Alternatives to BRZ, sub $30k
 

So with the possibility that I won't be able to get my pre-ordered BRZ until July or later (I'm near the bottom on the pre-order list), I need a backup plan. I'm relocating from Texas to California in July so I'll need a car by the end of June. Here are my criteria:

1) Manual trans. I "know" how to drive a stickshift, but I've only had about 5 minutes in one. So I will need a couple weeks to practice, but I'm 110% against settling for an Auto at this point. Paddle shifters are lame.
2) Balance of handling and power. No V8 Mustang for me, thanks. But no 140bhp Civic, either.
3) Needs a backseat, even if it's small as hell.
4) Decent fuel economy (gas is damn expensive in Cali), I'd say around 25mpg combined is reasonable.
5) Reliability.
6) Aesthetics. Totally subjective, but I love the looks of the BRZ, S2000, RX7, and similar. I prefer coupes, but sedans and hatches are options.
7) Under $30k and 2010 or newer model.

Options I've considered:

1) Used 328i/335i coupe. Slightly hesitant on this one because of the 2012 model with turbo-charged 2.0L I4 that gets much better gas mileage and still under 6 seconds 0-60, supposedly. Also, everyone and their grandmother drives one in the Silicon Valley area.
2) VW GTI. Hesitant because it's basically just an econobox with a nicer engine. Heard the FWD isn't great for "fun" driving.
3) GenCoupe 2.0T or 3.8. Front is ugly as hell. Almost enough to turn me off entirely, but still an option if there are enough pros to outweigh the cons.
4) Used 128i/135i. Kinda ugly, very small, but I assume it's fun to drive?
5) Used A4 2.0T Quattro. Hard to find in a manual, and not too enthusiastic about luxury sedans. Prefer a lighter, sportier car.

Any advice/suggestions are welcome! :thanks:

i've got a pretty similar list of criteria for my new car. i'm looking for a semi-practical, sporty daily driver and considered most of the cars on your list. try taking a look at the mazdaspeed 3 and vw gli. ms3 kinda conflicts with #2,4 (though driving style will heavily influence this), and maybe 6 (haters gonna hate but at least its not boring). gli seems to be the best compromise between all aspects, but i just can't convince myself that it looks good and will be trouble free.

Keep the civic?

Road trips are a lot more fun than buying a car that you don't really want, and a lot cheaper as well.

Get the car you want. Dont compromise. If you really decide to settle focus on the attributes you want from the car and find what fits it. I'd suggest also shopping older cars as you can always find great deals on cars that are more than just a couple of years old. Want fun RWD? 350z/older model M3, want fast? Evo 8/9, earlier STI, Used Mustang, V8 S4...

The list is endless. Good luck shopping.

Just keep in mind if you go with BMW/Audi you may have some insane maintenance cost to bear.

I'm going to suggest Subaru WRX... Looks like a 2010 would give you all you want/need, be reliable, and be a blast to rally cross your family around Cali! HAHA

Why not keep the Civic and have your BRZ shipped when it arrives?

An '09/'10 nissan maxima might be a possibility for you- EXCEPT for the fact that they're only available in automatic transmissions. Used ones are about $22,000-$30,000 and have plenty of power. If you don't mind spending about $29K, there's always the 370Z for an '09 (maybe '10) model. Just be prepared to pay for premium gas.

Hmm... lots of good advice here. I like the "don't compromise" suggestion. If I really want the BRZ, then I shouldn't mind waiting for it. And like I said before, I'm not too keen on getting a luxury car right now. How much do you think it would cost to have the dealership ship the BRZ to Cali when it arrives?

I don't really want a 370Z. It looks uglier than the 350Z and its power seems a tad overkill for everyday driving. And I don't really want a sedan either. I'm only 21 and relocating for my first job out of college, so no family to worry about. :)

True, but it is a nice thing to be able to load up friends etc in the sedan. I always enjoyed the IS300, TSX because they were small, sporty, and could lug everyone around in comfort. Owned both and enjoyed both! (But they were UK spec so IS200, and Accord.) Since you're not tied down I say make a list of the suggestions you get, trim em down and go make a weekend or three full of test drives! :)

Yeah, what I really need to do is take the time to test drive a bunch of cars. It's just that, on paper, the BRZ looks like the best option by far. I'm pretty big on aesthetics, and none of the cars I listed come close to the BRZ, except for the 3 Series coupe, but that's way more expensive to maintain. And, since this is technically a graduation gift from my parents, I have to make sure they're okay with it. That means the car can't be discontinued and should be no more than 3 years old.

