Good sporty daily driver?

[HitTheGas]

Originally Posted by SUB-FT86

The problem is you didn't mention that would be the reason why it wouldn't impress a women. You said a HYUNDAI will not impress the ladies. Now if you said an UGLY car won't impress the ladies then that's a different story. Only problem with that is everybody has different opinions on styling.

I said most Hyundais are ugly, & that there's a stigma associated w/ them that wouldn't impress the ladies. I said it in the same sentence.

First of all the statement was in parentheses because it was a minor joke, i was jesting to make a point. It was not meant to be taken literally.

Secondly you guys assumed the stigma was level of wealth; when in fact it was attractiveness of the car & history of them being considered shitboxes (though they have improved greatly in the last 10 years, that stigma still exists; especially w/ girls who tend to be less educated about cars). It may sound offensive, but it's the simple truth of the matter.

gold diggers want money. why would i imply that one car that costs the same would be more attractive to "the ladies" than another that costs almost the same if i was talking about gold diggers? that makes no sense.

Aaaaaaaaaaaannyway, i'm done talking about this. It's getting to the point of

[Vasilis]

Offtopic and maybe i'm a bit trolling here but is there a law for fog deflectors / lights on the lower bumper to be triangular or is it just copying the rotor accent on the RX8 ? Seems someone copied from the other company's test paper in some parts

Also as a reply to the pics showing the FT86 carrying track wheels I found the following pic relevant and kind of funny

[ChrisH]

Originally Posted by Vasilis

Offtopic and maybe i'm a bit trolling here but is there a law for fog deflectors / lights on the lower bumper to be triangular or is it just copying the rotor accent on the RX8 ? Seems someone copied from the other company's test paper in some parts

Well, as most fog lights are not triangular......
But round - square - triangle. I think these shapes are to common and basic for discussions about copy-paste from other cars.

Originally Posted by Vasilis

Also as a reply to the pics showing the FT86 carrying track wheels I found the following pic relevant and kind of funny

Not sure, if the police would be pretty amused, if they stop you while driving your car like that.

[Staticz]

I am finding it hard to justify to myself why I should get an fr-s/gc/gti over something like the Mazda 3... 40 mpg highway, regular vs premium fuel, still supposed to be fun to drive.. Tho I hate the smileyface.

I WANT an fr-s but I'm having trouble lol. Doesn't help that my family/gf/ some friends keep telling me how dumb they think getting any combination of manual trans/rwd/sports car is.

Does anyone have experience with a Mazda 3? Any comments? Also been looking at civic SI a bit, any opinions on that?

I wish they would just release pricing/features for fr-s.... If its cheap I doubt I can resist.

[Vasilis]

Yeah I know but the position and choice of shape really reminds me of my 8 hehe

Originally Posted by ChrisH

Not sure, if the police would be pretty amused, if they stop you while driving your car like that.

Well if you're going to move 4 wheels you won't have to place your seats in such extreme positions :P

I heard people fitting them in the boot of the RX8 but I don't have experience myself. I'd track with whatever I have on the car :P

[ChrisH]

Originally Posted by Vasilis

.....
I'd track with whatever I have on the car :P

Yes, me too!
But at least occasionally I need the space, e.g. if I need new tires and take the old ones to the dealer.
Or for my bicycle.
So having some extra space is never wrong, even in a "sportscar".

[miata]

Originally Posted by Staticz

I am finding it hard to justify to myself why I should get an fr-s/gc/gti over something like the Mazda 3... 40 mpg highway, regular vs premium fuel, still supposed to be fun to drive.. Tho I hate the smileyface.

I WANT an fr-s but I'm having trouble lol. Doesn't help that my family/gf/ some friends keep telling me how dumb they think getting any combination of manual trans/rwd/sports car is.

Does anyone have experience with a Mazda 3? Any comments? Also been looking at civic SI a bit, any opinions on that?

I wish they would just release pricing/features for fr-s.... If its cheap I doubt I can resist.

It doesn't make sense to me either. However, you can't make rational decisions on everything. Sometimes you have to rationalize your dumb yet passionate decisions.
With age you get better at it or you start making rational decisions.

[Re_Invention]

Originally Posted by Staticz

I have considered leasing, but I really would prefer to own the car. Financially I should be fine, I have had a credit card for 5 years or so, have no student loans, and cost of living is fairly low here. If I stay in the 20-25k range, I shoul be fine.

the problem with gen coupe, gti, and wrx is they msrp in the 24-25k range.

I fear the brz will have a similar price issue, but hopefully the frs is closer to the civic SI/v6 mustang price

Just for clarification, when you lease you retain the option to own at the end of the lease. For instance, my mother just leased a 2012 Honda Accord LX for $0 down ($315.24 down for DMV fee's), $199 a month for 36 months - no acquisition fee's or anything since Hardin dealership absorbed the costs. At the end of the lease she can buy the Accord for $13,04x. That means she bought the car for $21,1xx sans dmv fee's and taxes. Which is exactly how much it is on truecar.com at the moment. Except now, she has the option of walking away from it after 3 years if she doesn't want to keep it.

