Most reliable fun car you can get at a comparable price (~25k).
 

With frs/brz technically 'n/a' atm...

Tons of fun coupes and hothatches at this price bracket, but which of them are the most reliable that you can get brand new?

Miata

/thread

I could literally list all the other options in the price bracket because I would bet that they will all make it to 100k miles with no major issues and proper maintenance. Past that mark nobody really knows because the cars haven't been out long enough to tell, especially with updates and refreshes every year or two. You'd be guessing based on brand name (Hyundai vs. Ford) and there wouldn't be any solid evidence for at least 3 years after the model came out and was actually run to it's limit.

Reliability means different things to different people, some want a car that will go 60k without a major service and then they will sell it, some want a car that will make 250k and as long as the parts aren't outrageous they'll be happy (even if there's a couple of things that need serious work).

More like 32k for comparison purpose as you won't leave the lot without paying that much for a FRS

Fiesta ST.

More torques, similar weight and cheaper to boot.

Brand New?

Similar/lower 0-60 (depends on tester) and FWD. When you start comparing FWD to RWD, you've already lost all credibility.

Huh?

^Yeah what is this guy talking about?

Used, I say an S2000.

Walked off the lot paying $27.3k and it was like pulling teeth. That was after the $300 price hike and after the college rebate got reduced by $500. I'd bet that someone (in California mind you) walked off the lot paying ~$26.6k

It comes down to finding the car you want and the local taxes and registration fees, which will be pretty much static based on location, $25k for sticker price of the vehicle before tax/title/licence is a valid baseline.

But that's irrelevant for the thread.

He said "fun, reliable car" not "pinnacle of handling excellence".

Anyone here could still have fun in a FWD hot hatch.

Miata (new) or s2000 (used)

I have a hard time believing that someone would find FWD handling characteristics more entertaining (IE fun) than RWD handling characteristics. It's like saying that you prefer Miller High Life over Stella Artois. It's possible, but highly unlikely/unusual.:happy0180:

Wow were you ever taken! If I had paid any where near that much for my FR-S the last thing I would do is admit it. Mine was $27,070.93 with wheel locks out the door. Yes, that included everything.

Maybe not AS fun, but could still be fun. There's plenty of civic's/integra's/3's/etc at track/auto-x days and all those guys have smiles on their faces.

There are also plenty of less than ideal RWD platforms out there, I'd take an ITR over a fox body mustang 10 times out of 10.