HELP! GRM'ers, help me buy a car

Hi all. Been a while. Lots of stuff happening over here. I bet no one remembers me. That's ok. Since we last spoke, the following has happened:

Lost my job Sold my Cadillac Wagon Sold my 2002 Z06 (that I had for 8 years, and loved beyond description. Take care of her, Adam!) Got a new job (yay!!!) but had to move to Ohio, and need to sell the old house (not so yay yet!) Bought a new house. Had my first kid (awesome!) Bought a Subaru for the wife because we had a kid, and I don't trust her car to be reliable.

So here I am, driving my wife's sorta old, but well worn car. It's not my favorite. We've agreed that I can get a new car, due to the loss of my prized 'Vette, but there are conditions.

A) Must be able to carry a child in said child's car seat

B) Must be pretty new and reliable, in case she needs me to come to the rescue.

3) Must be capable in the imminent snow and ice around Dayton.

D) Must be ok as a commuter car as well.

Given all that, and the fact that I'd like very much to be able to get back on the track and involved in more SCCA events, I've pretty much landed on a WRX (sadly, not STi, I still need to commute remember.) It's hard to find a used one that hasn't been "bro'd out" so let's call it a 2015.

That said, since I won't buy anything until I've sold the other house, because I'm not stupid, we have some time. So I come to you all for some help. Do you have any other suggestions that fit the above criteria?

Thanks!

ER

Focus ST. You don't give a price range, but if you can afford a 15 WRX a Focus ST should be easily doable as well.

In reply to Adrian_Thompson:

True, I didn't. Let's call it <$35k ish.

Would you take the Focus ST FWD over the WRX AWD for winter work? Assuming proper winter tires, of course. I haven't had a FWD car in ages, personally, but I've lived in the south...

Other than that, why the Focus ST? Admittedly, I don't know much about it.

The focus ST can be had for surprisingly cheap on the used market, and with proper tires I absolutely believe you would be fine in the winter.

Good luck with the search!

Wait until next year for the Focus RS?

I plan to drive one as soon as they come out, and depending on finances at the time and what kind of trade-in they will give me, my '15 BRZ may go away.

In reply to z31maniac:

I potentially would, but I have serious doubts about my current ride lasting that long, unfortunately. It's a very interesting car, though!

In reply to JtspellS:

Is it as much fun as the WRX? Cuz those are fun....

In reply to Egghead Racer:

I'd trust a Focus before a Subaru at being reliable.

Reliable + Tracking + Subaru = Does not compute.

I take it you came from the south? I don't know about Dayton, but I would assume they know how to remove snow and salt the roads. Also, snow/ice driving isn't that hard. Think autocross situations, but at a much slower speed. So I wouldn't put too much stock in needing AWD, or even front wheel drive for that matter. Proper tires, yes, always with RWD, most of the time for FWD, and in Dayton probably not so important with AWD.

Says the guy who drove a Crown Vic on Potenza's for 2 winters.

Egghead Racer wrote: Would you take the Focus ST FWD over the WRX AWD for winter work? Assuming proper winter tires, of course. I haven't had a FWD car in ages, personally, but I've lived in the south... Other than that, why the Focus ST? Admittedly, I don't know much about it.

Usual full disclosure, I work for Ford.

So, would I take a FWD Focus over an AWD Focus? Nope, I'd go for the AWD.

Would I take the fit, finish and refinement of a FWD Ford over an AWD Subaru? YEs, every time.

Would I take the FWD over the Subaru for track work? Yup every time.

Would I take a 15 year old non SVT Focus over a 15 year old Subaru for E36 M3s, giggles and Rallycross? No, give me the beat up old AWD NA Subaru for hooning in the mud and snow.

Seriously, the interior of the Focus is light years beyond the Subaru, ditto the NVH. People bitch about the electronic diff in the Focus, but I'm sure most have never driven one. No, I havent' driven a Focus or Fiesta ST on the track, but I have driven them on the road and they are a hoot, I never notice issues from the diff.

For pure fun, the Fiesta is more of a fun machine, but to fit a baby seat and for shlepping up and down Michigan roads, the Focus is a bigger more refined place to be.

In reply to Adrian_Thompson:

Indeed, you could make the Fiesta ST work, but unless you were vehicle weight crazy like me, you'd pony up the extra 2-3k for the Focus ST.