Chevy is running a similar program with the Volt for $299 a month, $0 down.

As for the price of the FR-S, seriously... you know the estimated price of $25k. If you're in a financial position to buy a new car, what's the difference of $1,500 -+ ?? If it's that detrimental to your finances, reconsider a new car. People getting bent out of shape over not knowing if it will be $24,000 or $26,000 and throwing claims that 'the car isn't worth it' when they haven't driven it are simply trolls with no business in purchasing discussions.

Originally Posted by Maxim

Leasing to own might be a very viable way for him to reduce the monthly payment if he isn't willing to put down a sizable deposit. However, if he's established some credit, taken out student loans in his own name, kept a credit card and used it regularly while paying off, etc, he may be able to get a very competitive APR on a vehicle loan. If he can, then I would go that route. More money spent up front but less in the long term.

Correct, I'm sure my student loans helped quite a bit in boosting my credit score - but see above, it isn't entirely true that 'owning' is financially better than leasing, it comes down to the deal.

Originally Posted by Staticz

I am finding it hard to justify to myself why I should get an fr-s/gc/gti over something like the Mazda 3... 40 mpg highway, regular vs premium fuel, still supposed to be fun to drive.. Tho I hate the smileyface.

I WANT an fr-s but I'm having trouble lol. Doesn't help that my family/gf/ some friends keep telling me how dumb they think getting any combination of manual trans/rwd/sports car is.

Does anyone have experience with a Mazda 3? Any comments? Also been looking at civic SI a bit, any opinions on that?

I wish they would just release pricing/features for fr-s.... If its cheap I doubt I can resist.

See above, price is irrelevant if you want the car and are in a position to buy ANY new car around $25k.

Unless you enjoy driving spiritedly illegally (doing anything with the tail out is reckless driving regardless of speed v.c. 23103, as it taking corners faster then the posted limit) or on a race track, a rwd 6 speed manual light weight SMALL coupe is useless and impractical, especially for the purchasing price. This is a niche car that will sell because of marketing - it's a Scion and it's cute. Having said that, if that's your thing, then this car deserves a look at among its price competitors; gti, wrx, miata, cooper s, genesis coupe, mustang, camaro, etc. It's only actual competitor based upon class (size) is the Miata.. I hope you aren't tall

The Mazda 3 is entertaining to drive (I've experience with the base gasser and turbo diesel) for being a practical hatch. It communicates a solid, albeit hefty, feeling. Steering feedback is nice, transmission is nice, power is nice and it is a practical car with good resale value, good efficiency with the new skyengine series but steeper buy in price.


However, since you mentioned MPG..let me just climb onto this soap box...

I'd choose a more pragmatic option and forego the sportiness and focus on utility because at that point - who cares - an automatic practical commuter is an appliance I don't want to shift or put in any extra effort I need to sit in traffic. I want to save money, save gas, and keep as much residual as possible. I'll save the fun stuff for a bespoke un-compromised toy; get the right tool for the job. The FR-S is NOT a commuter car just like the mazdaspeed 3, if you are going to design a comparison - make sure it's apples to apples and in the right context.
/soapbox

Civic SI has a fantastic shifter, a neat dash imo, and will retain value and be reliable. Others have compared it to the last gen TSX (same 2.4 engine) but handles better although with less luxury and a much lower price tag ~$22,400. Looks are in the eye of the beholder.

Mazdaspeed 3's can be had for a good price currently, as well ~$22,600.

Either car will likely be quicker then the FR-S, too.

[Staticz]

I understand your point about caring if it's 24000 vs 26000, as 1-2k should not be a big issue on such a large investment. However, if u keep up with that logic, u could say why care about 26k vs 28k? 30k? Etc. could I afford to spend 30k on a car? Yeah, but I've kind of set a soft cap for myself at about 25k. This keeps me lookin in the right class of cars. If I test drive something and absolutely love it, sure I could go to 26, but as a shopping tool I think setting a price range is reasonable.

The gti and civic SI sound really good to me on paper, I just don't love the looks... Same issue with the mazda3s, they sound great but I really hate the smiley grill lol.

I also don't get how the mpg of the civic is that low.. Not turbo charged, premium fuel, light, and has similar numbers to a gti or mustang on the mpg front. Mpg isn't a huge concern but it is something to consider with prices going crazy.

[Vasilis]

You have to write down what you want from a car and then start eliminating from the list

RWD? Civic or Mazda3 is out for example
Turbo or N/A?
Practicality & comfort important ?
How important is handling or good car behavior ?
Budget?
Service costs/fuel consumption/taxes etc. ?
Compare to what you already drive

etc.

For example in my case:
I want an excellent handling car (RWD for sure) with creature comforts (A/C is a must here due to climate) and safety equipment (ABS/airbags/Traction control).
I also need 4 usable seats.

