[pbonsalb]

I was recently helping an employee with little money buy a late model economy car. The Corolla seem to be the most expensive used, but also seem to be the most reliable. The Impreza has the advantage of AWD but that means more things to go wrong when they are older. They also achiever fewer MPG. And I have seen some with rocker panel rust. Mazda 3 was high on the list but low on availability and expensive in the used market. A friend has a couple of CX5, 1 with over 100k miles and zero issues. Hyundai are plentiful and cheap and have the best warranty. The current models are better than past models, but I am not sure they will hind their value well or be worth fixing after 10 years. We ended up with a CPO 21 Civic LX. Hondas are usually good and everyone I know who has them likes them.

All incredibly dull to me. I would have zero interest in driving any of those cars. At least buy something entertaining to drive — there are decent options that have automatic or other non-manual transmissions and reasonably supple suspensions.

[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

s85 with auto trans

super reliable

[Germanauto]

Idk I feel like life is too short to drive some economy car. These cars are not the penalty boxes they used to be but they still feel like punishment to drive when you are used to something nice and sporty.

Raise your budget and get a CPO 3-series or if you want reliable, CPO Lexus IS. The IS is sporty enough while still being comfortable and refined, looking nice, etc.

[G30M]

Originally Posted by RM7

Wow, the suggestions are going bizarro now…

Corolla Hybrid, RAV4 Hybrid, Highlander Hybrid ...

[jmanB45]

CPO X1 or X2

https://www.bmw-gta.ca/en/PreOwnedIn...YJ5C35JEF72713

https://www.bmw-gta.ca/en/PreOwnedIn...HT3C33J3H32906

[x3sm]

IS350?

[MTrumbo3]

Subaru crosstrek, AWD and super versatile

[MTrumbo3]

subaru crosstrek, AWD, super versatile

[baege]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

All incredibly dull to me. I would have zero interest in driving any of those cars. At least buy something entertaining to drive — there are decent options that have automatic or other non-manual transmissions and reasonably supple suspensions.

anything in particular come to mind?
I enjoyed a rental mini, but a rough ride
I feel like anything that is reasonably fun to drive will fail on the ride comfort side

[baege]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Idk I feel like life is too short to drive some economy car. These cars are not the penalty boxes they used to be but they still feel like punishment to drive when you are used to something nice and sporty.

Raise your budget and get a CPO 3-series or if you want reliable, CPO Lexus IS. The IS is sporty enough while still being comfortable and refined, looking nice, etc.

yeah I have always liked the IS, but my Mom's car, a newere subie did not feel like punishment to drive, honestly when you are just driving in an urban environment with rough straight roads and lots of traffic, the GTS is the one that feels like punishment to drive!

In that context I prefer to just put it in drive and sit there while some good tunes are playing and not fight the traffic .

I feel like the IS is more than I need for that.

[baege]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I should have clarified I prefer something on the smaller side and would rather avoid SUVs (even small ones) as I don't need their extra size and don't want it either.

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by baege

anything in particular come to mind?
I enjoyed a rental mini, but a rough ride
I feel like anything that is reasonably fun to drive will fail on the ride comfort side

You would have to start test driving cars since you have a goal in your mind that may differ from others. Subaru BRZ, Audi A4, GTI, Civic Si, probably anything Lexus, maybe Acura. Not all are NA of course. I have actually not focused on this segment of the market because it does not appeal to me, but such cars exist since many live in areas with bad roads. I would stay away from optional larger wheel sizes that come with lower profile tires that provide less cushion and probably stay away from the highest performance model in a line.

Porsche generally rode well, but yours is the semi performance model and I don’t know what wheels you have. It is also low so you have to climb down into it and it is not practical for carrying stuff or more than 1 passenger. Great toy for an enthusiast of any age, or maybe a DD for a younger single guy.

I was going to buy a 991.2 Turbo a few years ago but realized I wound not drive it as much so I bought an F90 M5 instead. Great daily driver and I can stuff lumber, tools, trash in it or carry 4 people so I don’t need to take my wife’s Cayenne instead. I have snow wheels for the M5 for winter. No desire to drive a beater 90% of the time and park my fun car. A 911 Turbo would be a great companion to the M5.

[baege]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

You would have to start test driving cars since you have a goal in your mind that may differ from others. Subaru BRZ, Audi A4, GTI, Civic Si, probably anything Lexus, maybe Acura. Not all are NA of course. I have actually not focused on this segment of the market because it does not appeal to me, but such cars exist since many live in areas with bad roads. I would stay away from optional larger wheel sizes that come with lower profile tires that provide less cushion and probably stay away from the highest performance model in a line.

Porsche generally rode well, but yours is the semi performance model and I don’t know what wheels you have. It is also low so you have to climb down into it and it is not practical for carrying stuff or more than 1 passenger. Great toy for an enthusiast of any age, or maybe a DD for a younger single guy.

I was going to buy a 991.2 Turbo a few years ago but realized I wound not drive it as much so I bought an F90 M5 instead. Great daily driver and I can stuff lumber, tools, trash in it or carry 4 people so I don’t need to take my wife’s Cayenne instead. I have snow wheels for the M5 for winter. No desire to drive a beater 90% of the time and park my fun car. A 911 Turbo would be a great companion to the M5.

I get you I go back and forth on (a) the 1 lame car plus 1 sports car vs (b) one better all rounder all the time.

