What's The Least Expensive New Car With a Longitudinally Mounted Engine?

Kinja'd!!! "FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
12/27/2017 at 18:48 • Filed to: QOTD

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Just a random thought I had - starting at $18,495, is the Impreza 4-door the lowest price point to get a car with a longitudinal engine? The Nissan Frontier is close at $18,990. What else is out there?


DISCUSSION (18)


Kinja'd!!! HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
12/27/2017 at 18:56

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Huh. I always forget the Subies arent transverse.


Kinja'd!!! Ash78, voting early and often > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
12/27/2017 at 18:59

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With mandatory AWD, might as well. Makes for a mechanically simpler layout. Transverse only exists to increase passenger space and make FWD easier to package.

My last car was a FWD longitudinal. No torque steer was nice, since everything was symmetrical including the half shafts.


Kinja'd!!! djmt1 > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
12/27/2017 at 18:59

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Caterham 7 160 starting at £14K...

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Assembly required.


Kinja'd!!! winterlegacy, here 'till the end > djmt1
12/27/2017 at 19:17

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That’s cheating. Car needs to be pre-assembled from the factory.


Kinja'd!!! kanadanmajava1 > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
12/27/2017 at 19:24

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Probably some of the kei minivans that are sold in Japan. Honda Vamos is my example (1,374,000yen = 12,100USD) but it has some competitors too. Honda might not be the cheapest of these.

Through our normal markets you cannot get these of course. Here the cheapest Subaru model (XV something) is starting from ~36,000USD in Finland and it would be slightly beaten by BMW 118i with the price of ~33,700USD.

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Kinja'd!!! Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
12/27/2017 at 19:46

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The 2 wheel drive stripper taco starts a $17,125. Good luck finding one.


Kinja'd!!! ranwhenparked > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
12/27/2017 at 21:16

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Does the Niva count as a car? They start at about $8700.


Kinja'd!!! RT > winterlegacy, here 'till the end
12/27/2017 at 21:16

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How about a pre-assembled Caterham then?

Self assembly is just an optional extra.


Kinja'd!!! winterlegacy, here 'till the end > RT
12/27/2017 at 21:20

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Factor in the cost of assembly...


Kinja'd!!! dogisbadob > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
12/27/2017 at 21:36

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Too bad we don’t get the 1.6 FWD model for lower price and better mpg


Kinja'd!!! FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > ranwhenparked
12/27/2017 at 21:36

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I was thinking US but I’ll allow it.


Kinja'd!!! FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > dogisbadob
12/27/2017 at 21:41

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It would make a nice competitor to the Elantra/Civic/Corolla/3/Focus/Cruze/etc. But that is a pretty crowded space already and I’m guessing Subaru doesn’t want to confuse their customer base in the US by offering something without AWD - that is what makes them unique in the segment. Yes I get that the BRZ isn’t AWD but that’s a totally different market.


Kinja'd!!! FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
12/27/2017 at 21:48

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Where did you find this? I thought even the base stripped out manual had an MSRP of nearly $25k. It wouldn’t surprise me if there were a fleet model or something, though.


Kinja'd!!! I have another burner, try to guess it! > Ash78, voting early and often
12/27/2017 at 22:29

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Was it an Acura Legend? That’s the only longitudinal FWD car I can think of.


Kinja'd!!! TFSIVTEC drivesavolvo > dogisbadob
12/27/2017 at 22:32

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Your acting crazy right now


Kinja'd!!! Ash78, voting early and often > I have another burner, try to guess it!
12/27/2017 at 23:00

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VW Passat (Audi B5 platform). It was basically an “AWD delete” type of car. Most FWD Audis have been the same way (except the A3 and TT, which were Golf-based). Now almost all of then are transverse.


Kinja'd!!! pip bip - choose Corrour > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
12/28/2017 at 05:56

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$10K for a petrol 4x2

yes it won’t be legal in the US, but it’s cheaper


Kinja'd!!! gmctavish needs more space > I have another burner, try to guess it!
12/28/2017 at 18:29

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LH platform Chryslers are longitudinal FWDs as well