A lot of people fail to remember that brakes are important. The Celica GT-S is one of the quickest stopping production vehicles and the MR-S isn't far behind. A modified GT-S stopped from 60mph in 96 feet (Hotchkis)! The stock Integra specs say 60-0 in 142 feet, and the Type-R stops in 113 feet. The MR-S & GT-S stop from 60-0 in ~111 feet (can't remember the exact spec). You'll never be out-braked. To get ITR brakes, you're looking at $1500 + wheels

 

Drawbacks of the two Toyotas? Sure, there are a few. I wish the GT-S was bigger. I kinda feel cramped in there compared to my Integra. The MR-S has the right amount of interior room for me. Both have horrible blind spots that you get used to after driving for awhile, like any car. Actually, the MR-S has no blind spots when you put the top down. Just stick the widest mirror you can get, and the only thing that will block your vision is your head. =P

The MR-S was slightly redesigned in 2003, so you're not going to get some tweaks they did, including larger 16 inch wheels due to complaints of excessive oversteer.

I believe the GT-S had problems with VVTL-i. I'm sure you can do your reading about this and there's probalby a way to prevent the catastropic valvetrain damage many people were talking about after missing shifts. I know Toyota lowered the redline on the GT-S (can't remember what year though), but If you're buying used, I'm pretty sure you'll be happily revving to 8000+ rpm no problem.

The seats suck in the Celica. My friend says his balls feel numb after getting out. MR-S seats feel a lot better.

If you need a 4 seater, I guess you're stuck with the GT-S. I have a sedan that I can use if I need to haul stuff, so it's not an issue for me (once I finish it).

So anyway, for the person who wants good handling (1.03g's with the TRD sportivo kit) , braking (<112 feet 60-0 stock), and a decent acceleration, who doesn't need 4 seats, doesn't need cargo space, and who likes convertibles, the MR-S is a great choice.

If you want to stay FWD (it's nice during the rain), want a turning and braking machine (over 1 g with Hotchkis kit and 60-0 in 111 feet stock) need 4 seats, need cargo space, have the urge to rip off 8000 rpm shifts, go with the GT-S.

If you insist on staying honda, just get the ITR. I'm sure you can find one in your price range. Heck, get a 97-98 and stick a new spoon engine in there. You'll get the braking, handling, and power that the GT-S offers for a little premium, but you'll stay honda.

 

WOAH I think you've read the wrong forum. He said HONDA not toyota.

Get the Lude man. They're fun to drive and they're already at a good HP level, so you don't need to buy more mods if you're strapped for cash.

 

Why do you say that? At what RPM are you at when traveling at 75mph and 80mph?

 

75? Bleh. I don't go that speed so I don't remember. I'm at 3500rpm @ 85mph in my LS. That's my cruising speed. If you want to be in the fast lane, 82 mph would be acceptable. I can't stand anything slower than 80.

I go to UCI. I drive around the area. The only time you're going 65 is on University (55mph speed limit). Hell, 65 isn't even fun on the onramps there. I take the university south onramp at 80mph (75 at least). It's fun, but you gotta honk a lot cuz people keep running into your lane (and they're going 55). They must not be able to differentiate between the black road and the white lines.

KiKuOFX said he was looking at 3 cars. They happened to be hondas. Sure he likes hondas, but maybe he likes all imports and just hasn't tried any other ones. I just suggested he looking at all the cars that would fit. Another car that I didn't mention is the Subaru WRX. That thing puts the biggest smile on me after I get out of it. And then I get really sad when I get into my car with its long clutch and non-supporting seats (BTW, the Celica has the shortest clutch I've used, and I'd say the MR-S is a little longer than the WRX). If my other car lasted six more months, I would probably be driving a WRX instead of a Integra. Steering feel is slightly better on the WRX but the brakes really suck. I dunno what's up with them, but they just don't feel good.

The post said he said he wanted something well rounded and somewhat quick. There's lots of fun in straight line, but I prefer other forms of adrenaline. Highway racing is a lot more fun and it lasts a lot longer. Mountain passes are awesome and there are enough fun roads 15 miles away from UCI (ortega? s18?). Swap a 2ZZ into a MR-S and you have a mid 13 second car. The GT-S isn't bad on speed either. Expect at least mid 14's with I/H/E. The WRX is pretty fun and you get factory turbo reliability. People have gotten 13 second passes with minor modifications to plumbing.

If you really don't care about straight line acceleration, the Mitsubishi Lancer O.Z. is the most comfortable $16k car I've ever been in. I've never driven one by my friend owns it and he took us to Las Vegas in the thing and I have to say that car has way more rear leg room than my mom's ES300. After that trip, I'd say the lancer is a great cruiser (and it revs really low at 85mph - something like 2500 rpm).

BTW, don't part on the corners of parking lots at UCI. I got hit my some behemoth SUV or raised truck (hit & run leaving rubber on my bumper). They just rolled over my bumper and probably didn't even notice that they did. Just look around UCI. You'll see tons of cars who have had the corners of their bumpers scraped by some idiot. And I always thought it was because people backed up to far and hit something. I have a new perspective on that now.

 

3500RPMs at 85mph is amazing. What are you talking about? Don't ever get behind the wheel of a German car if you think 3500RPMs @ 85mph is obnoxious. Hell my bimmer is at 3500RMPs @ 75mph!

 

I went out and looked at both . I wanted to get a lude because I had a 95 lude a few years ago and loved it. You need to drive all three and decide for your self on what would be the best for you. I went with the 01gsr because it is easier to whip in and out of the super congested traffic out here in socal. And the gsr is cheaper to get parts for out here thanks to all the crx guys doing b18 swaps. The civic is just played out to me(there's to many on the road)

 

True the WRX is one of the nicest rides out there. My friend owns one. They have a lot of power and they're fun to drive. Hell, it's fun to just be a passenger. But that IS a rally car, so it's not really made for off the line . Today we were beaten off the line by a turbo eclipse because of the short clutch. He was hitting the rev limiter and couldn't shift fast enough to keep up. We were in third and the eclipse was still going through second comfortably. We had it in the high end though. Nothing bad about the car, that's how it was built. It was his driving as well, but sometimes it is nicer to have that longer clutch.

The celica is nice, affordable, also fun to drive. A lot of companies are also selling already tuned cars such as the Mazdaspeed, SRT-4, SE-R Spec V, and Focus SVT. those are all great cars and under 20,000 and really no money is needed to further tune them.

 

The Dodge Neon SR-T4 is a stock monster. Has anyone else seen the dyno slips on those cars? VERY impressive.

 

My vote goes for...well...check sig