My Friend Needs Help Choosing a Car, Can Oppo Help?

"Tim (Fractal Footwork)" (fractalfootwork) 07/29/2014 at 19:41 • Filed to: None

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He's looking for something "cool" with a roof rack. He does bikes, snowboards, and stuff.

He likes the Mazda3. I suggested the new WRX, but he was concerned that he "wouldn't do it justice," which I am sorry that he has to think that. We then talked today about the Focus ST and Fiesta ST.

I would personally suggest 4WD, and again the WRX.

His price range is between $20-30k.

I'll will be sharing this post with him, so don't be mean...

Brian Silvestro > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/29/2014 at 19:42

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WRX seems like the logical answer here.

CAR_IS_MI > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/29/2014 at 19:43

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Anything can have a roof rack...

B7 S4?

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/29/2014 at 19:47

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Nothing. Tell him to get a proper wagon or a truck.

macanamera > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/29/2014 at 19:48

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WRX all day

RoadHead -- Armand > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/29/2014 at 19:50

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AMC eagle

Tom McParland > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/29/2014 at 19:51

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IMO hatchbacks look the best with roof-racks.

GhostZ > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/29/2014 at 19:52

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A used Ford Flex AWD? They were $32,000 new, so finding one in his range lightly used (under 20,000 miles) shouldn't be hard. Plenty of roof space, tons of cargo room. Fold down the rear two rows of seats and put your cargo inside.

Certainly fits the bill, and I personally think it's a totally 'cool' car that would look bitchin' with a roof rack.

Reigntastic > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/29/2014 at 19:53

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WRX is a way better option than anything currently on sale in that price range. FWD is reliable and convenient but personally I get bored of it, and go through way too many front tires from my lead foot. AWD makes mud/rain/snow a breeze, and the premium interior is up to the quality of the competition arguably for the first time ever.

How wouldn't you do a WRX justice? I just can't even conceive of such a thing. Go drive one.

PS: don't get the CVT ffs

nippon > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/29/2014 at 19:55

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I will be mean. Because i'm a Subie fan boy.

Among all the cars, Fiesta ST, Focus ST there is the WRX, which is in it's own category and it's awesome. YOU UNGRATEFUL AMERICANS get the WRX at a reasonable price, with all the options ticked. And it doesn't do the justice? WAT?
You see. Over here WRX costs almost like a nice house does. The parts don't exist. There is only one dealer and service for it. It truly is an exotic car. So that's your argument to make him buy it. It's rare at some parts of the world. More rare than a Ferrari actually.

But seriously, make him do it. At least a test drive. FWD will struggle in snow no matter what.

Tom McParland > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/29/2014 at 19:58

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Important questions: Does he drive stick? If so does he want a manual trans? Is 4WD a must for visiting the mountains? How old is he and has he looked into the insurance on those performance cars such as WRX, ST, etc..?

Tim (Fractal Footwork) > Tom McParland 07/29/2014 at 20:01

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"I want paddle, but stick over straight auto"

Tom McParland > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/29/2014 at 20:04

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So if AWD is not a must, GTI DSG...looks better with racks than the WRX sedan, just my 2cents. And the WRX can come with a "shiftable" CVT, but c'mon...you don't want to be that guy. DSG will give you respect a CVT in a WRX won't. Not saying it's fair or right...but it will be the reality.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/29/2014 at 20:06

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Subaru Crosstrek. It's really a great vehicle. 8.9 inches of ground clearance and Symmetrical AWD. Comes standard with a roof rack.

148HP engine. While not a speed demon, its can more than keep pace with traffic. I pull down right around 30MPG in a 50/50 split of city to highway.

SwellBell > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/29/2014 at 20:11

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I normally would say WRX, but would also suggest the new Forester XT: 2.0L Boxer-4, ~250 HP, ~260 ft-lbs TQ, AWD, CVT Only (i prefer manual, but it has paddle shifters and 3 different "tuning/shifting" modes), Bigger Brakes, Stiffer suspension (~10-20%), Ground Clearance (~8.5"), plenty of space to carry things, roof racks, etc...