In reply to Egghead Racer:

From everything I've read and driving one myself I honestly doubt you would reach the point the diff being a trouble spot for quite some time (this damn thing handles!!!) And like others have said the Subaru is basically still stuck in the early 00's where this focus is brand damn new and just awesome.

My only personal gripe is the dash, (personally it looks like it's lifted right from tron, especially at night!) and the odd yo boy color coordinated seats, aside from that yes it is easily 100% better than a wrx.

In reply to JtspellS:

Well, we're talking the 2015 WRX, so it's running the new FA20 direct injection turbo motor, and the AWD system has torque vectoring, etc. New stuff thrown in there. Not saying it's the better car, but it's not like the STi, which is using a 10 year old drivetrain.

I will check out the Focus ST, though. The Fiesta definitely won't cut it.

In reply to mtn:

I'm all about the RWD, but ground clearance ends up being the problem up here. My 'Vette turned into a snowplow in every parking lot. Hah!

In reply to Adrian_Thompson:

Does anyone know if the Focus RS will be out this calendar year? I'm hearing not until 2016 calendar, otherwise I could easily wait.

Just my .02, if you really want an AWD hot hatch then I'd wait for the Focus RS if it's possible. Just going by the numbers that thing should kick an STI square in the nads if it had any. Otherwise get a 14 or 15 V6 Mustang or the 16 Camaro that will debut at the New York auto show and keep some change from your 35K bill. They will accommodate forward facing child seat in the way back, at least the Mustang will. And the V6 models wont kill your wallet and still have 300+ horses. Get the 2.3 Ecoboost in the 15 Mustang so you can tell your wife you're being "green"

Egghead Racer wrote: In reply to mtn: I'm all about the RWD, but ground clearance ends up being the problem up here. My 'Vette turned into a snowplow in every parking lot. Hah!

Really, not trying to talk you out of or into anything, but I drove a lowered Miata through 5 Illinois (Central and Chicago) winters. I don't recommend that, but it was easily doable--so don't write off RWD just yet.

Although, frankly for your needs there aren't any RWD offerings that are that great unless you look to used BMW's. Maybe a Chevy SS, not sure how much those are going for.

In reply to 06HHR:

Lots of Ford love in here, today...

Thank god no one has said "Golf" to me yet.

Egghead Racer wrote: In reply to JtspellS: Well, we're talking the 2015 WRX, so it's running the new FA20 direct injection turbo motor, and the AWD system has torque vectoring, etc. New stuff thrown in there. Not saying it's the better car, but it's not like the STi, which is using a 10 year old drivetrain. I will check out the Focus ST, though. The Fiesta definitely won't cut it.

"Torque-Vectoring" is just marketing speak for using the brakes to act as a faux LSD. In the past they just called it "brake vectoring." The STI gets real limited slip diffs front and rear and you can definitely tell.

EDIT: It should be noted the Focus ST has the same thing.

In reply to DaveEstey:

Yeah. The Focus ST does the same thing.

I've driven both the new Scoob and Focus ST in anger. There's not a lot separating them for performance really. Focus is way nicer inside.

If I were looking for a new 4-door daily driver I'd check out a Mazdaspeed 3.

Since I DON'T need seats for four I daily drive an NC Miata.

Go test drive both the wrx and ST. Curious to hear your impressions. I drove the focus a few times at the ecoboost challenge and it's a fun car that is more fun than fwd should be. People have been able to buy new ones for right around $20k.

Here is a direct comparaison

I'm gonna buck the trend and say WRX.

As long as you don't go full bro on it, and keep it stockish, a Subaru can be very reliable. They also keep their value much better than any Ford product. And I focking hate Ford's habit of discontinuing parts on models that are only a few years old.

Also, I'm not an AWD winter driving elitist, but having at least a proper 2WD vehicle is nice in winter. I haven't driven a Focus ST in winter, but while I can see it working great on dry pavement, I have a lot of doubt that it would be worth a damn in winter. It's all about the calibration of the system, and what is good on dry pavement isn't on ice.

In reply to clutchsmoke:

I have driven the WRX. I find it to be a lovely car to drive. But a test drive can only get so angry.

Now if I can get the rear facing car seat in that Ecoboost Mustang....