What Would You Rather?

"Tripper" (tripe46) 11/18/2019 at 11:25 • Filed to: None

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I just saw the post on the FP about the new “fast” Countryman and it made me sad. My wife had an R53 cooper S coupe that we both adored. My mother bought an R56 cooper S, and while it was a nicer car, it was a real turn off when it came to the drive.

Everything I have driven from Mini after that has been what I refer to as a (buick) and what you probably call beige, boring, numb, whack etc...

Seeing a 4700lb mini with a 50k price tag made me think...What would I get instead? The answer is almost anything, but let’s keep it close. Whatever you buy for 50k has to have some kind of AWD and 4 doors and be new. What are you buying Oppo?

Yours truly is in a brand new Golf R ordered from the factory in a custom color (like irish green) , with 3 pedals and all options.

Cash Rewards > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 11:29

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I loved my r53. It was incredible

Tripper > Cash Rewards 11/18/2019 at 11:31

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Hands down the most fun FWD car I have driven.

Victorinoo > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 11:31

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Lexus is350 F-sport AWD. If I’m going to spend 50k on a car it will not be a G erman car that will lose half its value in a year.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 11:32

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Sorry, no way I’m buying new with that criteria. Depreciation on a few year old car is amazing at that purchase price. I’ll be buying a car that was $70-80k new.

Tripper > Victorinoo 11/18/2019 at 11:34

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I’ll take a better drive over resale value 10/10 times. Also the Golf R is not a base A6, they hold value well.

Tripper > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 11/18/2019 at 11:35

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Haha, I mean yea IRL I’m trading that ugly turd for a perfectly specd 997.2 even if I had to throw some more on top (I Would) . So you’re saying your taking this poop nugget over anything else new?!?!?

Cash Rewards > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 11:37

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And rewarding, too. Be hamfisted, get understeer. But get it right? Fast.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 11:41

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If it has to be AWD, then i’ll get a R as well. Buuuuuuut, I would rather the upcoming JCW GP Mini

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Cash Rewards 11/18/2019 at 11:42

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Fairly reliable too

Tripper > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 11/18/2019 at 11:45

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The R53 GPs have been all over BaT recently going for double what I saw them listed for just a little more than a year ago!

We lucked out with our R53. It was owned by someone in the military stationed in Finland. So it was a Finnish market car which is cool by default, but it had the chrono package and the factory LSD!

I’d definitely get another but only an R53. My mom’s R56 was soooo “soft” comparatively. I really liked the Gokartedness of the R53

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 11:46

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Don’t get me wrong - the Golf R is a great car and I’d gladly drive one.

But there is ZERO chance that I’d spend $50k on one. If I was spending $50k on something new and AWD, it’d be a loaded Telluride for the missus.

promoted by the color red > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 11:46

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Audi S4 . I don’t care about depreciation, I buy cars for my own enjoyment .

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 11:49

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ooooh factory LSD! I wish mine had it :\

You should definitely get another one, non-GP cars are cheap, plentiful and like you said, waay too much fun (especially with some bolt ons)

Derpwagon > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 11:51

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50 large, some kind of AWD, and be new? Honestly, I’d keep my current car to make it a track car, and I’d buy a Ridgeline or a Passport. Or maybe a 4Runner if I wanted a real truck. 

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 11:54

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4700 is gross weight, curbs only 3629. A car doesn’t gain 1000lbs in a single year in the same generation.

412GTI > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 11:57

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Yep. Golf R for that criteria or a CPO S5 Sportback. 

whatisthatsound > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 12:03

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F Type R

Tripper > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 11/18/2019 at 12:14

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Fair. If I went with a car for my better half, I’d go for the SQ5 at that price.

Tripper > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 11/18/2019 at 12:15

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I knew that had to be wrong, still out on this thing.

Tripper > promoted by the color red 11/18/2019 at 12:15

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Booya! Samsies

Tripper > 412GTI 11/18/2019 at 12:16

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One of the partners at my firm has a the S5 sportback. I can’t get with the looks but it is Fast AF.

