:barf::barf::barf:

Gotta agree with you, and after owning a Cooper, I never wanna sit in that crap again.
Awful cars, stay away.:bang:

Mine has been on more or less constantly for the las 8 years or so and the car has not spontaneously combusted yet...


twice. No love loss here for that imperialist effer.

You've had two of them ;)

The Elantra makes 30mpg city and 44mpg hwy. You'll be driving a Huyandi, but still...at least it has a 6-sp manual

Not the most powerful, but good power to weight. and cheap with a damn good warranty.:)

Actually a guy I work with has a 4 door colbalt ss turbo. Nice looking car and quicker than stink with a reflash. Not sure on the gas mileage.
http://www.ctamotorsports.com/projec...r/100_1873.JPG

I also saw a badass looking HHR SS at a trade show recently.

Yeah same here. I'm trying to get Meg to trade hers in before I need to change the clutch and/or replace the supercharger. Trying to get her to get a new turbo Optima. Cheaper than the turbo Sonata by like $1000 and looks nicer both outside & in, and otherwise the same-ish car.

2011 Chevy Malibu

1. 3 years general, 5 years powertrain, 6 years rust warranty
2. Reasonably roomy 4 seater, supposably seats 5
3. 22 city/33 highway
4. Retail for the top of the line model, brand new, is $27k
5. 1/20.2 power to weight
6. 15 cu. ft. trunk space. (compare to 12 cu. ft. in civic lx sedan / 5 cu. ft. in a miata)



bonus points (optional):

a) > 40mpg
b) < 30k new (2010: 22k, 2009: 14k)
c) > 1/13 power/weight ratio
d) general awesomeness. My opinion: Looks killer

Wait what's wrong with a mini cooper? My GF wanted to by a Mini cooper S but I sold her on the mazdaspeed miata. I was worried about bullshit problems with the Mini. Are there a lot of shit problems that someone mechanically ambitious couldn't easily fix?

Not to hijack, but our '03 has phantom electrical gremlins. Passenger window stops working from time to time, requires a firm punch to a certain area on the door (sticky relays). Sunroof is sticky. Radiator has holes. LOUD inside due to garabe or nonexistant sound deadening. HK amp took a shit a while ago. little knobbie for the vents break. HVAC system smells like mold regardless of the 'fixes' or procedures mini comes up with for it. Heavy flywheel. Funny clutch. Back of car/rear window gets dirty after 1/4 mile of driving. Windshield washer nozzles suck. Changing oil required buying a 36mm socket. Uhh I'm sure there's more.

But they handle awesome, are pretty quick when you whine them out, and are great on gas when women drive 'em.

30 mpg hiway.

Excellent for a car with such power.
I hear the suspension tuning is fantastic on real world backroads too, and not harsh.

Really, When I tried to build one, the turbo is only auto.. Am I missing something?

Probably because the Elantra doesn't come with a turbo...

nissan cube brah:giggle:
comes with a turbo too

I had one as a rental once.

As UGLY as it is, its got tons of room, great visibility, great gas mileage, and handles pretty good for a stock compact car too. I was impressed: might make a good appliance for the cheap price. You could vinyl wrap it in a brown paper bag print for teh lolz.

Find your favorite 4cyl car. Remove two adjacent pistons/rods and accompanying valves/springs/injectors. Plug off intake and exhaust ports so no oil gets out. Turbocharge remaining 2 cylinders. Profit.

So aside from looking like a vw beetle and pontiac aztec procreated and had a downs offspring, you're saying its not bad?:giggle:

Ok it is a bit of stretch on the mileage but
2009-2011 WRX
265hp(300ftlbs stage 2), AWD, much better handling than the old rex.
Just get a DP and flash to stage 2 and you could probably get 30mpg on the highway if you keep your foot out of it. around town well..

30mpg is quite a bit of a stretch, but I guess possible if you absolutely never go over 10% throttle lol. That's the only reason I didn't suggest that car too, because otherwise they are NICE!!
So much fun and so practical its amazing.

Oh my badz, I was thinking sonota... I cant tell those damn things apart anyways.

I really hope you post a pic of what you end up buying or this thread is redundant.

PS...still saying a new Passat TDI.
Its comfortable, resale value is top notch, very roomy and over 40mpg.

watch him get another miata lulz

y8s, buy a B5 S4.

