Terence's Next Car

[Skyline_Addict]

Don't worry, I'm not selling the s2000 (aka SunYe).

But I'm looking to get a new daily driver when I migrate to Vancouver. Right now I drive a Fit, and am looking to upgrade to something a bit more powerful. At the same time, I want the car to posess many of the same characterstics of the Fit, when possible - good fuel economy, reliable, good cargo/utility, comfortable to drive. Hatchback if possible, but not necessary.
Oh, and I want an a "fun" automatic transmission (something with paddle shifters and such). No SUVs or big vehicles.

beyond.ca helped me out in deciding to go with the s2000 + Fit combo, which has worked out amazingly! Deciding to give you guys a shot again!

Here is what I'm looking at so far:

Acura CSX (new or used) - it's a smooth comfortable car, with some luxury amenities. has "paddle shifters" for occasional "fun". Good on gas and can be had for pretty cheap on the used market.

Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart Sportback (new) - will by far the best performing car for what I'm looking at right now, twin clutch and awd is a major selling point for me, though it's probably not as big of a deal in Vancouver as it is in Calgary. only problem is fuel consumption.

Lexus IS250 (new or used) - I've heard it's not even worth it to consider the "base" model, RWD IS. And a fully loaded IS350 AWD is a bit out of my price range.


I've had a few others come to mind, but they haven't made enough of an impact for me to remember what they were. Any suggestions are appreciated.

[eglove]

There a nice fully loaded (nav!) csx-s for sale right now in the marketplace., $22,500 if I recall. If I had the coin I would pick that up as it's a nice upgrade from a fit while still maintaining some fuel economy.

Those Corolla XRS's seem pretty nice too.

[asfjasljj]

- the Lancer cuz of the power and AWD and its pretty roomy in the fornt and the back
- the IS isnt that great at all cuz its too small in the back seat. kinda lack of power for the IS250.
- CSX just not enough power unless its a type S but still wont go for it

my vote for the Lancer

[Sorath]

going from the fit to to any of those after the first week of driving u`ll be like wtf where did my gas milage go. happened to me when i sold my fit for an 08 si. of course shortly after i sold the si for the sti. boy i wish i had something better on gas.

the new lancer sportback ralliarts are nice but i dont think they`re worth the money, irrc the loaded ralliarts were the same price as a gsr evo. but that was a long time ago.

but knowing u terrence every one of your cars have been a honda, so why break tradition :) go with an fd2, the only thing lacking on my civic was leather back then. but if u had to go outside the honda family, remember awhile back we both testdrove the new wrx, i would strongly consider the 265.

[benyl]

GTI?
A3?

[bigbadboss101]

If you are considering the CSX and the IS250 then how about the TSX? Honda reliability, and more power than the CSX.

AWD is nice but the interior of the two other cars you mentioned is nicer than the Mitsu.

[Aleks]

If you want a car with paddle shifters twin clutch is the only way to have fun :)

Keeping it under 40K: Audi A3, GTI, Ralliart.

You can pick up a year or two old GTI DSG for mid $20K. You'd get about 7l/100kms on the highway and 10l/100kms in the city.

[403Gemini]

265 WRX isnt a bad option either. I hated the wagon look when they first came out, but man did they ever grow on me :thumbsup:

[JordanEG6]

VW GTI

[Skyline_Addict]

Originally posted by Aleks
If you want a car with paddle shifters twin clutch is the only way to have fun :)

Keeping it under 40K: Audi A3, GTI, Ralliart.

You can pick up a year or two old GTI DSG for mid $20K. You'd get about 7l/100kms on the highway and 10l/100kms in the city.

Never thought about the A3 or GTi until now, thanks to you and Benyl.

However I've heard horror stories about my friend's GTI DSG. Nothing but problems (albeit small) since purchase, and never seems to be ending. How're these for reliability?


Does WRX 265 even come with automatic? I wouldn't want to drive an auto WRX either way...unless it was twin clutch...

[Hash_man]

Originally posted by bigbadboss101
If you are considering the CSX and the IS250 then how about the TSX? Honda reliability, and more power than the CSX.

AWD is nice but the interior of the two other cars you mentioned is nicer than the Mitsu.

I agree on considering a TSX. They can be had for a good price on the used market, not the new bodystyle but last generation... They get really good gas mileage too I find.

Other then that from your considerations I would choose the IS250, but not sure how good the gas mileage is on them.

[Sorath]

go manual!

[cityhunter2501]

all wrx265 and sti are manual only.

[Skyline_Addict]

Originally posted by Sorath
go manual!


tired of manual for daily work commutes. going to be much worse in vancouver with the traffic. i have my "fun" car already.

