where can you find a nice sport compact car for a good price in utah?

Q. i have been looking for cars for a while and im not sure where to find a nice car in utah for a good price, like a honda prelude, or a 3000 gt etc. thanks.

Answer
http://www.craigslist.com
http://www.autotrader.com

Don't even look at any ads from dealers. You WILL NOT get a good price.

Also check local penny saver type papers, bulletin boards, and, if applicable in your area, drive around looking for spots where people park cars with for sale signs (big-box retailer parking lots are common)

Also, the 3000GT came in only two versions: FWD-slow, and AWD-heavy-unreliable. They look good, though.

You're looking for private-party sales. It's easier to know the history of the car that way...carfax doesn't tell you if a car has been abused, and often won't tell you about maintenance. A dealer sure the fuck won't. But you can smell a fast-and-furious ricer idiot a mile away...if you're buying the car straight from the owner, you'll have a better idea what kind of driver/owner they are.

Also, fuck dealers. Fuck 'em. Add 1000 bucks, minimum, to the price of any car. That's supposed to buy a better car, with major problems taken care of, but that's not what they think. They think the second they take possession the value of a used car doubles, without them having to lift a finger.

Private party markets vary a lot from city to city, so without knowing what town you live in, it is impossible to say where exactly to look. The most common ways into it are park-and-sell lots, other parking lots, community bulletin boards, newspaper and penny-saver classifieds, and Craigslist.

Best used sports/performance car for $15k or less?

Q. I looking for a newer 1997+ sportier car with around 50k miles or less. Somewhere in the price range of $15k-$17k or less. Something reliable, decently quick, fun, and good looks.

I dont really want old early 90's unreliable cars such as old 300zxs, 3000gts, stealth tt's etc, since thats what I have now (1991, 300zx tt, 90k miles)

But have looked at things like rx-8, boxster (worried about costs of maintenance), c230 kompressor, eclipses, trans am, camaro, srt-4, etc.

Any ideas or suggestions?
autoinspector: as in reliable I mean not going to be broke down every weekend. I dont mean a honda civic where it will drive til 300k miles. I realize sports cars are more expensive to maintain but I just dont want something that will be at the shop every other day.

Answer
Your price range is kind of tough for a performance oriented car.

I personally prefer a RWD performance car due to the usually more progressive neutral handling characteristics.

I dislike domestic cars, but the car that fits the bill most is a 1997 C5 Corvette. Simple OHV V8, no turbos or all wheel drive, yet it's still a world class performer. It will also hold its remaining value better than any other V8 american coupe. Road & Track just had an article on the C5 generation as a used car classic. It had some tips from experts that stated Corvettes or either babied or abused; that there really is no in between due to the more blue collar type buyers.
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=223875982&dealer_id=60335147&car_year=1999&search_type=used&num_records=25&make=CHEV&keywordsfyc=&transmission=&distance=0&model=CORV&address=97303&make2=&advanced=&default_sort=priceDESC&certified=&max_mileage=&max_price=18000&sort_type=mileageASC&min_price=10000&body_code=0&end_year=2008&color=&keywordsrep=&start_year=1997&drive=&engine=&doors=&style_flag=1&fuel=&cardist=2490
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=224503253&dealer_id=60413363&car_year=1999&search_type=used&num_records=25&make=CHEV&keywordsfyc=&transmission=&distance=0&model=CORV&address=97303&make2=&advanced=&default_sort=priceDESC&certified=&max_mileage=&max_price=18000&sort_type=mileageASC&min_price=10000&body_code=0&end_year=2008&color=&keywordsrep=&start_year=1997&drive=&engine=&doors=&style_flag=1&fuel=&cardist=2483

