car suggestions...I know another one.
 

I'm looking for suggestions for a new car. The musts are; new, can fit four people, and cheap. The desire is a car that is fun to drive and has something of a suspension after market. I'm not worried about power, less is better in all reality as it makes snow driving easier. Mainly I want to be able to put some decent dampers on it as just about every factory damper in this price range is crap.

Fitting four people, to me, means cars in the size range of a honda fit and bigger.

I've looked at Civics, but I have an aversion to them. If it all there is I'll revisite the Civic, but for now I'm hoping there's something else.

Time frame is variable. If the soon to be released Mazda 2 will have a decent aftermarket and won't be an absolute piece of shit like the present 2, I'd be happy to wait for it.

base 2015 wrx? Not sure what you consider cheap though.

New or used? Price range?

2016 Mazdaspeed3 if it goes AWD (Fall 2016), 2016 Mazda 6

The new Mazdas are pretty incredible. I'm surprised they don't get more hype than they already do in reviews. Nailed it on looks, performance, and reliability all in one for the newer Skyactiv ones.

I'll probably end up selling my FR-S next year and getting a 2016 Mazda 3 S Grand Touring for a more "practical" daily driver to work and errands that's not a hybrid but gets incredible mileage.

This^ or, depending on how big a hurry you are in, the Focus ST may be worth the wait. Both the Mazda and the Focus will be on my check out list in 3 years when time to get a new car to wear out. (Of course the FRS will be as well if they still make them and they haven't been ruined)

For cheap, half of that price. Also, the main purpose of the car is going to be winter driving, so half of that for power aswell.

Really, what I'm looking for is a modern day version of a mid 90's Civic hatch. Something that will be dead set reliable, be cheap to buy and own, but throw a couple of suspension parts at it and it'll be decent fun to drive aswell.

Fiesta ST. You can get them for under $20k. A bit above your price range, but you save money by not needing to upgrade the suspension.

Used Outback or Forester?

Second this. Half the MSRP of a base WRX in Nova Scotia puts you at Fiesta S, though. Nowhere near the same animal as an ST, but still can be fun.

Also, from looking at ford.ca; 17% tax on a Fiesta ST, am I reading that right?

Sales tax is 15%, but then there's the retarted destination fee ~$1500, the AC tax ~$100, and the tire recycling fee ~$50. I probably forgetting something else.

I took a look at the Fiesta, but the back seat is just too small. There's plenty in that size range that can accomadate an average size adult male, but the back seat in the Fiesta is almost as useless as the back seat in the Twins. Such a shame though. If it wasn't for that I wouldn't be asking this question.

Out the door the Fiesta ST is $30,000 here, ~$24,000 before taxes and fees start.

:suicide:

Have you driven a new Impreza yet? They are pretty nice, and unstoppable in the snow. The back seat is pretty nice, too.

Must it be new? You can get a shit ton of mileage/wear out of an older Audi wagon, Outback sport, WRX, Fiesta, Saab 9, Mazda, etc. If it was getting something primarily for winter driving, I'd definitely buy used.

Good luck getting any new car even remotely close to fun to drive for half the price of a base WRX.