Tripper > whatisthatsound 11/18/2019 at 12:16

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Ooo nice one!

Milky > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 12:17

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First off that green is good.

But at that price and AWD Id have a hard look at a Model 3. Then:

*there is also well option S90s for a lot off sticker in that range too. But thats too much car for me.

** Giulia with snow tires

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 12:17

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Do the Golf R and the SQ5 have the same drivetrain?

Tripper > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 11/18/2019 at 12:20

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Nope, its got some crazy setup with two differentials its also a 3.0T

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 12:22

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Ah, nice.

Up your price point a bit and I’ll buy an RS6 Avant for me. =)

Tripper > Derpwagon 11/18/2019 at 12:24

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Hopefully every O ppo would do something other than buy a brand new car for 50k . However say you have to spend 50k that someone just gave you, on a new 4 door automobile with AWD, or give the money back. 

You in that Countryman, or what?

Tripper > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 11/18/2019 at 12:25

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Lol, well yea.

Gone > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 12:33

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I bought a ‘19 Z R2. 4 doors, 4WD/AWD, well under $50k, so it fits.. . I’m sure this is what you meant, right lol ?

Textured Soy Protein > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 12:38

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The curb weight is likely an error. The X2 M35i which is the same car is listed at 3700 and change lbs.

Both the X2 M35i and Countryman JCW are off my list on account of no Android Auto though.

Golf R is off my list because VW won’t let you have one with a sunroof. It’s not some uber high performance machine that can’t have a sunroof. If a GTI or an S3 can have a sunroof, the Golf R can too. No dice. 

My answer to your question is a Kia Stinger GT or Genesis G70 3.3T, but I’d rather have them in rwd not awd. 

nermal > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 12:47

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That Golf looks really, really good, especially with those wheels & color. Would buy. 

Derpwagon > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 12:56

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Nope, as stated I’d be in a Ridgeline, Passport, or 4Runner. :)

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 12:59

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Actually following the rules: WRX STi hands down. Leftover money for mods (stickers), tires and track fees.

Racing Rules: buy Mitsubishi Mirage and Global MX-5 Cup, use leftover funds for tires, entry fees, and some kind of eBay turbo for the Mirage. Between the two of them the front and rear wheels are driven 

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 12:59

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Outback and save over 15k? Tourx

When I was a younger engineer I looked at an ats loaded . That dream lasted  until I got home and the cost sank in and I wanted to puke.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 11/18/2019 at 13:02

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“Only 3629” 

Victorinoo > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 13:06

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I havent driven either, so I’m definitely making assumptions here, but the IS350 has a longitudinally mounted engine so I would chose rwd based awd over fwd based awd

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) 11/18/2019 at 13:11

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It’s a small crossover, that’s what small crossover weighs.

Tripper > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) 11/18/2019 at 13:15

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STi is my second choice, Limited with the lip spoiler

Tripper > Textured Soy Protein 11/18/2019 at 13:20

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“Both the X2 M35i and Countryman JCW are off my list on account of no Android Auto though.”

That’s your deal breaker on those two cars!?

Saracen > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 13:21

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Probably a lightly used base Macan.  Such a great thing to drive.

Textured Soy Protein > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 13:57

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Price aside, I actually like the idea of a 300 hp awd hot hatch with a front eLSD. Which is what the X2 M35i and Countryman JCW are, just with a little extra height and the vaguest of SUV-ish styling pretense.

But, I don’t even need to consider them on their merits as cars. BMW and Mini are off my list entirely unless they add Android Auto and don’t charge a subscription for it like they do for CarPlay.

Tripper > Victorinoo 11/18/2019 at 14:03

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I’ve driven a 2105 IS 350 fairly recently, helping a friend buy one (non F sport). Every Lexus is nice, they drive nice, and it’s a quality product. However I have never driven one that has the feels. The ISF is engaging, still not a “I have got to get me one of these” scenario for me at least.

