- 11,303
- Marin County
I just realized that aside from a quarter-life practicality crisis, I've never once owned a car that I could honestly consider a responsible decision.
I've only regretted most of them.
I've only regretted most of them.
ITRs are priced based on rarity and hype at this point, not driving experience, so you're not getting much bang for your buck. I agree with SVX, but I'd personally try to find a K swapped one and make it my own without fear of putting too many miles or the mods diminishing its value. You could also just buy a really nice DC5 and do some fun mods and you won't lose much if you don't go too crazy modding. The FRS/BRZ is a great car but they're a little boring and easy being so modern, but that may be a plus for you. The engines are also pretty crappy, at the local track a couple have already gone kaboom while there's countless B and K series going strong. I'll go ahead and suggest a 2ZZ or K20 swapped MR-2 spyder. That's going to be wayyyy more fun than the FRS/BRZ but it might be tiring on longer trips. Then again, 4.5K RPM on the highway in the DC2 will also be annoying.
I've really been restless lately thinking about what car to get. While the Fiat 500 Abarth was hot on my radar for a while, I'm not certain the ownership experience would be good and at the end of the day it isn't what I really want.
It shouldn't surprise too many people here to know what I really want: Honda/Acura Integra Type R. It's basically my dream car as seemingly unremarkable as it is. To my eyes it's the Alfa Romeo Guilia GTA-M of the 1990s. The problem: They are quite expensive (in the US) for what ultimately is an old car that will need maintenance. I can afford one, but I'm not sure if it's the best move. On the one hand, I don't need a car for commuting (I bike or take the bus or ferry) but on the other I would enjoy a car that I can depend on for day trips / longer road trips without anxiety about it breaking. I have room for 1 car. One thing I have thought about is that these cars will not likely go down in value from there current levels....I doubt I would lose money buying an ITR for $25k
For about $8k-10k less than I would be willing to spend on an ITR, I can get a remarkably similar Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ. It's damn near the same car (about the same power, about the same weight, about the same size, about the same kind of interior & ergonomics), except RWD instead of FWD and with a lot less of a racy setup from the factory. It's also a much newer car and I wouldn't hesitate to drive one across the country. I could easily make an FR-S a Type R's equal in terms of setup/performance with some upgrades. But it won't ever be an Integra Type R.
Full disclosure: I have never driven an ITR. I've driven an Integra GSR, owned a DC Integra LS, and owned a EJ Civic with a B16a and a host of modifications. I can imagine how it would feel to drive.
Thoughts?
2017 Subaru Outback Premium
They happened to have this car on the lot, and the sales guy really wanted me to drive it. I did so. It was a very well equipped model with the 2.5L and CVT. It was fine. Seemed like a good car. But good god was it boring. Boring to look at, boring to sit in, boring to drive. The transmission/powertrain is boring, but better than I expected. It didn't feel dangerously slow. I will say that the on-center steering feel felt very sketchy and artificial, almost like my old DFGT wheel I used for Gran Turismo 5. Never driven a car with worse steering feel than that legacy. (Caveat - it might have been doing some sort of lane keep assist, I'm not sure. It felt weird.) I definitely do not want a car like this, but it was generally nice.
Part of me feels like the Subaru Crosstrek would slot somewhere in between these two in terms of useful simplicity/charm and modern amenities. I would really enjoy being able to throw my bike(s) in the back or take some people with me on longer trips.
The Frontier was listed for $17k and the Subaru was $25k. I told the guy that $25k was more than I wanted to spend and he said it was barely more than the Frontier. I was like, yeah maybe in Porsche-land, but that's a full 40% more expensive. He then tried to tell me you cant buy any new car under $25k anymore and that, I'm quoting here, "the outback is basically the best car anywhere, ever". At another point he said "this is the cheapest one of these in the country, and I know that without looking it up" and that it was over $40k new. At that point I just said thank you and left.
My issue: I have a car that is paid for, but it isn't very reliable nor very practical, nor very economical to run & maintain.
My want: Something that is mostly more economical to run and maintain and more reliable, but also still subjectively fun. Added practicality is nice, but not super important (I take the bus or ferry to work, remember).
My concern: Really not jazzed about getting into a finance plan with the economic horizons looking a little wobbly. Yeah, the money is great now, but will it be in 1 or 2 years? I don't have confidence that it will be.
It might if you felt that floaty-feel. Do you know if it had the eyesight cameras as well?
If you haven't test driven one yet, you may feel like it's gutless. It's a common complaint I hear.
The Outback will keep it's value as good, if not better than, the frontier. It's a Subaru thing I guess but you can definitely get an Outback Premium (the one with cloth, limiteds have leather) for much less than $40K.
Have you considered a CPO Mazda?
This + lift kit + cool wheels/tires = win.Part of me feels like the Subaru Crosstrek would slot somewhere in between these two in terms of useful simplicity/charm and modern amenities. I would really enjoy being able to throw my bike(s) in the back or take some people with me on longer trips.
14. It'll go 15 with the current body, then the all new truck comes along for 2021.Didn't know the D40 Frontier was still around!! It's what, a 15 year old car now.
Or a CVT.I can't help but feel like the Crosstrek would be a bomb-ass little rally raid thing if they had given it the 2.5 instead of the 2.0.
