Gonna Buy a New Car

[Gary in NJ]

It's time to start shopping for a new car. Since I have a 240Z, you know where some of my taste are. I've owned many cars over the years (I'm 50) but the ones I've enjoyed the most were my 240Z's, an '86 MR2 and a '05 330Ci. My current ride is a '07 Audi A4 2.0 Quattro. I've put 150,000 miles on this since new and I'll be giving it to my son when he goes to college in the fall. The A4 is a nice appliance, but I do want something that will be a bit more engaging; something fun to drive with great steering, stopping and handling. This will be my daily (but not only) driver and at my advancing age I do want some creature comforts. A manual transmission is mandatory. My budget is $30-$40k and I'm interested in going back to a coupe platform. Here's what is on my short list (and what I like/dislike):

Subaru BRZ Limited (handling, steering / daily livability?)
VW Golf R Coupe (Good ride & handling balance, very good at everything but not the best at anything / overactive electronic nannys, too "hot hatchback")
BMW 128 Coupe (BMW qualities / BMW quality)
Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track (feature laden, nice interior / most GT like of the group)

No longer under consideration are:

370Z
Camaro SS
Audi A5

I know that the BRZ is the most Z-like of the group and just an excellent handling car. The reviews are excellent but car reviewers typically don't live with a car day-after-day and I wounder if it's interior and ride will wear on my over time. I'm in the process of talking myself out of it to see if I come back to it.

Does anyone have a opinion that they could share? I'd be really interested in ownership experiences of the cars on my short list.

[Kurbycar32]

You might take a look at a Mazdaspeed 3, and its under budget.

Mazda builds drivers cars and loves manual transmissions.

[EScanlon]

Do NOT under any circumstances, opportunity or manner of thought go test ride a Datsun Sports Roadster.

That's it, it's all the warning I'll give, and if you know better you won't delve into it. Nuff Said.

You've been publicly warned.
E

[LeonV]

As far as new goes, I've logged a little bit of seat time in the Scion FRS. I really liked its tossability and think of it as a Miata 1.5. It's bigger, looks better (IMO), more powerful, and way more comfortable than a Miata, but it still maintains that agile feel.

I've got an S2000 as well, and liken the FRS to an S2000 0.75. The FRS is not as razor sharp, good looking (again, IMO!), powerful, or raw like the S, but instead it is much roomier, more comfortable and way more liveable day-to-day. The FRS/BRZ bridges the gap between a Miata and S2000.

If you expand your search to older cars, the possibilities are endless! You're easily within budget for a used Porsche Cayman S and a used Boxter S goes for way less. Those are fantastic driver's cars. Maintenance is a bigger pain though. I'd consider getting a $25k Cayman S and keeping the rest of your budget for future maintenance.

The list can go on and on...

[Blue]

#1 Lotus Elise
#2 S2000
#3 NSX

[CW240Z]

I found this article the other day and thought it had a good amount of information about the cars you are thinking about getting.
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...n/viewall.html

Chase

[Wade Nelson]

YOu know the Honda CRZ has some of the MR-2 qualities, sporty, hi gas mileage, Hondacar reliability, and with the hybrid you'll be AVERAGING 40mpgs should fuel again head over $4 a gallon.

It's not a true sports car by any sense but it sure looks good, and the price is right for a hybrid.

Put it in sport mode and you'll be pleasantly surprised.

[LeonV]

#1 Lotus Elise
#2 S2000
#3 NSX

Not a bad list at all! I'd love to even drive an NSX.

I have flogged an Elise for a few laps around an autoX course, and although fun, it is nowhere near practical or liveable! Two >6' guys sit shoulder-to-shoulder in that thing. Plus, I don't fit unless the top is off.

Oh wait, I have a crappy video of the flogging (video or it didn't happen, right?)...

Go to 1:25 for take-off.

[doradox]

I love my Infiniti G coupe. But if you are looking at new it may be just outside your budget.

Steve

[Zedyone_kenobi]

I just went through all of this.
While my choices are not as diverse are yours, my requirements were FUN, Four doors, Manual transmission, and NOT FWD.

I am a die hard Subaru guy. But the lack of interior refinement offered in the 2013 models did not agree with me. And when the refinement was there, (legacy models) a respectiable GT with a manual was not available.

Enter the golf R. This is probably the best all around DD I have ever had. Refinement, finishes, comfort, sportiness, handling, braking, power (and a lot more avaiable), slick 6 speed, etc. Such a great car. PM if you have any questions.

[Zedyone_kenobi]

FYI, you can defeat all the nannies in 30 minutes now. The ESC code that the rest of the world gets is now available with nothing but a slight VAGCOM change. It is on the APR website and give us US customers full sport and off modes to the electronic nannies.

Can't help you with the hatchback comments. I love hot hatches.

[Arne]

FYI, you can defeat all the nannies in 30 minutes now. The ESC code that the rest of the world gets is now available with nothing but a slight VAGCOM change. It is on the APR website and give us US customers full sport and off modes to the electronic nannies.

Can't help you with the hatchback comments. I love hot hatches.

VAGCOM (now VCDS) is a great tool for customizing the VW systems. I've made several changes to the controllers on our Golf.

[Jeff G 78]

The Focus ST is a great little car. They are really fun to drive and very torquey.

[Blue]

I totally forgot this one: http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/3525493028.html

[Blue]

Or if you want people to point and stare: http://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/3444170340.html

[Blue]

Or if you want an investment and a project: http://newjersey.craigslist.org/ctd/3398353863.html

[Gary in NJ]

Thanks for the suggestions, good suggestions all (well, maybe not the Viper).

