drivers car?
 

ok this isn't going to turn into any fan boy orgy, i am simpling wondering in your opinion and based on FACT....


what is the best drivers car for the 20-35K range?




a few names that come up are, miata, rx8, evo, wrx/sti, solstice gxp, sky redline, s2000, cobalt ss, golf gti, civic si, scion TC (maybe), cooper s, 350z, sentra se-r, rsx-s, g35, mazdaspeed 6/3, Galant ralliart, altima se-r, etc.
basically its the cars i am looking at buying come the end of this year. so what would be the best ALL AROUND DRIVERS CAR

Mini? Lol. If you can stomach the looks and the gay connotations.

I would've said the Ford Focus ST, except stupid Ford didn't bring it over here.

I like hot hatches like the Golf GTI!

- Goes like a rocket
- Can dump a chest drawers in the back
- German quality and reliability
- Keeps its value quite a bit! Its a golf!

GTI sounds good. Get DSG.

I'd go with one of the roadsters, coz I like open top driving. S2000 would be a nice choice I guess, and definitely a drivers car.

Maybe, but a roadster's not a all-around car it usually lacks practicality and comfort, especially if it's around $27K. Unless he doesn't care.

MX-5...no comment, time has passed? new one no longer looks so gay
S2000...bit expensive at $34K+ and bit bare
Solstice and Sky...best looking ones

He asked for a 'drivers' car. I guess the connotation "drivers car" for me would be something that gives me a lot of driving pleasure, good cornering and handling, decent power, and so on...

Personally, I don't like how the GTI handles. It feels kinda heavy, and it's not fast for the power. Something clumsy about it in my opinion. But it does have more space in the back :shrug:

Well. He could go for a second hand Boxster.

350z, rx8, evo, S2000, cooper s.
all are good drivers cars, but do you need 4 seater? is a convertible good for you? what style of car are you looking for?
I'd go for the 350z or S2000 (from the list..), great all round cars.. RX8 is great too, but a bit under powered from what i hear.. (haven't driven one..)

PS- hope your joking with the civic si.. :roll: :lol:
PSS- I wouldn't go for the Golf, only cause a) I hate hatches.. b) I see a million of them a day. and c) 900K of those million are chicks, so in my mind its mainly a chicks car..
like i said, those are all MY reasons.. other then that, the GTI is somewhat a good drives cars.. :bah:

impreza sti RA-R ;)

Tsk tsk tsk.

If it's the older model Boxster for cheap second hand cars, better make it an S. Non S Boxsters are not that good IMO...

Obviously you havnt driven the new SI and a 99-00 SI, both very very good cars to drive, especially being FWD.

I would say S2000 for best drivers car. Handles like the "old" miata and has 100 more hp. Plus the reliability means it is close to bulletproof.

yeah i am pretty open about the car i my buy next, that is way i have some four door cars, covert., coupes, hatches. it doesn't have to be the fastest car but a car that i can maybe take to the track a few times, county/mountain roads, yet still use it daily. right now i am leaning towards the wrx, civic si, mini cooper s, or the rx8 are kind of the leaders for the speed, handling, cost, looks, ease to maintain etc.

PS: i am currently driving a 97 ranger, so any car is going to be way better then what i am driving now. not to say my truck hasn't been good but handling and power is just not some of its major features.

Chicks don't buy the GTi, mate. Those are the preserve of males.

I would personally choose the Golf GTi. However, it requries premium fuel, not that that is a probelm in the US, so it doesn't matter.

A used Z06 will be the best performance per $. Just check what the insurance would be for you - the under 25 rates are pretty high in general. Actually it might be lower because of the age of the car. My Ferrari is slightly cheaper to insure than my Audi if you can believe that.

