what are your thoughts?

"bob and john" (bobandjohn)
03/13/2014 at 16:31 • Filed to: None

So oppo, being the university student i am, and instead of doing work, I'm on the internet looking at cars I would like to drive once i'm out of uni. or maybe while I'm still in uni.

I want something a little bit classier. I already have a motorcycle that I can use for hooning around, so I don't need something that is crazy quick or has a spoiler the size of my desk (looking at you STI and Evo). THAT being said, I don't want to be completely left behind in a stop light drag race. It also has to be reliable. I would REALLY prefer it to have a manual, but at the VERY least paddle shifters. I would also like it to have some tuning options, so later on I could add, let say, 30-50hp with bolt-ons and a tune. Can not be a truck or an Suv. Also, because I'm a spoiled brat, I would LIKE something a little more upper market. Also, something a little left-field would be nice.

as for the price, my dad mentioned that he is budgeting to get my a car in and around the price range of a BRZ

so, the TL;DR for the requirements (in no particular order)

REMEMBER: this is in canada, so the car will see snow every year. yes, i would be getting snow tires

1: price has to be under 25k in 3 years (with under 125,000 KM)
2: something a little classier
3: something not slow
4: manual trans, or an AWESOME auto
5: reliable
6: ok fuel economy
7: has to be relatively practical (no smart cars)
8: don't particularly care if its FWD/AWD/RWD, but i would prefer AWD
9: tune-able
10: sleeper factor
11: FUN TO DRIVE
12: NO TRUCKS OR FULL SIZE SUV's
13: can insurance not murder me please?

you can bend the rules a little. but not the last 3.

Looking at this, I realize its not an easy choice. but one of the cars that I DID remember was the 2006-2008 Acura TL type S.

remember this? I dont really know much about the fuel economy or the insurance on them, but other then that, it fits everything i want...its a Honda [mechanicals] so it will be reliable, i think it looks classy as hell (1 inch drop and some bigger wheels would make this look like sex), the motor is decent for tuning, (intake, exhaust, and a tune take it up by about 30-40 hp) and its got about 280 HP stock.
it is however FWD, and thats really the only draw back to this that I can think of....

the other short list contenders:
saab 93 turbo X
volvo v50 r-design
volvo v70R
Audi A3 TDI (fuel econ on this is a big argument for me)

from you guys:
volvo s60R (i should have included this on the first list tbh)
audi A4 (this one errs on the side of generic for me. I do live in a somewhat more affluent neighbor hood, and everyone has a A4/3 series/c-class)
Ford focus ST
Ford fiesta ST (this one...i'm not sure. i think id like the power of the focus more)
VW Passat Wagon
Saab 92X
someone mention Golf R, but i'm not sure that will fall into the price range by then?
saab 95 (lots of saabs on this list XD)

so, there is your requirements list. what else can we add to this?

oh, and I will take time to respond to everything, so as a heads up, I may or may not get into a longer discussion with you about your recommendations (thumbs up)

EDIT: I will be updating this list with car you guys mention, so we dont get the: why didnt anyone mention "car X" or "car Y"

DISCUSSION (46)

jkm7680 > bob and john
03/13/2014 at 16:36

Volvo S60R

Audi A4 Avant/No Avant

That's all I've got.

If you have any questions about the A4, feel free to ask me, I've got a 2008.

Brian Silvestro > bob and john
03/13/2014 at 16:37

If you can find a Turbo X, buy it.

Fiesta ST otherwise.

bob and john > jkm7680
03/13/2014 at 16:44

I was tempted to put the A4 on this, but 2 things stopped me:
1: where i live, its kind of a generic car. nothing really special about it
2: its a little down on power with out the fuel saving of the TDI in the A3.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > bob and john
03/13/2014 at 16:46

One of the ST brothers.

jkm7680 > bob and john
03/13/2014 at 16:46

Try S4, but the fuel economy will be absolute shit.

The 3.2 engine gives more of a punch.

Mine is a 2.0T, but I've driven the 3.2

bob and john > Brian Silvestro
03/13/2014 at 16:47

I'm not a fan of the Americans. I would DEFIANTLY test drive one, thats 100%. but between that and a focus ST, Id take the focus. (POWEEEERRRR)

but both are a little too boy racer for me. the focus i think should only be bought in that really bright yellow/gold/orange color of theirs, and thats a bit to shouty. but id defiantly consider it, thanks

George McNally > bob and john
03/13/2014 at 16:48

25 in in 3 years? That's easy, 2015 Subaru WRX STI .

bob and john > jkm7680
03/13/2014 at 16:49

also, S4 would kill me on insurance. Then again, there are lots of kits for the 2.0L for crazy power.

