is two always better than one?

This:
Plus this: or this:

My vote is for a fun little car to do the DD and have some fun with on the weekends, plus some sort of "other" vehicle to meet the rest of your needs. The Fiesta ST or Focus ST will meet 90% of your daily needs and fit the kids in there as needed PLUS you can autocross it and do well. Then you pick up a used Cherokee or pickup, or maybe an older minivan, for the vacations, camping, Lowes and Costco runs.

dean1484 wrote: 25-30K gets you a very nice BMW

That's what I was thinking.

My wife has the kid hauler/trip role nailed down. I just need to occasionally take them to practice, etc.

On the BMW front, I'm nervous about planning on racking up 30k miles a year. I need at least 150k miles out of a daily driver if it's at the top of the price range.

What about a nice Mitsu EvoX? 4 Doors, Fast, not FWD...

Having done both, I'm strongly in the 2 car camp. I'm sure some are braver than I, but I could never go all in at events with a "fun" car that I knew was my ride to work on Monday.

icaneat50eggs wrote: my combined budget (say 25-30k) Is there anything out there that meets my requirements?

completely serviced old LS400 and $26k for a fun car

2 cars for sure.

I vote lightly used G37 or Focus ST + older Miata.

I am commuting 100mi/day now myself in my Mazda2. It really is a fun and efficient commuter. The problem is I autocross it now getting more SRS BZNS about it... So I'm on 700/550# spring rates. It's hard to justify another 2 for DD duty because there are a LOT of other good cars out there... But if I get something nicer.. It's kinda weird having a FoST or FRS as my daily and a Mazda2 as the "racecar." Not sure if I can handle that.

I will say while not luxurious a 2 with some small changes(sport shocks, springs, short shifter, wheels, and rear sway bar) is a great small commuter, I get 37+MPG regularly. The same thing for me to do is to tone down the suspension and get something else. DIRT CHEAP consumables, it can wear Miata wheels/tires, etc. It really feels like a FWD Miata.

But there are SO MANY other good choices too.

Sonic + Trifecta Tune = DSP in SCCA, which would disqualify it from autocross duty in my book, unless you really are a glutton for punishment, although if the money saved by having a "dual use" car can be applied to some R-comps, it might be a little fun, still not competitive in DSP though.

I'm not concerned with being competitive. And the sonic is slated for the boring commuter car slot. Don't tell my wife. She'd get curious if I autocrossed it

In reply to The Hoff:

After messing with a crazy Amy, I understand that reference now.