There are lot of good driver's cars in your price bracket
Used S2000: +great track car + sharp handling -bit noisy though
Used/new Miata: + great track car + sharp handling -underpowered
350Z: + Good all-rounder + Great engine note - Small trunk
Used Boxster/S: +very sharp handling/brakes + good engine note -needs a bit more power
Used M3: +great handling +quite practical -Image
WRX Sti: +great autocross car +AWD grip -looks subjective
Evo: +great autocross car +AWD grip -looks subjective

yea... under 35k used id say an STi or E46 M3, as for new... prolly a new STi or bmw 328i (if u want more luxury)

+1 ;)

I think from this list, the STi and Evo would be the first ones I would want but last ones I would choose... it seems that the level of abuse the STi and Evo invite you give them, is far above the level of abuse the stock componebnts can withstand ;) Which is a pity really.

350Z is great, but for a true all-rounder the rear shock tower strut brace really messes up the luggage area.

The Miata is just too small and gutless, the S2000 is a better bet but again small and as you say "buzzy" but fun.

The Boxter I think is losing out more as time goes on because it needs more power and is overall no better than an S2000 and the only real plus is the"Hey its a Porsche" aura.

That leaves the M3.... or the Z06.. ;)

Re: drivers car?
 

:lol:

Anyway,

I was looking at cars the other day as well, for the same reason you're looking for it seems.

I narowed down my choices to two

nsx and E46 M3 (you can find both in the price range your looking at)

My final choice was the M3, (always loved this car, hardest thing for me would probably be picking the color)

but the choice to buy an M3 could easily change comes time when I graduate!

I personally would go with either one of the two combos for the M3
(I love that car)

Titanium Silver Metalic on Imola Red
Carbon Black on Cinimon.

^^ laguna seca blue would be another good choice imo, that color looks amazing on the M3 in person.

i'd say go with a wrx or sti if you want to buy a new car. if you're willing to buy used, go e36 m3. you could probably get an e46 m3 for that much money but it would have a lot of miles on it, and i wouldnt trust an e46 m3 owners who put a lot of miles on their car i.e. myself :mrgreen: :twisted:

^ So you have a e46 M3?

And what is allot of miles for an e46 M3, as you can find them with 40k to 50k for 30 grand!?

the seca blue is hot, but i feel like that would be too light to do the car justice.

hahahaha I know what you mean.........sadly if I could afford it. how's yours treating you. colors?

yeah i have an 04 e46 m3. i'd say a lot of miles is 40k on that just based on how people drive them...i know a lot of people with them and we all drive them the same...very hard. plus after a while it starts wear down. i have 18k on mine and ive just started having problems with the lsd and some trim problems :x. it's all under warranty though so they fix it swiftly for free.

if you want to get an e46 m3 for that price, its definitely gonna be VERY used. however if you're cool with that, i'd say its the best car you could get for that much money.

as for how its treating me see above ^. its silver-gray metallic exterior, imola red interior with aluminum trim

Thanks for the tip!

I'll be extra cautious if I'm going to be in the market for this car.

yeah no problem. if i was in your situation, i would go for the m3, i have experience with the new wrx and of course the m3 is my daily driver. after being with the wrx i would definitely go for the used m3 even with 40 miles. its just such a beautiful car that its totally worth it no matter what.

if you are looking for information on used m3's or a place to find them go to www.e46fanatics.com and go to the m3 section or go to www.m3board.com. both are great forums, the guys are great, and theres pleanty of information

^ Thanks again!

I completely agree with you, the e46 M3 is an absolutely beautiful car,

and it would be a shame if the new one doesn't live up to it.

One question, do u have an smg on yours?

yeah i am looking for mainly new cars

yeah, i think its pretty great despite how much criticism there is. you can control shift intensity, and on the lowest intensity you don't even feel the shift contrary too many reviews. they all use it in the automatic mode-which i agree isnt great, but the car was clearly meant to be shifted by the driver.

in retrospect i would have definitely gotten a manual just because i feel the smg doesn't give the full experience without the clutch and the real shift pattern.