On the one hand, with (a) you really appeciate the sports car drives, but on the other hand you rarely drive it and most of the time you are driving a lame car
and with (b) you are driving a pretty fun car all the time.

but this last week I think i swung over to the (a) side, having the right tool for the job, you enjoy both drives more

I mean the best answer is (c) a cool daily plus a sports car, but I can't justify 200kish in cars when I drive about 12000 km a year

[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

i change between an 06 325i and my f80 which is stick.


the 325i for long trips, traffic, and city driving is soooo much better. than again that car is pretty snappy.

the m3 can't hit its potential anywhere but the track

[Alfisti]

Not sure EXACTLY where you are but around me the roads are absolutely HORRENDOUS. I'm surprised you don't want, and I hesitate to use the term, CUV. A Mazda CX30 is a mazda 3 just SLIGHTLY raised. Even if it's just to avoid those fucking fucker of a things in car parks designed to rip your front valence off.

Could always go my route, find a nice clean 2008-2011 9-3 for basically nothing and keep the cash in your pocket. Simple car, none of the annoyances of modern vehicles.

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by baege

I get you I go back and forth on (a) the 1 lame car plus 1 sports car vs (b) one better all rounder all the time.

On the one hand, with (a) you really appeciate the sports car drives, but on the other hand you rarely drive it and most of the time you are driving a lame car
and with (b) you are driving a pretty fun car all the time.

but this last week I think i swung over to the (a) side, having the right tool for the job, you enjoy both drives more

I mean the best answer is (c) a cool daily plus a sports car, but I can't justify 200kish in cars when I drive about 12000 km a year

My parents have a 2016 Corolla. Driving it when I visit sure does make me look forward to returning home to my BMWs and Porsche. No way would I choose to drive one every day. But if your car enthusiasm is limited to a few hours on the weekend, then go ahead and get one.

I would do things differently, whether my car budget was $100k or $200k. But whatever it is, my primary driver would be a car that I enjoyed driving rather than the other way around.

[baege]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

My parents have a 2016 Corolla. Driving it when I visit sure does make me look forward to returning home to my BMWs and Porsche. No way would I choose to drive one every day. But if your car enthusiasm is limited to a few hours on the weekend, then go ahead and get one.

I would do things differently, whether my car budget was $100k or $200k. But whatever it is, my primary driver would be a car that I enjoyed driving rather than the other way around.

yeah see the thing is in the context I am talking about, rough straight roads with traffic, I do actually enjoy driving something like a 2016 corolla more than I do driving my GTS, it just works better in that context

Of course I look forward to driving the GTS on a weekend with open roads and no traffic, but I actually don't enjoy driving it in traffic on rough straight roads.

So in a way my primary driver will be a car that enjoy driving more than the GTS given the reality of most of the driving I do.

[baege]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Not sure EXACTLY where you are but around me the roads are absolutely HORRENDOUS. I'm surprised you don't want, and I hesitate to use the term, CUV. A Mazda CX30 is a mazda 3 just SLIGHTLY raised. Even if it's just to avoid those fucking fucker of a things in car parks designed to rip your front valence off.

Could always go my route, find a nice clean 2008-2011 9-3 for basically nothing and keep the cash in your pocket. Simple car, none of the annoyances of modern vehicles.

I am in midtown Toronto, so the roads are absolutely torture and you basically are almost always sitting in traffic

I want something newer that I don't need to worry about on long trips or -20 winter days.

cx30 might be something to consider but what does it offer over a regular 3 for my needs?

[Alfisti]

Clearance and taller side walls. Sidewalls for the pot holes and clearance for those parking bay concrete humps. Fuck them BTW. It's subtle though, it's not raised like a RAV4.

[RM7]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Clearance and taller side walls. Sidewalls for the pot holes and clearance for those parking bay concrete humps. Fuck them BTW. It's subtle though, it's not raised like a RAV4.

Yep, lots of drivers like to ram their wheels against the curb stop, blocking the sidewalk beyond it. You really notice this when you are disabled and have to get around these jackasses.

[JasonCSU]

The rough roads you deal with is one of the reasons I suggested a 4Runner. It has plenty of clearance and suspension travel to deal with terrible road conditions, plus the 4WD would be useful for winter driving conditions.

Another bonus is that there is a large enthusiast following for 4Runners and other Toyota 4x4s.

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by JasonCSU

The rough roads you deal with is one of the reasons I suggested a 4Runner. It has plenty of clearance and suspension travel to deal with terrible road conditions, plus the 4WD would be useful for winter driving conditions.

Another bonus is that there is a large enthusiast following for 4Runners and other Toyota 4x4s.

A 4Runner makes for a TERRIBLE daily. I should know, my wife has a 2020 TRD Off Road done up to look like a TRD Pro. The truck handles like a wet porkchop in the dry, like a stick of butter in the wet, nose dives hilariously bad on even slightly moderate braking, is loud on the highway (largely due to the AT tires), and gets 16-17 mpg in the city and 17-19 mpg on the highway. It's what she wanted and I do like driving it, but God is that thing full of compromise and so dated. It's a 2020 vehicle with a freaking super long geared 5 speed automatic and standard fuel injection. Yeah, it's a beast off-road, but neither her nor I have any experience traversing anything beyond a severely washed out country gravel road