Car buying advice needed

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa) 05/10/2015 at 22:33 • Filed to: None

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A friend of mine just got a job at a dealership far, far nicer than mine. It’s a Toyota dealership that is related to a GM dealership with a used car dealership attached to it. It’s large enough that it has people like him to direct calls. He also gets paid far more than me to basically sit around on facebook while I’m out hauling stuff around, washing cars, repairing cars, roofing... but I’m not bitter.

Anyways, one of the benefits of his job is that he gets a steep discount on anything bought through the dealership, so he’s looking at making a down payment to replace his zillion-mile Mazda Protege, which holds the esteemed position of being the most miserable shitbox he’s ever experienced.

His primary concern is he wants something that’s “like a go-kart”. That’s the one thing about the Mazda that he likes, is that it handles like a go-kart.

He also wants a decent audio system, but honestly we can upgrade whatever car so this isn’t a primary concern

He wants it to be ‘fast’, but considering my 8 second 0-60 Murdersofa and my 12 second 0-60 Civic are ‘fast’ to him, this is an easy one to beat by the numbers but the sensation of fast acceleration is much different. The Murdersofa taking 8 seconds to get to 0-60 is much more dramatic and, indeed, feels a lot faster than a Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0t Turbo’s time of 6.9 seconds.

With these in mind my thoughts were a used Scion FR-S

It’s an eye-catching sexy coupe with RWD for snow drifting, decently quick despite what people say (6.4 seconds with the MT, which I am insisting he gets), and one of the best handling small coupes around. I have no recollection of what the interior quality or sound system was like, as those things weren’t really on my mind when I was last in one.

Thoughts? Opinions? Suggestions for something better? Keep in mind about the price range for a used couple-year-old FR-S if you’re making a suggestion. A McLaren MP-4 is a tad out of the ballpark.

MLGCarGuy > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/10/2015 at 22:41

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Obvious answer is obvious.

Vicente Esteve > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/10/2015 at 22:44

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I think that’s the best choice, or it depends in what cars are in the used section.

The Real Dacia Sandero > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/10/2015 at 22:44

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The sound system is whatever, but it’s a Scion, so it’s made to be upgraded. Interior quality is budget, but not horrible. It’s simple, not super flashy.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > MLGCarGuy 05/10/2015 at 22:49

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Possibly. How do the prices for these compare with the FR-S on the used market?

pitstop_pitowski > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/10/2015 at 22:50

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BMW 325i? For the discerning person who likes to eat their oatmeal with a silver spoon:

http://www.auto.com/cars/BMW-325-i…

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Vicente Esteve 05/10/2015 at 22:50

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Yeah, I’ll have to ask him. I have no idea what is available.

TopSirloin > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/10/2015 at 22:51

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So $16k-$20k price range? Going hot hatch all the way, with all 3 suggestions. Mk6 GTI, 2012-2013 FoST, or a MiniCooper S - depending on how comfortable he is with his masculinity. The GTI is remarkably nice, handles like a champ and is fast out of the box - and has an extremely deep aftermarket community. The FoST is the GTI’s natural rival. Faster, with some sacrifice made in refinement. The Mini is exactly a “Go-Kart” - and is a turbo-charged hoot.

I’ve only been in 1 FR-S, and it definitely wasn’t a well trimmed model, but I’d describe it as adequate with a dash of Meh.. Narrow steering wheel was somthing I hated. Keep in mind the car he’s coming from, he’ll probably be impressed with just about anything.

MLGCarGuy > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/10/2015 at 23:08

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I believe a used Miata Club will run you about $20-22k.

Levitas > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/10/2015 at 23:14

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I think the answer is obvious. Perfect go-kart driving dynamics, is actually pretty fast (0-60 in low 6.x with manual and no mods), and the stock sound system is actually really damn good. Like, when listening to MP3/CD, I’m still shocked at clarity and depth to the sound, from the highs to lows. And I have a broken midrange door speaker.

Alternatively, go a few years older and pick up a supercharged JCW, for not much over 10k, and enjoy a car that easily drops the 0-60 into the low 5 range, and makes an unholy supercharger wail.

Also, they are godlike in snow. Very neutral, no sudden rotations, lots of torque. And I haven’t even put winter tires on mine...

And they’re easy to work on, the aftermarket support is incredible.

Most importantly: wherever you drive, in nearly any condition, a smile will always be on your face. You could have had the shittiest day at work, but the second you crank it over, it just fades. You forget everything else, and you just drive and smile.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/10/2015 at 23:15

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Decent-to-nice pre-refresh 6 speeds can be had for $15,000 and come standard with an LSD. Also, heated leather seats in the better trims are a bonus during winter IMO and make it more usable as a convertible.

Bose system is good enough.

BRZ4Science > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/10/2015 at 23:17

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The BRZ has the better interior, accessories, and badge; however, the scions are more plentiful (especially used). A Miata is going to be hard to swing as an only car, but your friend could keep his old Mazda as a DD.

For around $3k cheaper you can get a Mazdaspeed 3; hatch, turbo, and Mazda handling plus their sound systems and interiors are better than the roadsters (only downside is the torque steer, but you can always think of it as a feature).

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/10/2015 at 23:18

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I think to a person that is used to having 4 doors and realistically usable space, the Toyobaru is going to be a prison cell. I would say to look for a good condition FA5 Civic Si. It’s got the go-kart steering feel, but doesn’t give up any real-world utility.

AthomSfere > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/11/2015 at 00:25

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Fr-s is a good choice. The audio is... OK at a stop light. As soon as the car starts moving though you realize that something is horribly wrong. My 07 Civics (Ex and Si) had much better sound systems with the stock subwoofer. It is technical enough that I think a good head unit would fix most of the issues though.

Other contenders: Civic (Si?). Faster than the FR-s, feels faster with more torque (I am talking 06-11) but is nowhere near the driving pleasure when you get to flog it properly. Although the Si was much better around town during rush hour.

GTI and the like, I’d skip these. Residual is poor, reliability OK. Really it’s an Si with better interior, but worse everything that will matter in when the loan is half over.

Mazda 3 - I like these OK. Nothing amazing IMO but it does everything well.

Of course, there is always the Murican muscle route. Every dealership I go to has a chronic fire sale on used Stangs (60’s or 2015 are all I would buy personally). But Camaros and Challengers can be had for about what a used FR-s is too. I love the Challenger, but it is soooooo soft and sad (SRT). Camaro would be my pick of the Muscle cars. Even the camaro though is no go cart on handling.

FR-s like: Of course Miata... Or the more faster Miata/ FR-s: Honda S2000. Not sure if you can find a good, clean one that hasn’t been molested and isn’t still holding far too much of its value to pick it over a FR-s though.

Sure, I helped zero but my thoughts !

Dunnik > Vicente Esteve 05/11/2015 at 01:00

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Yea, really depends on what they have in their trade-in inventory.

Otherwise, FRS all day long.