hatchbacks/SUV's with decent range of power.

[T2urtle]

Currently owned= 2005 G35x.

Likes: AWD, Power, easy to repair when needed. Parts are cheap/common because of the 350z/g35coupes. I like to mod cars and this car has a good/solid board to help/get feedback.

Dislike: Has a heavy feel to it, MPG could be a touch better its rated at 18/25. I get 18mpg lifetime mixed. If i knew that i would of just gotten a FX35, i thought i would of been able to get 21mixed. I never bitched about it, something i just accepted and i dont mind. rear seats dont fold down.

So now my brother said he would take my car off my hands, offered me $12,000. A little low but i dont care its my brother. I would probably have on hand $5-8000.

-So roughly $17-20k range.
-New or used, i like used cars a lot more.
-always owned a asian import (being asian and all) I dont mind euro or americans.
- I'm a DIY guy, i like cars that are easy to work with.
- If i can i would like 20+ mpg mixed.
- I like power, the 260 or 280hp my G35 was a good amount, 120hp in my old 96 camry is NOT.
- I would like to have it some ulitity, seats folding back and hatchback would make it really nice if i had to bring home a TV or haul around random things. I was mad i couldn't fit my snowboard in my g35 trunk.

Cars i've been looking into first gen FX35. Natural progress i assume. Has same engine i'm used to. Priced $15-20k used pending year and miles. Has the fold down,hatch i want. Only thing holding me back is I think there is a better buy out there for me. MPG i fear would be the same.



new chevy equinox. My co-worker has one. He loves it tells me i should look into it. I dont know the power about it or reliblity. I know the older gen was horrible in most cases. He does say MPG is good but no number. Its better then his newer pathfinder and he drives it more.

Any other cars i should look into. I wanted a SRT8 something but 14mpg is not what i want.

Any money i save, i'll most like get a NA/NB miata in the spring, that should offset the MPG issue.

 

[HAL9000]

Golf R32 or Focus RS (Yes I know they are rare in the US of A)

 

[T2urtle]

Those dsg transmissions are a 50/50. If they work they work, if not its a headache. Or so I read.

I know nothing of the focus, I don't think the Turbo model came out. I think the US version of them are weak.

Also forgot to throw in, forester xt and a 05/06 Subaru legecy wagon gt. But these two would be a auto trans, not sure on Subaru auto trans. These would be older, higher mileage, more wear and tear but good amount of power after I'm done with exhaust and tune, no interest in going past stage 2.

 

[unokitty]

Have you considered a Nisson Juke?

While some people don't like them, other people seem to like them a lot.

Edmunds Reviews:
http://www.edmunds.com/nissan/juke/2011/consumer-reviews.html

Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Juke

Uno

 

[HAL9000]

Those dsg transmissions are a 50/50. If they work they work, if not its a headache. Or so I read.

I know nothing of the focus, I don't think the Turbo model came out. I think the US version of them are weak.

Also forgot to throw in, forester xt and a 05/06 Subaru legecy wagon gt. But these two would be a auto trans, not sure on Subaru auto trans. These would be older, higher mileage, more wear and tear but good amount of power after I'm done with exhaust and tune, no interest in going past stage 2.

You can get the Focus RS in the us of A (so I'm told) looks like this and is very fast.

If you're looking for a hot hatch it's about my favourite.

300HP 0-60 5.8s...
32mpg.

 

[bbs lm-r]

07-09 mazdaspeed3

(lil bit of deja vu )

Not AWD (it's FWD) so that might be a con for you. If I remember correctly it should around the same MPG, if not a little better, has (IMO) a good amount of modding options out there, also fold down rear seats, and it's asian :thumbsup:

 

[HAL9000]

Just noticed your price range, you might struggle to get an RS in that in America.

 

[T2urtle]

(lil bit of deja vu )

Not AWD (it's FWD) so that might be a con for you. If I remember correctly it should around the same MPG, if not a little better, has (IMO) a good amount of modding options out there, also fold down rear seats, and it's asian :thumbsup:

I'm not a fan of the Smiley car.

 

[bbs lm-r]

I'm not a fan of the Smiley car.

You mean the 1st gens? (07-09)

or 2nd gens? (10+)

If you mean the 2nd gens, then I agree, on paper they look good, fugly in person.

If you mean both, then yea I could also agree. I think their styling is an either love/hate type.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Just noticed your price range, you might struggle to get an RS in that in America.

Especially considering the fact that the RS isn't sold in the US.

 

[T2urtle]

You mean the 1st gens? (07-09)

or 2nd gens? (10+)

If you mean the 2nd gens, then I agree, on paper they look good, fugly in person.

If you mean both, then yea I could also agree. I think their styling is an either love/hate type.

IC my mistake, i HATE smiley ( 2nd gen), 1st gen is ok. But if the speed3's is anything like the 2.0L but just faster i will pass. I've driven a friend's 2.0L Sedan, low miles. I disliked it, obviously powerband isn't where i wanted it but it didn't drive or turn nice, no idea what people are saying about mazda being decent handling in stock form. But i dont want to rule anything out prior to a test drive.

