One of these is built from a seam-welded body in white, one of these isn't.

I know which one i'd take.

 

It's okay to be slow haha

JK i like STs, nice seats,and handle well too.

 

I was casually walking around the showroom while purchasing our Ford Escape this past Saturday and glanced at a Focus RS. I've been out of the new car game for awhile, but never thought a Ford Focus would be in the $40-50K range. Did you test drive one for giggles when searching?

 

They can be found under $40k on dealer lots around me.

You have to keep in mind how much cool tech is in the car.

 

You actually, legitimately, committed to a car?!

WHOA!!



That's a pretty good daily driver. Only reason I stay away from them is the FWD

 

I did actually commit to a car

They aren't fast cars and they are FWD, but for the money, a $4000 rebate on my trade in (good riddance), it was hard to argue with. And at the price I got it for, I was able to keep my miata around, albeit a bit slower on the build side, but still. Comes with a lot of cool tech for a daily. And on the highway it is QUIET, which is a big plus, honestly, it is just as quiet as my mother's Q60s. I got a base model, stock seats with no sunroof and it still has enough tech for me.

I really like the handling for a FWD hatch. It doesn't feel invincible but confident. And when you really push it with traction control off, when you think it'll understeer, it just digs in a bit more and the rear tries to follow a bit more. Revised the suspension in 2016 to not rotate as hard as the older ones.

It still makes 270wtq at 2krpm, and as a daily driver, I'd rather ride a wave of torque than get 6krpm just to move around. It only makes a peak of ~230whp but I feel that's enough for a car like this, FWD limited, still runs 235's stock which isn't terrible.

I never got the chance to drive the RS..i sat in it. The seats are like halfway in between the terrible Focus Recaros and the stock seats. And I knew immediately if I drive a RS, I won't be nearly as happy with the ST.

 

absolutely 100% agree.

 

I didn't mean to disagree with the car's current value proposition. When I see a focus, I still see the early 2000's focus that is relatively easy to find for minimal costs.

Fair enough. After walking around it (I actually really liked the blue color), I debated on asking to test drive the car. My wife was not going to entertain staying at the dealership longer than necessary considering we were there on the day my daughter was due - but did not arrive and still has not!

 

With that spread of torque and room for my dogs for a car with a warranty that gives me a least higher limits and a lot more torque than a Mazda3 for the same money.

 

I keep finding myself looking at S550 mustang GT premium's for a winter "beater"... $25k for <40k miles and 425 crank hp is tempting

 

I'm seriously considering taking a bath on the BRZ to get a cheap beater car I can pay off in a year since I'm getting ready to buy a house.

One of the local Honda dealers has a high mileage NB2 that still appears to be clean. If I didn't get totally screwed on the BRZ, I'm thinking I could get the NB2, pay off quickly..............order an Exocet kit, then find something I could drive to work and tow an Exocet.

 

Would you not be better off to just keep making your payments on your low-interest BRZ loan til the curves are closer together? If you like the car....

 

When I got divorced 2 years ago I refinanced to 6 in my name because layoffs were coming up at work..........and I did get laid off. Then got laid off again, moved a bunch, etc.

There is also the issue that since I took the car in for the crunchy 2nd gear synchro, they pulled the ECU and saw the previous tune. So I essentially have 4 years left to pay on a car that has no powertrain warranty, because I know they will deny any other claim because of the aforementioned tune.

In reality, it would depend on what I could get on trade-in. If it's ridiculously low, I'd keep it, and up the fluid change intervals in the trans to help with the issue (which does help).

 

Have you thought about getting a quote from Carmax? Seems like a pretty easy process; and will give you an actual cash value as a foundation for the tower of speculation and indecision we all enjoy watching you construct.

I've been thinking about trading in or selling my BRZ. After some misadventures on a camping trip in a borrowed conversion van last week, I've decided I need a way to haul four people and some gear around. The wife and I are going to drive some cars this weekend. There seem to be some good deals on 2017 Mazda3 hatches as the 2018's are starting to be delivered. Will probably cross-shop a Golf, FoST, used WRX wagon.

Looking for an engaging gas-sipper that is comfortable for longer trips and gravel-travel while holding more than two people and some gear and maybe some bikes. Needs to swallow 8' lengths of lumber for the weekly Home Depot run. Wife is really pushing me to get an automatic so she can drive it. A sensible DD now leaves room for fun impracticable 2nd car with questionable reliability in the near future. I know I could make the BRZ into a very fun project/weekend/track toy, but I can't bring myself to start tearing apart and throwing money into a perfectly good newish car still under warranty.

 

No, I actually hadn't thought of that! I may have to do that.

I need to talk to my mortgage guy and see if, even though it would be lowering my debt-to-income ratio, if a new loan before a mortgage would negatively impact my credit score.

 

I have a classical case of automotive ADHD right now. tentatively have my high mileage 1999 silverado DD sold to a friend. My miata gets stored in the winter months, but I can now begin shopping for whats next.

Here's my compiled list of options. All have their pros and cons. Willing to spend up to $45k for something amazeballs, but fact of the matter is there are too damn many things in the price range to make a decision lol

2009+ Cadillac CTSV M6 Sedan (had one already, loved it, miss it) ~$37k
2009+ Cadillac CTSV Auto Wagon (Convenient because wagon, but more boring to me because auto. Still would like the overall package, but pricey) ~$43k
2015+ Chevy SS M6 (basically a CTSV with less power, more bland exterior styling, and a nicer, updated interior) ~$34k
2007 Chevy Duramax Crew Cab (the budget friendly and responsible option to haul, tow, and drive in winter.. but its rather boring to drive) ~$20k
2015+ Mustang GT Track Pack M6 (transmission reviews are concerning, least interior space of the bunch, but great bang for the buck fun) ~$25k
2012+ Audi S4 (quattro handles snow better than most on the list, scared of german engineering under the hood) ~$30k
ANY STI HATCH (not a bad thought for the money, but my roommates love for subaru has led me to have a small hatred for the things. he owns 3...) <~$25k
Evo 8/9 (just because my roommate thinks subaru's are superior. Good performers for the money, but they are showing their age and get rusty up here) <~$20k

Open to other suggestions. Will likely be test driving many of these on the list. I would strongly prefer a manual transmission option available.

 

Mustang with dedicated snow tires. Unless you live in an area where you frequently have to drive on unplowed roads AWD is unnecessary.

 

Camaro SS 1LE

You can find them down around $40k in my neck of the woods. I'd buy one, but I've decided buying a house is probably a better use of funds than having a ridiculous muscle car while living in a small apartment.

 

The hard inquiry from the lender will take a few points. There is also a disclosure I had to provide verifying no new-debt was added before closing on my house. I don't know what the actual consequence of getting a new loan, but the banks will make sure to find out. My opinion is all a matter of what your income vs. expenses margin is... who knows.

 

I agree on AWD not being necessary. Never owned an AWD or 4x4 vehicle. Even my current truck is a 2WD and it handles all the snow that got thrown at it just fine.

The 6th gen Camaro's are awesome, but I'd want to wait for them to drop in value a bit more before pulling the trigger on one. S550 stangs are a much better bang for the buck in the used market right now IMO (this coming from a GM guy if you cant tell by my list).