The most practical "driver's" car(s)

  • Thread starter JCE
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JCE

JCE

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Germany
Little Elm, TX
JCE3000GT
Any region is allowed to partisipate here. Here are the rules:
  • Must be equal to or less than $40,000.00 USD (bucks) - $30,000.00 GBP (quid) - $60,000.00 AUD (Aussie dollars) - $40,000.00 EUR (Euro) - $5,000.000.00 JPY (Japanese Yen) - $2,000,000.00 PHP (Philippine Pesos)
  • Must have equal to or more than 200bhp from any number of cylinders and any displacement. This means it doesn't matter if it is a 200bhp 5.0L V8 or 1.8L I4 as long as the sum of the crank horsepower is equal to or more than 200bhp.
  • At least 4 seats.
  • At least 4 wheels.
  • 0-62mph/0-100kph in less than 9 seconds.
  • No direct bashing of anyone's choices. Debating and banter are encouraged...flaming is not.
  • A detailed reason why that consists of more than 3 sentences and or a link to the manufacturer website.
  • CAN be an SUV, MPV/Minivan, or pickup truck.
  • You are allowed to list up to 3.
  • Must be brand new.

My first choice is the new G35 Sport 6MT with a 6spd manual. http://www.infiniti.com/g_sedan/specifications.html 306bhp + 268lb.ft of torque + RWD + 4 seats + nice sized boot = driving excitement. With a starting price for the Sport 6MT at $32,250 USD, that means it is a huge bargain. Oh and the fact that its really a V35 Skyline is a huge plus. Its very comfortable, very quick, and doesn't kill you on the gas mileage.

My second choice has changed to a Dodge Charger R/T. 340bhp and 380lb.ft. of torque is nothing to sneeze at--the Daytona R/T has 350bhp. I really like the fact that its comfortable for any of the passengers front or in the back. Has some good grunt, looks fantastic, and in my opinion is the best thing under the Chrysler company net that is worth a damn. The base price for an R/T is around $32,000, that's not bad for everything you get. The Daytona R/T with its +10bhp starts at $33,000.

My thrid choice is the Euro Ford Focus ST. http://www.ford.co.uk:80/opera/foc_c307/-/-/foc_st/-/-/-/ The ST starts at right under $18,000 quid. It has 220bhp, room for 5 people and cargo, 0-60mph in 6.8 seconds, has a great looking interior, has a great soundtrack, flies around corners easily, gets good enough fuel economy whe driven slowly, and looks absolutely fantastic. Its too bad the US will never get this thing.

So what say you?
 
Yes, it has to be new.

And why is the C350 Sport not a driver's car? I thought it was fantastic to drive.
 
Mine are somewhat questionable, but whatever.

1. Chevrolet Impala SS - 5.3 Liter V-8, Seats 5, A large trunk, and it looks very clean, offending no one. :)

2. Acura TL Type-S - 286 hp from a 3.5 liter V6, It has the looks, Its reliable, and very comfortable.

3. Dodge Charger SRT-8 - Hemi engine power, RWD, a great performance bargain, Mercedes parts, the fact that its called "Charger"

Thats my 3. And my .02. :)
 
how about a BMW 335i Sedan? Since its a sedan it has have 4 seats and 4 doors which it does. It also has a TT 3.0L V6 making 300HP and 300 LBS Torque. Its also equipped with bluetooth so the driver could be on the cell phone hands-free too. 6-speed "Steptronic" (What's the diiference between that and a tiptronic?) And its a Bimmer so its going to have excellent reliability, economy, and warranty and I think it just looks good. It does 0-60 in 5.5 seconds and its only 6,000 more than the Infiniti
 
MatttheTuner
Mine are somewhat questionable, but whatever.

1. Chevrolet Impala SS - 5.3 Liter V-8, Seats 5, A large trunk, and it looks very clean, offending no one. :)

3. Dodge Charger SRT-8 - Hemi engine power, RWD, a great performance bargain, Mercedes parts, the fact that its called "Charger"

Thats my 3. And my .02. :)
Click to expand...


Have you driven the Impala SS and got it going with more than 1/4 throttle? Being FWD and front engine the steering on the on I drove dragged the car to the left.

But the Charger is a excellent car with a TON (425) of HP
 
This thread isn't very fair because all you've done is converted dollars into pounds and yen and Australian dollars ect effectively limiting the choices places that pay more for cars have. The prices arn't comparable, somewhere like the US will end up with the winner because you pay less tax on new cars. Over here you can't even get a Golf GTI for that without haggling. You need to take taxes into consideration or you can't get a fair comparison. For example the Cheverolet Corvette convertible is currently listed at £51,850, that's $102,450USD and Australia pays even more in taxes than us. Whichever region pays the lowest tax is going to be the one where you'll find the best deal.