I’ve got to have a manual transmission so most stuff is out by default. E ven in DSG form, the Golf R a super fun drive. I couldn’t get my hands on one when I was shopping, so I ended up with a DSG S3, which I liked but is also how I found out that I have to have a manual.

Tripper > Textured Soy Protein 11/18/2019 at 14:20

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It makes me shake my head to know that you are correct in calling those cars “hot hatches”. It pays to be optimistic in CUV hell.

Still, my surprise is with how you’re weighting phone interaction when buying a car. Are you some kind of adult?

Here is the form that I use:

1. Drive good?
2. Look good?
3 - 176. Vary depending on car
177. Do I like the way my phone interacts with this car?
178. What kind of gas mileage does this car get?

Textured Soy Protein > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 14:40

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Yes, phone interaction is important to me in a daily driver, driven-in-traffic car.

Maybe if this were a few years ago and it was just becoming common, but going into the end of 2019, b asically every car company that’s not BMW p rovides CarPlay and Android Auto as standard equipment. Including in cheap-ass econoboxes. Yet BMW charges a subscription for CarPlay and doesn’t offer Android Auto.

There’s nothing that BMW makes that’s so much better to drive or look at compared to other cars that would make me put up with their bullshit-ass phone connectivity.

Tripper > Textured Soy Protein 11/18/2019 at 14:50

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I think everything BMW has today is absolute trash for people that wear fake (or real) G ucci loafers. The M2 is the only car that makes it move for me. That is garbage that they charge for it.

The aftermarket Unit that I put in my wife’s forester and the stock radio in my VW do both, fo free . I figured they were all that way.

Textured Soy Protein > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 15:07

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Generally I agree with you on BMW’s current lineup. I got into them because of how they drove, and put up with being associated with the negative brand stereotype because I know that I’m far as hell from said stereotype.

I’m growing increasingly sour on luxury brands in general. They’re too expensive and too unreliable, and t he mainstream brands have gotten good enough that the luxury ones are mainly there for brand image, fancier materials, and to some extent more power.

Hell, I’ve been driving around a rental-spec Hyundai Elantra recently , and I’m like, hey this is a nice perfectly decent acceptable transportation appliance that’s quiet, comfy, roomy , goes where I point it, sips gas, and unlike every brand new BMW currently for sale, can put Google Maps from my phone on the dash.

Tripper > Textured Soy Protein 11/18/2019 at 15:22

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There was nothing I didn’t at least like from BMW 15 years ago. The tables turning and all of that.

With so little available with 3 pedals these days I have no true loyalty.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 11/18/2019 at 15:39

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The eco sport is around 3100lbs iirc. A quick google says the Encore (what a turd) is like 3200lbs. Why must safety be so chonky

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 15:59

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Bra h! STi all the way, brah ! Is there even any other choice, brah ? I mean for fiddy K I’d get the car, some lowering springs, some dank rims, a new flat brim, and put rest towards vape cartridges, brah .

No, but really, STi limited plus some mods and stuff.

Now, I did buy Mrs. Snuze a brand new 2018 GMC Terrain Denali last year, which is an AWD 4 door CUV. Since I already met the wickets, I’d rather spend the $50k   on the following: 2016-18 Camaro SS 1LE (~$33k), a Jeep Wrangler TJ (~$ 6k), a pair of horrible decisions waiting to be a project car - Volvo 240 Wagon + XC90 V8 with a fragged transmission (total under $5k), and that should leave me just enough cash ($6k) for an R53 Mini. Basically the perfect stable of horrible gas mileage (Camaro & Jee p) and unreliability (frankenVolvo & Mini) !

Tripper > Snuze: Needs another Swede 11/18/2019 at 16:21

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I’m with you bro, it’s really a toss up between the STi and the Golf R. I’ ve already owned both. I guess it depends on what I’m giving up to get it.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) 11/18/2019 at 18:11

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Those actually seem impressively light to me. My Corolla is 3000lbs.

