I totally bought the wrong car

[Mr_Hann]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

On your deathbed, what are you going to think?

"gee I wish I had the $5k I would have saved playing it financially conservative instead of buying that sports car"

"Damn I had some good times in that sports car"

Money is just an enabler for the creation of memories, and pleasurable experiences.

[SisterBlue22]

My son went off to college so I was ready for my first non-mom car in a while. I used to own Triumph Spitfires as play cars, so I knew I wanted something small and sporty. I don't think I was even out of the dealer parking lot yet on my test drive when I knew I was driving MY car. Three months later, I still feel happy every day when I go out to the garage to drive to work.

Good luck, and I hope your 11 month plan works out!!

[dcfis]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

I honestly can't speak to Toyota handling, every Toyota I've driven is garbage imo (Camry, Corolla, RAV4, Tacoma) except the FR-S and recently I drove an IS300 that was pretty good. Yes I know I have not driven Toyota's best, but I have driven Toyota's most common offerings. Many cars come from the factory and it feels like you're perched on top of a ball, as you lean into the corner you fall off the ball. This 3,400 lb 4-door went 'round an on-ramp almost as flat as an 86 and I fed the throttle in until the front end just barely started to let go. And this car was a beat POS, I wouldn't pay half of what they were asking but I will be searching for a good one. NA 2JZ, double wishbone on all four corners and an LSD optional. Apparently the lead engineer also did the AE86...

Really good handling to me is a car that doesn't fall all over itself in the corners. I don't have any Subaru experience, AWD never appealed to me.

Given that the suspension for the 86 is lifted from Subaru I would not argue that the handling (the big selling point of the car) has it's roots in Subaru. (hah understeer) And I totally understand the sentiment that the car "feels more Subaru" it really should imo.

I do not mean to discount Subaru at all, they are the reason this product is out there at an affordable price, light weight, with excellent handling and I love that it has a boxer engine. All the little detail design work is Subaru, Toyota guidance, Subaru implementation.

What year is300 were you so enamored with? I'd like to check one out

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by dcfis

What year is300 were you so enamored with? I'd like to check one out

First gen, specifically '02-'05 because reasons.

Going to sort my truck out, sell it, and see if the two local ones under $5k and over 200k miles are any good.

[86kahl]

Dang it. I had typed out a loooong post to refute everything in this thread but my phone died.

In summary:
FA20 is amazing, gets 100hp/liter, 30mpg, and pretty darn reliable. Add boost and a good tune it's a monster (400whp on stock block) it's completely underrated engine for all the tech that it has.

All other cars listed (wrx/STi, evo, 'stang) cost quite a bit more and rely on boost to make them exciting. Trust me without boost those engines are DULL. (Worked at a shop that mostly catered to evo's, was a huge fan of the 8 till the twins came out)

Third this car is almost exclusively TOYOTA designed and engineered. Subaru declined them twice till Toyota showed up with a WRX converted to rwd. Toyota needed a boxer heart to satisfy the low COG. But Subaru is still playing catch up with a DI system which is why 15/16 WRX are blowing up while stock Fa20's handle boost better. It's the flexibility that the D4S offers with fuel trims/injectors.

All things considered I think the 86 is a gem that gets overlooked a lot for its meager "200hp". It's the closest you can get to a true sports car while getting 30mpg and priced a little under a fully loaded Camry.

[86kahl]

Back to OP.
Seems you did buy the wrong car...maybe pawn the ST on the wife and get a used 86? '13 aren't that scary to own Lmao😂

[IrishTG]

Figured I'd come back and check up on this post and just give an update. I ended up getting out of the Focus, but I wasn't able to go with a BRZ and I've actually ended up in a Fiesta ST. I was utterly shocked when I drove it how much different it felt than the Focus and those of you saying I should try it weren't wrong, it's just so much more alive feeling and makes me smile like the Focus never did.

Now, why didn't I get the BRZ? None of what everyone probably assumes . I didn't change my mind about the car's worth, or its power situation, any of that. The main reasons were:

1. My wife was super, super against it. Not because she didn't like it, she thought it was pretty awesome, but the notion of stuffing kids in the back, no matter how much I spun it as feasible, was not jiving with her. She was willing to concede that I totally didn't need the utility of the Focus, but she was highly concerned about my younger son's foot situation as he gets taller but is still confined to a booster seat causing his legs to dangle. She was probably right...

2. Dealers in my area kinda suck and there weren't many deals to be had. Pretty much everything was over MSRP, even Premiums, by a bit and I just couldn't get much wiggling going on.