I have. I really need to go drive a 2017/18 Mazda3 hatch, though I've never quite loved the body style, but I'm probably too critical because of the 2019 car. I drove a 2018 Mazda6 and felt like it was underpowered. The 3 has the same engine but is a bit lighter, so maybe it will feel better? I'm gonna prioritize driving a 3 next. Seems like it could be a good option. I loved my Mazda2.
Also need to drive a new Veloster.
Test drove a couple cars over the weekend, both at a Porsche dealership. They don't seem well versed in cheaper cars (I'll get to that later) .
2017 Nissan Frontier. Base as hell. 4 cylinder, 5 speed, white on tan, king cab.
A refreshingly honest littleish truck. I thought a 2.5-powered truck would feel hopeless, but the engine felt usefully torquey and responsive down low. It's all over after 3,000rpm, but it's a truck so it doesn't really matter. I actually enjoyed driving it quite a bit. It's probably the most simple vehicle you can buy in the USA in 2019 (you can still get one exactly like it today). It was reasonably comfortable, but a little bouncy compared to essentially any car. My GF was far from enjoying it.
Ultimately, I looked at the car from the side profile and realized that about 50% of the vehicle, dimensionally, is basically useless to me. In a way, it sort of started to feel like a Miata in that it is tremendously well suited to the task it is designed for, but not much else. For me, it would be a waste of space. I wish I could get a small SUV with the same ethos as the frontier. A Wrangler is kind of close to that, but the Wrangler tax is something I'm not willing to pay for.
2017 Subaru Outback Premium
They happened to have this car on the lot, and the sales guy really wanted me to drive it. I did so. It was a very well equipped model with the 2.5L and CVT. It was fine. Seemed like a good car. But good god was it boring. Boring to look at, boring to sit in, boring to drive. The transmission/powertrain is boring, but better than I expected. It didn't feel dangerously slow. I will say that the on-center steering feel felt very sketchy and artificial, almost like my old DFGT wheel I used for Gran Turismo 5. Never driven a car with worse steering feel than that legacy. (Caveat - it might have been doing some sort of lane keep assist, I'm not sure. It felt weird.) I definitely do not want a car like this, but it was generally nice.
Part of me feels like the Subaru Crosstrek would slot somewhere in between these two in terms of useful simplicity/charm and modern amenities. I would really enjoy being able to throw my bike(s) in the back or take some people with me on longer trips.
The Frontier was listed for $17k and the Subaru was $25k. I told the guy that $25k was more than I wanted to spend and he said it was barely more than the Frontier. I was like, yeah maybe in Porsche-land, but that's a full 40% more expensive. He then tried to tell me you cant buy any new car under $25k anymore and that, I'm quoting here, "the outback is basically the best car anywhere, ever". At another point he said "this is the cheapest one of these in the country, and I know that without looking it up" and that it was over $40k new. At that point I just said thank you and left.
Any input would be appreciated. Feel kind of lost in a sea of choices and I don't seem to be able to narrow it down to even what category of vehicle I want.
My issue: I have a car that is paid for, but it isn't very reliable nor very practical, nor very economical to run & maintain.
My want: Something that is mostly more economical to run and maintain and more reliable, but also still subjectively fun. Added practicality is nice, but not super important (I take the bus or ferry to work, remember).
My concern: Really not jazzed about getting into a finance plan with the economic horizons looking a little wobbly. Yeah, the money is great now, but will it be in 1 or 2 years? I don't have confidence that it will be.
*cough* RSX-S *cough*
The TLX A-Spec sure looks nice, but I don't think the interior feels good enough in person. Neither does the interior of the Q50. The current IS350 has a nice interior. I took one home when I worked at a dealership, and it felt like the perfect daily driver. Nimble, not as quick as stuff like the 340i or C43, but a pretty smooth powertrain for getting around. There's the IS200t, but you don't want a Lexus that sounds like a Camry when you start it up...
The RSX that @Danoff suggested before might be closest. Or if you can stretch to a non-Quadrifoglio version of the new Giulia that'd be right up there too. Just been driving the QF today and I'd forgotten how hilariously nimble they are. The 2-litre engine isn't spectacular (it performs well enough, it's just not overly tuneful) but even the regular ones handle great. Quickest steering this side of a 488, really well balanced, good ride/handling compromise.So, does anyone know of a sedan or hatchback, available in the US, that feels like a Boxster/GT86 to drive? (seating position, controls, overall 'honesty' of inputs, etc) If E46s weren't so old....if RX-8s didn't get such bad gas mileage....ugh.
The RSX that @Danoff suggested before might be closest. Or if you can stretch to a non-Quadrifoglio version of the new Giulia that'd be right up there too. Just been driving the QF today and I'd forgotten how hilariously nimble they are. The 2-litre engine isn't spectacular (it performs well enough, it's just not overly tuneful) but even the regular ones handle great. Quickest steering this side of a 488, really well balanced, good ride/handling compromise.
The problem with the RSX is that it can't really take more than 2 adults comfortably. And they're all old now. If I was considering an RSX, I would probably just get an 86 instead. The RSX has a better engine, definitely, but the 86 wins in basically everything else. I suppose the RSX is slightly more practical. I just can't get excited about an RSX.
I would love to try a Giulia, but they are far too expensive new, and they don't seem to be available second hand. Nobody is buying them here. Then there is the whole reliability concern....
Really, I should focus on saving money for a house so I can keep more than 1 car. Then I can have a competent daily driver and also a hair-conflagration machine. Preferably rotary or VTEC powered. When I put myself in this mindset, the TLX starts to look pretty appealing for right now.