![]() 12/06/2013 at 17:45 • Filed to: None | ![]() | ![]() |
Hey guys, I wanted to solicit your ideas for a car.
My company has a vehicle allowance, but the new policy stipulates the car must have fewer than 120,000 miles and younger than 5 years old. It must be 4 doors.
The Danger Ranger has just passed both of those boundaries, and so I'm considering, if I can't slip the Ranger under the radar for one more year, getting something smaller and newer.
Trade-in on the Ranger is about 10k, and I'm looking to spend no more than 20k out of pocket, so 25-30k total. So what should I get? I don't need or want a truck anymore, but I do need a car capable of towing 1,000 lbs or so, to take the kart to the track.
Needs:
I'd prefer used, but <2 years old is necessary. New is possible if it's a good enough deal
<20k miles
more than 170HP
4 doors
I want a fun DD, along the vein of the Focus ST (my favorite option so far.) Any ideas?
![]() 12/06/2013 at 17:52 |
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I think you may have answered your own question with the Focus ST. Would the cart fit in the hatch? I'm guessing the opening might be just too narrow.
Other options, try the GTI and WRX. I'm a fan of the GTI but I'd test all three to see which I'd prefer.
![]() 12/06/2013 at 17:54 |
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Fiesta ST?
Other options are a CPO BMW, BRZ/FR-S/Any CPO Porsche Under 30K
![]() 12/06/2013 at 17:57 |
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The toyobarus and most porsches only have 2 doors.
![]() 12/06/2013 at 17:57 |
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As you probably know this is my "thing" helping people shop for cars and such ....after careful consideration....
I say you get the ST
![]() 12/06/2013 at 17:58 |
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I agree. That's exactly what I would say. Focus ST, GTI or WRX. Focus ST would probably be number 1 choice after riding in a friend's recently.
![]() 12/06/2013 at 17:59 |
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Completely forgot the requirements and just listed some cars under $30k for some reason, sorry. Find a Bimmer! Also, I think I'd rather have a Fiesta ST then a Focus ST. Just looks better, and apparently can do most of the things that the Focus can do. (Thats why its my next car!)
![]() 12/06/2013 at 18:08 |
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What has happened to all of you to tell someone with a 30k budget that the best enthusiast car is a focus st? Shameful really...
I don't know what you guys see in a Fwd car with too much hp for its fail driven wheels. Plus the 2.0 turbo gets less than 250 hp? That is a severely underpowered hp/liter ratio.
![]() 12/06/2013 at 18:09 |
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Sadly, no, the Kart is actually too wide to fit in the Ranger without removing the wheels, and juuust longer than the bed.
I'm just going to get a small utility trailer for it, which just about anything could pull.
I guess I'll have to go for a few test drives!
![]() 12/06/2013 at 18:11 |
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I will consider the Fiesta ST. I'm hoping I can find one of both to test drive.
![]() 12/06/2013 at 18:12 |
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Have you driven one yet? I don't mean a test-drive around the block...I mean really flogged it.
![]() 12/06/2013 at 18:14 |
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Thanks, I'm hoping I can avoid it for another year, but the allowance pays enough that it's actually worth it financially to get a newer car if the alternative is losing the allowance.
I'm going to submit the paperwork with the Ranger clearly not meeting the requirements, but I'm hoping they don't read it...
![]() 12/06/2013 at 18:15 |
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Angry Catfish for the win!
![]() 12/06/2013 at 18:25 |
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I am going to re-ask automatch's question. Have you ever driven one? The power that is put down to the front wheels is done in a very amazing way. It gives you the pull you need while not making the car sleepy and boring to drive. Alot of us enjoy the cars that make us work a bit, and this is one of those cars. I chose this car over the FRS/BRZ, Camaro, Mustang, Challenger and a used 135I. After driving all of those, I didnt have nearly as much fun as I did in the ST. And to boot I get all of the reliability and utility. Perhaps you should get behind the wheel of one for more than a 15 minute test drive and see what you really think.
![]() 12/06/2013 at 18:38 |
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I guess I'm not one to just completely ignore the fact that the car is driving the wrong wheels. There is no way I would choose fed over any of those candidates. I'd go for FRS or 135i no need to even test drive anything else. Muscle cars are too heavy and gas guzzling, and focus ST is fail. Try to launch a fwd up a little bit of a hill and all u get is the reminder that your car is driving the wheels that have no weight on it when physics come into play.
![]() 12/06/2013 at 18:45 |
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WRX is the only choice.
Or get a 4th gen Legacy GT if you want to fly under the radar
![]() 12/06/2013 at 18:47 |
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The FRS is a cool car but its kind of underwhelming, as an actual owner stated in an article yesterday or wednesday on oppo. Really not that exciting. The 135i is pretty fun but again it wasnt anything that blew my mind and cost of maintenance would have wound up being a nightmare. Also, im not sure i understand what you mean about a FWD car being a car that drives on the wheels with no weight on them... its kind of the exact opposite actually. maybe i am just misunderstanding... you didnt answer my first question though.. Have you ever driven an ST?
![]() 12/06/2013 at 18:52 |
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Never more than a test drive around the block. It's not about how it drives for me though. I cannot get past fail wheel drive. And under acceleration, physics and right wheel drive work together to give the best traction. For fail wheel drive, it is not working with physics to transfer weight when accelerating, instead it is being lifted under acceleration.
A fwd car, if under the same gearing, will be faster going in reverse than it is going forward. Now how fail is that?.
![]() 12/06/2013 at 18:56 |
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Ah ok, so your opinion isn't really based upon any real life experience. Your simply making a biased decision based on your perception of FWD. Many oppo's and car people don't choose to limit themselves in that sort of way. But if that is your preference then have at it, you will just miss out on so much.
