Need help choosing first car... budget ~ 10K

[chony]

I want a sporty coupe with low miles, been looking at:
98 Toyota Celica
98-99 Subaru Impreza RS
99 Mazda MX-5
98 Nissan 240 SX
01 Hyundai Tiburon

Whatever car I will get will just last me until I get out of college and graduate school (5 more years to go).

Anything on my list you would reccommend. I would love to get a BMW E30 M3 but it wouldn't be very practical, plus I don't think I could afford it.

[Plutus]

10k what? £, $, something else I don't have the symbol for on my keyboard? Where do you live?

Oh, and welcome!

[TheOne]

sounds like in the US cause he said 240sx, that was only done here.
i'd tell you to get a 240sx but you'd rather get the celica.....learn how to drive first then get something better.(the 240sx tends to spin quite a lot in rainy days.....and sometimes in normal days, cause of bein RWD)

[chony]

Sorry, US Dollars $$$$. I really need a car. I hate taking out my mother's car or the bus.

Also I want a manual.

[McReis]

I want a sporty coupe with low miles, been looking at:
98 Toyota Celica
98-99 Subaru Impreza RS
99 Mazda MX-5
98 Nissan 240 SX
01 Hyundai Tiburon

Whatever car I will get will just last me until I get out of college and graduate school (5 more years to go).

Anything on my list you would reccommend. I would love to get a BMW E30 M3 but it wouldn't be very practical, plus I don't think I could afford it.

Take the Mazda and you won't regret. It as the same appeal as many classic cars. And the mpg won't kill you.

[Plutus]

Sorry man, I don't work in $. But, as I don't know what a 240sx is and cannot be bothered to type it into google, I'll say the Celica. Unless you are a girl, in which case the MX-5.

[chony]

So the celica it is? I will probably be looking to buy at the end of this month. My uncle is going to help me make sure I get a good ride for a great price (he drives a Nissan 300z with several mods).

If I wanted to do some mods to the celica, such as a new cold air intake, exauhst, possibly a turbo, what would you reccommend? I probably wont do any exterior mods (sans exaust and maybe wheels). I just had so much fun driving my cousin's 350z (not my uncles 300z and my other cousins S4).

[Rockefella]

The best choice there is the MX-5 imho, although it is somewhat of a hairdresser's car. If you want a more masculine car, then go for the 240sx, although it would be a tougher drive.

[Smokescreen]

If you can afford the insurance, go for a Z/28, if you think you can handle it.

[QBridge]

Don't buy the Hyundai.
If you do you will regret it.

[Acura/subarufan]

the impezas are solid well built cars and there awd. plus there are lots of mods you can do. ( then again if all the other cars were ferraris and lambos i'd still say get the impreza, hmm mabye im a fanboy)

[Quiggs]

Get the Miata and supercharge it.

[byronleehk]

Don't buy the Hyundai.
If you do you will regret it.

Why not Hyundais? My friend has his Tiburon for almost 2 years now with no major problems. Although he doesn't race it he drives it harder than normal.

Then again another friend of mine have had his 240 for like 10 years with over 160k miles and is still running strong. Problem is the body is falling apart.

[woodstock827]

'01 Hyundai still wouldn't trust it... would consider if starting from '03 Hyundai
Miata can be problematic too (as do all Mazda), not sure about the 240

Celica and Impreza are ur safest bet, imho

[McReis]

Miata can be problematic too (as do all Mazda)

At least please do some reading before posting dumb things. The Miata is considered one of the most reliable sportscar available. Mosta Mazdas are pretty reliable. Or do you think the Miata is Wankel-engined?