Hi all,
I think the time has come to part ways with my BRZ. It has been a noble, reliable stablemate for the past 4 years, transporting me to over a dozen autocrosses, back and forth between DC and NYC over 4 dozen times, and... you get the gist. I love the thing, but I have a large dog with a large travel crate (42 inches or so folded up) that necessitates a car that's probably a bit bigger. The brz can do it, but between my partner, our 60 pound German pooch, and any amount of luggage, things get cramped quickly. We'd probably all be happier with a little more space.
Because of the crate, any replacement for the BRZ needs fold down seats of some form. This knocks out many of the RWD sedans I had my eyes on (late era G35s, IS 250s, things of that nature). Some E90s can do it, and I'm definitely open to that option, but I do worry about an E90 that sits for days on end (some times I don't drive for 5 or 6 days when my car is in the garage... pains of NYC living, among others...). This is probably something I'd worry about with any older car, realistically.
There are some hatchbacks that could fit the bill. I've always liked 6 speed 2nd gen Mazda3 hatches, ditto the Mazdaspeed3 of those years (I do worry about previous owners, but that's just as true for G35s and cars I mentioned above). GTIs - I worry about budget. Maybe a first gen TSX?
GRM hivemind - what am I missing? Thanks in advance for any help. Cheers
I have to ask, because I'm in a similar boat in terms of looking for a cool manual car around that price. I fell in love with the Frisbee and it's my favorite car that I've ever driven. I found a few brz and FRS that I could afford, but after posting them here the consensus was that the engine WILL blow, even with reliability mods, and especially if I take it to the track. What was your experience with reliability and bottom end failures?
The tsx was a common solution on my various threads, 3's and speed3's were also suggested. The cobalt ss/ion redline/HHR ss also a suggestion as was it engine platform mate the Saab 93. Is300, but decent condition, manual is300s are hard to find especially under 8k. 8th gen civic si sedan but unsure if they fold down. Protege5? Tl type s? Matrix xrs might be an option.
You didn't really mention a budget and that is typically the most important thing to most people. So get the very best you can with in your limits......and of course that's logical. Sounds like you might be better with a hatch versus a sedan so my recommendations are in no particular order. The usual suspects......Golf/GTi, Impreza/WRX, Civic/Si, Accord, Mazda 3, Corolla/S and TSX. I think there are a few Hyundai/Kia models that could work but the later years are better than the earlier thereby being more expensive. I probably missed a few but there ya go. No big revelations.
Edit: I see the budget listed in the title. Still the same answers.
I'm pretty sure that Impreza/WRX don't have fold down seats unless you get a wagon.
Focus sedans DID. You can find them with the 6 speed behind (next to?) the 1.0 Ecoboost, or the 2 liter four could get a five or a six. (And yes, I have proof that Ford made at least one 6 speed 2l Focus sedan)
I'd rather have the 2l. About the same power, about the same or better fuel economy, and the engine lasts a hell of a lot longer than the Ecoboost three does.
Yeah, I really liked the Focus I drove with the 2.0 and the six speed. Think it was a 2012 with the Titanium Sport package with the cool 5 spokes. Also, second Pete's comments about the 2.0 over the EB I3. I used to really want one with the EB 3 until I heard about the wet belt design. No thanks.
I'd definitely be looking at the Mazda 3 as well. And Matrix or Corolla XRS. First gen TSX would be very cool. Not sure about the seats though.
Forte sx. Second gen has the 1.6t motor.
IS200/Altezza? Might be the closest thing to a 4dr Toyobaru.
Edit: I see Evanuel9 already mentioned IS300s which are basically the same.
Sounds like a Mazda3 hatch fits the bill. I've had my 2013 (2nd gen) Skyactiv 6 speed for 10 months now. I bought mine for commuting, and the Skyactiv 2.0 has returned 34 mpg over 18k miles. Long trips kept under 70 will return 40+mpg. Its at 206k miles, and I plan to drive it until it falls apart. I'm very happy with the car.
I haven't taken mine to autocross or any hpde, but plenty of others have. The 2.0 isn't slow, but a 2.5 will be much sportier at the cost of some MPGs. Obviously the Speed3 is on another level.
STM317
PowerDork
3/18/24 6:57 a.m.
It's not hard to find a Focus ST with 150k-200k miles in your budget. There are even a handful of options closer to 100k miles.
Audi A4. I have a 2010 S-Line which would fit the bill. Power with the 2.0 turbo is ok, but not impressive, but the rest is really good.
In reply to GameboyRMH :
Did the is200 make it to America? I've never seen any for sale?
In reply to MadScientistMatt :
Shame, a 3000 lb RWD toyota sedan seems pretty neat. I'm probably the only car guy who is not a fan of the 2jz which came in the is300 and added about 250 lbs
Ignoring the $8k part for a moment, we bought a 2016 Accord Sport with 6 speed. Maybe a bit big for autox, but it is Honda-goodness, zippy with the six speed, huge interior space. $15k two years ago, maybe go back a bit earlier.
glueguy (Forum Supporter) said:
Ignoring the $8k part for a moment, we bought a 2016 Accord Sport with 6 speed. Maybe a bit big for autox, but it is Honda-goodness, zippy with the six speed, huge interior space. $15k two years ago, maybe go back a bit earlier.
Ignoring the $8k part for a moment longer, any I bought a new c8Z for 120k that would be amazing.
MadScientistMatt said:
Evanuel9 said:
In reply to GameboyRMH :
Did the is200 make it to America? I've never seen any for sale?
It didn't.
The IS250 did. It has a wee V6, I think 3GR? Little brother to the 2GR 3.5l in the IS350 and everything else Toyota made.
For a couple years, Nissan put a 2.5l VQ in the Infiniti whatever-it-was, as a me too gesture probably. People lined up none deep.
Evanuel9 said:
In reply to MadScientistMatt :
Shame, a 3000 lb RWD toyota sedan seems pretty neat. I'm probably the only car guy who is not a fan of the 2jz which came in the is300 and added about 250 lbs
You're not alone, I had a sportcross for several years. It was a dependable car, but didn't make enough power to justify how thirsty it was, and it always felt about 300 lbs heavier than it should be for its size. I'm always a little disheartened that all the small rwd sedans are entry level luxury cars, which always means more weight. I think the last cheap and cheerful rwd sedan sold new was probably 30 years ago or better.
In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :
Its also about 400 lbs heavier than the is200. Thats the kinda cool part about the is200 - lightweight RWD compact sedan.
In reply to dannyp84 :
The is300 is so cool to me - good looking, toyota reliability, compact, and rwd. But it seems so heavy for what it is, lots of weight on the front end, and horrific gas mileage. An inline 4 in it would be neat
