Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
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Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
Criteria:
- Street price under $30k
- Reliable
- Fun driving dynamics (please no Corolla/Prius-type recommendations)
- Support for Android Auto/Apple Carplay (either available now, or coming soon)
- Can be new or used, but nothing over 3 years old
What do you recommend?
- Street price under $30k
- Reliable
- Fun driving dynamics (please no Corolla/Prius-type recommendations)
- Support for Android Auto/Apple Carplay (either available now, or coming soon)
- Can be new or used, but nothing over 3 years old
What do you recommend?
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
New:
Honda Accord
Honda Civic
Subaru Forester, Outerback
Toyota Camry
VW GTI, Jetta
And Mazda MX5 Miata
Used:
Audi Quattro A4,5
BMW 3,5
Lexus RX
Honda Accord
Honda Civic
Subaru Forester, Outerback
Toyota Camry
VW GTI, Jetta
And Mazda MX5 Miata
Used:
Audi Quattro A4,5
BMW 3,5
Lexus RX
Last edited by WhiteMaxima on Tue Aug 21, 2018 3:47 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
mazda 3, GTI, civic RSI. the usual suspects.
Last edited by PFInterest on Tue Aug 21, 2018 4:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
The usual suspects for fun cars in the $20-30k range: VW GTI, Subaru WRX, Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86, Mazda Miata, Civic si (maybe stretch budget to an R), Mustang GT, Camaro SS. The 2.0 Accord with a manual is also an interesting proposition.
Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
Good thread!monkey_business wrote: ↑Tue Aug 21, 2018 3:42 pm Criteria:
- Street price under $30k
- Reliable
- Fun driving dynamics (please no Corolla/Prius-type recommendations)
- Support for Android Auto/Apple Carplay (either available now, or coming soon)
- Can be new or used, but nothing over 3 years old
What do you recommend?
2016-2017 Camaro LT RS V-6: fun to drive, apple carplay available, reliable (my 2012 Camaro is pushing 110k miles with no issues so far)
2015-2016 Genesis: RWD, maybe less fun to drive than a Camaro but it's RWD. It's luxurious and your wife won't complain that you're driving a bachelor's car. Great value at 23k-28k for a slightly used 2015 car.
Subaru WRX: very fun to drive.
Time is the ultimate currency.
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
A few of these don't really satisfy the non-boring requirement.WhiteMaxima wrote: ↑Tue Aug 21, 2018 3:45 pm New:
Honda Accord
Honda Civic Only in Si/R form
Subaru Forester, Outerback Boring
Toyota Camry Boring
VW GTI,
Jetta Boring
And Mazda MX5 Miata
Used:
Audi Quattro A4,5
BMW 3,5
Lexus RX Boring
- monkey_business
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
Are the VWs, BMWs, and Audis that are recommended reliable?
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
German cars are generally reliable and fun to drive. But cost of repair is high. Better to purchase extend warranty.
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
I definitely wouldn't say the new gen (2016+) Honda Civic is boring.
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
Top Gear used to have the boring/ not boring board. The Camry would be allll the way over on the boring side.alfaspider wrote: ↑Tue Aug 21, 2018 3:53 pmA few of these don't really satisfy the non-boring requirement.WhiteMaxima wrote: ↑Tue Aug 21, 2018 3:45 pm New:
Honda Accord
Honda Civic Only in Si/R form
Subaru Forester, Outerback Boring
Toyota Camry Boring
VW GTI,
Jetta Boring
And Mazda MX5 Miata
Used:
Audi Quattro A4,5
BMW 3,5
Lexus RX Boring
The Camry is so boring that some years ago I really couldn't buy another one and got a RAV-4 instead (!).
I've owned a Miata. The total opposite of boring while at the same time being reliable and not very expensive. With acknowledged trunk storage and rear seat problems.
Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
Chevy volt - as long as the rebates exist
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
Yes. The Camry is a great car if you don't care about cars, but it is the poster child for boring. The more recent models do look a bit less boring, but they still drive boring. Even though the v6 sounds powerful on paper, the transmission and engine response is programmed to be as boring as possible.adamthesmythe wrote: ↑Tue Aug 21, 2018 4:06 pm
The Camry is so boring that some years ago I really couldn't buy another one and got a RAV-4 instead (!).
