G6 GT (v6) for about the same.

They all fit the price range but I need help locating cars in good condition so Im not driving around town all the time.
 
those pontiac 6's are already that cheap , wow !
must fall off like sunfires !
focus is a really affordable cars & contours are solid , just more rare with low mileage .
 
If you're considering an Acura EL, I'd also consider a Focus ZX5. They have a lot of standard features (stiffer suspensuion/leather seats/steering wheel/etc if I recall correctly) and are generally considered an all-round better car than the Acura EL, from what I've read. Probably cheaper insurance too. You could find one in new condition in your price range.
 
m4gician said:
Okay basically here's what I've narrowed down.

I have $13000 MAX to spend (including taxes, all that stuff).

I've seen some acura 1.7EL premiums for between $9999 to $12999 unnegociated. so I might be able to pull that off

I've want an 2002-2004 ALTIMA with the 3.5 V6 and hopefully leather and sunroof

I've seen a Pontiac G6 GT (v6) for about the same.

They all fit the price range but I need help locating cars in good condition so Im not driving around town all the time.
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an Acura 1.7 EL is just a Civic with a different badge. Why waste money on that?
Those Altimas are pretty good cars for the money. It's good that you're choosing the 3.5L engine cause the 2.5L is useless. Way less power with only a slight improvement in gas milage, not to mention the 3.5L is bulletproof.

I personally would choose another Contour over a Focus. I don't like the driving position nearly as well on the Focus (I've got a 98 Contour and a 2003 Focus ZX5). You could pick up an SVT Contour for about $7000.
 
98cont-UoG-FSAE said:
I personally would choose another Contour over a Focus. I don't like the driving position nearly as well on the Focus (I've got a 98 Contour and a 2003 Focus ZX5). You could pick up an SVT Contour for about $7000.
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Meeto, but I would also choose a Contour over an Acura EL. I don't know why anyone would drive a 1.7EL over a ZX5. It's very difficult to find a decent SVT in Ontario. Besides, he wants an automatic and a newer car. But, I have to say, having two Contours in a row has been very convenient for me because of my familiarity with the platform.

I advocate shopping for cars in the US. Importing my SVT was fairly painless. It was cheaper and in much better condition than any of the Ontario SVT's I looked at over the summer -- or any comparable car in my price range. Ottawa winters are not kind to cars.
 
m4gician said:
what about a Volvo s40... 2002...140,000

http://www.trader.ca/powerpage/details.aspx?vlotid=313304&adid=5783982
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That's $10k on a car that's smaller and probably about as peppy as a V6 Contour. It's got 140k km, so you can look forward to fading ride quality and/or regular repairs.

If I were you, I'd buy another Contique. You know the platform, and you can get a 50-100k km car for $2500-$5000. Drive it for a couple of years and save up for one of the cars you really want with low mileage.
 
Desiato said:
Meeto, but I would also choose a Contour over an Acura EL. I don't know why anyone would drive a 1.7EL over a ZX5. It's very difficult to find a decent SVT in Ontario. Besides, he wants an automatic and a newer car. But, I have to say, having two Contours in a row has been very convenient for me because of my familiarity with the platform.

I advocate shopping for cars in the US. Importing my SVT was fairly painless. It was cheaper and in much better condition than any of the Ontario SVT's I looked at over the summer -- or any comparable car in my price range. Ottawa winters are not kind to cars.
Click to expand...

If I found a comparable car in the states to one I was looking at from up around here, I would get the Yankee car as well. Like you said winters around here (well more all the salt) are not kind to vehicles.
As for choice of car to get? Myself, If I found another gently used contique, Id buy it. Mines been quite good to me (knock on wood) and with a forum like this youll never be scratching your head.
 
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