3. When I drove the Fiesta I wanted to hate it. I wanted to think of it as a hopped up, wannabe econobox but I couldn't. It isn't quite the same as the twins, but it's still a whole lot of fun. It feels more manic and alive than the Focus did, it's sharper and more direct. When I'm driving it I can't help but want to go out of my way to find a cool road with no traffic. It's like an angry little jellybean that says "come get some" all the time . I didn't read back through the thread but I think I mentioned something earlier that I believe if I had driven the Fiesta at the same time as the Focus I would have never given the Focus a second look and I was right. It is an infinitely more enjoyable car in my opinion.

4. Value. My Fiesta is loaded up with Recaros, Nav, moonroof (which I would have preferred to not have, but it was there and I wasn't into ordering), pretty nice stereo, and as a 2016 model it has Sync 3 instead of that crappy MFT junk, all for $22.5 after haggling and rebates (sticker was $25.8). I couldn't get a BRZ under $26k and when looking at the value of the Fiesta as a daily driver that is also a hell of a lot of fun, my sensible side took over and I couldn't ignore it. No, it's not the BRZ. No, it's not RWD. No, it isn't as neutral and the handling probably isn't quite as good. It is still pretty damned good though, and when put together as a package, it's hard to turn away from it.

I would still love to have a BRZ but right now it isn't in the cards. My younger son is out of his booster seat in 3 years and the older one can sit up front so at that time I might be in a situation where it makes more sense and if it's still being made I can jump on it. The other option I'm seriously toying with is waiting 1-2 more years and picking up a used one with low mileage and having it as a third car just for playing.

[86 South Africa]

Originally Posted by IrishTG

2. The handling is amazing. You all know this, and now I know what you're talking about. It isn't about track times, or being the fastest, it is about that feel and enjoyment and this thing has it all day.

And that for me sums up this car... it feels great and every time I get in it and drive it I enjoy myself. That's all you really need these days if you're not going racing etc.
(PS I also have a long bike history with plenty of good bikes, race bikes etc but that's a chat for another day on another forum )

[86 South Africa]

Originally Posted by IrishTG

Figured I'd come back and check up on this post and just give an update. I ended up getting out of the Focus, but I wasn't able to go with a BRZ and I've actually ended up in a Fiesta ST. I was utterly shocked when I drove it how much different it felt than the Focus and those of you saying I should try it weren't wrong, it's just so much more alive feeling and makes me smile like the Focus never did.

Now, why didn't I get the BRZ? None of what everyone probably assumes . I didn't change my mind about the car's worth, or its power situation, any of that. The main reasons were:

1. My wife was super, super against it. Not because she didn't like it, she thought it was pretty awesome, but the notion of stuffing kids in the back, no matter how much I spun it as feasible, was not jiving with her. She was willing to concede that I totally didn't need the utility of the Focus, but she was highly concerned about my younger son's foot situation as he gets taller but is still confined to a booster seat causing his legs to dangle. She was probably right...

2. Dealers in my area kinda suck and there weren't many deals to be had. Pretty much everything was over MSRP, even Premiums, by a bit and I just couldn't get much wiggling going on.

3. When I drove the Fiesta I wanted to hate it. I wanted to think of it as a hopped up, wannabe econobox but I couldn't. It isn't quite the same as the twins, but it's still a whole lot of fun. It feels more manic and alive than the Focus did, it's sharper and more direct. When I'm driving it I can't help but want to go out of my way to find a cool road with no traffic. It's like an angry little jellybean that says "come get some" all the time . I didn't read back through the thread but I think I mentioned something earlier that I believe if I had driven the Fiesta at the same time as the Focus I would have never given the Focus a second look and I was right. It is an infinitely more enjoyable car in my opinion.

4. Value. My Fiesta is loaded up with Recaros, Nav, moonroof (which I would have preferred to not have, but it was there and I wasn't into ordering), pretty nice stereo, and as a 2016 model it has Sync 3 instead of that crappy MFT junk, all for $22.5 after haggling and rebates (sticker was $25.8). I couldn't get a BRZ under $26k and when looking at the value of the Fiesta as a daily driver that is also a hell of a lot of fun, my sensible side took over and I couldn't ignore it. No, it's not the BRZ. No, it's not RWD. No, it isn't as neutral and the handling probably isn't quite as good. It is still pretty damned good though, and when put together as a package, it's hard to turn away from it.

I would still love to have a BRZ but right now it isn't in the cards. My younger son is out of his booster seat in 3 years and the older one can sit up front so at that time I might be in a situation where it makes more sense and if it's still being made I can jump on it. The other option I'm seriously toying with is waiting 1-2 more years and picking up a used one with low mileage and having it as a third car just for playing.

#JustSaying

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by IrishTG

Now, why didn't I get the BRZ? :

1. My wife was super, super against it.

That was all that was needed to be said right there!

