17 Months....

[Raza]

Okay, you know I like to get things started early.  Don't call this shopping, call it a feasibility study.

In 17 months (August 2008) and change, I'll be handing my Passat back to the fantastic people at Volkswagen.  The downside of this is that it will leave a rather Passat shaped hole in my life.  The upside is that the hole will need to be filled. 

I've got a few ideas to fill the hole, but, as always, I want your input.  You can remind me of something that I may have forgotten, or make me reconsider a car that I'd excluded for some silly reason (I have many silly reasons, you all know that).  I thought it was time to put this in a thread, so it can all be in one place, rather than in 2000 pages of Chat Thread.

Let the feasibility study begin!

The Top Choices:
2004.5 Passat GLS (what better to fill a Passat shaped hole than a Passat?)
2002 C230K Sports Coupe
2004/5 WRX Wagon
1992/4 Porsche 968 (oddball choice, really not practical at all)
2000 BMW 323i
2001/2 BMW 325i
2004/5 Mazda6s five door
2004 Dodge SRT-4

Okay, now for the basic, yet flexible requirements:
Manual transmission
Reliable (this will be a daily driver)
Practical (as a daily driver, it will also be a hauler, I'll be moving a couple of times in this car, most likely.  I don't need SUV space, just usable space)
Relatively quick (low to mid 8s to 60)
Relatively sporty (I'll have the Boxster, so it won't be a big deal if it's not an M5)
Cheap (15-17K is probably what I'll be able to swing on a cash level; I'd prefer not to finance)
Premium makes make a good argument for the parents (they'll be providing a good bit of the money, so they still have a say in it), but I still want something a little low key.
Small is better (I know this is at odds with the practicality thing, but anything bigger than a midsize is too big.  Hell, most midsizes are too big.  Use the Passat as an over/under)

That's all I can think of for now.  I'm sure my little quirks will peek in now and then, as always. 

Sunroof required!


Go!


_{I mean, thanks for the help, guys.
Raza.}

[Raghavan]

Focus SVT 5-door!

[ro51092]

My choices in order:

1. Porsche 968 (why not a 944 Turbo?)
2. Subaru WRX or BMW 325i (tie)
3. BMW 323i

[Raghavan]

OK, I don't think a sunroof came on the SVT Focus, so I'd go with the WRX, or maybe an RSX-S because it's a hatch?

[ro51092]

How about a B5 S4? Also, an E46 330i may not be out of the question either

[Raghavan]

B5 S4 would be good too, those engines are waay too underpowered. 2.7 liters and two turbos only make 250 hp, so you should be able to get about 350 from that.

[ro51092]

They might be good for 350, but with the stock 250, it's not exactly a slouch. Although fiddling with the ECU to get the turbos to crank out more boost shouldn't be too hard.

[Raza]

OK, I don't think a sunroof came on the SVT Focus, so I'd go with the WRX, or maybe an RSX-S because it's a hatch?

From what I've seen the RSX-S costs more than it's worth on the used market.  To get in my price range, it would have to be a 2002, whereas a Passat could be a 2004.

[Raza]

How about a B5 S4? Also, an E46 330i may not be out of the question either

Thought about the B5 S4 before, but I just don't see myself buying to drive everyday.  I'd be worried about reliability too much, I think.  The WRX is probably just as fun, but quite a bit newer.  I don't really want the 330i.  I don't need the extra power.  A 323i sedan will hit 60mph in 7.2 seconds; that's plenty quick enough.  Why pay more (either in price or insurance) for things I don't need?  Plus, the 323 (and 325) comes out lighter than the 330i.  Also, the 330i is more sought after, so finding a good one in my price range would be harder.  I'd love the 323i, but by the time I'm ready to buy, it would be 8 years old, making the 325i probably the smarter choice.

[ro51092]

Hmmmm, 2005 Legacy 2.5GT?

[ifcar]

I'd recommend a new or nearly new Mazda3. Adequately premium, sporty, reliable, and practical.

[Raza]

I'd recommend a new or nearly new Mazda3. Adequately premium, sporty, reliable, and practical.

I've thought about that a bit myself, and recommended it to many people.  I just don't know if it's the car that I'd buy with all those options available.  I'd have to drive it, but the devil you know beats the devil you don't, so the replacement Passat scores high when it comes to other FWD cars.  It would have to be something quite special for me to turn on it (like the SRT-4's offering of 230bhp and a limited slip differential). 

[Raza]

Hmmmm, 2005 Legacy 2.5GT?

It's probably stretching the budget a bit.  I'd also prefer FWD and RWD to AWD, myself.  I snuck the WRX in there since I already know it's a great car (not that I don't know that the Legacy is a great car; it is, I've driven one.  While more mature in appearance than the WRX, it does suffer a bit because of its size and as-new price.  A Limited model pushed past 30 grand.)

[Raghavan]

How about an Altima 3.5S if you're also considering a 6?

[ifcar]

I've thought about that a bit myself, and recommended it to many people.  I just don't know if it's the car that I'd buy with all those options available.  I'd have to drive it, but the devil you know beats the devil you don't, so the replacement Passat scores high when it comes to other FWD cars.  It would have to be something quite special for me to turn on it (like the SRT-4's offering of 230bhp and a limited slip differential). 

So being able to get it new for the price of a several-year-old Passat isn't something special?

[280Z Turbo]

OK, I don't think a sunroof came on the SVT Focus, so I'd go with the WRX, or maybe an RSX-S because it's a hatch?

Why would you think that? Mine has one...and it's rubbish.

[Raza]

How about an Altima 3.5S if you're also considering a 6?

I've driven an Altima.  If the 2.5S is any indication of what the 3.5 is like, then it's out by a long shot.  I've also driven a Maxima stick, so I know what the engine feels like.  Nissan just doesn't make any products that get me excited.

[Raghavan]

I've thought about that a bit myself, and recommended it to many people. I just don't know if it's the car that I'd buy with all those options available. I'd have to drive it, but the devil you know beats the devil you don't, so the replacement Passat scores high when it comes to other FWD cars. It would have to be something quite special for me to turn on it (like the SRT-4's offering of 230bhp and a limited slip differential).

Then wait for the MS3 to get on the used market, and then buy it. I figure they'll be about $20k by then.

[Raza]

So being able to get it new for the price of a several-year-old Passat isn't something special?

Not special enough.

[Raza]

Then wait for the MS3 to get on the used market, and then buy it. I figure they'll be about $20k by then.

20K is pushing way past my budget.  17K is being generous. 

[ifcar]

I've driven an Altima.

2007?

[Raghavan]

Why would you think that? Mine has one...and it's rubbish.

I knew the regular Focus had one, but i wasn't sure about the SVT, i thought i remembered Raza complaining about that before...

[Raghavan]

20K is pushing way past my budget. 17K is being generous.

Well, they start at $22k, so you may be able to get one for about $18k then.

[Raza]

2007?

05.  07s would be too expensive, and aren't they CVT only?

[565]

IS300 5 speed?

[Raghavan]

No, Altima V6's start at $24k with a manual.

[Raza]

IS300 5 speed?

A thought, but as intriguing as that car is, I don't think my morals would allow it.

[Raghavan]

IS300 5 speed?

I thought those were still kind of expensive, but that's a great suggestion.

[Raza]

No, Altima V6's start at $24k with a manual.

Oh, well, you learn something everyday.  Still, 24 is more than 17.

[Raghavan]

A thought, but as intriguing as that car is, I don't think my morals would allow it.

What's that supposed to mean?