Why is it so hard to find the perfect car?

[Kroze]

UPDATE:

Bought this yesterday 10/25
2011 Civic Si. Taffeta White

The car is awesome. Not fast at all as a matter of fact, it feel slower than my Base RSX but the handling sure make up for it. Got the exact color that I wanted too.

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What I'm looking for in a car is Fun & Practical:

Fun
- Manual Transmission
- Quick & Fun to drive
- Turbocharged is a plus (Due to how easy it is to get more power) but not a deal breaker.

Practical
- Have a trunk that is big enough to haul 2 full size luggage (I like to go on vacations)


I like owning a new car because:

- I don't have to worry about the previous owner's hidden problems.
- New car warranty
- Nothing to worry about for the next several years in term of major maintenance/break down.


So far I've found several cars and it's tough to narrow it down....Feel free to add a vehicle to the list & reasons why.

~$23k
2011 Civic Si Coupe
2011 Chevy Cruze Turbo
2011 Nissan Juke Turbo
2011 Accord LX-S Coupe
2011 Mazdaspeed 3 Turbo
2011 Ford Mustang V6
2011 Hyundai Genesis 2.0 Turbo
2011 Volkswagon GTI
2011 Chevy Camaro V6

 

[coxmaster]

Jetta/GLI (whatever they decide to call it) with the 2.0T

Same performance as a GTI, quite a bit more trunk space. I can fit 2 full size suitcases side by side, with plenty of extra room.

Easily chipped to 250hp/295Tq with nothing but a tune; just like a GTI

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Why - because less than 10% of all cars sold in America are purchased with a manual trans.

When you exclude sports cars & econo boxes - you have maybe 2% of all buyers looking for a $20K - $40k vehicles with a manual trans.

EDIT: Add the Saab 9-3 to your list. 2009 models can either be had a with a V6T with 285HP or a 2.0T with 210HP.

 

[exdeath]

MS3 is your best bet for something in that price range if you insist on brand new, MT, and turbo.

Green is in, it's going to be hard to find the features you want in a new car. You'd have to go back to the 90s to early 2000s for something you'll *REALLY* love. MR2 Turbo, 300ZX, etc. They stopped making cool cars in that price range the last couple years. Most things sporty with a turbo and manual with some kick are going to be things like 135i, etc that are pricey, or weak green econo cruisers that have a turbo to make up for the 1.0L engine that gets 1000 mpg. I can't think of anything CURRENT that really meets your criteria besides the MS3.

Oh wait, Cobalt SS is another one, those are pretty wicked and are turbo and easy to mod. Should come with a manual right?

SRT-4? *Thinking hard...*

Isn't there supposed to be a turbo Focus headed this way? We need more hot turbo hatches for $20k. The market is pretty divided right now, you either have econo boxes and Camrys and eco trendy green cars at $20k, or you have Mustangs GTs and 370Z at $30K+

On the other hand, the V6 Mustang at 305 HP is probably a blast and they start at what $22k? It's not turbo but then it already has as much power as you'll get out of a lightly modded turbo 4 cyl. Only problem with Mustangs for you is while you have a large amount of trunk *space* the rear deck and opening are very *short*, that might be a problem for loading large items.

 

[jlee]

New makes it hard. IMHO I have the perfect daily and weekend drivers, but you can't get either of them (04 Forester XT 5MT, 91 MR2 Turbo) anymore.

Out of your list, I'd check out the Speed3. A blast to drive, and 5 door hatch = win.

 

[MikeMike]

Wrx

 

[exdeath]

Wrx

Those are at this price range used, not new. I say drop the new requirement and get a 06-07 STI for $20k if that was the case

 

[vshah]

i have an Si and love it but the new one is just around the corner. i'd go ms3, mustang v6, or gli.

 

[Kroze]

As for recommendations with the Mazdaspeed 3. Just FYI I had an 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 for about a month in 2010.