 

[JCH13]

Mazdaspeed3, 1st gen or 2nd. The smiley face doesn't look bad if you get silver or black, but that's up to you.

Silly to think the MS3 'doesn't turn nice' with the sort of slalom times it puts down, and it is certainly better than the regular 3. When I was cross-shopping hot-hatches it handled the best by a wide margin IMO.

I think it hits everything on your list quite well, it should be a strong contender.

 

[MotF Bane]

Forester XT?

 

[MiataNC]

IC my mistake, i HATE smiley ( 2nd gen), 1st gen is ok. But if the speed3's is anything like the 2.0L but just faster i will pass. I've driven a friend's 2.0L Sedan, low miles. I disliked it, obviously powerband isn't where i wanted it but it didn't drive or turn nice, no idea what people are saying about mazda being decent handling in stock form. But i dont want to rule anything out prior to a test drive.

Speed3's are NOTHING like the 2.SLOW...

2.0L = 150 PS (110 kW; 150 hp)@6500, 183 N·m (135 lb·ft)@4500
2.3L DSI/Turbo = 267 PS (196 kW; 263 hp)@5500, 380 N·m (280 lb·ft)@3000

The Speed3 has an additional 120HP and 150ftlbs in stock form, before a tune or mods. The Speed3 also has upgraded suspension components that make it a completely different animal on the road.

The Speed3 is a pocket rocket that is a blast to drive. One of the best "bang for the buck" cars sold in the US.

If you want something almost as "hot" and more refined, take a look at the VW GTI.

 

[xSkyDrAx]

09/10 WRX pretty much all of your reqs aside from mileage but it's probably no worse than the g35

 

[ElFenix]

You can get the Focus RS in the us of A (so I'm told) looks like this and is very fast.

If you're looking for a hot hatch it's about my favourite.

300HP 0-60 5.8s...
32mpg.

you've never been told that because we don't get the focus RS.

we'll be getting something called the ST sometime this spring. not sure if it's close to the one you get, though.

 

[Throckmorton]

Too bad we don't even get the 3 door Focus here.

 

[HAL9000]

Especially considering the fact that the RS isn't sold in the US.

you've never been told that because we don't get the focus RS.

we'll be getting something called the ST sometime this spring. not sure if it's close to the one you get, though.

I'v been told repeatedly on this forum that you can get the RS in America it's just really rare.

The ST is the model down from the RS.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

I'v been told repeatedly on this forum that you can get the RS in America it's just really rare.

The ST is the model down from the RS.

No you haven't

 

[HAL9000]

No you haven't

Yes I have.

 

[JCH13]

Anyone can tell anyone else anything they want, doesn't make it true :awe:

 

[SpatiallyAware]

It's really too bad the fx45 has such an unreliable motor, otherwise I'd recommend that. The 35 isn't bad, but it's not going to be anything near an srt8 or equivalent. I've always liked range rovers, but you have to pay to play particularly in your price range.





Hal stop trolling and go back to OT, you know exactly what you're doing and so does every other garage regular.

 

[HopJokey]

WRX Hatch? Focus ST? Audi A3? Mazda Speed3?

 

[T2urtle]

Mazdaspeed3, 1st gen or 2nd. The smiley face doesn't look bad if you get silver or black, but that's up to you.

Silly to think the MS3 'doesn't turn nice' with the sort of slalom times it puts down, and it is certainly better than the regular 3. When I was cross-shopping hot-hatches it handled the best by a wide margin IMO.

I think it hits everything on your list quite well, it should be a strong contender.

Well i was only saying the normal 3 doesn't turn nice at all. I've never been in a speed3. I dont go all crazy on the road for a slalom time to make a difference for me. I speak of highway driving, every now and then fooling around on empty roads. I dont race, at most i hit up the track once a year just so i can go flat out without worries and see what i can do.

09/10 WRX pretty much all of your reqs aside from mileage but it's probably no worse than the g35

I heard the newer motors higher HP rated ones were not as solid as that the older ones, well when they first came out. Will add that to the list.


Of the MS3 and WRX, insurance might chew me up some. After a test drive, if i'm considering them i'll get quotes and see whats the deal. But looks WRX wins.

I'm only 25, when was shopping for my G35x,WRX,legacy GT sedan, GS300. The WRX was almost 2.5x the cost of the other 3 cars. G35x being the cheapest, the LGT being my favorite but i could not find a GT Limited model that had lower miles. So i opted for the cheaper g35x which was the cheapest to insure as well.

Now i'm wishing i bought a GT wagon that I passed up. Forester XT is a iffy car, sometimes i like it and sometimes i hate it. Somehow at the end of the day I look at the FX35, maybe because I'm more familiar with the motor and how nissan does things. No idea how subaru does things. I'm sure a car is a car and parts are in roughly the same place.

 

[JCH13]

A slalom time is a great way to quantify the vehicle's turning performance at highway speeds: 65-75mph. It is most certainly relevant to highway driving performance and feel.