Its still a little generic, but seeing as I have the A3 up there, I'll throw this in as well, thanks

jkm7680 > bob and john
03/13/2014 at 16:51

Yeah, I'm ordering Unitronic Stage 2 for my A4. Huge power increases. S4 insurance, is quite the bitch.

bob and john > George McNally
03/13/2014 at 16:53

wayyyy too boy-racer for me.

gabdere > bob and john
03/13/2014 at 16:54

http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/Volkswagen/P…

I win.

Sleeper? Yes.

DSG gearbox? Yes.

Classy? Black on black, so yes

Nice wheels? Kinda

Easy to mod? Oh hell yes

Rare? Yes

Reliable? Depends on how the PO treated it

Good fuel econ? Yeah

Practical? Open your damn eyes and look at the trunk

And you could get two for your price range.

hike > bob and john
03/13/2014 at 16:55

How about a Saab 9-2? I believe that was the Saabaru. So classier than an Impreza, as tunable as an Impreza, as reliable as an Impreza, AWD. Okay so my first thought for your list was Impreza, but you wanted classier so that's all I came up with.

My other thoughts are an Infiniti G35 or maybe a BMW3-series. I'm not at all familiar with how reliable the Bimmer is though. Can tell you, after 73000 miles, the G35 has been very reliable.

bob and john > George McNally
03/13/2014 at 16:55

too boy-racer for me, I don't like the interior, and insurance

bob and john > hike
03/13/2014 at 16:57

thats....not actually a bad idea.
the infinity...they look good, dont get me wrong. but they seem heavy and not all that fun to drive

jariten1781 > bob and john
03/13/2014 at 16:57

No Golf R on the list yet. I'd probably go with that over an A3. Generic for people who don't know cars, but not so much for those who do.

George McNally > bob and john
03/13/2014 at 16:57

Maybe just the WRX version? That one doesn't have the boy racer whale tail.

I'm prejudiced, we've had at least one Subie in our household for the past 25 years :-)

bob and john > gabdere
03/13/2014 at 16:59

This is very true, I dig it.

it IS a little on the large side for me, and no real handbrake= boo

but i will include it because it is a VERY good suggestion and I cant believe it slipped my mind

bob and john > George McNally
03/13/2014 at 17:00

dont get me wrong, they do make a decent car. But i dont really like the interiors. Someone else mentioned the Saab 92X, which is pretty much a subie with a nicer body and int, so I am including that

gabdere > bob and john
03/13/2014 at 17:01

It's a unicorn, kinda. And it is big. Be sure to look for 2010s, refresh steering wheel, gauges and touchscreen. They're more common with those wheels too

bob and john > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
03/13/2014 at 17:02

from a guy with the name: Tyler SVT Focus hates him ;)

yea, it on the list as well

bob and john > jariten1781
03/13/2014 at 17:03

I cant believe i forgot to put the GoRf on this. one of my buddies has one...
BUT. will it come down in price? those werent cheap cars to buy.....

bob and john > gabdere
03/13/2014 at 17:05

wheels would be something I change. I have a motorcycle for the summer, so snows would be going on the stock wheels, and a nicer set of wheels for the summer.
could u perhaps link me 2 photos on the ints between 09 and 10? i would like to see how much of a difference they are.

jariten1781 > bob and john
03/13/2014 at 17:07

Well, there's always the R32. I bet it'll come down though.

bob and john > jariten1781
03/13/2014 at 17:09

ehhh. R32 wasn't sold in Canada. I could import one no issues (there are a couple of them running around my town) but Id rather avoid the hassle

CPT Speedbump > bob and john
03/13/2014 at 17:41

They did make the TL in awd, did they not make the S in awd?? Theres a chick in my local car group with one (not sure if fwd or awd or S or not) but it's hella sexy, didn't see her drive it much but she was in the middle of our last high speed cruise and kept up with the E36 M3's, and WRX's, then again, there was also a few tacoma's, frontiers, and a wrangler keeping up too.. not sure how, cus I was even under and over steering in my Z..though..that was a traction issues on my part (yay gravel and dirt all over the road with summer tires!) ..probably explains why the trucks were able to keep up, the sports cars were having issues.