[ScoobsMcGee]

Originally Posted by IrishTG

Figured I'd come back and check up on this post and just give an update. I ended up getting out of the Focus, but I wasn't able to go with a BRZ and I've actually ended up in a Fiesta ST. I was utterly shocked when I drove it how much different it felt than the Focus and those of you saying I should try it weren't wrong, it's just so much more alive feeling and makes me smile like the Focus never did.

Now, why didn't I get the BRZ? None of what everyone probably assumes . I didn't change my mind about the car's worth, or its power situation, any of that. The main reasons were:

1. My wife was super, super against it. Not because she didn't like it, she thought it was pretty awesome, but the notion of stuffing kids in the back, no matter how much I spun it as feasible, was not jiving with her. She was willing to concede that I totally didn't need the utility of the Focus, but she was highly concerned about my younger son's foot situation as he gets taller but is still confined to a booster seat causing his legs to dangle. She was probably right...

2. Dealers in my area kinda suck and there weren't many deals to be had. Pretty much everything was over MSRP, even Premiums, by a bit and I just couldn't get much wiggling going on.

3. When I drove the Fiesta I wanted to hate it. I wanted to think of it as a hopped up, wannabe econobox but I couldn't. It isn't quite the same as the twins, but it's still a whole lot of fun. It feels more manic and alive than the Focus did, it's sharper and more direct. When I'm driving it I can't help but want to go out of my way to find a cool road with no traffic. It's like an angry little jellybean that says "come get some" all the time . I didn't read back through the thread but I think I mentioned something earlier that I believe if I had driven the Fiesta at the same time as the Focus I would have never given the Focus a second look and I was right. It is an infinitely more enjoyable car in my opinion.

4. Value. My Fiesta is loaded up with Recaros, Nav, moonroof (which I would have preferred to not have, but it was there and I wasn't into ordering), pretty nice stereo, and as a 2016 model it has Sync 3 instead of that crappy MFT junk, all for $22.5 after haggling and rebates (sticker was $25.8). I couldn't get a BRZ under $26k and when looking at the value of the Fiesta as a daily driver that is also a hell of a lot of fun, my sensible side took over and I couldn't ignore it. No, it's not the BRZ. No, it's not RWD. No, it isn't as neutral and the handling probably isn't quite as good. It is still pretty damned good though, and when put together as a package, it's hard to turn away from it.

I would still love to have a BRZ but right now it isn't in the cards. My younger son is out of his booster seat in 3 years and the older one can sit up front so at that time I might be in a situation where it makes more sense and if it's still being made I can jump on it. The other option I'm seriously toying with is waiting 1-2 more years and picking up a used one with low mileage and having it as a third car just for playing.

As someone who owns both, I'd say you've made the right call with a family. While both cars are incredibly fun to drive right off the lot, I view the BRZ more as a toy that can be daily driven while the FiST is a daily you can have an absurd amount of fun with. I still enjoy driving the BRZ more, but for schlepping about town or down the highway, the FiST is easier to live with while still being able to barrel down a back road with reckless abandon if you desire.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by IrishTG

Figured I'd come back and check up on this post and just give an update. I ended up getting out of the Focus, but I wasn't able to go with a BRZ and I've actually ended up in a Fiesta ST. I was utterly shocked when I drove it how much different it felt than the Focus and those of you saying I should try it weren't wrong, it's just so much more alive feeling and makes me smile like the Focus never did.

Congrats on the new Fiesta ST! It's interesting that a number of people have commented the Fiesta ST and Focus ST drive very differently. I haven't driven either yet, but has Ford really tuned them that differently?

[ScoobsMcGee]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Congrats on the new Fiesta ST! It's interesting that a number of people have commented the Fiesta ST and Focus ST drive very differently. I haven't driven either yet, but has Ford really tuned them that differently?

The recaros in the Fiesta are more comfortable if you have them, and the car is a bit easier to control. The Fiesta is about 500 lbs lighter and has a more usable power band. While the wheel can get a little squirrely if you go flat out in second, the Focus will torque steer in a way that reminds me of the 1g FWD DSMs. Well, maybe not quite that bad. The Focus is unquestionably faster, but the lower power and lighter weight of the Fiesta, coupled with more neutral handling, makes it more tossable on back roads.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by 86 South Africa

#JustSaying

#3wheeling






Like you can't slide a FWD, watch the last minute or two of the Chris Harris and Top Gear videos:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzb6z6f0cbY"]Peugeot 208 GTi vs Renault Clio 200 Vs Ford Fiesta ST - Top Gear - Series 20 - BBC - YouTube[/ame]
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10L-WFsVaw0"]Ford Fiesta ST First Drive - /CHRIS HARRIS ON CARS - YouTube[/ame]