Need some quality car advice (DSM vs. Accord - long but easy to read)

[SpeedFreak03]

Ok here's the deal, I'm finally ready to buy my first own car, but I cannot decide for the life of me between a 1G Turbo FWD dsm or 90-93 Accord. Now you're probably thinking - these are two totally different cars, how could you compare them? Well that's the thing - I'm not 100% sure what I want! I have decent mechanical knowledge of both cars (more with the DSM though), and I can find both for around the same price, so that isn't a factor either (well, purchase price isn't, but maintaince/gas/insurance will be). So here's my opinions about the pros/cons of each car:

1G Turbo FWD DSM:
Pros:
-More fun to drive
-tweaking ability
-Uhh, the turbo!!

Cons:
-Can be unreliable
-Not the best on gas when compared to a honda
-Insurance??? (can't really make this a factor until i get real insurance quotes)

90-93 Accord:
Pros:
-Reliable
-Great on gas
-Cheap to insure

Cons:
-Not as fun to drive
-No where near as much "community" for Accords when compared to DSMs

Eventually, I am gonna own a DSM, but I don't know if it will be a good idea to buy the accord, drive that for a couple years, sell it, buy the dsm, or just buy the dsm off the bat! I figure I can come up with $3500-4000 to buy this car, so I should be able to get something that runs or maybe even AWD... I'll be able to have about $300 a month to put towards insurance and gas and other car needs. And if necessary I can find a ride to school (the bus or friends) or work (friends or parents car) if the car doesn't run, but not for long periods of time (dad will get on my ass about having a car that doesn't run for more then a week ). Of course my dad says buy the honda, mitsu/chrysler is crap, etc, and all my friends want me to get the DSM cause its "fast etc". So what do guys think I should do? I figure a few of you have been in this situation, maybe even owned a couple honda's before the DSM, so can you guys give me some real opinions! I really want the DSM, but I know deep down I gotta think about relability and all...

Thanks a lot if you took the time to read the post, it's long!

-Josh

 

[97GS-TSpyder]

i woudlntget that old of a honda....

 

[BoredOutaMyMind]

if you dont punish your DSM it will treat you well (usually )

And if you get the accord, it might be reliable, but its just a fast lawnmower jk

 

[SpeedFreak03]

if you dont punish your DSM it will treat you well (usually )

And if you get the accord, it might be reliable, but its just a fast lawnmower jk

Yeah that pretty much sums it up! I am leaning more towards the DSM for most of the reasons listed above. But is there anybody who has gone from something like an Accord/Civic/etc to a DSM, or vice-versa, and could give me a real down to earth comparision? Thanks a lot guys!

-Josh

 

[phastalon]

the accords really aren't that slow unless you are used to driving a dsm. my suggestion is the accord just because of reliability issues. for the money you are wanting to spend, you can pick up an accord for around 2500 and throw some springs/wheel/tires on it with the rest of your money and just have a good driver. or you could do some of the maintenace work with that money and feel comfortable b/c you know the car isn't going to break down on you.

you have to keep in mind that when your car breaks down, you not only have to pay for the repairs, but for the tow bill and for other people to haul you around during that time as well (which can get frustrating as well).

go for the accord for now and buy a dsm later, besides you'll be able to get a 2g cheaper at that time.

 

[maximage]

If this is your first car, and you are a trying to go for reliable, good on gas, and easy on the insurance, go with the Accord. I have an 88 and there really isnt anything better for a daily commuter car.

If you have a little money, and good mechanical knowledge, and can afford to have your car down for weeks at a time(not all do this, but be prepaired), grab the DSM. It's a VERY rewarding car when treated correctly and maintained.


Remember, the car will only be as reliable as it has been treated. If its beat, and continues to be beat, it will break. If it is well taken care of, and continues to be, it will more than likely last just fine.

 

[JessesTalon]

old honda accord = ugly as crap...

why dont you just get a 2g n/t (stay in the DSM family) and you have 140 hp instead of 69... and insurance on 2g nt's are hella low...

and you will have a sexy car that you picked up for 2-3k... auctions are your friends...

 

[Ken]

Yeah that pretty much sums it up! I am leaning more towards the DSM for most of the reasons listed above. But is there anybody who has gone from something like an Accord/Civic/etc to a DSM, or vice-versa, and could give me a real down to earth comparision? Thanks a lot guys!

-Josh

I have a friend who for a time had both that model a ccord and a 1G AWD Talon. He adventually got rid of the Talon because of reliability issues, however, He drove both his cars hard and th eTalon was pretty beat up when he got it. One recurring problem his Accord had was that the clutch pedal brackett would break causing the clutch to not disengage, I you didn't know about this problem you'd think either the clutch or trans. would be shot. If you buy an auto this would not be a problem obviously but if you buy a well maintained 1G you might not have any reliability problems. My DSM was down for long periods of time because of its high mileage and that the previous owner neglected it. Despite all the problems I learned more about working on cars and how to diagnose problems than any shop class or working on others cars could have ever taught me. I think because I needed to have the car running soon I had to learn, it was just the extra motivation I needed to do the job right.

