Helping my dad decide on a new car. Thoughts from you smart people requested! - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

D4ng3r · 12-09-2012, 04:56 AM

Hey guys. My dad's 2007 Hyundai Accent is just about done. He has been looking at replacing it for a little while now. He loves driving, and I want to see him get something that he will really enjoy because he deserves it.

Requirements:

4-banger (diesel, turbo, doesn't really matter- this is a requirement)

Good on gas

Sporty ride

Very reliable (Newer the better)

Up to about $20,000

His current thought was a 2011 Kia Optima SX, 200hp variety...

I think you guys have other ideas!

My thoughts:

2009-2010 VW GTI / GLI
2008 BMW 128i
2008-10 Civic Si
2008ish Audi A3

serialk11r · 12-09-2012, 07:03 AM

Off that list I like the Civic Si best, but that's just me.

UltraFRS · 12-09-2012, 09:41 AM

Civic Si
Mazda(speed) 3

whaap · 12-09-2012, 10:08 AM

If my budget was a concern I'd go with the Civic.

dem00n · 12-09-2012, 11:04 AM

Id got with a GTI, i see 10 Civic SI's a day...

Fun little cars, good looking and you won't get stuck in the Honda jokes.

Turbowned · 12-09-2012, 12:13 PM

Audi A3 - OK but not great. A4 is much better and has the same engine and AWD.
VW GLI - Drove this car, hated it.
VW GTI - Never driven but I've heard good things.
BMW 128i - Nice car, but it's a 6cyl and maintenance on this and all the above would undoubtedly be higher than a Japanese car.
Civic Si - sporty but lots of torque steer.

What about a Mazda MX-5? Light, balanced, efficient, cheap to maintain and it's a drop-top!

For the extra money he'd spend on fuel and upkeep with some of these cars on top of a monthly payment, he could likely finance an FR-S. Or he could lease an FR-S depending on how much he drives... something to think about.

jimmillion · 12-09-2012, 01:05 PM

imho those all seem like cars that you or I would want, not something I would put my dad into. The optima is the good choice on looks alone. altho if you wanted looks, reliability, and sportiness - I've been playing with the idea of getting my own dad the 2013 Accord sedan.

finch1750 · 12-09-2012, 01:44 PM

Mazda(speed) 3. Hyundai still is not great quality. His is only 5 years old and dying. My friends is a year old and the interior is falling apart already.

D4ng3r · 12-09-2012, 04:31 PM

I would have said Mazda 3, as it ticks all of his boxes, but he *HATES* the smile on the front end (and I can't blame him!).

Good point about these maybe being aimed more at a younger audience. I'll look into the A4 as well.

The 2013 Accord looks great, but it is also 50% more than his budget.

I mentioned the FR-S, and he thought it looked great- after tax though it is close to $30,000 up here in Canada.

Any more thoughts?

(oh, p.s. the mx-5 is too small unfortunately).

JoeBoxer · 12-09-2012, 04:48 PM

2008 Acura TSX, last year of the first gen they are very reliable, sporty, and comfortable. Perfect daily and they handle really well for a fwd car.

Laika · 12-09-2012, 09:38 PM

4th gen Legacy GT! Fits all the traits your father is looking for. Although I must admit I'm unsure about reliability.

MarkRacerX · 12-10-2012, 04:06 AM

For Under $20k used Subaru WRX / Mini Cooper S come to mind for Fun/Sporty that wasn't mentioned to consider, my .02 cents

Turbowned · 12-12-2012, 12:27 PM

Just lie to him and say the WRX isn't turbocharged

track_warrior · 12-12-2012, 12:35 PM

Mercedes SLS!!

You could say its two 4 cylinder engines combined into one!

12-09-2012, 04:56 AM	#1
D4ng3r Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Drives: 2 legs and a beating heart Location: China Posts: 69 Thanks: 50 Thanked 12 Times in 7 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Helping my dad decide on a new car. Thoughts from you smart people requested! Hey guys. My dad's 2007 Hyundai Accent is just about done. He has been looking at replacing it for a little while now. He loves driving, and I want to see him get something that he will really enjoy because he deserves it. Requirements: 4-banger (diesel, turbo, doesn't really matter- this is a requirement) Good on gas Sporty ride Very reliable (Newer the better) Up to about $20,000 His current thought was a 2011 Kia Optima SX, 200hp variety... I think you guys have other ideas! My thoughts: 2009-2010 VW GTI / GLI 2008 BMW 128i 2008-10 Civic Si 2008ish Audi A3 Last edited by D4ng3r; 12-16-2012 at 07:02 AM.

