Im not made of money but for the last six months I have been searching for the "best car for me". Below is a list of options that I considered.

1. Scion Tc
Only has 144 HP stock but there are turbo kits (for about $4000) that will bump it up to 260 or so. The upside is that I can get a slightly use tC for about 16k with a 4k upgrade to the motor I am looking at 20 to 21k. The down side is that while I loved the exterior styling, I found the interior to be a bit cheap feeling. Also I found the suspension to be wanting.

2. BMW 540 (very used)
A Sweet ride to be sure, I found that I can get a 2000 or 2001 540i for about 15k with 60 or 70k miles on it. Beemers keep their quality pretty well and are one of the best feeling freeway vehicles. The engine should be good for over 200k miles. For 6k I can get a super charger kit for it to bring the 540 up to 360hp or so. The down side is that when all is said and done.. I have a great car with 70k or so miles on it and all that that comes with (minor broken things, suspension wear and tear and such).

3. Infinity G35 Coupe
Great car.. but still too expensive, the best I can do with this car is about 28k and that is a bit too high.

4. Mazda RX8
Great body style but small amounts of HP and NO head room, even with the seats all the way down.

5. Mazda 6
Love the body style but it is lacking in HP and the body panels are very thin and have a hollow ring to them, very noisy on the highway. The Speed6 solves the HP problem (278) but only comes in a stick, and that would NOT pass the wifey test. Also there are very few upgrades you can do for this car to over come the lack of HPs (no turbo kits and the like).

6. Audi A3
Sweet car, rides nice, plenty of HP upgrades for it (from the german markets). But at a base price of 28k it is just too expensive for me, and there are not many on the used market.


I hadnt even considered the eclipse, through all my searching I figured it was an underpowered wannabe (they have always been around 220hp). I ran into some turbo kits for the older ones and became a little interested. I wanted to sit in one of the older styles to see if I had enough head room. They had a new 2007 there so I looked at it. I was amazed that the new Eclipses had 263 hps, and enough head room for me (alwasy a problem). WHen I drove it I fell INSTNTLY in love. OH MY GOD this car is the epitome of FUN !!!

I took my wife out to get the seal of approval and after an hour long drive she finally said yes (though I think she just said that because she had to pee and I wouldnt let her out of the car until she agreed). So I will be buying a slightly used Eclipse GT around christmas. !!!

its a great car, no complaints. Enjoy it.

the only problem with the 4th generation eclipse is that all of its power goes to moving around about 4000 pounds of weight.

^^^^It's kind front heavy to like 60/40 I kinda like it even tho it's kinda big with puppy dog eyes in the front.

I tested one it snatched the steering wheel out my hand a bit but I decided to keep the 99 GS I have the 06 was too rich for my blood.

I think the 06 is more a straight line car than a twisted road car.

I dunno,
i live and drive every day in the appalachias and this thing handles like a dream.
maybe because im used to a 64.5 mustang 390, but still, i couldnt ask for much more out of it, although it does like to really dive into turns and sometimes it (or I) gets a little excited and gooses the throttle and lose grip in the turns. but thats what i get for going 65 through a 25mph turn......


The Vizier
07GT