 

[SpeedFreak03]

old honda accord = ugly as crap...

why dont you just get a 2g n/t (stay in the DSM family) and you have 140 hp instead of 69... and insurance on 2g nt's are hella low...

and you will have a sexy car that you picked up for 2-3k... auctions are your friends...

where do you get 69 from, the 90/91/93 SE and 92 EX is rated at 140, the rest are 130...Anyway I considered getting an NT DSM, but if Im going with a non-turbo car, just for the reliability reasons, I'd go with the accord at this time.

Ken, thank you so much for that post, that's what I was looking for! I've thought about all this quite a bit, and I think I'm actually just gonna play it buy ear - if I come across a nice 1G turbo dsm, then ill buy it, but after a certain amount of time and no decent one is found, then I'll go with the cord. Thanks again guys, and if anybody else has anymore opinions/info, feel free to help!

 

[JessesTalon]

140? my ass...

my grandpa has a 92 accord ex and that thing couldn't beat my fiances corolla which is like 110 hp...... and slow as crap

and his 92 accord is in mint condition...

accords run 19's in q mile... eclpise na can run low 16 pretty much stock (ie under 100$ invested)

 

[JessesTalon]

BTW body kits and 10" exhaust tips no matter how much the RICERS say, THEY DO NOT ADD HP....

I see plenty of old toyotas, ie my buddy's 89 celica.... it has 350k on the motor and STILL runs in prestine condition... not even honduh can compare to toyota, so if you want a good car... get a Toyota for reliablitly...

my fiance has had her corolla for 3.5 years and has not done a single thing to it... never put in new oil, never did a single thing to the engine, and the damn thing still run's like it should starts every day, and she floors it 100% of the time... you just can't do that with any other car...

 

[gsx rated98]

you have two choices here. Kick yourself for buying a honda, or kick your DSM for it breaking

honestly, your going to get a bias opinion here, for obvious reasons. If you want a good on gas, insurance, and reliability id get a honda.

I personally dont mind forking out $25 a time at the pump to fill up. LOVE MY BABY. with that said, buy a DSM (AWD, if your going to do it, do it right)

Then go forth, and modify!!!!

 

[SpeedFreak03]

I got that number from edmunds or a site like that, I just figured that's what it was "rated" at. Anyway, from reading some accord and honda boards after spending over a year on here, it just seems crazy how much they spend and it still runs 16s...so I definetly would not be buying the accord or any honda for performance. But you gotta admit, for reliability, gas mileage, and insurance cost, they are great cars, along with Toyota! Funny you brought up the toyota thing cause I was looking at some older corollas earlier, but they are definetly great cars/trucks. My dad has a tacoma and he beats the shit out of it, and it never gives him any trouble. So he would not be driving the DSM if I get one .

Now that I've been thinking about it, a 2G N/A might actually be a decent car to start out with...they have the looks, they are a dime a dozen (easy to find and cheap), and since they have that neon engine they are supposedly good on gas, and cheap enough! And that 420A is a pretty stout motor IMO. How is reliability with them? Most of the threads seem to be about turbo DSMs in the problem diagnosis, but I don't know whether to think more people just own turbo DSMs, or the N/As are just more reliable!

Well luckily I'm in no rush at all to buy a car, school doesn't start for a month, and I can take the bus till then, and i havent had trouble getting a ride to work...yet.

Thanks again!

-Josh

 

[SpeedFreak03]

you have two choices here. Kick yourself for buying a honda, or kick your DSM for it breaking

honestly, your going to get a bias opinion here, for obvious reasons. If you want a good on gas, insurance, and reliability id get a honda.

I personally dont mind forking out $25 a time at the pump to fill up. LOVE MY BABY. with that said, buy a DSM (AWD, if your going to do it, do it right)

Then go forth, and modify!!!!

Yeah I know this isn't the best place to ask, but Im just trying to get SOME opinions ! After doing some more thinking (as you can see im off work today haha), I think im gonna research these 2G N/As more, then just start looking what's for sale. I mean, hell, if the DSM thing doesn't work out, I can probably find somebody to buy it, cut my losses, and buy a different car.

 

[JessesTalon]

Extremly Good choice to go with a 2gnt for a starter...

I had one for 2.5 years and it depreciated only 999 dollars... how pimp is that.

They are easy to get into the high 15's and they are just dead sexy (97-99)

and in that 2.5 years it never broke down, left me stranded, didn't start... never replaced any plug's/wires did only a few oil changes... man, that was one pimp car. If I knew what I know today then... I woulda def kept the 2gnt... and but a 1g as a project car... Stupid Stupid me