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
2018 Nissan Leaf
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
CPO Volvo V60 AWD. Fits my definition of funmonkey_business wrote: ↑Tue Aug 21, 2018 3:42 pm Criteria:
- Street price under $30k
- Reliable
- Fun driving dynamics (please no Corolla/Prius-type recommendations)
- Support for Android Auto/Apple Carplay (either available now, or coming soon)
- Can be new or used, but nothing over 3 years old
What do you recommend?
Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
Can you buy a Civic R for $30k. A regular Civic is still a blast. Perhaps the Civic SI?
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
Tha Camry is so boring that...Camry drivers never fall asleep on long highway trips...they fall asleep in the driveway.alfaspider wrote: ↑Tue Aug 21, 2018 4:23 pmYes. The Camry is a great car if you don't care about cars, but it is the poster child for boring. The more recent models do look a bit less boring, but they still drive boring. Even though the v6 sounds powerful on paper, the transmission and engine response is programmed to be as boring as possible.adamthesmythe wrote: ↑Tue Aug 21, 2018 4:06 pm
The Camry is so boring that some years ago I really couldn't buy another one and got a RAV-4 instead (!).
Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
Other than LED lighting, can anybody tell the difference between a 1995 Subaru and a 2018 Subaru? The exception is the WRX, but the size of that wing is just obscene.
Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
Mazda 3 - manual transmission.
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
It feels like providing input on a couple additional dimensions could help you / respondants narrow down the choices:
1) Highway, Backroads or city driving?
2) Is this a daily commuter which will have to absorb lots of miles, or a weekend garage queen?
3) Do you care about ongoing costs (maintenance, insurance, gas, depreciation), or just purchase price? (I'd propose that the Boglehead way to think about this focuses more on lifetime cost to own / value than initial purchase price)
4) Is this an individual / two person car, or family vehicle
5) How do you define fun driving dynamics? Handling, power, other?
6) How long do you plan to keep the car / does depreciation curve matter?
Also, perhaps reconsider the Android / Apple requirement - this should be relatively cheap / easy to add with an aftermarket unit.
Finally, consider that many vehicles are built to a price point / fuel efficiency standard / lowest common denominator - if you really want a car with a high fun quotient, you may be better served reserving part of your budget for performance upgrades - a three(+) year old car $20k with new brakes, tires, shocks, and perhaps a basic engine tune could well be as reliable (with many known good parts) and cheaper than a stock $30k car.
Some outside the box ideas:
Buick Regal GS ~$20k for a 2015
Chevrolet SS ~$35k, for a 2015, but deals possible
1) Highway, Backroads or city driving?
2) Is this a daily commuter which will have to absorb lots of miles, or a weekend garage queen?
3) Do you care about ongoing costs (maintenance, insurance, gas, depreciation), or just purchase price? (I'd propose that the Boglehead way to think about this focuses more on lifetime cost to own / value than initial purchase price)
4) Is this an individual / two person car, or family vehicle
5) How do you define fun driving dynamics? Handling, power, other?
6) How long do you plan to keep the car / does depreciation curve matter?
Also, perhaps reconsider the Android / Apple requirement - this should be relatively cheap / easy to add with an aftermarket unit.
Finally, consider that many vehicles are built to a price point / fuel efficiency standard / lowest common denominator - if you really want a car with a high fun quotient, you may be better served reserving part of your budget for performance upgrades - a three(+) year old car $20k with new brakes, tires, shocks, and perhaps a basic engine tune could well be as reliable (with many known good parts) and cheaper than a stock $30k car.
Some outside the box ideas:
Buick Regal GS ~$20k for a 2015
Chevrolet SS ~$35k, for a 2015, but deals possible
- monkey_business
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
Responses in blue:
hand wrote: ↑Tue Aug 21, 2018 4:43 pm It feels like providing input on a couple additional dimensions could help you / respondants narrow down the choices:
1) Highway, Backroads or city driving?
Mostly city. Some highway.