The Mazdaspeed3 and the Focus ST are great cars, but I'm not considering a hatchback.

The Infiniti G37 was on my list until I discovered that a manual transmission is only available in the $45k Sport.

The S2000 and Cayman are great suggestions, but I want to stay new for the warranty. I would love to own a Cayman (maybe my favorite car on the planet) but the thought of maintaining one scares the crap out of me. When my last son is out of college in a few years I may get a new one.

Regarding the Golf R, it's a strong contender. The electronic safeties probably never really present themselves while driving sanely on the streets. I know that in the 5 years I've owned my Audi I've only seen the warning on the instrument cluster flash but a few times.

I do appreciate the opinions. My next step is to get out and drive these cars. Talking about cars is only second to driving them.

[5150 will]

Z06 Corvette? There are always very low mile examples still under warranty on C.L. near the top of your budget.

[SportBikeMike]

Have you considered a Subaru WRX? I've had mine for over two years (30K miles) with zero problems. Very comfortable and reasonably practical with four doors, and will go 0-60 in 5 seconds....maybe slightly below. Also, since you live on the east coast, this is a car you can drive year around.....heck its just as fun on snow as it is on dry payment (with the right tires)!

[hogie]

Get a 2013 mustang....then get tired of it and sell it to me after dropping off 8k in depreciation costs. I test drove one a few months ago and loved it. It felt amazingly huge compared to the 240, but it was pretty stinking nice.

According to Autoweek a turbo charged BRZ is right around the corner, so I would hold out for one of those if nothing else fit the bill.

I will also recomend a WRX. Mine was a blast for the couple of years I had it. Though I did get tired of all the ricer fly bys from idiots.

[bartsscooterservice]

E36 m3 if you can get one ( hard I think in US ? ), it's a weapon of torque , and at leat in europe capable of 300 km/h...

BMW M3 e36 3.2 cruising at high speed on the Autobahn - YouTube

325i's are nice to..

[Gary in NJ]

Well I thought I'd conclude my own thread. Today I purchased a BRZ Limited in WR Blue. I just couldn't get past the telepathic steering.

[Stanley]

Nice. You might want to check out the June issue of Option magazine. A 10 page spread on options and mods for the BRZ. Lots of pictures. Apparently they love them in Japan. Available online or at any Japanese magazine rack. Learning to read katakana just for the car mags - hope to be up to one word per minute soon.

[Wade Nelson]

How about an 07 or 08 Porsche Boxster.

And since you liked the MR-2, you might REALLY like the Honda CRZ even though it's a front-driver.

[er34gtt2000jp]

Congrats! Cool ride indeed ^_^

[LeonV]

Nice! Now we need some photo evidence.

[Travel'n Man]

Have you seen the new 2014 Ford Mustang - do a search and surprise yourself. I'm a BMW guy but Ford is making the curve with a great looking new design and big powerplant options...........this should be interesting!

2014 ford mustang - Bing Images

[30 Ounce]

Too late now but I would suggest a MINI Cooper JCW...

[Carl Beck]

Well I thought I'd conclude my own thread. Today I purchased a BRZ Limited in WR Blue. I just couldn't get past the telepathic steering.

Congrats Gary! By now I've seen a few of the BRZ's at the local Cars & Coffee.. First I was surprised that the car was bigger than I expected, based on the pictures I'd seen. Secondly - the healights/nose styling reminded me of the 370Z a bit.. Over-all a nice looking package -

You'll have to keep us updated as you get a few miles driving in the Day-to-Day traffic and weekend fun..

FWIW,
Carl B.

[Gary in NJ]

[Zedyone_kenobi]

As a life long subaru fan,

I completely support your decision.

Such a marvelous car.

[Zedyone_kenobi]

As a life long subaru fan,

I completely support your decision.

Such a marvelous car.

[Zedyone_kenobi]

It is almost as if they were brothers separated by 40+ years

[Gary in NJ]

It is almost as if they were brothers separated by 40+ years

I'm amazed at how similar these cars are. In my opinion they share similar lines and profile. But driving them back-to-back reveals that the similarity is more then skin deep.

When Nissan/Datsun introduced the 240Z in '69 it was a car without clear/direct competition. There were affordable (but heavy) GT's and muscle cars (Camaro, Mustang, GTO); light-weight convertibles (TR6, Alpha, MGB) and expensive sports cars (911, Corvette). The 240 was able to straddle many elements of all of these cars at a price that was competitive with that of a family car.

Fast forward almost 1/2 a century and once again we have heavy GT's and muscle cars (Camaro, Mustang, 370Z, Genesis-Coupe); light-weight convertibles (Miata) and expensive sports cars (911, Corvette...way too many to list). Enter the GT-86 platform, an affordable pure sports car that defines its own market.

Shame on Nissan for not finding a way to make a worthy successor to the 240Z. And now the horse has left the barn. If Nissan does re-enter the affordable sports car market, they will be playing catch-up. I can't see them improving on the GT-86 platform...not when they think crap-boxes like the Juke are competitive cars for the youth market.

If you have an opportunity to drive the BRZ/FR-S/GT-86, be warned; it's the $25K "free" test drive.

[Jason1990]

Well in form my favorite one is Mustang Shelby GT 500... because the design of exterior and the performance of the car is awesome.. and also have a much powerful engine. The stripes on the exterior are making the car more different from others.. But that car is really amazing and deserve appreciation.