I don't see why there's bhp liits there either, theres a lot of lesser powered great drivers cars out there. Hell my vastly underpowered 306 is a fantastic drivers car and highly practical. It's not fast by any means, but it's a superbly fun car to drive.
 
Toronado
Is this a new car topic, or just a discussion thread?
Click to expand...

Discussion thread.

M5Power
Have you ever driven a 3-series or an A4?
Click to expand...

Yes on both. But they weren't the current 2007 variety so I don't have enough personal experience with them to make a judgement. I would of chose the A6 but it was $3k over my self induced limit of $40k.

r8man
how about a BMW 335i Sedan? Since its a sedan it has have 4 seats and 4 doors which it does. It also has a TT 3.0L V6 making 300HP and 300 LBS Torque. Its also equipped with bluetooth so the driver could be on the cell phone hands-free too. 6-speed "Steptronic" (What's the diiference between that and a tiptronic?) And its a Bimmer so its going to have excellent reliability, economy, and warranty and I think it just looks good. It does 0-60 in 5.5 seconds and its only 6,000 more than the Infiniti
Click to expand...

The 3-series is a great car yes, I just prefer the Audi and Merc. However, this is based on my previous generation 3-series driving experience. If I drive a new twin turbo 3-series I might put it at the top of my list...or at least behind the G35.

live4speed
This thread isn't very fair because all you've done is converted dollars into pounds and yen and Australian dollars ect effectively limiting the choices places that pay more for cars have. The prices arn't comparable, somewhere like the US will end up with the winner because you pay less tax on new cars. Over here you can't even get a Golf GTI for that without haggling. You need to take taxes into consideration or you can't get a fair comparison. For example the Cheverolet Corvette convertible is currently listed at £51,850, that's $102,450USD and Australia pays even more in taxes than us. Whichever region pays the lowest tax is going to be the one where you'll find the best deal.

I don't see why there's bhp liits there either, theres a lot of lesser powered great drivers cars out there. Hell my vastly underpowered 306 is a fantastic drivers car and highly practical. It's not fast by any means, but it's a superbly fun car to drive.
Click to expand...

Ok then, I'll adjust the price range. I don't know what taxes and etc other regions pay so my oppologies then. And the bhp limit is there because I want it to be there? I know there are great driver's cars with less bhp, and they can be very practical...but in this case and for me more power = more fun. Note the cars I choose have alot of power AND handle very well--so it isn't just a "powah!!!" thing.
 
I,m going to go for the Mazda RX-8, fun RWD chassis, good (although debated) power output, four (sort of) doors with enough room for family use. some would say its even sporty enough for the occasional track day. Plus I'm pretty sure you could get a really nice RX-8 for that kind of money.
 
Go with the 335i. Though you may be after a sedan, the coupe is extremely nice and there's actually quite some room, some magazines even claiming it sports about as much room as the sedan. Of course, it bases $40,000, but putting out a couple more g's might be enough to satisfy you.

The options on a fully loaded will most definately go out of what you want, but you should be more than able to pick a couple.
Sport Package - $1,000 (A favorite for me.) Comes with 5-spoke wheels.
StepTronic Automatic Transmission - $1,275
Paddle Shifters - $100
Active Steering - $1,250
BMW Assist w/ Bluetooth - $750
Park Distance Control - $350
Premium Package - $2,450
Cold Weather Package - $750 (This is Texas....)
Comfort Access - $500
Active Cruise Control - $2,200
Onboard system w/ iDrive - $2,100 (Everyone hates this though I find it very easy to use.)
Heated Front Seats - $500
Power Rear Sunshade - $350
Satellite Radio - $595

A couple there I would choose, but as for BMWs, it'll be either a 335i or 525xi/530xi. After all these options though, the price is the same as my BMW. $54,690. I just don't like that the Automatic system has to be allowed to get paddles.


As for the Infiniti Gs, why not wait until the new G35 Coupes are out? They're under $40,000 USD, sport well over 200 horses, and may have some room in the back like the 335i.
 
Yeah, I'd probably pick the 335, and according to several owners, I hate the vehicles. So you've got to know it fits the stipulations set out in the thread if I'm getting one.

I'd also consider the Acura RDX, which is a fantastic little SUV that I had the pleasure of recently driving. 6.7sec 0-60 and V-rated 18-inchers with sport suspension - a very practical, very quick vehicle, and out of the norm.

I wouldn't buy a new car with this money though - $40k is enough to get you into decent used AMG Mercedes products and the Infiniti FX45.
 
M5Power
Yeah, I'd probably pick the 335, and according to several owners, I hate the vehicles. So you've got to know it fits the stipulations set out in the thread if I'm getting one.

