Advice on a Different Car

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freedomweasel

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FreedomWeasel
I hope this is the right forum for this. I figured I'd ask here because anywhere else would get a bias answer.

Backstory: Sold my oldish CRV just about a year and a half ago, ready to get something fun and exciting, I want an S2000, RX-8, Mx-5, etc. We got a dog, and the fiance convinced me I needed a hatch for moving stuff around and driving the dog around, etc. I end up with a MkV GTI, low miles certified pre-owned warranty, great little car. Trouble is I'm fickle and want something different, and I don't really feel "attached" to the car. It lacks character I guess. I wouldn't care if it were totaled tomorrow.

I still need a hatch/wagon for my dog and road trips, but I think it might be wise to sell the GTI and get something a bit older so I can have lower payments, or pay off the car faster. Right now I think I'd break even on the amount owed vs what the car is worth.

I've always liked the look of the EP3 Si and the 04-07 WRX wagons, maybe even an R53 Mini S. Anyone have personal experience/feedback? What are some other options? $15k or less, >25mpg hwy, room in the hatch for 50 pounds of dog, manual. I autox and plan on taking up tracking next year so dynamics are important, I'm more for handling than power.

Pics for clicks, this is the car I can't seem to get attached too.
959648087_xhPbz-L.jpg
 
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Toronado
Mazdaspeed 3?



Also, insert disparaging remark of your choice about EP Honda Civic here.
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I haven't heard much good about the Speed3s reliability.
I know the EP3 is the unloved Si, but it's the only reasonably new hatch we got in the US, and I need a hatch and personally I've always loved the look and interior design of them.
 
The mini doesn't really have enough of hatch room for a dog does it?
I say wrx or ms3. Though you have to ask yourself if you'll be ok with the dogs shedding all over yor fancy car.
From what I read the GTI is supposed to be the best feeling car of all those mentioned, and the wrx definitely is much cheaper feeling on the inside and the driving feel is probably worse too.
 
eSZee
The mini doesn't really have enough of hatch room for a dog does it?
I say wrx or ms3. Though you have to ask yourself if you'll be ok with the dogs shedding all over yor fancy car.
From what I read the GTI is supposed to be the best feeling car of all those mentioned, and the wrx definitely is much cheaper feeling on the inside and the driving feel is probably worse too.
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Couldn't say, I'm basing it only on pictures of the old Mini, it wouldn't surprise me if it were too small. It's probably the least likely choice, and I just kinda through it in there to see what people had to say about it.

My dog sheds all over my GTI right now which is "fancier" than any of my options which will all be older, less "refined" cars. My fiance has had two Foresters from the generation of WRX I'm looking at, and while much less nice than my GTI they're certainly livable and ergonomically sound. I've never been in a Speed3, but I'll have to look into those a bit more.
 
The EP3 Si is painfully slow in the States, so I wouldn't bother.

The WRX, while not a bad choice, is just barely going to get over 25 mpg on the Highway based on my experience, and the interior quality and comfort aren't as good as the GTi. I'd describe the handling as good but a bit brutish, where it is more muscling the car around the cones than grace.

The Mini S would be a strong option from me, but I am not sure about your dog fitting in it. In terms of handling and get up and go, they are good. And at Auto-X, they can dominate - RAW FTD even with Hoosier'd up ZO6s running around. Though the Mini was on slicks as well, and all were national level drivers.

I have virtually no experience with the MazdaSpeed3, so I can't be much help there. I just know they have a lot of power and seem to handle reasonably well, based on what I've read.

The price you've put up there and the numbers (minus the dog) would leave you in late E36, early E46 M3 territory. Or an E36/8 M Coupe (not sure on the dog still).
 
How big is the dog?

Big enough to ride?

Because if it is, I may have a solution.
 
MINI's are horribly expensive to maintain (voice of experience) and the R53's have pretty so-so reliability. It will fit a dog with the rear seats folded down though and there is a ton of aftermarket support for them. Check out North American Motoring if your are interested in a MINI and see what problems other owners have faced.
 
How about a 2004-2007 forester xt? Fun cars and you can more it with a bunch of STI goodies. Other than the wrx that would be the best choice.
 
Joey D says Minis suck. Everybody else says GTIs suck. Yours must not have many miles on it because you make it sound like it still runs.