Didn't know they made a four door... maybe wing delete that and it might be tolerable.

yeah uhh so MINI is just ahead of VAGisil in total quality. but only just. JD really has a boner for lexus. might convince me to take a closer look at that hybrid thing.

I think if those constraints were forced on me I'd get a rope long enough to hang myself David Carradine style.

inby8s starts wearing fanny packs and socks with sandals

Your input is decidedly full of information but largely not relevant. Thank you for your contribution. I will make notes of this previously mentioned "David Carradine" for future reference. Please be sure to pursue your rope dream without the taxing patience required to wait for the defined constraints.

Dont make me lecture your science class youg man.

...


I'm conservation-minded. I'm not DEAD.

Lurn2spell grandpa:giggle::laugh:

http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/youg

err i was referring to your hot wind...

Ahh shit I forgot to mention my coworker's doesn't have a wing on it. A+

You are most assuredly welcome. I try to be as efficacious as possible in these matters.

I do not have a "rope dream", but rather, offer one out of a multitude of alternate options one can take when being extorted. One rarely make good decisions while being strong armed into them.

nice try, hippy

They don't make a Passat TDI.

They do. You don't get the TDI in your neck of the woods?

Only in the Jetta, Golf, and Touareg. The 2012 Passat won't be out for a bit.

Then I'll reiterate that nobody is forcing the constraints on me.

I'll be driving the car to work in mild to moderate traffic. Some day I'll maybe throw a kid in the back. I don't want to buy a lot of gas to drive to work. I don't even want to go to work. But if I can do it in something comfortable and stylish that's not totally ignorant of sporty driving, then great.

Even if I were single and rich and I generated 20 gallons of gas each time I took a dump I wouldn't drive a 69 Camaro to work every day. Once in a while maybe.

Remember, I have a turbo miata but it's not a comfortable cruiser.

So just buy some boring piece of shit and kwitcherbitchin.

+1 to all this, in addition to a shitty gearbox that has bearings getting crappy after 50k, the door handle is getting soggy and needs a "special technique", the clutch slave is already fubar, on stock tires it's awful when the tarmac is a bit worn (it pulls CONSTANTLY), so the "sportyness" is just shit, the lambda gave in at 50k, the seats are slippery, the steering wheel lost it's skin, AND THE WINDSHIELD NOZZLES SUCK. They spray 90% of the fluid above the windshield, just repelling off because it's almost vertical, and the little that is left, just runs down your side windows, making it impossible to see anything.
So if your roads are salted, you can't really see shit in ANY direction.

I've owned quite a few cars during my 13 years of driving, and the MINI was the newest car I've ever had. And by very very VERY far the worst, and I regret ever setting my eyes on one.

It's a rolling pile of junk.

In that case, no JSW but maybe a '10 Jetta sedan or Golf TDi. Save a few pounds and gain back some MPG.

Or go a little older so you can use a SVO kit, if for no other reason than to satisfy the urge to modify something and/or try something new.

I'm with you. Day in and day out I'm hitting cruise control at 40mph, I don't want a ticket. my 28mpg Lancer doesn't even cut it any more, I wish the Fiesta was available when I was buying. Cheaper, prettier, and 10 more mpg. I like the green one. Do it.

My DD is an '07 Accord. Completely style-proof, in anonymous silver. I upgraded the suspension with sway bars from an 05 TL Type S and Moog endlinks, left the shocks alone. All the parts were about $300, new. Now it turns surprisingly well. Gets 31-32 mpg on the run between Maine and CT, usually with cruise set around 80. Pretty quiet and comfortable. You could get a certified used one around here for about 15K, which would leave you plenty of coin left over for gas and more important stuff.

My brother got a similar 08, but it's really too big. My 07 is really too big, but not as much.

Wow! Quality german engineering! Brillaint motherfuckres the germans rare

i dont want boring. i want practical and awesome.

You are basically at Fiesta or Fit.

wow...didn't know Passat didn't come in TDI form anymore, I guess a jetta will have to do then...no biggie, its a lot bigger then it used to be anyway.


Jetta

TDI Clean Diesel$22,995 to $24,095*Bells. Whistles. And everything else you could want. SE trim, a TDI® Clean Diesel engine, plus 13 other luxury features.

