What's on your test drive list?

[Lonewolf]

*I've test driven the FRS, and I love it except for a few issues and first-year hiccups.

I am trying to justify getting a sport coupe, but with a family on the horizon its going to be tough...the cars getting my attention right now and in line for a test drive:

1) 2013 Honda Accord Sedan (V6 version of course)

2) 2013 Charger R/T (V8) sedan (Probably not gonna happen since Dodge workers put together cars like blind and drunk gimps)

3) 2014 Nissan Altima Sedan 3.5S (V6) (I won't touch a Nissan until its in its second model year for pretty much the same reasons as the Charger above)

[JoeBoxer]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf

*I've test driven the FRS, and I love it except for a few issues and first-year hiccups.

I am trying to justify getting a sport coupe, but with a family on the horizon its going to be tough...the cars getting my attention right now and in line for a test drive:

1) 2013 Honda Accord Sedan (V6 version of course)

2) 2013 Charger R/T (V8) sedan (Probably not gonna happen since Dodge workers put together cars like blind and drunk gimps)

3) 2014 Nissan Altima Sedan 3.5S (V6) (I won't touch a Nissan until its in its second model year for pretty much the same reasons as the Charger above)

Good call, been having a few issues with the 13 Altima's. We have put a few transmissions in the 4 cylinder ones already and the new Pathfinder also. No problems with the V6 yet but there aren't as many out there.

[tomato88]

I currently drive a '12 Mazda 3. I bought this car thinking that backseats are totally necessary for my lifestyle and it was the sportiest choice of compacts. However, I have never, not even once, used the backseats ever since the purchase, so now I am considering a sports coupe. I'd love to get a new one, but since I'm a recent college graduate trying to make a living without parents' help, I'm planning on getting a CPO for under $23,000.

1) FR-S or BRZ
2) Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T
3) Nissan 370z
4) BMW 128i
5) Mazda RX-8 (very unlikely)

As you can see, I'm not a big fan of convertibles.

[JoeBoxer]

Originally Posted by tomato88

I currently drive a '12 Mazda 3. I bought this car thinking that backseats are totally necessary for my lifestyle and it was the sportiest choice of compacts. However, I have never, not even once, used the backseats ever since the purchase, so now I am considering a sports coupe. I'd love to get a new one, but since I'm a recent college graduate trying to make a living without parents' help, I'm planning on getting a CPO for under $23,000.

1) FR-S or BRZ
2) Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T
3) Nissan 370z
4) BMW 128i
5) Mazda RX-8 (very unlikely)

As you can see, I'm not a big fan of convertibles.

Good choices, the 370z is much faster than the FRS but I prefer the handling and "feel" of the FRS more. I haven't driven the 13 GC 2.0T but prefer the look of the earlier ones. I don't like the Hyundai interior though, just too much silver trim and hard plastic.

BMW and RX8 I would cross off just based on reliability and cost to repair/maintain.

FRS/BRZ is where its at, lots of already modded ones even for sale too if you wanted to go that route.

[chrisl]

Originally Posted by Sport-Tech

Not buying 95% of this - these cars are nearly all 2-3 times the price of the twins and more. Who the hell seriously cross-shops an FR-S with a Cayman S?

If you're willing to consider used, and can afford the maintenance on the Porsche (which is surprisingly infrequent, but expensive when it does happen), this isn't as brainless of a comparison as you might initially think (hell - it's what I did, and I ended up with a Cayman). If you're looking at new Caymans though? You're absolutely right - they're completely different price ranges, and you really wouldn't cross shop the two.

[Sport-Tech]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

Not such a huge leap. I can afford any of this cars, but still chose the BRZ. Just because you have the money doesn't always mean you can't see a great value when it's there (I.e. the twins).

If value is such a high priority then no you really can't afford the better car without making what to you is an unacceptable sacrifice (as evidenced by your decision).

Really being able to afford a car means its OTD price is never an issue, you would not go for a lesser, more affordable car for its "value" because you don't need to, you have the money to spare.