The older Forester XT is decent too.

SwellBell > SwellBell 07/29/2014 at 20:13

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The new XT is MSRP in the high 20k-low 30k range. I imagine used ones would be on the lower 20K spectrum.

JEM > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! 07/29/2014 at 20:20

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I came in here to suggest exactly this. If you have the need for something more stout/higher I think this would be a great choice.

JEM > RoadHead -- Armand 07/29/2014 at 20:20

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I was going to say XJ Cherokee but I'm ok with this option :-)

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > nippon 07/29/2014 at 20:20

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"FWD will struggle in the snow"

...Okay, your advice just became 100% invalid. FWD is the drivetrain of choice for lower spec rally cars on a budget. This includes snow and ice stages. If a FWD car is struggling in light snow, it is because of the tires or the driver.

nippon > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 07/29/2014 at 20:26

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No shit sherlock. Yes, a snowboarder that wants his car too look good(no hard feelings, just making a point) will most certainly get studded tires and proper training on ice and other winter conditions. And then he will proceed to rally his non-rally spec stock car up the mountains. Right.

4WD forgives what FWD does not. Fact.

Desu-San-Desu > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/29/2014 at 20:31

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Show him this, and then have him imagine me driving by slowly in Herr Quattro chanting "One of us. One of us. One of us."

Seriously, though, a Type 89 B3 Quattro 20v. They can be had dirt cheap, many came rust-protected from the factory, they are obscure enough to be unique and have serious old-school appeal, a strong community, a decent aftermarket, and are just as capable as a WRX in terms of sloughing through mud and snow.

Seriously, he can pick up a seriously clean one for less than $8k and have a huge budget left over for repairs, maintenance, mods, and upgrades.

Also, this:

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/29/2014 at 20:39

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I think taking the WRX to the snow or a muddy back road for biking is doing it more justice than those that never venture outside of a city.

Unless he just doesn't want a sports car because he knows he'll never thrash it? Forester XT? are they still cool?

Ryanator122 > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/29/2014 at 20:43

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Used 4WD 3-series, spend leftovers on maintenance

PowderHound > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/29/2014 at 21:22

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Wrx hatch. Toyota truck. Fozzy xt. Old 4 runners. Jeeps. Old broncos. Legacy gt. Outback gt. Unimog?

Sir HoonsAlot > Tom McParland 07/29/2014 at 21:29

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Agree completely. I'd put a roof rack on hatch(if I had one) for no other reason than looks. (The Suby hatch would be my choice for this guy)

Burrito de EJ25 > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/30/2014 at 01:27

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Tell him to stop fooling around and get a WRX.

Volvo 850 > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/30/2014 at 08:56

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Fiesta ST or Mk7 GTI would be the best options. Being a sedan, the WRX seems ill-suited to bikes, snowboards, and stuff. You can put a roof rack on it still, but it will always be easier to put stuff in a hatch. I'd wait for the Performance Pack on the GTI. Reviews claim the active LSD gives AWD-like traction. I don't know what Golf R's are selling for right now, but lightly used or maybe even new should be in budget. It has AWD with practicality and refinement the WRX can't touch. The WRX is just as loud and rough riding as always, but if you can get past it's compromises it's one of the most fun cars under $30k.

Just a reminder, AWD

namdiez > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/30/2014 at 10:51

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MkV Volkswagen R32. AWD Golf, V6, loaded with toys, and looks great with a roof rack.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/30/2014 at 12:46

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FiST!

Forrest > nippon 07/31/2014 at 14:34

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interesting. where are you located, Nippon? (surely not Japan, right?)

nippon > Forrest 07/31/2014 at 17:05

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Europe, Croatia. Terrible country for someone who likes cars.