Back in middle school, high school, and through college I use to lust Civic hatchbacks with swaps, DC2 Integras, and more recently DC5 RSX-S. These cars were attainable and could be made stupid fast for a reasonable price. I was on Honda-tech tonight since I'm bored out of my mind and checked out the for sale section.

I saw a ton of cars that were modded very tastefully, but I just lost the passion for them. They lacked appeal to me, I couldn't see myself driving these cars on a daily basis anymore, even though I did six years ago. I wouldn't want to deal with the headaches from cops, kids trying to race me, thieves, and everything in between.

I guess my tastes have changed as I got older. I now lust over the upcoming CTS-V, G8 GT, ZR1, Camaro (actually have always liked f-bodies), RS4/6, 335i, M3, IS-F, etc. You get my point. I'm still a p*ssy when it comes to trying new car brands and will probably end up staying with Honda/Acura (new TL or TSX perhaps?). We'll see what's new and exciting.

So my question to you all reading this is: have you felt your tastes grew up as you did, or do you still like and want to drive the same cars as you did when you first began driving?

 

I am still a fan of these cars (especially the DC2) but only when they are done tastfully. I learned how to drive stick in an 88 honda civic hatch and then eventually to a 91 Nissan 240sx hatch. I can not however see my self driving a compact today or in the near future.

 

Though I still consider getting an S13 shell for a Silvia front, or an FD or FC for an LS1 swap as a future project, I'm not really interested in B-series swaps anymore as hatchbacks are a dime a dozen. My tastes definitely changed, I used to just think domestic = for some reason, until I went out and drove a few.

 

I loved american cars growing up but once I started driving I fell in love with properly tuned japanese cars and german cars. People change, not much you can do! I can't imagine driving a tuned 4 banger after the age of 23-25.

 

Options, available $$ and priorities change as we get older.

I was a huge fan of the 67-73 Mustang fastbacks, but don't want to get one as a primary car now since 1) they are slow compared to the TL and a number of cars, 2) don't handle as well, 3) and are nowhere near as ergonomic or comfortable as modern cars. I did test the manual-tranny Mustang GT and RX-8 as potential primary cars, though.

Interestingly, I prefer "compact" size sport/lux cars such as the TSX, 3-series, etc., but went w/the TL for its power with an auto tranny (wife's request ), and will continue to look for the smallest exterior with a good power-to-weight ratio. No Buick for me yet...

 

I still like ALL cars for what they offer in their respective classes. I just went form a 2002 CL type S to a 2006 mazdaspeed 6. TOTALLY different cars yet both offer up different experiences in the driving and ownership experience.

 

i still like sport compacts. 1 series coupe here i come

 

<---- lives in the modded sport compact world vicariously through 17 y/o son who has a boosted 98 EK.

That said, with Killer's post.

 

i came into the compact game with a 92 sentra se-r....and i'll always have a soft spot for them. but when it came time for me to purchase another car, i didn't give the compact side of the house much of a look, i peeped the wrx and the 3, but i just couldn't do it. i guess my tastes just got bigger, more custom, and a little more mature. i didn't want to jump back in the "boy racer" way....can't do that with a carseat in the back.

 

I have never been a fan of JDM/Fast&Furious Civics with engine swaps.

I have always been a fan of factory "hot hatches" though.

At 36, if I "grow" out of the hot hatchbacks it will be because I can afford something nicer not because their intrinsic qualities no long appeal to me.

 

I'm regressing, I went from sport/luxury sedans to a sport compact and love it! Money wasn't the issue, in fact the S was cheaper then the G, I just enjoy driving light cars, for me right now its the ticket.

 

S2000 is not a sport compact, it's a sports car.

 

i also have a soft spot for nissans. the magority of my vehicles have been nissans.
not 1 that i have owned has had a problem that wasn't in some way my fault.

 

ive liked the civic hatches with b16 swaps and stuff but i prefer more of a luxury car than a fast little beater... i like luxury more than all that stuff thats why i went with acura rather than getting the little civic hatch.. although my parents almost signed on a bmw but i thought of the headaches of repair costs and decided to go with a reliable brand.....

 

My taste has definately changed as I have gotten older. I was obsessed with Integra's. I have owned three (94 LS auto, 94 4dr GSR, 00 GSR) then I had my 05-RSX-S. They were all fun cars, but being harrassed by cops, racing, and being uncomfortable in the car became old to me.

Civics, tegs, RSX, are a dime a dozen and everyone does the same thing. I hate the internet forums that cater to these cars as well. A bunch of cocky bastards that obsess over making fun of people using stuipid internet talk.

I'm more of a sport/luxury fan now, and hopefully one day I'll be able to have an S2K, or and NSX in my garage as my toy. I wouldnt even own any of the above cars as a beater simply due to theft.

 

My tastes have changed in that I value light weight more than I did in the past

 

Maybe a little, but i never really liked civics or integras --- my first car was a 97 accord LX that i learned to drive stick on - i put 140k miles on it with nothing but replacing a driver side window motor and regular scheduled maintenance (though when i sold it coulda used some suspension work) - thats really the only honda i ever liked.

My passion is pretty diverse tho, i dont know if id be happier with some old (or new) american muscle or a new BMW - but i know i dont have specific tastes for 4 cylinder cars, other than the gas mileage.