[Sport-Tech]

Originally Posted by zygrene

You said test drive list, not seriously consider buying list.

Well for most normal people that is why you test drive cars. Folks that go for test drives for other reasons constitute a small minority (and I'm sure are the bane of car salesmen! )

Given the forum participants here I could have been more clear about that I guess.

[Sport-Tech]

Originally Posted by chrisl

If you're willing to consider used, and can afford the maintenance on the Porsche (which is surprisingly infrequent, but expensive when it does happen), this isn't as brainless of a comparison as you might initially think (hell - it's what I did, and I ended up with a Cayman).

Good luck with that. I just read a thread giving the experiences of 135i owners and a few mechanics on VWVortex - God it was scary, the fiscal damage of ownership out of warranty was staggering. The basic conclusion: lease or forget it. Main reason I would not be going for a 5-10 year old Porsche myself - you may luck out, but I don't want to roll the dice.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by Sport-Tech

If value is such a high priority then no you really can't afford the better car without making what to you is an unacceptable sacrifice (as evidenced by your decision).

Really being able to afford a car means its OTD price is never an issue, you would not go for a lesser, more affordable car for its "value" because you don't need to, you have the money to spare.

This is not true at all. You can see the value in something regardless of how much money you have, or what you can afford. You don't always have to go balls to the wall just because you can.

You always want to argue, so I'm not going to get in to this with you. Believe me when I tell you that I could definitely afford any of the cars that were listed, but I chose not to. Not BECAUSE of the value the twins represent, but what that value represents in a fun, but depreciating lump of metal.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by Sport-Tech

Not buying 95% of this - these cars are nearly all 2-3 times the price of the twins and more. Who the hell seriously cross-shops an FR-S with a Cayman S? You got the money to cover the upkeep, the insurance etc. you buy the Cayman, case closed. The FR-S while fun is a crude under-powered toy by comparison.

Paging @King Tut and several others.

[chrisl]

Originally Posted by Sport-Tech

Good luck with that. I just read a thread giving the experiences of 135i owners and a few mechanics on VWVortex - God it was scary, the fiscal damage of ownership out of warranty was staggering. The basic conclusion: lease or forget it. Main reason I would not be going for a 5-10 year old Porsche myself - you may luck out, but I don't want to roll the dice.

From everything I can tell (both from talking to former/current porsche owners and from more generic statistical research), Porsche is actually quite a bit better than an older BMW/Audi in that regard. Will it be as cheap to maintain as a new BRZ? No, absolutely not, but the estimated maintenance cost I could find for it wasn't out of my price range, and I'm willing to pay the extra money for the (at least in my opinion) better driving experience.

[King Tut]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

Paging @King Tut and several others.

I am not sure it is really worth giving him a response. I consider all cars up to $80k when purchasing my next new car. Here are my past 4 new car purchases:

2013 Subaru BRZ
http://brz.ridedomain.com

2012 Porsche Cayman R
http://cayman.ridedomain.com

2009 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
http://z06.ridedomain.com

2009 BMW M3
http://e92.ridedomain.com

You will notice a trend in those car purchases. Each time I went lighter. Price is not a primary factor in my car selection process. I test drove a 370Z, Genesis Coupe 3.8, and STI before I bought my Cayman R.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by King Tut

Price is not a primary factor in my car selection process.

And when you're talking about sports cars....it shouldn't be.

[tomato88]

Originally Posted by Sport-Tech

Good luck with that. I just read a thread giving the experiences of 135i owners and a few mechanics on VWVortex - God it was scary, the fiscal damage of ownership out of warranty was staggering. The basic conclusion: lease or forget it. Main reason I would not be going for a 5-10 year old Porsche myself - you may luck out, but I don't want to roll the dice.

A friend of mine has a 2010 Mini Cooper (not S), and just recently the car spent 3 days in a shop for $3,500 worth of repairs. It was covered under warranty, but now he's reconsidering about keeping the car.