I recommend test driving an EP3 or WRX wagon. They're both good, fun cars with adequate space in back (the Honda, with the seats folded flat) and they're both capable of good performance. They both also have vast aftermarkets, with parts ranging from race stuff to nice, mature stuff like exhausts for a little more growl.

In my opinion the Civic needs a little help in the wheel-and-tire department, and the suspension won't be as good as the GTI, and it doesn't benefit from AWD on an autocross course. Drive both though and see what you think.
 
Voice of a Subaru fanboy talking here but, interior and MPG aside the WRX wagon is a winner. Legacy wagon perhaps? Even more space and a bit of a nicer interior but it still gets the AWD and GTs get turbo power as well. And like most other Subarus it's got a decent aftermarket catalogue available for it.
 
Danny
How big is the dog?

Big enough to ride?

Because if it is, I may have a solution.
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50lbs. She can fit in the back (or even the front) seat of my GTI with no trouble but I want to keep all the dog hair in the cargo area, and I never really liked the idea of having her free to roam around if she felt inspired to go ballistic for some reason. A hatch is a must.

eSZee
How about a 2004-2007 forester xt? Fun cars and you can more it with a bunch of STI goodies. Other than the wrx that would be the best choice.
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I do like the older XTs if I could find a manual. Does the STi suspension bolt on? I don't do any off-roading, so if I bolted on the STi suspension would I essentially have a larger WRX? If so, awesome. My fiance has had 2 foresters and they seem like good cars.

Keef
Joey D says Minis suck. Everybody else says GTIs suck. Yours must not have many miles on it because you make it sound like it still runs.

I recommend test driving an EP3 or WRX wagon. They're both good, fun cars with adequate space in back (the Honda, with the seats folded flat) and they're both capable of good performance. They both also have vast aftermarkets, with parts ranging from race stuff to nice, mature stuff like exhausts for a little more growl.

In my opinion the Civic needs a little help in the wheel-and-tire department, and the suspension won't be as good as the GTI, and it doesn't benefit from AWD on an autocross course. Drive both though and see what you think.
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My GTI only has 25k miles on it, no problems so far. My friend has one of the same year with closer to 50k and he's had a few CELs and some minor troubles, most of them were under warranty though. I'm not excited about keeping mine out of warranty, but I have one (warranty) for several more years. Pretty much the biggest plus to keeping the car.

Light weight wheels and sticky tires will go on whatever I end up buying, so that's a non-issue. I like the idea of smaller, cheaper tires and rubber on the Civic though.
Any insight on why the Civic's suspension is worse than the GTI? Both have struts up front and independent rears. I've read tons of complaints about the suspension on the EP3, are most of them just because Honda ditched the double wishbones? The Type R seemed to be reviewed favorably, so does it just need better shocks/springs? Disclaimer: not a suspension expert at all.

Murcie_LP640
Voice of a Subaru fanboy talking here but, interior and MPG aside the WRX wagon is a winner. Legacy wagon perhaps? Even more space and a bit of a nicer interior but it still gets the AWD and GTs get turbo power as well. And like most other Subarus it's got a decent aftermarket catalogue available for it.
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If I could find a Legacy GT wagon with a manual it would be very high on my list. I asked someone above, but are most of the suspension parts between the legacy/forester/wrx/sti interchangeable? Could I bolt on STI suspension with no other modification?

:cheers:
Thanks everyone!
 
Almost everything you can put on a WRX/STi you can put on a Forester XT. This includes bolting in the STi suspension.



I don't think the same applies to the Legacy, though.
 
Toronado
Almost everything you can put on a WRX/STi you can put on a Forester XT. This includes bolting in the STi suspension.



I don't think the same applies to the Legacy, though.
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A Forester XT dropped on STI bits with gold RPF01s sounds pretty nice...💡
 
freedomweasel
If I could find a Legacy GT wagon with a manual it would be very high on my list. I asked someone above, but are most of the suspension parts between the legacy/forester/wrx/sti interchangeable? Could I bolt on STI suspension with no other modification?
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Dunno about interchangeable bits but STi have done a few hot Legacys themselves through the generations (usually called the Spec.B[ilstein]).

Just for perspective's sake SIC EM ran TEIN 3" lowered suspension and 19" Konig Unknown wheels and it was looking pretty sweet. As a wagon it probably wouldn't be advisable to go with those sizes specifically; the tyres rubbed on the arches a little bit through the corners when there was weight over the back seat. As much as STi suspension could fit quite easily under the 'Rex we decided it was better to go for the aftermarket stuff as we wanted it a fair bit lower than standard.
 