I guess what I'm really looking for is suggestions for other cars that might have slipped my mind. But I do plan on test driving just about everything in May.

OP: I assume you are coming out for post grad school or is it work? If you are moving here proper, to be a resident of California, then I would check the DMV website about the hassle involved in registering an out of state car here.

AFAIK - from talking to fellow relocated coworkers - it is not cheap.

I'd keep your current DD, move out here and then re-evaluate.

Either way an A4 doesn't fullfill this - 2) Balance of handling and power. - unless it has an 'S' in it's title ;-)

what about the WRX??

Iv seen some nice Nismo 350Zs around my parts for a nice 22K.

There are no real alternatives that are still in production, only discontinued ones. I would rather go for a used S15 than a new BRZ, hard to beat the SR20DET in tuneability!

It's funny how non-residents of CA call it "Cali"! :bellyroll:

I say keep the Civic! From the outside looking in, I wish I had a little beater that was good on gas. :happy0180:

Mazdaspeed 3 or WRX

have you driven a mustang gt? it will arguably outhandle many on that list so im a little confused. its definately going to be faster around almost every single track in the world than any other mentioned car. i think that car and driver had a v6 mustang go around vir faster than an sti and that was with something like 9 seconds at the electronic speed limiter

Well I'll be getting my undergrad degree from UT Austin this May. I'm moving out to California for work only, possibly just one year, maybe more if I like it, I don't know yet. In that case, would I need to file for residency in CA immediately? And would there by any additional taxes/fees if I bought a car in CA vs TX?

As for the other suggestions:

WRX is an option. I will definitely test drive it.

MS3 is also an option, but I'd rather get a WRX. It's kind of ugly and Subaru has more brand recognition.

350Z is nice, but I heard the trunk is close to useless and it's a two-seater.

Not an American muscle kind of guy, so Mustangs are out of the question. Nothing against them, but just not a fan.

As for keeping the Civic, my parents are afraid that the car's a getting a bit too old for safety. It's never had any major problems in its 15 year life, but hey. Why would I turn down a free car?

to each his own but keep in mind that the wrx isnt a great handling car. if you want brand recognition and style points the wrx is pretty great. otherwise if you want value and handling (and sure, power too) then even the mustang v6 is a better option. miatas are great too

WRX. That's what I opted for and am waiting for the call from the dealer to go pick it up. I wouldn't recommend a mazdaspeed3. The torque steer on that car is just ridiculous. Even the n/a 2.5 mazda3 had a bunch.

4dr, 4wd, 2.5l H4 265hp turbo. Lots of aftermarket support. Stout platform. Same price as the BRZ and the list goes on. If you're heart is really set on a BRZ though, I'd just suck it up and find a way to get one when you can.

Getting another car means you settle. When you settle, you get angry. When you get angry, your kids notice. When your kids notice, they go to therapy. When they go to therapy, you look like a douche......Don't look like a douche. Switch to a BRZ today

You, sir, should be a car salesman. I'd be 100% sold on waiting for the BRZ if it weren't for the minor fact that I don't have kids. :thumbsup:

Even if I do test drive the WRX, I don't think it will matter since I won't be able to test drive the BRZ. In which case I don't think I should "settle" for the WRX like you said. I just wish time wasn't an issue... :cry:

This is indeed a good quote!! :thumbsup:

OH, to OP, If I were you, I would keep the Civic as long as it is still functional and see if either you can:

1. get the allotted BRZ shipped to California (am I right, RRonald?)
2. get another BRZ in California

By the time you are there, you have plenty of time to get the BRZ and probably forget about the hassles of registering an out-of-state car in California.

I have three major concerns:

1) Shipping will be damn expensive?
2) I feel like I need to get used to driving the car before I start driving to work every day. I've never owned a manual car before.
3) I'm planning on trading in my Civic at the dealership, so I wouldn't have a car to drive to CA if I have the BRZ shipped over.

1. I don't know the price exactly, but this could be somewhere in 500+?
2. Anyone from NorCal can tell you the traffic in the morning. I think you will get to know your car pretty quickly, even in a manual car.
3. In that case, would it be better if you trade in your car in CA and forget about shipping the car all at once?