[Sorath]

i know what u mean, only auto out there right now i`d buy is an evo x mr, maybe u can find a used for ur price range. they cant be that much if they were giving 4grand rebate awhile ago

[403Gemini]

Originally posted by cityhunter2501
all wrx265 and sti are manual only.

my bad, didn't even think about that :facepalm:

I agree, sometimes manual is a BITCH to drive in day to day traffic.

[Skyline_Addict]

Originally posted by Sorath
i know what u mean, only auto out there right now i`d buy is an evo x mr, maybe u can find a used for ur price range. they cant be that much if they were giving 4grand rebate awhile ago

though I could afford it, i don't see the point in having 2 high performance cars when only one of them will really be used for "spirited" purposes. my plans are to make the s2000 more of a track monster while my daily driver should be as plain jane as possible.



Originally posted by 403Gemini


my bad, didn't even think about that :facepalm:

I agree, sometimes manual is a BITCH to drive in day to day traffic.

yaman!

[Aleks]

Originally posted by Skyline_Addict


Never thought about the A3 or GTi until now, thanks to you and Benyl.

However I've heard horror stories about my friend's GTI DSG. Nothing but problems (albeit small) since purchase, and never seems to be ending. How're these for reliability?


Does WRX 265 even come with automatic? I wouldn't want to drive an auto WRX either way...unless it was twin clutch...

What problems has your friend had? I've had mine for 1.5 years and not one problem so far. The DSG itself should be fairly reliable as well.

While I doubt the car will be as reliable as a Toyota Corolla in 10 yrs I don't keep my cars that long anyways so I bought one even though I knew they are not rated the most reliable cars out there. But if you look at the competition like MS3, Si, WRX265, Cobalt SS they have have their own (well documented) problems.

Either way your choices are pretty limited if you want something fun with paddles.

[TC06]

Terence why are you moving to Van?

[Skyline_Addict]

Originally posted by TC06
Terence why are you moving to Van?

Time for a change and the job takes me there. When you've lived in Calgary for a long period of time (especially after living in a number of places in the world), you begin to yearn for new experiences. I like Vancouver and what it has to offer, and isn't too drastic of a change, that say, moving to another country would be.

[bigbadboss101]

Hey Terence, I MIGHT be in the same boat. Thinking of moving to Vancouver (leaving lot of friends behind), and also picking a different car.

Anyways, back on topic. Something tiptronic would be a nice compliment to your Honda. In Vancouver you probably don't need an AWD.

[rhoang]

not being biased or anything but i reccomend checking out the a3 its a quick little wagon and i just chipped it today and its really impressive how much it delivers from its 4 cyl engine.. if you wanted AWD it might tough finding it under 40k cause it only came out with Quattro in 09 but definately check it out man

[bigbadboss101]

The A3 there are some non-quattros for $26000 ish in Autotrader

[heavyD]

I may be biased but the Ralliart comes with the engine and transmission from the EVO X MR. The other cars mentioned don't.;) As well the Ralliart comes with the AWD system from the EVO IX. The other cars mentioned don't.;)

[590317006]

do the lancer.. i drove the new one the other day!! loved it.. my lancer has held up well.. so your getting quality for your money too

[Sorath]

ralliart is a good buy, i just dont justify the price when u can get into an evo for around the same price

[Skyline_Addict]

Audi A3 is looking really good...how're the non quattros? Is the quattro upgrade usually worth the money? Any salesmen on beyond who work at Audi dealership? :D

Will testdrive the GTi and Ralliart soon as well. Since they'd be brand new cars in most cases, they'd really have to impress me for me to eat up the huge depreciation costs.

[heavyD]

Originally posted by Skyline_Addict
Audi A3 is looking really good...how're the non quattros? Is the quattro upgrade usually worth the money? Any salesmen on beyond who work at Audi dealership? :D

Will testdrive the GTi and Ralliart soon as well. Since they'd be brand new cars in most cases, they'd really have to impress me for me to eat up the huge depreciation costs.

My brother has a 2007 A3 Quattro with the 3.2L V6 and DSG. It's a very nice car and he's had no issues so far but it was $45K new. I think you can get Quattro with the 2.0L engine now and pricing may be more competative.

[rhoang]

my a3 is a 2.0T quattro and its a little under that price brand new but i havent driven an a3 without quattro so i cant really compair but im sure the quattro helps from how it was handling the winter that just passed

[Skyline_Addict]

Originally posted by heavyD


My brother has a 2007 A3 Quattro with the 3.2L V6 and DSG. It's a very nice car and he's had no issues so far but it was $45K new. I think you can get Quattro with the 2.0L engine now and pricing may be more competative.


Yep, you can get the 2.0L with quattro now. Comes in at around the price of what a Ralliart starts at. Will have to see how it is!