Possibly lookin' for a new(ish) cage (NEW issue page 6: now in White!)

[Streetfighterkz]

Have you thought about a Subaru WRX? 

You can get one a couple years old for around $20K, they have plenty of pep without revving them to the moon like a Honda, come almost exclusively in manual, and get decent mileage (mid 20's or higher if you're nice).

Although I'm slightly partial as I'm on my 3rd one.  Besides a bad O2 sensor I never had trouble with any of them and I've put about a combined 80k miles on the three I owned.

If you don't want to modify it a lot an '08 is fine but if you want to mod stay away from the '08 and get a '09+.

Later, Doug

[swampduc]

My sister is considering the WRX and has loved the ones she's driven. They really hold their value, though, so used ones aren't a cheap proposition.

Doug, just curious, if you've had no problems, why have you been through 3? 80k isn't that many total miles.

[Streetfighterkz]

Doug, just curious, if you've had no problems, why have you been through 3? 80k isn't that many total miles.

I totaled the first one (a '03 with 90K miles) , waited about a year or so and bought a '08 hatch.  I put about 50K on the '08 but always wanted more power so I traded back to a '05 STi.

I tried to keep the '08 as long as I could but my mind always kept whispering "STi....STi...STi..."

Later, Doug

[corey]

Hmmm...   G T I

picked up a 2011 brand new, and I love it. haven't regretted it for a second. was 24,750 OTD, which isn't too bad. if you look at used ones, get above the 2010. the 2010's have the TPS sensors that mount on the wheel/ in the tire. the 2011 and up have the TPS system stripped down and running off the wheel speed sensors. makes the winter tires/wheels thing much cheaper to do, and just easier to deal with tires in general...

it's the most useful, and most fun-to-drive car i've ever experienced. and the interior quality is unreal, second to none... plus.. those plaid seats! <3 <3

also, first three years of maintenance are free, and warranty is great.

top-mount, upside down oil filter makes oil changes the simplest thing in the world too.

stock wheels (18") are heavy as shit, but look SICK.

if you were in my area, i'd say come over for a test drive.
i went with the six speed, the DSG auto is a significantly costly option.

i'll also add that i average right around 28mpg between city and highway driving. i commute with it roughly 10 miles to and from work each day, and make a 160 mile round trip on highway roughly once a month. takes premium only though (93+ octane)

[Le Pirate]

Re:2002 BMW Tii,they handle well but are underpowered compared to today's cars.A WRX will drive circles around it.

Oh...I fully understand that it isn't as powerful as modern cars, but I simply love that era of automobiles! Plus wringing it out is half the fun. Sometimes I think driving at the edge of what is possible in the car is more fun that driving a car that is fully capable of going past the edge of what is possible for the driver.

I'm also considering an early Mini Cooper (from the 60's) but my wife is wholy convinced that I'll get run over driving one of those in Texas  

I also have a 65 VW beetle. I'm slowly rebuilding from the ground up, completely back to original. Except, I keep having this thought about replacing the motor with a Ducati mill...out of say, a wrecked 1098 that I know of  , silly I know, but it's got a lot more HP than the 40 horse original  

Back to the original post though...a scoobies are nice, the boss has a forester that is pretty cool...but they all seem to be very thirsty for the class they fit into. Plus, I like the all wheel drive, but here in Texas, where we only snow a couple days of the year, it seems to be over kill. Though...it can be a lot of fun. But also expensive.



BTW---my 07 VW Rabbit has 130K on the odometer. Flawless operation.

[Bladecutter]

I would recommend test driving a Mazda 3.
And then for the heck of it, test drive the CX-5.

BC.

[Le Pirate]

I would recommend test driving a Mazda 3.
And then for the heck of it, test drive the CX-5.

BC.

I've been impressed with the new mazdas I've test driven. I have no knowledge of long term quality/reliability, though. Someone else around here might...

[lethe]

I've been impressed with the new mazdas I've test driven. I have no knowledge of long term quality/reliability, though. Someone else around here might...

I put 250,000 on the '06 3 I had. Still ran and rode great.

[ducatiz]

[DesmoDiva]

Definately test drive a Mazda 3 and Speed3.    Sticker on a new speed3 is bit above your max, but you should be able to find a decent used or certified pre-owned.

I have had my 3 (5 spd, 4 door) for 18 months and never regret not getting something else.  I test drove a lot a cars in the price range you are looking before I chose the 3.  Gas mileage is good, I average about 28 commuting (mix of city/highway) and it easily gets 32-34 on longer highway trips.  Only thing B really misses is cruise control.  I never use it, so it wasn't one of my must haves.

Yeah, the VW are nice to drive just a bit too $$$.

[El Matador]

Fiat 500 Abarth? Don't laugh until you've driven one.

Either that or a tdi is my vote

[bigiain]

Fiat 500 Abarth? Don't laugh until you've driven one.

I laugh every time I remember this one:


Clockwork Bambino by bigiain, on Flickr

[corey]

my fast likes to drive with the windows down... DOWN....

[Bladecutter]

Fiat 500 Abarth? Don't laugh until you've driven one.

I drove the Abarth for the first time last night.

Home from the Dealership, that is. 
My gf traded in her Fiat 500 Sport for the Abarth, and I can't properly describe her feelings on the car, so I'm not going to try.



There it is next to my RX-8, taken in her office parking lot while on my lunch break.
No laughing occurred before or after the drive, by me, anyway.

Abarth is serious business.

Well, that is, up until the point that she named it Mighty Mouse.
Now its just hysterical.

Such an appropriate name, in my opinion.

BC.

[ZLTFUL]

I'm biased because of my car but Acura TL-S (2007-2008) 6MT. Difficult to find but worth every cent.
Either that or a low mileage 2004-2006 TL 6MT which is slightly lower HP but still has the Brembos.