It was a terrible snow storm in the northeast and the car had to be towed several times because it couldn't get any traction. It left a bad taste in my mouth after all that so I sold it. I found out it was the "Summer" tires that came with the car stock that's causing all that problems.

Though I like the car, I don't know about owning it in when you're living in the northeast with all the snow storms

The mustang seems pretty cool but I was told the trunk opening is tiny, you're going to have trouble loading large items such as a full size luggage in it

 

[jlee]

As for recommendations with the Mazdaspeed 3. Just FYI I had an 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 for about a month in 2010.

It was a terrible snow storm in the northeast and the car had to be towed several times because it couldn't get any traction. It left a bad taste in my mouth after all that so I sold it. I found out it was the "Summer" tires that came with the car stock that's causing all that problems.

Though I like the car, I don't know about owning it in when you're living in the northeast with all the snow storms

Uh, dude? That's why we have snow tires up here. Any car with summers in a snow storm will leave you screwed.

 

[coxmaster]

Uh, dude? That's why we have snow tires up here. Any car with summers in a snow storm will leave you screwed.

Definitely, if you get any snow at all you are better off with summer tires and a second set of winter tires/wheels



I still suggest the GLI over the GTI for you though, look at this trunk space.. 4 18" wheels, with about 4 inches left behind the wheels. You wont get that with most hatches (MS3 might match it, those are definitely big)

 

[Kroze]

Definitely, if you get any snow at all you are better off with summer tires and a second set of winter tires/wheels



I still suggest the GLI over the GTI for you though, look at this trunk space.. 4 18" wheels, with about 4 inches left behind the wheels. You wont get that with most hatches (MS3 might match it, those are definitely big)

Wow! is that with the rear seat down or up? I don't see any Volkswagon GLI on the VW.com website at all.

 

[coxmaster]

Wow! is that with the rear seat down or up?

Rear seats up. Thats all trunk space

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Wow! is that with the rear seat down or up? I don't see any Volkswagon GLI on the VW.com website at all.

2010 GLI is discontinued, the 2011 new body style will come sometime next year. You could probably find a 2010 wolfsburg still on the lots though if you checked.

 

[coxmaster]

2010 GLI is discontinued, the 2011 new body style will come sometime next year. You could probably find a 2010 wolfsburg still on the lots though if you checked.

Plenty of Wolfsburgs available at most dealers; or they can definitely find you one pretty easily.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Plenty of Wolfsburgs available at most dealers; or they can definitely find you one pretty easily.

Mine doesn't have anything but TDIs left and apparently the new Jetta's are selling off the truck. So perhaps you guys are different, wouldn't surprise me though.

Oh yeah....

Wolfsburg = GLI engine + drivetrain with regular jetta suspension.

 

[CRXican]

can't get the perfect car with that budget

 

[ShawnD1]

You want some real answers?

Regular drivers are stupid as fuck. They want good gas mileage, but they don't want great gas mileage. They'll buy a 4 cylinder with no balls, but it damn well better not have one of those manual transmissions. That would be too efficient. I don't want to look gay in front of my friends and look like I care about the environment or my gas budget. Also, I hate my family and want them to die; that's why I prefer my cars to have severely crippled 0-60 times so we get rear ended when I underestimate how long it takes to get up to speed when the car has 4 passengers.
consumer reports: manual transmissions consistently get 10% better gas mileage while accelerating 10% faster.
Worst difference of 0-60 times on that list is the Honda Civic EX. 0-60 in 8.6s with a manual vs 10.1 with an automatic. The automatic is a whopping 17% slower in that particular car.


People who want sporty cars are stupid as fuck. Car companies keep making shitty cars with 2 doors because stupid people keep buying them. When will these cars finally die? If I'm driving and my girlfriend is riding shotgun, she needs to get out of the car and potentially stand in the snow or the rain just so her bimbo friend can get in the back seat? Whoever designed the coupe should be killed with a dull knife.