I'd also consider the Acura RDX, which is a fantastic little SUV that I had the pleasure of recently driving. 6.7sec 0-60 and V-rated 18-inchers with sport suspension - a very practical, very quick vehicle, and out of the norm.

I wouldn't buy a new car with this money though - $40k is enough to get you into decent used AMG Mercedes products and the Infiniti FX45.
Click to expand...

Except depending on which Acura dealers he goes too, they'll want more for the 18-inch rims. David McDavid usually asks for $1,000 or more for the chrome 18-inchers to be fitted after the car is acquired. A bit of a mischief dealer.

As for an Acura under $40,000, hell, he's better off going with what I got or a TL with the best package.
 
...The three-best "practical" cars, by YSSMAN:

As someone who can appreciate less-than-sporty (but fun!) sedans and wagons (after all, it is what I'm looking for in a new car), this should be a pretty good thread.

1) Sedan: I must go with the Holden Commodore/ Pontiac G8, as it combines big American sedan size and capability with European/Aussie handling and styling. Of course pricing isn't set in America, however down in Australia the car is pretty moderately priced, and the wide range of engine and transmission choices, not to mention trim levels alone makes it a winner. I'd be more apt to look into the high-lux V6-powered Calais and Berlina, however the sweet-spot is definitely the SS. Good amounts of power, six-speed automatics and manuals, and pretty decent fuel economy make it a winner in my book. Definitely worth a look when the G8 drops later this year...

2) Wagon: What good is a practicality thread without some kind of wagon? Now I could do the cop-out and go for the Magnum R/T Wagon with arguably the greatest level of "sleeper" equipment since the 1960's, however I have to say that I prefer the Volkswagen Passat Wagon 3.6. Starting a bit over $33,000 the Passat with the 3.6L VR6 and Haldex AWD, it screams deal to me. High lux, low price, and great overall capability keep it interesting not only for Dad with a sporty taste, but also for Mom who is looking for something comfortable, safe, and overall attractive inside and out. How much more practical can you get?

3) SUV/Crossover: The Saturn Outlook XR easily gets my vote here, hands down. Fully-loaded they can get very expensive, but very few options are needed on most XRs as they come better-equipped than the Honda Pilot, is a bit larger overall, has more power, and gets pretty much the same gas mileage. $40,000 gets you everything shy of Navigation and the DVD player for kids in the back, however you can save yourself a couple grand by opting for FWD, gaining a MPG or two, and cutting out the leather option... Navigation and DVD player it is!

As for driving, well, they say it is the best-in-class at the moment. Build quality is superb (they actually build them about 45 mins from my house), reliability will likely be quite good, and it is quite a looker compared to the other crossover/SUVs in it's class.
 
simple.... EVO IX.... on mitsubishi australia it says it costs $56,789AUD(56789..WTF) supercar beater, four doors, fuel efficient to a degree, plenty of accessories....
 
*McLaren*
Except depending on which Acura dealers he goes too, they'll want more for the 18-inch rims. David McDavid usually asks for $1,000 or more for the chrome 18-inchers to be fitted after the car is acquired. A bit of a mischief dealer.
Click to expand...

The only available wheels are 18 inches.

YSSMAN
3) SUV/Crossover: The Saturn Outlook XR easily gets my vote here, hands down. Fully-loaded they can get very expensive, but very few options are needed on most XRs as they come better-equipped than the Honda Pilot, is a bit larger overall, has more power, and gets pretty much the same gas mileage. $40,000 gets you everything shy of Navigation and the DVD player for kids in the back, however you can save yourself a couple grand by opting for FWD, gaining a MPG or two, and cutting out the leather option... Navigation and DVD player it is!
Click to expand...

What happened to the 'drivers' car' aspect of this whole thing?
 
My Three, with no extra crappy explanations needed:

#1 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX
#2 Subaru WRX STi
#3 Do I really need a #3?
 
JCE3000GT
Ok then, I'll adjust the price range. I don't know what taxes and etc other regions pay so my oppologies then. And the bhp limit is there because I want it to be there? I know there are great driver's cars with less bhp, and they can be very practical...but in this case and for me more power = more fun. Note the cars I choose have alot of power AND handle very well--so it isn't just a "powah!!!" thing.
Click to expand...

Still doesn't work. You should either classify by acceleration or power. There are lots of "practical" sub-200 bhp cars that get to 60 in less than nine seconds.

Of course, practical really depends on what you consider practical... in some regions, most 200bhp plus cars, along with the gas consumption they entail, hardly qualify as practical.

Handy you've given Philippine pesos for me, but unfortunately, we get taxed to high heaven here. 2 million pesos may equal about 40,000 dollars, but the most you can get for that much here is a 25k to 30k car, depending on the amount of local content and tax breaks. As an illustration, a Toyota Prius costs about 2.5 million, or $50,000 here.

