09-07-2018, 12:54 PM | #1 |
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Recommendations on vehicle purchase choice
Okay folks, my wife is about due for her next car and is an enthusiast as am I.
Her requirements are as follows: 1) Max price = $25,000 plus taxes and such 2) Must have a manual transmission unless it is a large sedan 3) Must have at least a tiny back seat that can fit a small child 4) Must be reliable enough and have low enough miles that she can drive it for the next 5 years / 75,000 miles without having to worry about any serious problems (i.e. not a ten year old, 80,000 mile E92 M3) 5) Must be fun to drive She really enjoys my E93, but that series is getting long in the tooth. Thoughts? Some on the list were a 2015 or newer, low miles 228i, another option was the 2.0T Audi A3 except that isn't available with a manual. She really likes it, though. I thought about the Subaru WRX also, but the interior was horrific. |
09-07-2018, 01:28 PM | #2 |
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The A3 is a GTI/Golf R underneath. If she's not hatch-phobic, go that route. Full disclosure, I have a manual GTI for carrying the 3 year old around.
BRZ is another good choice, but interior is a bit naff. 2er is heavier than I'd like, but coming from an E93, might not be as bad. |
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09-07-2018, 01:49 PM | #3 | ||
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09-07-2018, 02:00 PM | #4 | ||
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CLA is not a good car, the C is much nicer all around. Maybe consider a Mk6 R? The stability control is non defeatable without aftermarket coding, but they're still fun and had a more mechanical awd setup than the current ones, allowing for easier tuning to get more rear wheel bias. Plus Mk6's had stronger clutches than the current Mk7 which even with stock power is not adequate. |
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09-07-2018, 03:06 PM | #8 |
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GTI, this is absolute GTI territory.
A left field option. First Gen X1 with M package and the big engine, chip it for a near 400Hp sleeper and she can be tossed around. |
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09-07-2018, 03:24 PM | #9 |
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Fiesta ST checks all the boxes and is more fun to drive than the Focus ST.
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09-07-2018, 03:25 PM | #10 | |
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Last edited by ******; 09-07-2018 at 03:30 PM.. |
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09-07-2018, 03:25 PM | #11 | |
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![]() The ST gets good reviews. My brother has a non-ST and it's a well-made machine. You can easily find a 2018 new for $20K. |
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09-07-2018, 03:31 PM | #12 |
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GTI is the best value in that range. Gets the German feel (via Mexico lol) with the price range and fun factor she's looking for. Even more so for the Golf R but that will push your budget a bit. My wife was born and raised in Europe and my GTI remains her favorite car of those I've owned. Just a really fun and easy car to drive.
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09-07-2018, 03:39 PM | #14 |
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Good advice on an X1 35i. We had one before our current South African 3er. X1 was great. 3er, not so much.
The X1 is an E91 on stilts though, so will drive very much like your E93 and weigh about the same too. A GTI would be wildly more fun, just make sure it's got the Performance Pack with the larger brakes from the Golf R and a mechanical limited slip. Interior quality is better on the GTI than an E9x. It's actually better in a lot of ways than our F30. Hope you like black seats with red stitching. |
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09-07-2018, 04:00 PM | #16 |
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09-07-2018, 04:58 PM | #17 | |
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I like my previous gen: |
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09-07-2018, 05:10 PM | #19 |
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135is? I may need to part with mine.
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09-07-2018, 07:55 PM | #20 |
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I dunno, there are still a number of 2008/9 135i running around.
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09-08-2018, 12:45 AM | #21 |
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FRS or GTI
the FRS interior and sound deadening is garbage, but its rwd and extremely fun to drive. the GTI is a good all around package, but its fwd.
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09-08-2018, 05:08 AM | #22 | |
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Literally the only thing going for it is rear wheel drive, but the rest of the car is ![]() |
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