After the BRZ?

[mr.whiskers]

I have these thoughts once in a while - whats next. Would be nice to have a bit more comfort for daily driving, a bit more room for my kids and a quicker acceleration. Also awd would be nice since winter here is snowy is long. While keeping as much fun to drive factor as possible on a budget.

Everything points to either WRX or used Golf R/ Audi S3.
Secondary option would be used Cadillac CT4-V (non Blackwing)

Golf R would probably be 7.5 gen, yeah its slower than the new one but interior is so much better and mk8 are so pricey. Don't think I can justify buying the new one. But they pretty much check all my boxes, real shame they destroyed the interior on the new gen.
Audi S3 is basically same thing in 4 door form. 2025+ seems to be the winning year because they gave it the trick rear differential out of Golf R/RS3 and it still has a somewhat usable interior with physical controls. So that checks all the boxes, but they are pricey and it will be quite a few years before they used ones will be in price range attainable by me.

WRX - for a price of 5 year old Golf R can get a brand new WRX. Even the looks started to grow on me. But interior is kinda meh, very cheap plastics inside just like BRZ, slower than Golf R and not really faster than BRZ on dry (but will be much faster in the winter though). Same class as BRZ in autocross but not as competitive. I am just worried this car will not feel like an upgrade overall, plus would be nice to try another car manufacturer.


Cadillac CT4-V seems to be a very nice sport sedan that nobody knows about. Yes Blackwing is a beast but prices on those are insane, I can't afford it. Whats nice about the V compared to competition is its RWD platform, can completely turn off traction control, has lsd. Kinda worried about american car reliability. Maybe in couple of years they ll drop in price to be in my budget, but right now theres very little of them on sale in Canada and price still leans towards 50k on used ones.

Other potential cars I looked at:

BMW340 - From all the stuff I read about it - its more of a muscle car than a sports car. Seems to be a thing with all modern BMWs - very heavy and soft suspension. Not very fun to drive and particularly good at handing. Shame.

Elantra N/ VW GTI - I am sure they are fun cars, but 7 month of FWD understeer during the winter, sounds miserable to me. But if I lived in warmer climate Elantra N would be at the top of the list - those things are practical, quick and handle amazingly. Also they are a bargain in the states, in Canada they are not as cheap.

Civic Si - I remember when it was announced that Canada would get a more optioned out Si a lot of Americans got angry, but actually this made the 2022+ Si quite expensive in Canada and in my opinion uncompetitive. Honestly I don't know why would anyone get underpowered Si for the same price as WRX or Gti. Yea the interior in Si is probably one of the best in its class, but those 7+ second 0-60 times and not having the ability to disable traction control without having to do a pedal dance is really killing the car in my books.

Those are my 2 cents. But the thing is every time i go for a spirited drive in my BRZ or take it to autocross I don't really want to get anything else. Its just such a special and fun car. And considering that its most affordable fun car you can buy (at least here in Canada). I am just worried I will get something else, pay bunch of extra money and end up missing my brz. I will probably just keep for next couple of years until warranty runs out/kids dont fit inside anymore.

[Stephen W.]

In "THE" '70's I bought my very first sporty car.
In "MY" 70's I still have a sporty car.
In between there have been many sporty cars and motorcycles and racers and yes, a couple of vans and even a little pick-up. Same for the wife.

As times changed and our bank accounts rose or fell so too did our vehicles.
Now she has a sport utility that is our daily driver. But, as long as we can manage the costs, ingress and egress we'll always have at least one sporty car.

[Desertnate]

Originally Posted by humfrz

You're starten ta slip into SUV land -

Ooof! No way. Put a bullet in me first.

The trunk opening (and trunk height) issue is real for me. When out-of-state family fly in to visit we always have to ask about their luggage and then plan our entire transport situation for the day to make sure between my car and the wife's. Never had to worry about that with my GTI.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Desertnate

Ooof! No way. Put a bullet in me first.

The trunk opening (and trunk height) issue is real for me. When out-of-state family fly in to visit we always have to ask about their luggage and then plan our entire transport situation for the day to make sure between my car and the wife's. Never had to worry about that with my GTI.

Problem solved -

[Sasquachulator]

Originally Posted by OldBiker

OMG bury me already... rather go straight to the coffin :-)

What is the vehicular equivalent to a coffin on wheels? Used to be a Lexus ES or any other type of grandma/grandpa snoozemobile....

[OldBiker]

I am pretty sure it is electric, or at least hybrid, now!
(And some of the coffins are self-incinerating... saving on the cremation bill :-)

[Desertnate]

Originally Posted by Sasquachulator

What is the vehicular equivalent to a coffin on wheels? Used to be a Lexus ES or any other type of grandma/grandpa snoozemobile....

Sadly the list is pretty long these days.

I'd start with vehicles like the Nissan Rogue, RAV4, CRV, and just go from there. Any of the anonymous styled, boring, mid- or small-sized SUVs on sale from just about every automaker in business.

[Stephen W.]

I just came back from the dentist office. A crown broke clean off and they can't fix it so I have to go back next week to have the root extracted plus a cavity filled. Oh joy.
Anyway, I should have taken a photo because the parking lot was full of small to medium sized SUV's and one Tesla something. (Looked like an SUV box that had the rear roof sheared off on an angle.) Not one car, not a single one!

[mr.whiskers]

Originally Posted by Stephen W.

I just came back from the dentist office. A crown broke clean off and they can't fix it so I have to go back next week to have the root extracted plus a cavity filled. Oh joy.
Anyway, I should have taken a photo because the parking lot was full of small to medium sized SUV's and one Tesla something. (Looked like an SUV box that had the rear roof sheared off on an angle.) Not one car, not a single one!

Unfortunately that is the reality nowadays. Suvs and pickup trucks is mostly what I see here

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by Desertnate

Sadly the list is pretty long these days.

I'd start with vehicles like the Nissan Rogue, RAV4, CRV, and just go from there. Any of the anonymous styled, boring, mid- or small-sized SUVs on sale from just about every automaker in business.

Yep, every automaker has the little SUVs, and they all have next to no trunk space. There is like 1 foot from the back of the rear doors to the end of the car. We rented one last year on a trip (don't remember the brand). We had 3 suitcases. One had to go in the back seat.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

Yep, every automaker has the little SUVs, and they all have next to no trunk space. There is like 1 foot from the back of the rear doors to the end of the car. We rented one last year on a trip (don't remember the brand). We had 3 suitcases. One had to go in the back seat.

Another reason I like the LYRIQ. It's classified as an SUV but really it's more a station wagon. Even with the rear seats up there is plenty of room for luggage. Of course, it's also not little, which helps.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Sasquachulator

What is the vehicular equivalent to a coffin on wheels? Used to be a Lexus ES or any other type of grandma/grandpa snoozemobile....

[bcj]

Nothing beats the bandwidth of a stationwagon filled with data tapes.

[ruturaj001]

Originally Posted by OldBiker

I am pretty sure it is electric, or at least hybrid, now!
(And some of the coffins are self-incinerating... saving on the cremation bill :-)

I don't find EVs as boring as cars like ES. ES was built on Camry/Avalon platform, FWD, engine on top of front axle, focused on practicality not handling, lackluster engine focused on fuel economy than performance etc. EVs on other hand have lower CG due to battery underneath, better weight distribution, RWD or rear bias AWD, instant torque. They are not as fun as dying breed of NA RWD manual lightweight cars but neither are ES replacement.

Statically EVs are less prone to catching fire as well.