So after research I excluded the Lotus Elise, the Miata, the Mazdaspeed3, any Honda etc. etc.

The only car that also has all this is the FR-S.

But I already own an RX8 which satisfies all my requirements except fuel consumption...

An FR-S would be a sidegrade (or possibly a slight downgrade on performance, real life tests will show) and financially it doesn't make sense as a trade-in...


Since I can't improve my RX8's MPG, I found that going turbo on it will give me approximately the same MPG as now (driven in the same way) due to the way a wankel motor works...

I can afford the gas, I do 500 miles a month but I want MORE out of my cash spent...

So in my mind ?
My 18-20mpg for stock 247hp (210 at the wheels, dynoed) - not very good, some may even say unacceptable so I was looking for alternate options...

But if you think about it 18-20mpg for a turboed RX8 with 350-400 (AT THE WHEELS!) + 4 seats + boot ? = sign me up ! I'd even tolerate 16mpg for it

So I'm going this route instead of the FR-S and it will cost me much much less...


You have to be open minded and see all your options

Work with what you want, what you already have, what you need and what you can afford...
Once you strike a balance with these, the choice will be obvious for you...!


I know deciding for a new car is frustrating, time and mood consuming so maybe my way of approach helps you


Good luck!

[HitTheGas]

Originally Posted by Staticz

I understand your point about caring if it's 24000 vs 26000, as 1-2k should not be a big issue on such a large investment. However, if u keep up with that logic, u could say why care about 26k vs 28k? 30k? Etc. could I afford to spend 30k on a car? Yeah, but I've kind of set a soft cap for myself at about 25k. This keeps me lookin in the right class of cars. If I test drive something and absolutely love it, sure I could go to 26, but as a shopping tool I think setting a price range is reasonable.

The gti and civic SI sound really good to me on paper, I just don't love the looks... Same issue with the mazda3s, they sound great but I really hate the smiley grill lol.

I also don't get how the mpg of the civic is that low.. Not turbo charged, premium fuel, light, and has similar numbers to a gti or mustang on the mpg front. Mpg isn't a huge concern but it is something to consider with prices going crazy.

Ever since the 2006 Si I haven't liked their styling. I liked that they went back to a hatchback in 2002, i wish they would have kept that up for the next 2 generations.

[Re_Invention]

Originally Posted by Staticz

I understand your point about caring if it's 24000 vs 26000, as 1-2k should not be a big issue on such a large investment. However, if u keep up with that logic, u could say why care about 26k vs 28k? 30k? Etc. could I afford to spend 30k on a car? Yeah, but I've kind of set a soft cap for myself at about 25k. This keeps me lookin in the right class of cars. If I test drive something and absolutely love it, sure I could go to 26, but as a shopping tool I think setting a price range is reasonable.

The gti and civic SI sound really good to me on paper, I just don't love the looks... Same issue with the mazda3s, they sound great but I really hate the smiley grill lol.

I also don't get how the mpg of the civic is that low.. Not turbo charged, premium fuel, light, and has similar numbers to a gti or mustang on the mpg front. Mpg isn't a huge concern but it is something to consider with prices going crazy.

It isn't a categorical logic flaw, the price estimate has remained consistent for years for this particular car. I would say nothing because what you said is completely irrelevant to what was being discussed.

The civic mpg is low because of the engine size, gearing, aerodynamics, and so forth. It matches the GTI in performance and mpg.. Why (how) would it be more fuel efficient? It isn't as if Honda purposely made the car get bad gas milage. On the other hand, with most vehicles how the operator drives dictates the fuel consumption - I, for instance, average 33-35 mpg in my 2002 toyota solara 4 cylinder. I have increased the tire pressure, remove junk in the car, drive no faster than 65mph in the right lane on the freeway and gently accelerate from a start. The mpg is tracked with each tank fill up and I achieve a range of greater than 510 miles. It's not bad for a $3,500 pick up with air conditioning, clean interior and is mechanically sound. :happy0180:

[Staticz]

how does the GLI compare to the GTI? the interior seems really nice, for both, and all of the reviews I have looked at seem to like the handling. Performance seems sporty to me while remaining practical...

I dont really like hatchbacks, or the plaid seats of the GTI... which is why I ask how GLI compares.

[RabidRat]

Originally Posted by Staticz

Since I graduated, I rarely have anyone but my gf in the car. The incredibly cramped backseat is one of the low points of the car for me, but I also don't want to put a ton of emphasis on it since I don't anticipate needing a backseat more than once every few months or so. I also only live about 30 min from my parents and could probably trade cars for a few days if I needed a lot more space for something.

I've noticed in some other coupes, (my roommate had a tiny 99 civic) that 4 people is a lot worse than 3 in a car with a cramped backseat, as with only one person in back, they can kind of lean and such. Also, the person in shotgun can scoot their seat up and provide a bit more legroom, without the driver needing to sacrifice his comfortable driving position.

Get this car.