C&D sport compact comparo: which would you choose?

[The Pirate]

MazdaSpeed3 for me.  Second place would probably be the Cobalt SS.

[Raza]

I voted GTI.

I was debating between that and the Mini. If the Mini is naturally aspirated, that makes the choice easy for me.

I'm not even saying that everyone should vote for the GTI.  Yes, I believe it's the best car here, for being fun and useful and great is every driving aspect, but I can easily see why people would choose the Mazdaspeed3 and Cobalt SS.  I expected a lot more votes for the Cobalt. 

I guess if you never drove an 08 WRX, you could have hopes for the 09, but I'd have to drive it.  It's lost the benefit of the doubt.

[S204STi]

If it feels anything like the 08 WRX to drive, you could lose very easily, and a lot.

True, if you like to pull up to a stoplight and say to the guy next to you, "My car won a C/D Comparo. Did yours?" the WRX would not be the right vehicle for you.

[Raza]

True, if you like to pull up to a stoplight and say to the guy next to you, "My car won a C/D Comparo. Did yours?" the WRX would not be the right vehicle for you.

No, if you enjoy driving and the 2009 is just a faster version of the 2008 car, then the WRX is not the right vehicle for you. 

Now, it's entirely possible that the 2009 WRX has the same magic as the 04-07 model, which I loved and would buy in an instant if looking for an AWD car.  But like I said earlier, the new car has lost the benefit of the doubt.  You don't get to put out an abomination like the 2008 model without consequences. 

[Catman]

I think I would go AWD so the WRX.

[Tave]

I guess if you never drove an 08 WRX, you could have hopes for the 09, but I'd have to drive it.  It's lost the benefit of the doubt.

Why can't you just read the reviews, which note the shortcomings of the 2008 model and praise Subaru for fixing them for 2009?

[Raza]

Why can't you just read the reviews, which note the shortcomings of the 2008 model and praise Subaru for fixing them for 2009?

My standards are higher than those of most magazines. 

[S204STi]

My standards are higher than those of most magazines. 

The 07 model was getting pwned by the new cars when I bought it, so I don't see why you could set your bar higher than the magazines yet still choose the 04-07 cars.

[Raza]

The 07 model was getting pwned by the new cars when I bought it, so I don't see why you could set your bar higher than the magazines yet still choose the 04-07 cars.

They were very fun.  The 2008 was not fun at all. 

[Payman]

In this price range, Camaro V6, or Solstice Coupe. Of the cars here... GTI.

[omicron]

The only MINI I'd be buying would be a first-series Cooper S, not the oddly-bulbous current attempt.

[SVT666]

The only MINI I'd be buying would be a first-series Cooper S, not the oddly-bulbous current attempt.

I suggest you drive one.  I've driven my boss' 1008 Mini Cooper S JCW and it's a blast.  When I was driving it I didn't even care about the ugly ass interior and stupid dinner plate sized speedo.

[Vinsanity]

Considering I have yet to drive one, the interior is my favorite part about the Mini

[Rich]

I suggest you drive one.  I've driven my boss' 1008 Mini Cooper S JCW and it's a blast.  When I was driving it I didn't even care about the ugly ass interior and stupid dinner plate sized speedo.

You and Nethead are the last guys I'd ever guess that would like a MINI

[SVT666]

You and Nethead are the last guys I'd ever guess that would like a MINI

Why?  I own an SVT Focus and I love it.  Ford used the same philosophy for the SVTF as was used in the Mini.  Physically, it might be larger then the Mini, but it only weighs 2700 lbs, has relatively the same horsepower as a Mini Cooper S at 170 hp and all the emphasis is on handling.  The SVTF handles like a go cart, yet still has a compliant ride.  Steering is phenomenal in both cars.  If size wasn't an issue, I would look at a used Mini Cooper S to replace the SVTF in 5 years.

[Nethead]

You and Nethead are the last guys I'd ever guess that would like a MINI

HotRodPilot:  Eh?  Go-kart handling is what we like--you get that in Minis, Focuses, and Mazdaspeeds.  You don't rip up the pavement when you stomp the go-pedal, but cars that can do that weren't in this comparo, unfortunately.  And as I said, I'd have to drive the Mini and the Mazdaspeed3 over the same roads before signing on the dotted line for either. 

Why bother with the others in the comparo when these two already have more of what we appreciate in cars with limited thrust?

[MexicoCityM3]

130i hatch over all of the above. I did a few laps in one at the track here about 3 weeks ago. That thing handles extraordinarily well (frankly much better than my E46 M3) and is only slightly down on power. I feel it would lap the track very close to the E46 M3 and in the process it is more nimble and 95% of the fun if not even closer.

[Vinsanity]

Awesome job bringing in a 4-month-old thread to suggest a car costing $8,000 more that isn't sold in the US or Canada

/sarcasm

[MexicoCityM3]

Awesome job bringing in a 4-month-old thread to suggest a car costing $8,000 more that isn't sold in the US or Canada

/sarcasm

Sorry. I'd been away for awhile. This is what happens when you use the "Show replies to my posts" feature.

[MrH]

Sorry. I'd been away for awhile. This is what happens when you use the "Show replies to my posts" feature.

Yeah, it's been awhile.  How are your 2 M3's?

Still have the E46 or did you sell that yet?

[MexicoCityM3]

Thank you. Sold the MINI, kept both M3s for the time being. 

The E46 is now retired from track duty (can't afford to track them both) and the E90 is getting a few goodies for the track (dedicated rims for square setup, R-comps, pads, fluid, lines, spacers).

[the Teuton]

I'd love your E46 long time...

[MexicoCityM3]

I'd love your E46 long time...

I love the E46. That was my first truly extraordinary car, first car I tracked and really got to know well at the limit. Had a couple of offers but just couldn't let it go and convinced my wife to *allow* me to keep both. She?s great!

[NomisR]

I'm torn between the Mini and the Mazdaspeed 3.  But looking at the price, I'll more likely pick the 3.  It's just a better guy overall.  I'd prefer something RWD though.  I wouldn't really pick a GTI because it's a VW. 

[SVT666]

I think I already said it before, but the Cobalt SS (2 door) would be my pick.

[Onslaught]

Mazdaspeed3 if I had to have one. But I wouldn't want any of them.