But all that being said i still look around for a 94-97 accord coupe as a beater...

 

I agree, but the world still has its fresh selection of hot-hatches.

 

My first car was a brand new 78 Corolla 2-door, which didn't sit in the driveway long before I started taking wrenches to it. No one was modding imports back then, it was still muscle cars for most of the guys in high school. I was always into imports, drooling over Porsche and Ferrari. As time has gone by, I graduated to Datsun Z cars, then an Accord, Avalon, TL-S, and now a Chrysler 300. I still like to see a very understated modded Civic, but I don't see myself driving one now.

 

Very difficult to go back to a 4 cylinder car after driving V6s in such cars as TLS, G35, Accord V6. Some much smoother and slicker than 4 cylinder. Its just a higher class.

 

In general, I would agree with that (having owned an 02 Maxima and now an 07 AV6) but I find the 2.0T motor in the A4/GLI to be an exception.

 

Fixed.

 

Amen to that...I recall an article in the past claiming that the CLS-S was the best-handling FWD car ever made (to date, circa 2003). I guess I'm not getting that experience with all 3500+ lbs plowing into corners & such, and I do miss my '95 GSR lots of times.

I appreciate the ride quality, interior, etc. of the nicer cars, but something always wants to drag me back to the high-revving, yet smooth 4 in a car weighing only 2600-ish lbs. I never modded it, never would, but loved the feeling of taking it up to 8k+ revs and keeping it "in the sweet spot".

I don't realistically see myself going back there ever again, unless I get a beater for fun. I'm now more interested in the higher power factory options, such as the S4, C6, AMG-series, G37, etc. 260hp seemed like so much back in late '02!

 

I know exactly what you mean. It's the same reason that I just got rid of my 06 Civic Si and am ordering an 08 335i in March.....

 

That is a fairly sizeable leap. Particularly when fairly quick cars like the TL-S and G35 lie in the middle of the Civic Si<-->335i spectrum (though both are much more towards the 335i end of the spectrum).

That said, the 335i is a great choice nonetheless.

 

I buy cars strictly for the driving experience if they have some luxury features that is just an added bonus.

 

I could only see owning a sport compact as a dedicated track car.

 

I love my MS6..granted its no lux car..but it runs like a bat outta hell!

 

Are there any sport compacts aside from evo and sti that would even be worth tracking?

 

MS6

 

My tastes have changed. There was a time when I said I would never own an import. That was a time when I ran the GN as the daily driver with an open downpipe and slicks and loved every earsplitting second of it. It was normal to get to work with my ears ringing and tears running from sitting at redlights with race gas fumes blowing through the car.

The TL has now taken over DD status and it's a great feeling to know the car is going to start every morning and the only maintenance is changing the oil and putting gas in it. No one stares at it and if it gets stolen it's a $500 deductable from being replaced.

I wouldn't say I've outgrown the GN by any means but I don't have the patience I once did to put up with it's little quirks on a daily basis.

 

Yeah, there are a few I figure. Nothing fancy certainly, but EG or EK Civics with B-series or K-series swaps, Integras, and such and such. Strip those little devils to the bone and put a good drivetrain in 'em....and off you go. Simple cars, relatively inexpensive to run, and quite fast if properly prepared.

Cheers,
-Mirror

 

I guess I misunderstood tracking I was referring to road racing not drag racing.

 

I would eventually like to get back into a sporty car at some point. But it will be a cold day in hell before it was a modded 4-banger. I went from the CL to my I35 (lately the Pathfinder) more out of necessity than desire.

Now about 10 years ago when I was thinking of getting rid of my V6 Camry for something like a Civic, I didn't see a problem. My taste just matured with me. I think that's common.

 

I as well look to the fancy lux sports cars, but now when I see what an rs4 weighs my expression is something like

 

Stock, maybe modded, not including the Honda products:
BMW 1, 3
Audi 3, 4
VW GTi
MS3 (or even the plain Mazda 3)
Scion tC
Volvo C30 (maybe the S40)

 

I don't think my tastes have changed, I just think I've learned there are so many other things I can do with my money, and so many more important things to do with it.

I've always enjoyed reading about cars and learning about cars, but even when I was much younger, I always had a good handle on what class of cars I'd ever imagine myself owning and what I consider(ed) to be a waste of money. I've always been pretty realistic. That still stands. I never want to earn a paycheque only to support a fleeting part of life, such as a car.

I think I'm still pretty particular about what I want in a car, but I'm probably more open to looking at a larger variety of cars for those things. Keep in mind, the features I'd look for in a car are pretty moderate...nothing too crazy, so that makes things fairly easy. Reliability is a major factor to me, and since more and more cars are gaining strength in this category, I'm opening my mind. I hold no loyalty to Acura, and never really did (a failing tranny also helped greatly in keeping this open mindset).

 

i still like the ek9 00 civic hatch. but most likely ill bet getting an m3 for my daily driver or an a4 avant.

 

Aside from the bmw/audi all the fwd ones would suck on a road course.

 

I think the MS3 would do well on a road course and the GTI would at least be fun. Still, a big change for me has been a movement away from FWD (probably influenced by my wonderfully handling 3.0cl)