bob and john > CPT Speedbump
03/13/2014 at 17:43

that was the generation AFTER, the 3rd gen. and to me, they are ugly as all hell, thats why i choose the second gen

hike > bob and john
03/13/2014 at 17:44

I quite love mine. It's a G35x, so AWD, which slows it down a bit, but the VQ provides a lot of power and I quite like the noise in Infiniti form. They do kind of suck on gas though. 20mpg from a midsize sedan just isn't good anymore.

bob and john > hike
03/13/2014 at 17:46

the another issue i have. i could live with not THAT fun to drive, because i get comfort. my mom does have a AWD is250 which isnt that bad, but id rather not spend that much on gas.

CPT Speedbump > bob and john
03/13/2014 at 17:46

oh yeah, is indeed the 4th gen (thought 3rd had the option too, but it appears not) ..so guess that girls if FWD then, seeing as it's a 3rd, lol

bob and john > CPT Speedbump
03/13/2014 at 17:47

crap, ur right, 3rd and 4th, not second and 3rd.

davedave1111 > bob and john
03/13/2014 at 18:03

My first thought was Saab. 9-5's worth considering as well as the 9-3.

bob and john > davedave1111
03/13/2014 at 18:27

ummm. good point. I'm not sure how hard it is to find one with a stick, but i REALLY liked the last gen 95 wagon

davedave1111 > bob and john
03/13/2014 at 18:33

Over here, not hard at all. Where you are, might be a fair bit harder.

Personally I prefer the looks of the previous gen:

Kinja'd!!!

bob and john > davedave1111
03/13/2014 at 18:37

I have a 93 from that gen (sitting in a field for about 5 years, its not worth bringing it back to life)

I really liked the nose of these ones. once all of the chrome trim is blacked out though XD

Kinja'd!!!

davedave1111 > bob and john
03/13/2014 at 18:42

It was only the nose that was different between those two, styling-wise, wasn't it? I find the one in your pic looks too flat/smooth, somehow - it's a little disconcerting.

Kinja'd!!!

gabdere > bob and john
03/13/2014 at 18:46

Typical interior of an 09

Kinja'd!!!

Updated 2010

Kinja'd!!!

It speaks by itself! New gauges, MFD, steering, head unit, bluetooth. Although ionly some of them came with the nicer HVAC (Highlines??). Anyway, you'll want the DSG which is in the 10 only!

gabdere > bob and john
03/13/2014 at 18:48

This could be another option... http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/Volkswagen/P…

A 4motion 3.6 of course!

bob and john > gabdere
03/13/2014 at 18:53

I'm well aware how nice the DSG is (dads A3 TDI has it) but why not the stick? (just wondering)

bob and john > davedave1111
03/13/2014 at 18:54

Its because tthere is no front plate on that one. I do need to have a FP, so its going to look a little better

bob and john > gabdere
03/13/2014 at 18:56

I forgot about the CC. need to add it to list.

on a side note: if the offered the CC with the 3.0L turbo diesel v6 and 4 motion, i would actually be shoving my way to the front of the line to get one

bob and john > gabdere
03/13/2014 at 19:33

also, that car only has 10k km on it? it its value fell TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS?!?!?!?!?!??!?! (dealer MSRP + tax and everything is 60k)

defiantly a decent buy.

gabdere > bob and john
03/13/2014 at 20:19

IMO it's still overpriced, you can get a brand new CC for that money... And base CCs get you rear cam, xenons, led, etc... This car doesn't have nav and dynaudio so its not top of the line... It's still a lot of money for a 2 y.o car, its 2014 equivalent is $60,500 with taxes, freight, pdi and dealer fees.

gabdere > bob and john
03/13/2014 at 20:20

Cause only base models come with the stick, very rare to find and not sure it was offered on wagons and late models

bob and john > gabdere
03/13/2014 at 20:21

uhh, it does have nav....

gabdere > bob and john
03/13/2014 at 20:55

Nop, this is the Premium 8 radio. No nav button. Usually theres 4 buttons on each side of the screen when its the nav one

bob and john > gabdere
03/13/2014 at 20:56

ahhhh, ok