But I myself would prefer a Mazdaspeed Miata, with hardtop of course.
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=224302567&dealer_id=75956&car_year=2004&model=MIATA&num_records=25&make2=&start_year=1998&keywordsfyc=__dHVyYm8,__&keywordsrep=116117114098111&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&search_type=used&distance=0&make=MAZDA&color=&min_price=10000&drive=&default_sort=mileageASC&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=mileageASC&address=97303&advanced=y&end_year=2008&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=18000&cardist=1750
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=209510538&dealer_id=593812&car_year=2004&model=MIATA&num_records=25&make2=&start_year=1998&keywordsfyc=__dHVyYm8,__&keywordsrep=116117114098111&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&search_type=used&distance=0&make=MAZDA&color=&min_price=10000&drive=&default_sort=mileageASC&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=mileageASC&address=97303&advanced=y&end_year=2008&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=18000&cardist=2454

There's always the Lexus IS 300:
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=224579518&dealer_id=626246&car_year=2002&search_type=used&num_records=25&keywordsfyc=&make=LEXUS&transmission=Manual&model=IS300&distance=0&make2=&address=97303&only_price=1&default_sort=mileageASC&advanced=y&certified=&max_mileage=&max_price=18000&sort_type=mileageASC&min_price=15000&only_photo=1&body_code=0&end_year=2008&keywordsrep=&color=&start_year=1998&drive=&engine=&fuel=&doors=&style_flag=1&cardist=2180
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=213983274&dealer_id=52258068&car_year=2002&search_type=used&num_records=25&keywordsfyc=&make=LEXUS&transmission=Manual&model=IS300&distance=0&make2=&address=97303&only_price=1&default_sort=mileageASC&advanced=y&certified=&max_mileage=&max_price=18000&sort_type=mileageASC&min_price=15000&only_photo=1&body_code=0&end_year=2008&keywordsrep=&color=&start_year=1998&drive=&engine=&fuel=&doors=&style_flag=1&cardist=2702

For FWD I really like the Acura CL Type-S w/6speed manual (the auto trans had a recall). This car will easily have the best fit and finish, along with the classiest interior and best ride. They're also quick with a 260hp+ SOHC VTEC engine. I had an automatic 2001 model and with an intake it sounded like a racecar when VTEC was engaged. They also make a 4 door Type-S as the TL, is has a less round look to it.
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=210129939&dealer_id=58565477&car_year=2003&search_type=used&num_records=25&keywordsfyc=__dHlwZQ,,__&make=ACURA&transmission=Manual&make3=&model=3.2CL&distance=0&make2=FER&address=97303&only_price=1&default_sort=mileageASC&advanced=y&certified=&model2=&max_mileage=&max_price=18000&sort_type=mileageASC&min_price=15000&only_photo=1&body_code=0&end_year=2008&keywordsrep=116121112101&color=&start_year=1998&drive=&engine=&fuel=&doors=&style_flag=1&cardist=1770
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=205727868&dealer_id=56448173&car_year=2003&search_type=used&num_records=25&keywordsfyc=__dHlwZQ,,__&make=ACURA&transmission=Manual&make3=&model=3.2CL&distance=0&make2=FER&address=97303&only_price=1&default_sort=mileageASC&advanced=y&certified=&model2=&max_mileage=&max_price=18000&sort_type=mileageASC&min_price=15000&only_photo=1&body_code=0&end_year=2008&keywordsrep=116121112101&color=&start_year=1998&drive=&engine=&fuel=&doors=&style_flag=1&cardist=2479
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=220011525&dealer_id=74856&car_year=2003&search_type=used&num_records=25&keywordsfyc=__dHlwZQ,,__&make=ACURA&transmission=Manual&make3=&model=3.2CL&distance=0&make2=FER&address=97303&only_price=1&default_sort=mileageASC&advanced=y&certified=&model2=&max_mileage=&max_price=18000&sort_type=mileageASC&min_price=15000&only_photo=1&body_code=0&end_year=2008&keywordsrep=116121112101&color=&start_year=1998&drive=&engine=&fuel=&doors=&style_flag=1&cardist=1824

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