2.0L, 140-hp, TDI® Clean Diesel engine
16" Mambo alloy wheels
Power tilting/sliding tinted sunroof
Multi-function trip computer
6-speaker touchscreen Premium VIII sound system
Heated front seats
Leather-wrapped, multi-function steering wheel with Bluetooth® and audio controls
Leather-wrapped shift knob
Leather-wrapped brake handle
Optional: TDI® Clean Diesel with Navigation

Consumption city: 30mpg**
Consumption highway: 42mpg**

That doesn't exist.

it exists in my mirrors...?

If you have a 2 year warranty, get >35mpg and are priced under $37,000 I'll be ordering a y8s. I have uses for you.

I've never understood why VW bothers putting the inside rear wheels on. They spend so little time on the ground.

logic would be sound if VW raced nascar.


:idea:

I mean, they don't provide any benefit on or off the ground.

1999-2003 Golf/Jetta TDI or 2009 to current Golf TDI

My 2000 never got less than 39.5 mpg in the city no matter how hard I drove it. I'd get anywhere from 44-50mpg on the highway depending on size of load in the car and the weight of my foot that trip. The only thing it needed was an ECU tune. Parts are cheap, car will easily last 500K with routine maintenance. quiet and comfortable.

My boss has a 2010 Golf TDI 6speed manual. Interior is nice. Seats are nicely bolstered. good amount of room. badass suspension compared to the MKIV; it handles great for what it is. I've used it for work trips a few times. He's averaging 37/38 in the city and 42-46 on the highway. I saw 43mpg just 2 weeks ago on a trip to Tulsa with a passenger and a 50" custom TV in the back going 70mph.

Revised answer:

I would fucking kill myself.

Citation: Eagle Rare 10yr w/ lime

4 door civic si

Buy a 1992 Eagle Talon TSI AWD.

I didn't realize I haven't updated this thread in 9 months or whatever. I guess my original post was premature somewhat?

ANYWAY. It was finally time to start car shopping since it's winter and deals on financing are to be had (Mercedes benz was offering 60 months at 1.9% what??)

So we went to four places. Kind of all over the map and I'll explain why.

1. Prius V. Did not drive.
This is the benchmark for high mpg family hauler and since the wife works for an environmental organization, I had to give it a fair shot. It had plenty of space and nerdy technology but we all know what it's like to drive a prius. Well maybe you don't, but I do. It's like riding a bus and being handed a steering wheel to hold on to. It was ok.

http://media.treehugger.com/assets/i...d-photo-03.jpg

2. Mazda 3 Skyactiv sedan and 5 door. Did not drive.
Went here for the obvious reasons. It's cheap, it gets 40mpg highway, and keepin it in the zoom-zoom family. Turns out the mazda 3 is a small car. rear legroom is great for paraplegics but not me. They might have had me there longer if the CX-5 was out already (skyactiv mini-ute).
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog....2/skyactiv.jpg
CX-5 preview:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MygA9ZI7ms..._cx_5_spec.jpg

3. Mercedes-Benz C250 Sport. Didn't drive.
This is a "why the hell not" car throwin into the mix. A loaded prius v is 35k. A nicely equpiped C250 is 35k and gets 31mpg highway. We checked it out and it wins for pimp ride status but ultimately we are not pimps. I will check back again in 20 years when I'm old and want something soft. Pretty baller with the AMG wheels.
http://imganuncios.mitula.net/2012_m...6793328383.jpg

4. MINI Cooper S Countryman All4. Longest name ever. DID drive.
This was actually my favorite from the start. We wanted something as small as possible that would hold 4 (or 5) adults or infant and child seats as well as kid crap for starting a family. This is essentially that. It's shorter than our 98 civic by a foot but has plenty of legroom since you sit pretty upright. It's got a 4 cylinder turbo VVT motor so I was comfortable there too. power is reasonable for its weight considering the rest of the lineup. Sure it's expensive but the wife likes it too. Plus it has changeable color mood lighting. who the ---- doesn't want that?? I know faeflora does.

http://www.sae.org/dlymagazineimages/9111_10384_ART.jpg

http://wot.motortrend.com/files/2011...w-1024x640.jpg

Now I just have to decide on a color. Wife likes the smurf blue and I like the dark blue. I think we'll end up with the true blue.

Love that car. Good choice.

Did I miss why a tdi vw wasn't picked? Reliability I'm assuming?

Buyin new? 35K is a lot for a car!