Future owner (first post)

by **playloud** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 5:58 pm

Greetings everybody.

This is my first post to this forum. I am currently driving an old beat up 1987 Acura Integra with dents on my driver side doors (I got T-boned once, and swiped once... neither of which was my fault).

My new job is paying me more than my old job, and I am saving for a newer car. I was thinking of saving for a Corolla because of it's excellent gas mileage, and decent price. However, I have heard a lot about how the Camry is very quiet. This is important to me, as my last two cars were/are on the loud side (especially with the damage). I finally read about the Solara, and I think I have made my decision. I am looking to get a 2002-2003 Solara, as the newer engine seems like a hefty improvement over the older engine. It will still take me at least six months in order to save up for the down payment (I don't like to take out big loans), but I am saving at a good pace.

Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself, and I am sure I will have a few questions, as I am not really a car know-it-all.

by **SleeperSolara** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 6:03 pm

Welcome man.

by **MCOjerry** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 7:48 pm

Welcome, and good luck saving!

by **SolaraBlue** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 7:54 pm

welcome! the fact that the solara is so well insulated and quiet was a huge selling point for me too. an all around good choice!

by **theprodigy79** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 9:06 pm

Welcome to the forum! Good luck with your purchasing process, I'm sure you will be very happy with a Solara. If you have any questions, feel free to ask... there are plenty of people here who know what they're talking about!

Take care,

-James

by **woa_its_j3ff** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 9:12 pm

welcome to the team =)

by **SpikedMantis** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 9:43 pm

Welcome! When you say you want an 02-03 because of the newer engine, I'm assuming you want a 4cyl? 99-03 all have the same 6cyl.

by **hanatsuki** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 9:55 pm

solara's a great car, has the luxuries of a lexus without the price and sporty enough without the big car luxury feel. A used 02-03 should be fairly inexpensive though, so maybe you'll get it sooner than you think

good luck!

by **playloud** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 10:01 pm

SpikedMantis wrote:Welcome! When you say you want an 02-03 because of the newer engine, I'm assuming you want a 4cyl? 99-03 all have the same 6cyl.

Yes, the 4cyl. Mileage is important too :-)

4cyl (2.4L)
5 speed manual
A color other than white
No sunroof/moonroof.

That's all I can think of right now.

by **playloud** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 10:03 pm

hanatsuki wrote:solara's a great car, has the luxuries of a lexus without the price and sporty enough without the big car luxury feel. A used 02-03 should be fairly inexpensive though, so maybe you'll get it sooner than you think good luck!

As this is a car that I will need to hold on to for probably 10 years, I am thinking of going the "certified pre-owned" route, for better piece of mind. They are still about 13k though. /cringe

by **MCOjerry** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 10:47 pm

You certainly do keep your cars for a long time!

by **playloud** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 11:59 pm

MCOjerry wrote:You certainly do keep your cars for a long time!

I don't put many miles on my car. A rough guess would be about 8000 miles a year (maybe less). So cars tend to last me a while. The Solara that I plan to buy will be my first car purchase. The other two were hand-me-down PoS cars from my parents. If I get a Solara with 60,000 miles on it, and put another 80,000 miles during the next 10 years, I will still only have 140,000 miles on the car. I could drive it for a lot longer if I wanted to. Perhaps the next car I buy after the Solara will run on hydrogen.

Perhaps after I get some networking certifications (which I will start taking classes for next semester at a community college), and start to make more money, I can afford to buy newer cars more often. In the mean time, living in Southern California is way too expensive at $12/hr. I had to move back in with my parents just to be able to save some money (I actually moved back in with them when I got a new job). I had 4 roommates when I was living in San Diego with my old job (making a little less), and I still wasn't able to save hardly any money.

by **sahuddleston** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 12:07 am

pm me bro - i can hook you up

by **MCOjerry** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 7:02 am

Yeah, CA is way expensive. I was going to move out there at one point, but couldn't justify the cost of living. It just didn't make sense.

Sometimes you wonder why there ins't some sort of revolt out there :lol:

I used to live in NY, that's not as bad, but it isn't cheap. I was so happy to get out of there.

Oh, and you 'd better watch out. If you buy a Solara, you might just find out that you love it so much you want to drive more!

by **Sap Z** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 9:30 am

playloud wrote:
SpikedMantis wrote:Welcome! When you say you want an 02-03 because of the newer engine, I'm assuming you want a 4cyl? 99-03 all have the same 6cyl.

Yes, the 4cyl. Mileage is important too

A color other than white

That's all I can think of right now.

he dissed us DWPs !!

Future owner (first post)

Future owner (first post)

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