The biggest conflict I see all the time are 3 things: engine, transmission, number of doors. You want a V6 sedan? Those only come with automatic transmissions. You want a manual? You can only get the manual with either the V6 coupe or the I4 sedan. wtf? Both of those suck dick. Just give me a car that doesn't suck ass. I want 6 cylinders, 4 doors, a manual transmission. That's it. WHY IS THIS SO DIFFICULT!!?!?

Toyota: All V6 only come with automatics
Honda: Only the Civic Si almost fits what I want. Power, manual, 4 doors.
Subaru: Impreza WRX :thumbsup:
others..... etc

 

[jlee]

You want some real answers?

Regular drivers are stupid as fuck. They want good gas mileage, but they don't want great gas mileage. They'll buy a 4 cylinder with no balls, but it damn well better not have one of those manual transmissions. That would be too efficient. I don't want to look gay in front of my friends and look like I care about the environment or my gas budget. Also, I hate my family and want them to die; that's why I prefer my cars to have severely crippled 0-60 times so we get rear ended when I underestimate how long it takes to get up to speed when the car has 4 passengers.
consumer reports: manual transmissions consistently get 10% better gas mileage while accelerating 10% faster.
Worst difference of 0-60 times on that list is the Honda Civic EX. 0-60 in 8.6s with a manual vs 10.1 with an automatic. The automatic is a whopping 17% slower in that particular car.


People who want sporty cars are stupid as fuck. Car companies keep making shitty cars with 2 doors because stupid people keep buying them. When will these cars finally die? If I'm driving and my girlfriend is riding shotgun, she needs to get out of the car and potentially stand in the snow or the rain just so her bimbo friend can get in the back seat? Whoever designed the coupe should be killed with a dull knife.



The biggest conflict I see all the time are 3 things: engine, transmission, number of doors. You want a V6 sedan? Those only come with automatic transmissions. You want a manual? You can only get the manual with either the V6 coupe or the I4 sedan. wtf? Both of those suck dick. Just give me a car that doesn't suck ass. I want 6 cylinders, 4 doors, a manual transmission. That's it. WHY IS THIS SO DIFFICULT!!?!?

Toyota: All V6 only come with automatics
Honda: Only the Civic Si almost fits what I want. Power, manual, 4 doors.
Subaru: Impreza WRX :thumbsup:
others..... etc

WRX is a 4cyl.

Just sayin'. And your girlfriend's bimbo can drive her own damn car.

 

[ShawnD1]

WRX is a 4cyl.

Just sayin'. And your girlfriend's bimbo can drive her own damn car.

WRX has something like 260HP. It's close enough.

Then the girlfriend would tell me to find my own vagina to play with. It shouldn't be too hard to find since I drive a corolla. Yes it has an automatic and yes it almost kills me on a daily basis when I'm trying to merge and it just doesn't gooooo. Also, it's impossible to pass anyone in this piece of fuck car. The gearing is absolutely horrible. It only has 4 gears, and the second gear ends at about 60mph. That means trying to pass is all done in the third gear at around 4000rpm. It's nowhere near the max power rpm range. I might as well try to pass by getting out and running.

OP, you should buy a used Subaru. Get either the WRX or the Legacy V6. The automatic transmission in the Legacy won't be fun, but at least you won't die while driving the thing.
edit: Subaru because the tires won't spin. Flooring it in a V6 Camry/Accord/Altima will make the tires spin, but a Subaru Legacy will just go.

 

[ayabe]

WRX has something like 260HP. It's close enough.

Then the girlfriend would tell me to find my own vagina to play with. It shouldn't be too hard to find since I drive a corolla. Yes it has an automatic and yes it almost kills me on a daily basis when I'm trying to merge and it just doesn't gooooo. Also, it's impossible to pass anyone in this piece of fuck car. The gearing is absolutely horrible. It only has 4 gears, and the second gear ends at about 60mph. That means trying to pass is all done in the third gear at around 4000rpm. It's nowhere near the max power rpm range. I might as well try to pass by getting out and running.

