Alternatives to BRZ, sub $30k

[D4ng3r]

Originally Posted by Flip

No one impressed enough how slow to let out the clutch. Literally take 5 seconds to let it out completely.

Listen to this guy if you want to destroy your clutch.

[zygrene]

The 135i I had my sights on was just sold recently. $31k for a manual 2011 model with 13k miles and sport package...

Now I'm just waiting for deals to show up. I don't want the STI if it's going to cost as much to maintain as a 135i. The 135i has all the makings of a fun RWD car, it seems.

I'm not worried about learning manual anymore. I'm just going to deal-hunt for the next 5 weeks and hopefully I can find something by then. If not, I'll have to wait until July.

[viper_driver]

I daily drove an s2k for almost 7 years. Get one, youll love it. I got 27mpg lifetime. The trunk is decent when you move the tool kit into the spare tire and remove the foam piece. I took the passenger seat out a few times as well to haul cargo and had lumber sticking out of the top more than once. Id still have it if not for the kid.

Never one single breakdown, honda standard.

[ngabdala]

Civic Si Bra . No older than 2011

[CSSM]

Originally Posted by zygrene

Ha... that's a new suggestion. Even though it's got back seats, I think it's a bit too small. And I bet maintenance on it will be a b*tch.

Fiat actually has top marks for reliability in Europe

[KeepGuessing]

Originally Posted by CSSM

Fiat actually has top marks for reliability in Europe

everything from europe has top marks in europe..

[Flip]

Originally Posted by D4ng3r

Listen to this guy if you want to destroy your clutch.

Well, obviously not every time. But when you're learning to drive, go at that pace to get the feel of the clutch.

[zygrene]

So... I might be getting an A3. Audi doesn't offer the Quattro with a manual transmission, so that means FWD. All the reviews say it has lively handling but not quite on par with the GTI. I guess it's a good option for a DD and will teach me how to drive stick for now. Right now it's down to the A3, A4, and possibly the 135i if I can find one in the next month. Obviously I'd opt for the 135i but they're so hard to find with low miles and less than 3 years old.

[Spaceywilly]

Originally Posted by D4ng3r

Listen to this guy if you want to destroy your clutch.

Yep. The best way I heard it explained was to imagine there was a light on the dashboard that came on when the clutch was not either completely in or out. Your goal is to have that light be on as little as possible. When you're just learning how to drive though or learning on a new car it is easiest to let it out slowly and find the pickup point until you get used to it, then you should try to do it as quickly as possible while still being smooth.

[Aonarch]

Miata

/thread

[ngabdala]

VERY TRUE. I own a 2011 Civic Si and there is no turn that it has understeered. The handling is amazing. I've never seen this in FWD.

With that said the Civic Si isn't fast enough for me so I am getting a refund on my brz deposit. I used to think the sheer fun of a car like the brz doesn't mean it needs more horsepower. Sadly I was wrong I really wanted this car.

Originally Posted by Capt Canuck

^I see you drive an older civic, but trust me the 8th gen sporty civics are nothing like a standard one. With a slippy diff and an adjustable chassis you could dial out a lot of the inherent understeer in a typical FWD.

That said, does the 9th gen sporty civic have those same traits? IDK I haven't driven one, but like yourself I would stump up an extra $2k and get a BRZ over the new Si :-)

[zygrene]

So I ended up getting a used 2011 Audi A3 Premium Plus with the Titanium Sport package. It's pretty much the highest configured manual A3 you can get, minus the Convenience package and tech goodies like nav and high-end sound system. It's got HIDs, sport suspension, leather/alcantara bucket seats, S-line badges, 10-speaker audio. It's one hot looking hatch/wagon. I got it in black with a black interior and tinted windows for $28k before TTL, slightly over $30k after TTL. Minor scratches in the interior and some scuff marks on the wheels, but otherwise perfect with about 9k miles. The cargo space of this little thing is great, and the backseats are very usable. It's no RWD sports car like the BRZ, but I'm happy with it for now. I figure that once I've got the money, I'll invest in something like a BRZ STI or similar. At least now I can learn stick on a practical car that's also quite sporty and fun to drive.

I'll post pics tomorrow.