![]() 12/06/2013 at 18:57 |
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MS3's always a choice...
These depreciate like mad!
There's a 2011 one with 19K miles for 18,000 (!) near my house!
![]() 12/06/2013 at 18:59 |
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As an ST owner I would highly recommend the car. Its a fuckin blast to drive. It is pretty economical and there is plenty of trunk space. And that front grill! DAMN!
![]() 12/06/2013 at 19:08 |
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Yeah...I'll be missing out on something that was invented for the sole purpose of reducing manufacturing costs and increasing interior space...
No person in their right mind would choose fwd over rwd. I guess nature, bicycles, motorcycles, and oh yeah, motherfuckin nature, has it all wrong. Clearly the accountants that wanted cheaper manufacturing costs have found the right way to propel objects.
![]() 12/06/2013 at 21:57 |
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better handling too. if your planning on doing autocross it blows the Focus out of the water apparently. Also with 3-4 (.5 with the stock tires on) inches of snow you can pretend to be Ken Block
![]() 12/06/2013 at 21:58 |
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Fiesta is epic.
![]() 12/06/2013 at 21:59 |
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but i'm not sure the cart will fit :/
![]() 12/06/2013 at 22:19 |
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You just explained what I'm using the car for when I get it
![]() 12/06/2013 at 22:43 |
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So what 4 door car would you recommend that meets the requirements I put forth?
![]() 12/06/2013 at 22:45 |
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Again, what car would you recommend that is less than 5 years old, under 20k miles, and costs less than 30k with RWD and 4 doors? I'm open to options if you have a car I'm unaware of.
![]() 12/06/2013 at 22:50 |
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I might consider the Legacy GT, the fanboys have ruined the WRX for me. Unfortunately anything older than 2 years old is not possible, since the whole point of me getting a car is to get one that's eligible for my company's allowance program.
![]() 12/06/2013 at 23:00 |
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It doesnt need to fit in the car, I'll put a hitch on it for a utility trailer.
![]() 12/06/2013 at 23:37 |
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The extremely obvious choice would be an e90 3 series. Also, nothing wrong with an STi. Infiniti g37 sedan for some luxury. Chevy SS for sedan muscle. Hyundai Genesis for best bang for 30k bucks.
![]() 12/07/2013 at 00:15 |
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Finding a 2012 or greater E90 under 30k with a manual is not an easy task. If I did find one I'd be a little skeptical about the quality. It's actually the closest sedan to what I'm looking for, though.
The G37s are not what I'd call fun cars, unless you're a grandmother. Portly for my taste, and too soft.
The Chevy SS runs 45k, and the Genesis is just about the ugliest car I've ever seen, and hard to find with a stick.
None of the luxury cars are particularly reliable and they're all a little heavy to be "fun," and I don't care for widgets and doo-dads. Not that there's anything wrong with them, I just don't care to pay for them since I don't use them.
I already have a 1967 Mustang and an '83 Porsche 911, so I'm looking for the economy side of "fun."
![]() 12/07/2013 at 01:16 |
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What about an STi? Its better than focus st in every way and it also drives the right wheels. There aren't any small 4 door Rwds. It sucks but it looks like if u want economic 4 door fun it has to be fwd or awd. If you are looking at the focus ST, try the fiesta instead, even lighter, cheaper fun. And would the Veloster turbo be an option?
![]() 12/07/2013 at 08:05 |
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Ah, right on. Then the LGT might be a non-option. Fanboys will be fanboys, which is why I choose not to spend a lot of time on Nasioc. Plus, not a whole lot of them can afford the 08+ WRXs :)
![]() 12/07/2013 at 08:13 |
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I'd give the STI a shot, or at least the WRX. Those are still fast enough and fun enough to get you into trouble.
Surprisingly, the Veloster turbo looks like a fun little car, but it only has 3 doors. What about a MazdaSpeed3? Or a 2011 RX-8?
![]() 12/07/2013 at 08:14 |
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A Volvo S60R could be fun, or if it has to be new, get an S60 R-Design
![]() 12/07/2013 at 12:33 |
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Mazdspeed3 is in the same boat as focus st. Rx8 sounds perfect..it's not really cheap fun though.
![]() 12/10/2013 at 09:51 |
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Not sure that I would buy better handling from a beam axle rear suspension vs the fully independent one on the Focus. You have to keep momentum up in the Fiesta though and you won't go wrong with it but it's slower, has lower grip from the potenzas vs the wide and sticky Goodyears on the Focus. About the only objective performance measure the Fiesta wins is in braking due to the lower weight. Power vs weight still puts the larger Focus ahead of the Fiesta. Both are fun to drive but the Focus gets my vote and dollars.
![]() 12/10/2013 at 20:36 |
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GTI! Especially if you can find a MK7
![]() 12/11/2013 at 14:07 |
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I like the STis, but I can't get past the fanboy crowd. That ruins them for me. Stupid reasoning, I know, because they are very capable cars, but I could never own one.
I am considering the Fiesta also. Does the Veloster have 4 doors?
![]() 12/11/2013 at 14:09 |
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MS3 I would consider, but all the reviews make it sound like it wallows compared to the Focus ST in terms of feel and feedback.
RX-8 would be fun, but I'm not a big fan of the look, nor the upkeep and insurance costs.
![]() 12/12/2013 at 00:46 |
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:) it's a 4 door hatchback. 2 doors on passenger side and 1 door for drivers side.
![]() 12/12/2013 at 12:58 |
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Ah. I don't know if that qualifies, I might be able to sneak it in to someone unaware, but if they do any fact checking it'd suck to have a new car that doesn't fulfill the whole purpose of getting one.
I like the look of them though.
![]() 12/12/2013 at 18:40 |
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audi a3 hatchback