Think it will depend on a few different things, the DMV has their info here:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/newtoca/newtoca.htm

This specifically dealing with car registration/residency:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures...r9.htm#feesdue

I think the gainful employment and renting somewhere mean you're going to be paying something. Taken from 2nd link above:

When fees are due

Fees must be paid within 20 days of entry or residency to avoid penalties. Any vehicle owned by a California resident must be registered within 20 days of entry into California unless a special permit was obtained. Nonresidents whose vehicles are properly registered to them in their home state or jurisdiction may operate their vehicles in California until they:

• Accept gainful employment in California.
• Claim a homeowner's exemption in California.
• Rent or lease a residence in California.

Thank you.

Do you have any animals?? It would be a damn shame if you did and because of your anger, they ended up here on this commercial.
http://chzichcafterdark.files.wordpr...commercial.jpg


But in all seriousness, settling is settling. You might be happy for the time being but then once you start seeing them around more and more, you'll wish you had just stuck it out and got the BRZ. For me, it was a matter of bang for the buck. The WRX is listed for-I think-$100 more than a BRZ. So for $100, I get 4 doors, AWD, Turbo etc. I wasn't so set on whether it was AWD/RWD 2/4door. Just wanted something nice and fun to drive around and gave me value for the amount I spent....that's why I went the WRX route...which will be here tomorrow:happyanim:

I'd probably go with a used 370Z. I think the BRZ is a much better deal though.

And I just threw up in my mouth a bit:barf:

Why? That would be the first car on my list if the BRZ didn't exist. What's wrong with it?

http://media-social.s-msn.com/images...20Autoweek.jpg

If the weather wasn't as good as it is here in So Cal I'd go for the WRX in a heartbeat. (Ironically it's raining right now)

If on the off chance something happens where I absolutely need 4 doors or a big hatch, I'll get a WRX.

The gas mileage, seating position and shifter turn me off, plus the base WRX doesn't have HIDs. Otherwise if you want power and a great aftermarket and need the space like Tyler says, than it's a no brainer.

Although if you can find a Mustang GT for that price... :)

Honestly there aren't any cars like the BRZ, except for the Miata, and maybe an S2000 but they are too much of a compromise. I'd wait for the BRZ unless you absolutely need a car right now.

Meh, it's just personal preference is all.

He's :barf:
You're :party0030:

It's not biggy and there is a whole FRS/BRZ v 370 thread for this.

So happy i don't live in the US when i read this thread, so bad you guys can't import what you want! :(

Thanks for all the input guys. I'm going to wait to hear from the dealership about availability, and then make my decision. It's not quite as simple as "don't settle" actually, since neither I nor my parents would feel comfortable having me wait for a brand new manual BRZ until I'm in California, for multiple reasons. But yeah, there really is no other car quite like it, IMO. If I can get it before I leave, then great. If not, then I'll probably get a WRX. Will I be satisfied? We'll see. 370Z is probably out of the question, but I'll have to test drive it first.

:mad0260:

I would do anything for an R34 Skyline, regardless of practicality. I'd also love an NSX, which isn't illegal in the US, but hard to find with low miles and sub $30K. Possibly my two favorite cars ever...

okay so im still a little confused. why cant you just wait until you move?

This. What dodgy Texan shenanigans ;) MUST be completed before heading to California?

Except for the back seat I've got what you want.


http://www.miata4sale.com/side.jpg

Maybe I can wait until I get there, I'm not sure. I'll have to talk it over with my parents. But Texan shenanigans cannot easily be avoided. :)

Man, the Miata looks so old now. And I wish it had a bit more power. And yes, a backseat. If the S2000 was a bit longer and had a backseat, I'd be all over it.

That's an easy one. Drive the Civ until you get your BRZ (from a dealer in CA if delayed).

I bought a car from Virginia shipped to CA, insured/drove it a couple weeks then kept it garaged. Didn't feel like paying CA registration/tax/license because I was moving to Kansas in 3 months. After the move, Kansas DMV dinged me for not registering within 60 days of obtaining the car. A whopping $12 penalty. I got away with cheaper Kansas registration/tax/license. :D

Not the same situation but just wanted to point out sometimes DMV late fees/penalties are next to nothing. Not sure how important registration would be though if pulled over in CA with TX registration paid through the year. Insurance is a no-brainer.

Interesting info on registration. I'll have to look into that some more.

By the way, I totally forgot about the 2012 Civic Si Coupe. Anyone test drive one of those?