The SpecB is cool, but sadly we only got it in sedan form, not on the wagon. Also, a 19" wheel on a legacy sounds absurdly large, I think I'd go with 17.

Sadly, a quick search on a few sites didn't turn up any GT wagons that were manual, and the Forester XTs were a bit out of my price range. I'll keep looking though. A kickass Forester would be pretty cool.
 
freedomweasel
I forgot all about those. I'll look into them. There are a few 6 wagons around town, always thought they looked kinda cool. 👍
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Just don't expect the same level of "free power" as with your GTi. The V6s respond quite well to a CAI and a set of headers but keeping a CEL away is difficult with either (CAI has a fix, headers will require O2sims regardless of whether you're running cats but they don't seem to work for everyone)... And it's still about $1400 in parts for about 20-25hp. Then there's an LSD available for the MTX (again, costs money) and it seems said MTX holds up fine to quite a bit of power... Know of a guy who's got a twin turbo 6 that dyno'd at 305whp at 6.5psi of boost and is now running 12-15psi with meth, trans is holding up fine.

Oh, and don't get me started on what happens when you throw a few suspension bits at one... :lol:
 
Rotary Junkie
Just don't expect the same level of "free power" as with your GTi.
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My MkV is totally stock right now and I only have plans (if I keep it) to get wheels/tires and maybe suspension bits. Maybe a catback or something for that wicked 1hp boost:lol: I'm much more likely to drop money on wheels, tires, coilovers and anti-roll bars than I am to do anything under the hood.

I'm mostly just looking to drop my payments and maintenance costs, while keeping the same level of practicality of the hatch. (And obviously some similar level of go-fast/fun.)

I'll keep an eye out for a manual one, as they seem pretty cool. 👍
 
What does the fiance drive? My solution has always been to outsource the utility car to the person who doesn't care as much what she drives.
 
Danoff
What does the fiance drive? My solution has always been to outsource the utility car to the person who doesn't care as much what she drives.
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BrutherSuperior
bingo!

OP, listen to this man...
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Ha! I tried that. She has a forester. So I don't need something with quite as much cargo space, and I can do 2-doors, I still need a hatch of sorts to put the dog in as we can both take her to work. Otherwise I'd be in miata/S2000 by now. :drool:
 
It's not an easy position you're in then, if you need a hatch for the dog and nothing else. If you have the dog back there, you don't need a sporty car (because he's going to puke in the back).

Can you trade the forester off for when you take the dog in? I assume you're not each taking a separate dog to work.
 
Trade the dog in and lease one of these;

Skateboard_dog.jpg


He has his own wheels and can transport himself. Buy S2k, or whatever...problem solved.

[j/k - I love dogs too much...but they ride shotgun]
 
Have you thought about a SVT Focus? I don't really have any experience with them other then my buddy had one until he ran out of skill acting like an idiot on a public road. From the couple times I rode in it the handling was superb but it did lack in straight line speed.

It's a hatch too so you should be able to fit your K9 buddy in there too.
 
Danoff
It's not an easy position you're in then, if you need a hatch for the dog and nothing else. If you have the dog back there, you don't need a sporty car (because he's going to puke in the back).

Can you trade the forester off for when you take the dog in? I assume you're not each taking a separate dog to work.
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The lady won't drive a stick, and it's one of the things I definitely want this time around. The DSG in the GTI is sweet, but kinda boring. I take the dog about half the time, the other days I usually get to redline once or twice, and there's an autocross once a month, so something sporty is still "needed". Otherwise I'd just get a base fit or fiesta or something.

Joey D
Have you thought about a SVT Focus? I don't really have any experience with them other then my buddy had one until he ran out of skill acting like an idiot on a public road. From the couple times I rode in it the handling was superb but it did lack in straight line speed.

It's a hatch too so you should be able to fit your K9 buddy in there too.
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The SVT is indeed pretty sweet, or even the regular one with SVT suspension bolted on. Sadly, I find it has an incredibly ugly interior. Don't think I could look at it every day. :yuck:

Thanks again for all the tips and help. I really think there's just a few options. Mazda 3 or 6, a WRX wagon or Forester XT, EP3, or.. I think that covers it. Stupid US and not liking hatches and wagons.
Suppose I need to find some to test drive to see if I like them more than my GTI.
 

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