I have one for sale

 

I sold mine when i had my first kid and bought the 09 TL thinking it was the fatherly and family oriented decision to make... In reality the kid and the car seat pretty much stay in my wife's suv....

Part of me wishes i never traded it in as i had I/H/E, and a custom hondata tune, and the HFP sport suspension and progress RSB... Handled fantastic and the performance was alot of fun as well... All getting 30mpg with zero issues...

The TL is very comfy and nice and paid off, so my love of no car payment is staying ahead of my itch to get another car with MT that checked all the boxes like the Si.

 

I should have clarified. Used Golf R

 

Another vote for the MX5, or maybe an FRS.
Haven't driven a Fiesta ST, but haven't really read anything negative about it.

Used: Mini, S2000

 

The driving position in that car is certainly terrible. haha

 

Several reasons...it's very gimmicky. The steering wheel is nice, but the rest of the car is cheap plastic. The way you sit in the cockpit not only makes you feel like you are sitting on top of the car, but very claustrophobic. It's closest competitor is I guess the Mini, but even a base mini is far better appointed. I, though in the minority I think, don't care for the diesel truck exhaust note. In my car, I thoroughly enjoy revving the balls off of it and rowing through the gears and just being inside it...the Abarth I couldn't wait to get out.

It just overall feels very cheap to me. It handles good but I just could never get past the seating position and layout. It's a $30k car that should be $15k.

 

I thought you can get one for under $20k!?

 

Good catch. The Everyday Driver video I watched said $31k, It must have been loaded up. Their website indicates $22k with no options. Regardless, the one I was in had no expense spared...including a BBK, roll cage, coilovers, tune, exhuast, etc.

Abarth by JordanColePhotos.com, on Flickr

 

I always buy used vehicles. I also do as much of my own work as I possibly can. I can't recommend any car over....

 

I am kind of in the same ballpark. I am looking for a dd for 35k or less that is manual and either awd or fwd. I kind of want to get an old crx in good condition or an itr.

For new cars I'm looking at Fiesta st, focus st, golf gti, wrx, wrx sti. I plan on test driving them soon.

 

It's going to be a tough choice with those cars.

 

I ended up getting a 2014 focus st with the 4800 dollar package. They gave me 2500 off, so 26,500. Not bad imo. I really liked the fiesta st also but the interior was so cheap and the focus is much better value for the money it seems.

 

Nice!!!!

Post pics of that bitch.

 

Lots of cars fit those requirements.

Mazdaspeed 3



Accord Coupe


'04 M3
http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/de...3971/overview/



And as already mentioned, Fiesta ST, Civic Si, S2k, MX-5, Mustang, 370Z, WRX.

G35/G37, 4G TL.

How many doors? Gas mileage requirement? RWD okay for a DD? Does it have to be new?

 

I was just going to mention a loaded Accord Lx V6 Coupe. That one you can get with a manual. But I don't know how it drives.

 

- well sort of...Ever since I saw it on TG UK way back when (a bit before Fiat came to the US), I saw it and was in love and excited to see it here. I was a little underwhelmed by the 500, and the seating position is horrible. Steering wheel only tilts, doesn't telescope, and you feel like the wheel it too far away from you. You feel like you're sitting ON the seat, not in it. Then I drove the Abarth. Aside from the slightly better seat, was still disappointed with the position. It's a bit more fun to drive, and the exhaust note is to die for, but that's about it. If the car had about 200hp, it would be something to consider, but it still felt like it could use a few more horsies, and a rethink of the interior seating/steering wheel/pedal arrangements before I would give it a second look.

 

My mustang has been the most reliable car I have owned. Also the most fun. I have a v6 but the GT's can be had super cheap know. Go test drive one and i'm sure your decision will be made! Good luck.

 

In case you all were wondering, I still didn't make the decision. I test drove some cars on saturday though. the Mustang V6, Focus ST, Golf gti dsg.

The mustang is out. It just felt really cheap and I don't like the clutch feel. The ST is much better in that department and I really like it. I may end up going with it. Now I drove and an auto gti, they didn't have mt in stock, but it drove good. only problem is it just came out and the price is shit. It's a great car though, just not in my budget.

Back to the ST. My local dealer still has a 2013 they're trying to get rid of...I know, sad. It's an ST2 with navi and moonroof. They want 22800 before TTL. It has 150 miles, but is new. It's tangerine scream. I like it, but it's like 2 years old lol. Any advice?

 

That orange color on the Fords is bright as all hell. You really considering DDing a car like that? It was probably a test drive mule too. I am unfamiliar with break-in procedure on turbocharged cars, but I'd bet that thing wasn't driven gently and warmed up all the time. It is only 150 miles, though.

The new WRX is sorta cheap inside, but it should be a great drive. As long as you can find one that doesn't have markup.

 

I wouldn't buy a 2013 ST2 for that. Way too much. Especially when someone got a 2014 ST3 for $26,500.

 

Haggle with them. It sounds like they really want to deal it. Ask for something like $23k or $24k out the door.

Do you have the window sticker for it? I could check the build date.

I know Ford has 0% financing going on right now. Does that cover the Focus ST as well?

At least that ST2 has navi and moonroof. Although I really had to get the ST3 because of the full leather heated Recaro seats, HID headlights with LED eyebrows, ambient lighting, heated mirrors, and nav included. Do they have any ST3 trims in stock?

I'd check other Ford dealers around you to see what they have, too.

 

sti....

 

Hey phil. I picked up a focus st last week and am in Chicago area also. Plan on daily driving it and some autocross. Your name is familiar from the audi forums. You had a really nice s4.

 

My friend has the Tangerine Scream ST. It's a great car.

 

What happened to brian? Lobotomy? Or are accounts still being hacked?

 

AutoGuide recently did a comparo for fun cars under $30k.

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2...-part-two.html

Maybe check it out?

Heard a Fiesta ST won the comparo. Should try it out!

 

We have to wait until tomorrow to see who wins the track testing round?!

I can easily see the Fiesta ST winning the street comparison. Like I've said, it was the car I would have purchased at the time if I didn't get my BRZ. The Fiesta ST is very impressive at autocross events, so I'm not surprised it finished in the top 3 for the track test portion.

 

Yeah, it's one of the best bang for the buck pocket rockets for sure.

I could never get one for myself though. I just can't see myself driving a little green avocado looking car.

 

I think you're on target with the Focus ST. That seems like a little much for a 2013, even with navi and moonroof, but Edmund's TMV price for a 2013 with those options in my area is much higher so it might be a decent deal. I've always gotten lower prices than Edmund's TMV, but not the difference I'm seeing here. Still, if they're asking $22,800, I bet you can get it for $21,500.

I'm eagerly awaiting the 2015 ST for the revised interior and new steering system. I think the steering is already very good for EPS, so any meaningful improvement might make it one of the best systems out there. If it were big enough for family road trip duty, I'd be seriously tempted to trade in the TSX for one.

 

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2...ee-winner.html