12-09-2012, 01:05 PM	#7
jimmillion Power Ranger Elite Join Date: Nov 2011 Drives: '13 WRB Sport-tech Location: Mississauga, Sq1 Posts: 726 Thanks: 482 Thanked 310 Times in 180 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	imho those all seem like cars that you or I would want, not something I would put my dad into. The optima is the good choice on looks alone. altho if you wanted looks, reliability, and sportiness - I've been playing with the idea of getting my own dad the 2013 Accord sedan. __________________ .

12-09-2012, 01:44 PM	#8
finch1750 Undisputed El Presidente Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: Zenki 37J ZN6 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 11,593 Thanks: 9,403 Thanked 9,411 Times in 5,270 Posts Mentioned: 374 Post(s) Tagged: 33 Thread(s)	Mazda(speed) 3. Hyundai still is not great quality. His is only 5 years old and dying. My friends is a year old and the interior is falling apart already. __________________ "Just like how a strut bar somehow enables you to corner 20MPH faster around a cloverleaf on-ramp, when the reality is, you can do it already but you just don't have to balls to do it." - CSG David

12-09-2012, 04:48 PM	#10
JoeBoxer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: Whiteout FR-S Location: Arkansas Posts: 4,154 Thanks: 1,666 Thanked 1,627 Times in 997 Posts Mentioned: 72 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	2008 Acura TSX, last year of the first gen they are very reliable, sporty, and comfortable. Perfect daily and they handle really well for a fwd car. Last edited by JoeBoxer; 12-09-2012 at 10:31 PM.

12-09-2012, 09:38 PM	#11
Laika When In Doubt... Join Date: May 2011 Drives: Slowww Location: PA215 Posts: 1,844 Thanks: 1,023 Thanked 752 Times in 412 Posts Mentioned: 20 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	4th gen Legacy GT! Fits all the traits your father is looking for. Although I must admit I'm unsure about reliability. __________________ Join the Galaxy Blue Silica BRZ registry below: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...2c&usp=sharing

12-09-2012, 09:41 AM	#3
UltraFRS Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: FR-S Location: TX Posts: 152 Thanks: 24 Thanked 113 Times in 55 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Civic Si Mazda(speed) 3

12-09-2012, 10:08 AM	#4
whaap Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Drives: '13 FR-S firestorm, 6 mt - '11 CR-V Location: Tucson Posts: 2,133 Thanks: 243 Thanked 1,387 Times in 657 Posts Mentioned: 36 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	If my budget was a concern I'd go with the Civic.

12-09-2012, 11:04 AM	#5
dem00n Member of the year - 2016 Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: Scion FRS Location: New York Posts: 3,575 Thanks: 788 Thanked 2,427 Times in 1,111 Posts Mentioned: 23 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Id got with a GTI, i see 10 Civic SI's a day... Fun little cars, good looking and you won't get stuck in the Honda jokes.

12-09-2012, 04:31 PM	#9
D4ng3r Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Drives: 2 legs and a beating heart Location: China Posts: 69 Thanks: 50 Thanked 12 Times in 7 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I would have said Mazda 3, as it ticks all of his boxes, but he HATES the smile on the front end (and I can't blame him!). Good point about these maybe being aimed more at a younger audience. I'll look into the A4 as well. The 2013 Accord looks great, but it is also 50% more than his budget. I mentioned the FR-S, and he thought it looked great- after tax though it is close to $30,000 up here in Canada. Any more thoughts? (oh, p.s. the mx-5 is too small unfortunately).

12-10-2012, 04:06 AM	#12
MarkRacerX Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Drives: 12' Evo X , prior 1st 86 FR-S Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 545 Thanks: 697 Thanked 176 Times in 72 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	For Under $20k used Subaru WRX / Mini Cooper S come to mind for Fun/Sporty that wasn't mentioned to consider, my .02 cents __________________ Autocross & Drift = my Anti Drug!! I have Car A.D.D prior few: 12' Evo GSR, 13' FR-S, 11' STi, 08' 135i, 07' 335Xi, 08' STi, 04' 350Z, 04' STi, 02' WRX. 96' GSR, 04' SE-R/SpecV

12-12-2012, 12:35 PM	#14
track_warrior Track Junkie Join Date: Mar 2012 Drives: Faster than the Stig! Location: TX Posts: 1,338 Thanks: 530 Thanked 770 Times in 363 Posts Mentioned: 10 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Mercedes SLS!! You could say its two 4 cylinder engines combined into one! __________________ Compensating a heavy car with horsepower is like giving an alcoholic cocaine to sober him up...

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