Good sporty daily driver?

[Dragonitti]

Originally Posted by SUB-FT86

I don't think SCION's impress the ladies either if that's what you want. You might as well buy something with a status badge.

If you need a certain car to get chicks, you are a sad little man...

[Ryephile]

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.

The Mazda3 is a great car. It's reasonably fun for an average hatchback. It certainly checks all the right pragmatic and practical boxes that makes it a compelling purchase.

Sports cars, on the other hand, rarely make compelling rational purchase cases for themselves. You give up practicality, quiet, features, fuel economy, price, and social conformity all in the name of indulgent fun. Of course your family hates it; it flies in the face of boring, predictable, and practical. It's certainly not a truck, big sedan, or SUV that "they" would prefer, or expect you to purchase.

At the end of the day, however, who exactly is buying and driving the car? As such, their opinions, however strong-willed and convincing, are merely noise in your purchasing decision.

Up until now, the R53 MINI Cooper S has been the best all-around daily driver I've owned. The current-gen R56, IMO, is too watered down and the steering feel ruined. The Miata was the most fun DD I've owned, but just a little bit too small to take for a weekend out of town, or business trips to suppliers. The Golf TDI I have now is too big and insulated; I feel guilty and wasteful commuting alone in such a barge, despite the awesome fuel economy. My E36 3-series was a similar story; too insulated, too heavy, to floppy [even with //M suspension].

I see the Mazda3 as a cheaper alternative to the Golf TDI, but without the nice interior, torque, or fuel economy. Without those 3 items, I'm afraid the 3 is rather pointless unless low price and hatchback space are mandatory.

This brings us back to why you're on this forum; you don't want to drive something boring. The FR-S represents just barely enough practicality, acceptable fuel economy, and [hopefully] an authentic drivers-car experience. That last aspect is why most of us are here; we want the real deal. Rear-drive, great chassis feel, no BS, and not some massive wasteful monstrosity.

It's a hard-top Miata with actual cargo space; a reincarnated AE86, an affordalbe hard-top S2000, and a mini-Supra. None of those are any good at carrying a baby-seat and diaper-changing bag, but I guarantee all those cars that are doing that are staring in envy that you're having fun and they're stuck in a rut.

[SUB-FT86]

Originally Posted by Dragonitti

If you need a certain car to get chicks, you are a sad little man...

I wasn't saying that about me. You must've missed the part where I was talking to HTG.

[Snoopyalien24]

Originally Posted by Dragonitti

If you need a certain car to get chicks, you are a sad little man...

This made me lol.

Hey dragon, so what are you getting after all? FRS or the BRZ?

[SUB-FT86]

Originally Posted by Ryephile

The Mazda3 is a great car. It's reasonably fun for an average hatchback. It certainly checks all the right pragmatic and practical boxes that makes it a compelling purchase.

Sports cars, on the other hand, rarely make compelling rational purchase cases for themselves. You give up practicality, quiet, features, fuel economy, price, and social conformity all in the name of indulgent fun. Of course your family hates it; it flies in the face of boring, predictable, and practical. It's certainly not a truck, big sedan, or SUV that "they" would prefer, or expect you to purchase.

At the end of the day, however, who exactly is buying and driving the car? As such, their opinions, however strong-willed and convincing, are merely noise in your purchasing decision.

Up until now, the R53 MINI Cooper S has been the best all-around daily driver I've owned. The current-gen R56, IMO, is too watered down and the steering feel ruined. The Miata was the most fun DD I've owned, but just a little bit too small to take for a weekend out of town, or business trips to suppliers. The Golf TDI I have now is too big and insulated; I feel guilty and wasteful commuting alone in such a barge, despite the awesome fuel economy. My E36 3-series was a similar story; too insulated, too heavy, to floppy [even with //M suspension].

I see the Mazda3 as a cheaper alternative to the Golf TDI, but without the nice interior, torque, or fuel economy. Without those 3 items, I'm afraid the 3 is rather pointless unless low price and hatchback space are mandatory.

This brings us back to why you're on this forum; you don't want to drive something boring. The FR-S represents just barely enough practicality, acceptable fuel economy, and [hopefully] an authentic drivers-car experience. That last aspect is why most of us are here; we want the real deal. Rear-drive, great chassis feel, no BS, and not some massive wasteful monstrosity.

It's a hard-top Miata with actual cargo space; a reincarnated AE86, an affordalbe hard-top S2000, and a mini-Supra. None of those are any good at carrying a baby-seat and diaper-changing bag, but I guarantee all those cars that are doing that are staring in envy that you're having fun and they're stuck in a rut.

Well said.

[Pekingduck]

I say you have to decide from a Genesis or FRS/BRZ. The other two option GTI and SI are totally different machine compared to Genesis and FRS/BRZ. But if you are not particular about drivetrain layout, interior and exterior styling, so so fun to drive factor, practicality, curb appeal, and you want more of an adult car, I would go with the GTI. I think the SI would be good for modification, but the price for aftermarket has risen and it lack a lot of GTI fine touches. But for pure fun I would go with the FRS/BRZ, and back seat with a RWD layout I would go with then Genesis. That how I feel.

[ChrisH]

Originally Posted by 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.

Be aware that in no VW (even not the Golf R) the ESC can be switched off.

[AIRMAX]

Headroom in the back is comparable to S15...

The leg and feet room in the other hand?


Since the seats are designed so low I'm not expecting much room for people with fat feet.
And knee room? Well depends how generous the person sitting in front of you. With both driver and shotgun seated pushed all the way back... I am guessing 3 inches gap.

As a daily it's fine.. It's non turbo so it's cheaper to maintain and easier on the fuel/gas unless you ride the redline much.

[ZSwierczynski]

Originally Posted by HitTheGas

compared to the Hyundai, not compared to a BMW.
all things being relative.

& i disagree about the brand. scion is supposed to be toyota's 'hip' youth brand.

hyundai is just considered bottom of the barrel & has always made pretty ugly cars, tied w/ KIA. Though i suppose Suzuki could be considered worse.

Suzuki isn't an ugly car. I actually gotten complaints and praised from women because of my Suzuki. But then again I put Hot Wheels Stickers on it, to add +20 horsepower per sticker. Older Suzuki's, Pre 2005, I would consider ugly but so was everything else.

[HitTheGas]

Originally Posted by ZSwierczynski

Suzuki isn't an ugly car. I actually gotten complaints and praised from women because of my Suzuki. But then again I put Hot Wheels Stickers on it, to add +20 horsepower per sticker. Older Suzuki's, Pre 2005, I would consider ugly but so was everything else.

yea those hot wheels stickers can really make a car shine