OP, you should buy a used Subaru. Get either the WRX or the Legacy V6. The automatic transmission in the Legacy won't be fun, but at least you won't die while driving the thing.
edit: Subaru because the tires won't spin. Flooring it in a V6 Camry/Accord/Altima will make the tires spin, but a Subaru Legacy will just go.

Yes the Corolla is nearly useless as anything but pure basic transportation.

For whatever reason I found this post to be hilarious.

 

[JCH13]

Mazda
Speed
3

I went through a similar list when I was looking for a new car a little over a year ago and the Speed3 came out on top. I found it way more fun to drive than anything else, particularly because of the peak torque being at such a low RPM and 6-speed transmission. It also probably handles better than anything else on that list. It's hauled 99% of the things I've needed it to without argument.

I get around 24-26mpg combined and 30-33mpg on the highway, which isn't bad for a car that can dyno up to 250hp at the wheels, stock. Throw on a dealer-approved Mazdaspeed CAI and you'll add another 25whp no problem.

I took a friend of mine, who had a modded GTI at the time, for a spin after I installed my MS CAI, ETS intercooler, and Cobb TIP and he couldn't believe how awesome it was.

 

[MJinZ]

You want some real answers?

Regular drivers are stupid as fuck. They want good gas mileage, but they don't want great gas mileage. They'll buy a 4 cylinder with no balls, but it damn well better not have one of those manual transmissions. That would be too efficient. I don't want to look gay in front of my friends and look like I care about the environment or my gas budget. Also, I hate my family and want them to die; that's why I prefer my cars to have severely crippled 0-60 times so we get rear ended when I underestimate how long it takes to get up to speed when the car has 4 passengers.
consumer reports: manual transmissions consistently get 10% better gas mileage while accelerating 10% faster.
Worst difference of 0-60 times on that list is the Honda Civic EX. 0-60 in 8.6s with a manual vs 10.1 with an automatic. The automatic is a whopping 17% slower in that particular car.


People who want sporty cars are stupid as fuck. Car companies keep making shitty cars with 2 doors because stupid people keep buying them. When will these cars finally die? If I'm driving and my girlfriend is riding shotgun, she needs to get out of the car and potentially stand in the snow or the rain just so her bimbo friend can get in the back seat? Whoever designed the coupe should be killed with a dull knife.



The biggest conflict I see all the time are 3 things: engine, transmission, number of doors. You want a V6 sedan? Those only come with automatic transmissions. You want a manual? You can only get the manual with either the V6 coupe or the I4 sedan. wtf? Both of those suck dick. Just give me a car that doesn't suck ass. I want 6 cylinders, 4 doors, a manual transmission. That's it. WHY IS THIS SO DIFFICULT!!?!?

Toyota: All V6 only come with automatics
Honda: Only the Civic Si almost fits what I want. Power, manual, 4 doors.
Subaru: Impreza WRX :thumbsup:
others..... etc

You missed out on Pontiac G8

 

[MJinZ]

WRX has something like 260HP. It's close enough.

Then the girlfriend would tell me to find my own vagina to play with. It shouldn't be too hard to find since I drive a corolla. Yes it has an automatic and yes it almost kills me on a daily basis when I'm trying to merge and it just doesn't gooooo. Also, it's impossible to pass anyone in this piece of fuck car. The gearing is absolutely horrible. It only has 4 gears, and the second gear ends at about 60mph. That means trying to pass is all done in the third gear at around 4000rpm. It's nowhere near the max power rpm range. I might as well try to pass by getting out and running.

OP, you should buy a used Subaru. Get either the WRX or the Legacy V6. The automatic transmission in the Legacy won't be fun, but at least you won't die while driving the thing.
edit: Subaru because the tires won't spin. Flooring it in a V6 Camry/Accord/Altima will make the tires spin, but a Subaru Legacy will just go.

Need fatter wheels and tires for a V6 Camry/Accord/Altima.

 

[ViviTheMage]

My B7 A4 is fun as hell...