Within the parameters:
1. Honda Accord 3.0 V6 - hardly qualifies as a "driver's car", but it steers well enough. We don't get the Mazda6 V6 here, and the Mazda6 2.3, which is in the price range and speed range, has only 170hp.

2. Subaru Impreza WRX - not as good as the Evo, and only 235hp (65 down frm the STi), but it gets better fuel consumption, rides better, and still drives nicely. Most practical in wagon form. The local Evo and STi fall just outside the price range.

3. Mazdaspeed3 (gray market) - just squeaks in, even after insane importer's fees. 260+ hp, a decent front drive chassis, and the option for near-300 hp with the factory upgrade. Not as good a steer, supposedly, as previous Mazdaspeeds, but the mad power should make up for it.
 
I would have to go 335i but personally think anyone buying a new car has more money than sense.

Off topic: I got to drive an e46 M3 today. 4 seats, fast as **** and cost less than £20k.
 
M5Power
What happened to the 'drivers' car' aspect of this whole thing?
Click to expand...

Please note that I listed two cars and a crossover/SUV. I think the word "practical" should mean a bit more here, and thusly I went with the cars I chose, as well as the Outlook itself. The drive, is as I understand it, to be very car-like, more so than the Pilot (its direct competitor). It doesn't have to be overwhelmingly exciting, but it is enough to keep you awake behind the wheel, and that certainly counts. I could have just as easily gone with a CX7 or a CX9 (both excellent choices), however the notion of "practicality" with a bit more emphasis on comfort wins out in this round.

It is more of a taste thing, that and it is too easy going for the likes of the 335i, etc.
 
MistaX
My Three, with no extra crappy explanations needed:

#1 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX
#2 Subaru WRX STi
#3 Do I really need a #3?
Click to expand...

But a crappy explination was requested in the rules. :sly: 👍

YSSMAN
Please note that I listed two cars and a crossover/SUV. I think the word "practical" should mean a bit more here, and thusly I went with the cars I chose, as well as the Outlook itself. The drive, is as I understand it, to be very car-like, more so than the Pilot (its direct competitor). It doesn't have to be overwhelmingly exciting, but it is enough to keep you awake behind the wheel, and that certainly counts. I could have just as easily gone with a CX7 or a CX9 (both excellent choices), however the notion of "practicality" with a bit more emphasis on comfort wins out in this round.

It is more of a taste thing, that and it is too easy going for the likes of the 335i, etc.
Click to expand...

My definition of practical is more than just gas mileage. My definition of practical is the combination of; space for passengers, space for hauling things, comfort for all passengers, ease of entry for all passengers (so no coupes), gas mileage, and enough passing power to cope with passing people on a 2 way motorway.

And yes there are plenty of sub-200bhp cars that can meet my 0-60 in less than 9 seconds rule--BUT fill them full of people and and cargo then they cannot. Take my Focus for example, it gets to 60mph in around 8.2 but put 3 other passengers in it and cargo and then it wouldn't be able to.

Oh that reminds me, I am changing my 3rd choice.
 
M5Power
The only available wheels are 18 inches.



What happened to the 'drivers' car' aspect of this whole thing?
Click to expand...

You're right. I mixed it up. :indiff:

The car comes with 18-inch standard rims, but here, if you want them chrome, you have to pay extra after you buy the actual car which I think is crap marketing.
 
And even then those chrome dippd rims won't last long unless you polish them every week. Brake dust kills chrome and aluminum polished whees. I saw it all the time when I was detailing cars. Its quite nasty actually.
 
YSSMAN
Please note that I listed two cars and a crossover/SUV. I think the word "practical" should mean a bit more here, and thusly I went with the cars I chose, as well as the Outlook itself.
Click to expand...

Murano? RDX? You always seem to defer to the 'just out' cars on the market, YSSMAN - they're not always the best, and if they're domestic, they're usually also-rans.

*McLaren
The car comes with 18-inch standard rims, but here, if you want them chrome, you have to pay extra after you buy the actual car which I think is crap marketing.
Click to expand...

Chromes? On an RDX? I have yet to hear of that, and I spent last Saturday on an Acura lot pricing them.
 
In no particular order...

Chevy/GMC 1/2 Ton EX-Cab Z71
The fun of an FR when you want it, the traction of AWD when you need it. Room for two adults and two kids. Add some kind of bed cover and you get a huge trunk. Lots of available power/tourque. Better handling then one would think but can get unforgiving at higher speeds.

Dodge Magnum
AWD with the 5.7 Hemi was fun to drive and handled well for a wagon. Good cargo room, 4 passenger doors, comfy/supportive driver's seat. The one thing the Magnum is missing(IMO) is a manual trans...

Subaru Impressa Wagon
AWD. good power. good handling. manual trans. Fun to drive. Just enough room inside.
 

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