DutchieDC2R > Tripper 11/18/2019 at 18:18

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A used M135i XDrive.....THANK YOU BMW EUROPE! 

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 11/18/2019 at 18:42

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what year corolla? that is thicc

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) 11/18/2019 at 18:58

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2019 Hatchback.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Tripper 11/19/2019 at 03:33

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Golf in that green looks good

Lokiparts > Tripper 11/19/2019 at 10:50

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I was about to say a dual motor Tesla Model 3... Which I guess would be my second choice. But if I had $50K to just blow on a brand new AWD car I would probably get a V6 Acura TLX A-Spec.

Honda has been really good to me and I am a big fan of their design language and overall reliability.

And i n all seriousness my next car is most likely going to be a Honda or Acura... but it’s almost certainly going to be used, and nowhere near $50K. I have literally never owned a new car, and probably never will.   

Tripper > Lokiparts 11/19/2019 at 11:07

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You win for the most unique and thought out answer. I’ve bought new 4 times. Once for a commuter...mistake, my wife’s Forester, my S3, and my Alltrack. It’s “easier” to buy new which is why I have ended up doing that in the situations where I needed a car right away.

The S3 was supposed to be a forever car, but once the novelty of the DSG wore off I was looking for a clutch pedal.

The Alltrack is a steal either way as no one wants them, but I wanted mine new as it comes with dat 6 year warranty and it will probably be my dad car for the next 5-7 years.

All of the other cars have been used, and the only one that was bad to me was my E90 M3.

B_dol > Lokiparts 11/19/2019 at 11:16

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This is a good take - I have been trying to push more folks into Acura’s when asked for a recommendation. If only they offered the wagon variant still!

Lokiparts > B_dol 11/19/2019 at 12:22

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Not gonna lie a TSX Sp or t W agon is high on my list of potential next cars...I have already made my peace with the beak, but t hey are just really hard to find.

That or a 2017~ ish V6 Accord coupe. It would be a littler hard er to justify with three kids, but I love the idea of having an A ccord that was the last time Honda offered it with a V6 or in a c oupe. I’m n ot necessarily   expecting it to be collectible some day or anything , but I think it will definitely be desirable, and ultimately hold it’s value extremely well.

Lokiparts > Tripper 11/19/2019 at 13:03

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Thanks! A nd to be fair I have no issues with buying new or anything, I have just never really been in a position to justify it financially. I mean I probably could have managed to afford a brand new, zero option, penalty box on wheels. But I just could never bring myself to do something like that knowing I can get a much nicer used car for the same price.

Or, as w as the case when I was younger. G et a very old beater used car, pay cash for it, and then spend all my money fixing it up and modifying it. You know, because breaking down on the side of the interstate, or having to push start  it through a parking lot builds character, but at least (I thought) it looked cool.

Now as I get older I am finally getting to a point where I can consider a significant upgrade to my daily driver. It’s still almost definitely going to be used, but the hope is at least it will be something a little higher end or newer this time.

Tripper > Lokiparts 11/19/2019 at 13:17

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That’s the smart way to do it. I got a hand me down Ford explorer when I was 17-18 , traded it on a used Mazda Protege5 and then started the payments. Sentra SE-R SpecV, WRX, WRX STi, finally peaking with the E46 M3 I bought at 22 years old and paid $836/month for, haha. I’m 34 now and I still have that M3.

While it would be nice to have back the money that I have pissed away on cars, I don’t regret it. 

B_dol > Lokiparts 11/19/2019 at 16:35

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Agreed - its hard to get everything you want in an affordable car these days! We are expecting a baby anytime now, rocking a 3 series wagon for DD duties. 

S hould hold us over unless the family grows to 5 at some point... nothing enviable in that 3 row segment.

KnowsAboutCars > Tripper 11/22/2019 at 09:42

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Jeep Gladiator

Tripper > KnowsAboutCars 11/22/2019 at 09:45

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Nice pick! I think all of the wrangler designations are overpriced for what you get, but when compared with this cooper I’d love a Gladiator instead!