Help me choose a RWD car with a manual transmission

[serialk11r]

Lol @ all the Miata answers. Yea I agree the ND is amazing if you're short and don't need luggage space, but the OP's mentioned choices are all high-practicality models.

I somehow haven't sat in an E46 before, but it's a lower and smaller car than the later 3 series which I found to be not very sporty feeling. I would go 330Ci (ZHP preferred) and mod it for power instead of an M3 because I am not a fan of the S54 engine at all. 8000rpm is not all that impressive and you have to deal with valve adjustments, the stupid crazy thick Castrol 10w-60 oil, an extra 50lbs because of the silly iron block, etc. An M54B30 with some mods will get you like...270?+hp which I think is pretty good.

FR-S is sporty, fun, and very practical, but having owned one...I have a very hard time recommending it because it made pretty uninspiring rattling sounds especially in the drivetrain, and the acceleration was underwhelming, no thanks to the extra-heavy Subaru H4. I guess if you really want a modern RWD car on the cheap it does the job.

[Joveen]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

I'm an average height dude, couldn't fit with my helmet in a sunroof E46 M3, had to gangsta lean to drive it, otherwise modified it was a lovely car to drive hard even with the SMG. I get trading the GTI in for a Civic, just a few steps away from comfort into sporty on the spectrum, but I'm not sure it would be rewarding enough. And the Civic Si is probably sportier than the Inifiniti and BMW.

tl;dr go test drive, buy a miata

Have you drove a gti? No way a civic si is more sportier.

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[Joveen]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

Lol @ all the Miata answers. Yea I agree the ND is amazing if you're short and don't need luggage space, but the OP's mentioned choices are all high-practicality models.

I somehow haven't sat in an E46 before, but it's a lower and smaller car than the later 3 series which I found to be not very sporty feeling. I would go 330Ci (ZHP preferred) and mod it for power instead of an M3 because I am not a fan of the S54 engine at all.

FR-S is sporty, fun, and very practical, but having owned one...I have a very hard time recommending it because it made pretty uninspiring rattling sounds especially in the drivetrain, and the acceleration was underwhelming, no thanks to the extra-heavy Subaru H4. I guess if you really want a modern RWD car on the cheap it does the job.

I have to agree with the brz rattles snake features lol. I swear I wanna throw this car away sometimes.

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[Bluefire98]

I got a good chuckle at the one who said the base brz interior is like a 90s impreza. I had one and currently own an frs. Trust me, the impreza was worse ��

[GrabTheWheel]

All of you get out of here! If you ain't twining, you ain't winning. What forum are we on here?

1. The VQ sounds like a soulless vacuum cleaner. Even worse than the 86 fuel pump crickets. Plus she's a pig.

2. A case of a car being better than the sum of it's parts or stats on paper. This is the best choice for a fun canyon car. The best driving position and ergonomics of any car in this class.

3. Not a bad platform to build a fully caged race car. Besides that, it's old, it's German, and it's heavy.

4. What is your purpose for the car? Highway commuter? Are you a larger person? If it's simply to get you from A to B on the freeway I'd consider a FWD turbo car for sure.

[Sasquachulator]

Originally Posted by Bluefire98

I got a good chuckle at the one who said the base brz interior is like a 90s impreza. I had one and currently own an frs. Trust me, the impreza was worse ��

I never understood the interior hate. Its not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. It almost seems like everyone expected a BMW level interior for some odd reason. My expectation was around Corolla level and that's what it feels like.

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by Sasquachulator

It almost seems like everyone expected a BMW level interior for some odd reason. My expectation was around Corolla level and that's what it feels like.

Eh...I mean my MR2 Spyder was worse by a lot, but I'd still take the Corolla interior. The door and seat rattling got on my nerves, though I was able to eventually fix the seat rattling with a lot of rubber bumpers and electrical tape.

The ND Miata has a great interior by contrast, if you ignore the irritating infotainment.

[Yoshoobaroo]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

Eh...I mean my MR2 Spyder was worse by a lot, but I'd still take the Corolla interior. The door and seat rattling got on my nerves, though I was able to eventually fix the seat rattling with a lot of rubber bumpers and electrical tape.

The ND Miata has a great interior by contrast, if you ignore how irritatingly small it is inside.

Fixed

[TylerLieberman]

Save money and buy Cayman/GT4.... better yet, buy my Hakone and all my parts and I'll go do it myself lol.

[HaXx]

My friend is about to buy a 2018 mustang gt for about $30k and I cant help but feel a little bad for him. Doesnt seem like it's worth it. I 7nderstand it's more car, more power, bigger brakes, but It doesnt seem to be as fun to drive, and therefore doesnt make sense to cost more. I suppose msrp isnt based on drivers pleasure though. Definitely a good track car, every other car at a hpde is a straightpipec mustang gt, so i assume it's a rock solid platform, just based off popularity

[Vracer111]

I'm in the process of getting a proper lightweight Toyota RWD sportscar with manual for cheap... 4AGE, mid-engine, and overall in pretty good shape for a 31 year old vehicle...

https://m.imgur.com/a/YO199NZ

[why?]

Originally Posted by Vracer111

I'm in the process of getting a proper lightweight Toyota RWD sportscar with manual for cheap... 4AGE, mid-engine, and overall in pretty good shape for a 31 year old vehicle...

https://m.imgur.com/a/YO199NZ

where did you find one that clean? That looks awesome.

[WolfpackS2k]

Originally Posted by HaXx

My friend is about to buy a 2018 mustang gt for about $30k and I cant help but feel a little bad for him. Doesnt seem like it's worth it. I 7nderstand it's more car, more power, bigger brakes, but It doesnt seem to be as fun to drive, and therefore doesnt make sense to cost more. I suppose msrp isnt based on drivers pleasure though. Definitely a good track car, every other car at a hpde is a straightpipec mustang gt, so i assume it's a rock solid platform, just based off popularity

If its low mileage that's a pretty good deal (also depends on options). No reason to feel bad for him. Lots of power and a V8 soundtrack is a lot of fun. Different strokes man.

[Bluefire98]

Originally Posted by HaXx

My friend is about to buy a 2018 mustang gt for about $30k and I cant help but feel a little bad for him. Doesnt seem like it's worth it. I 7nderstand it's more car, more power, bigger brakes, but It doesnt seem to be as fun to drive, and therefore doesnt make sense to cost more. I suppose msrp isnt based on drivers pleasure though. Definitely a good track car, every other car at a hpde is a straightpipec mustang gt, so i assume it's a rock solid platform, just based off popularity

I actually adore the new gt's. They aren't a sports car, no, but the coyote is a gem of an engine. It revs out beautifully and sounds amazing. In a way, the mustang is the polar opposite of the 86: meh chassis, amazing engine vs amazing chassis, meh engine. Not to say the fa20 is garbage or the s550 chassis is horrible, just that they aren't the selling point of what you get.