2) Is this a daily commuter which will have to absorb lots of miles, or a weekend garage queen?
Daily commuter
3) Do you care about ongoing costs (maintenance, insurance, gas, depreciation), or just purchase price? (I'd propose that the Boglehead way to think about this focuses more on lifetime cost to own / value than initial purchase price)
Yes to both.
4) Is this an individual / two person car, or family vehicle
One to two people 99% of the time.
5) How do you define fun driving dynamics? Handling, power, other?
Handling, steering, size feel (don't want a car that feels heavy/big) mostly. Power not critical just don't want it to be slow. As long as it is ~7.5s 0-60 or faster it's fine.
6) How long do you plan to keep the car / does depreciation curve matter?
Long time. Depreciation doesn't matter unless it makes buying used a very good proposition.
Also, perhaps reconsider the Android / Apple requirement - this should be relatively cheap / easy to add with an aftermarket unit.
Is it though? On my current car, adding an aftermarket unit costs about $1,100 with labor, and requires the replacement of A/C controls with ugly aftermarket ones.
Finally, consider that many vehicles are built to a price point / fuel efficiency standard / lowest common denominator - if you really want a car with a high fun quotient, you may be better served reserving part of your budget for performance upgrades - a three(+) year old car $20k with new brakes, tires, shocks, and perhaps a basic engine tune could well be as reliable (with many known good parts) and cheaper than a stock $30k car.
I should clarify that I am not looking for a pure fun/sports car per se, just something more fun than the typical Corolla, pure A-to-B commuter type of car. For example, the Mazda 3/6 fit into this category. They are not sports cars, but more fun than the typical cars in their class.
Some outside the box ideas:
Buick Regal GS ~$20k for a 2015
Chevrolet SS ~$35k, for a 2015, but deals possible
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
I quite enjoyed mountain drives in my fwd one. Bet this would be a blast, especially if you had a manual transmission. Drive an S4 now for comparison, so I know a nice driving car.InvisibleAerobar wrote: ↑Tue Aug 21, 2018 4:25 pmCPO Volvo V60 AWD. Fits my definition of funmonkey_business wrote: ↑Tue Aug 21, 2018 3:42 pm Criteria:
- Street price under $30k
- Reliable
- Fun driving dynamics (please no Corolla/Prius-type recommendations)
- Support for Android Auto/Apple Carplay (either available now, or coming soon)
- Can be new or used, but nothing over 3 years old
What do you recommend?
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
Really? I get to be Captain Obvious?
Miata
Is
Always
The
Answer
Miata
Is
Always
The
Answer
Bogle: Smart Beta is stupid
Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
You can find someone unloading their 10 year old sports car for around $30k if you search enough. Porsches are fun to drive, not too flashy, fairly reliable, and reasonably priced used.
First car to pop up for a "Porsche" search on eBay:
2005 Porsche 911 Coupe
$30,500 or best offer
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2005-Porsche-9 ... IT&vxp=mtr
First car to pop up for a "Porsche" search on eBay:
2005 Porsche 911 Coupe
$30,500 or best offer
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2005-Porsche-9 ... IT&vxp=mtr
Last edited by Alexa9 on Tue Aug 21, 2018 6:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
unfortunately, for that, one would have to source a vehicle from Europe. Plenty of oomph at 190 hp when it's a diesel.MotoTrojan wrote: ↑Tue Aug 21, 2018 5:51 pmI quite enjoyed mountain drives in my fwd one. Bet this would be a blast, especially if you had a manual transmission. Drive an S4 now for comparison, so I know a nice driving car.InvisibleAerobar wrote: ↑Tue Aug 21, 2018 4:25 pmCPO Volvo V60 AWD. Fits my definition of funmonkey_business wrote: ↑Tue Aug 21, 2018 3:42 pm Criteria:
- Street price under $30k
- Reliable
- Fun driving dynamics (please no Corolla/Prius-type recommendations)
- Support for Android Auto/Apple Carplay (either available now, or coming soon)
- Can be new or used, but nothing over 3 years old
What do you recommend?
someone upthread mentioned Mazda 3 Manual. I'd give a Mazda 5 wagon some serious consideration had it been equipped with a more powerful engine.
Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
new Mazda 6 GT (with turbo 4-cyl) is over $30k (just a little so) and perhaps will give you more boom than most cars and stays practical as a daily commuter although not as fuel-efficient as the more boring competitors. also it WILL have apply carplay (but not Android Auto, but coming soon Mazda says). major downside is no manual transmission if that is part of your definition of fun).
Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
Either a Mazda 3 or a Mazda 6 seem to fit the bill perfectly.
Both are great cars and you just need to decide on which size you prefer.
Zoom Zoom!
Both are great cars and you just need to decide on which size you prefer.
Zoom Zoom!
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
Or CX-5 if you aren't limiting it strictly cars. Since you said fun to drive, that (and under 30k) eliminated most Boglehead cars I think.
I hate the plastic waffle stuff on the back of the civics. Most Honda and Toyotas are terribly boring to look at or drive even though Bogleheads seem to love them.
Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
2017+ Ford Fusion Energi Titanium.
Sharp and cool tech. Large discounts.
Sharp and cool tech. Large discounts.
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
Yeah Mazda is definitely a solid contender all around. I did mention it can be used (<3 years) too. That can include a lot of more expensive cars. In my area, just as an example, you can get 2-3 year old Lexus IS/GS/RC for $25-30k.michaeljc70 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 21, 2018 6:46 pmOr CX-5 if you aren't limiting it strictly cars. Since you said fun to drive, that (and under 30k) eliminated most Boglehead cars I think.
I hate the plastic waffle stuff on the back of the civics. Most Honda and Toyotas are terribly boring to look at or drive even though Bogleheads seem to love them.
I also agree about the "plastic waffle stuff" as you call it. The Civic hatchback is a great contender as well, albeit with two negatives: the "waffles", and the potential oil dilution issues with the 1.5T engine.
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
Used?
2006 Lotus Elise.
It will make every other car mentioned in this thread seem as fun a slapping mud on a table.
2006 Lotus Elise.
It will make every other car mentioned in this thread seem as fun a slapping mud on a table.
Bogle: Smart Beta is stupid
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
Great car but a horrible daily driver. The OP needs a daily.Jack FFR1846 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 21, 2018 7:00 pm Used?
2006 Lotus Elise.
It will make every other car mentioned in this thread seem as fun a slapping mud on a table.
Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
Is this a trick question? OP needs only 2 seats, and < 30k fun car. There is only one possible answer - a Miata
Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
A "boring" $20K car with tickets for an exciting $10K vacation in the glove compartment.
One thing to look at is how often you could actually drive a non-boring car in a non-boring way.
Lots of the cars mentioned have lots of potential for fun but if you are commuting in traffic then most of the time you will be driving along side lots of the cars that are being spurned. I used to drive a Honda Fit and there have been times when I have been in traffic next to something like a Ferrari or Maserati and they didn't seem to be enjoying the drive much more than I was.
Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
10 year old Ford Crown Vic purchased from a police auction for under $3k! May not be the most exciting but get the peace of mind of not caring about dings and other stuff.
Last edited by njdealguy on Tue Aug 21, 2018 8:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
My first thought as well.
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
VW GTI. Has a 6 year warranty now too.
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
A neighbor had a much earlier model...and his idiot car would talk to you. Or maybe it had cute chimes or whatever.
There's froufrou and there's being in touch with the road. The thing that makes the Miata so much fun...you don't have to drive it fast...you don't need to spend gas to get up to 70 in a few seconds...you can just have a blast driving it around town or a short ways out of town.
You've got me talked into getting another one...even though where I live it comes close to the least practical car.
Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
The only brand new car I ever bought was a 2007 4dr 4cyl Nissan Altima. Still have it and would do it again. It's a super fast Japanese rocket and costs much less than its superior the Infiniti...Love the CVT transmission.
Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
Take a hard look at Mazda. Great styling, terrific driving dynamics and superb bang for the buck. They are all very well equipped, reliable and have good safety ratings without being dull. Many choices in your price range including Miata, Mazda3, Mazda6, or CX-5 (if you want a sport ute). Just take one out for a test drive. You won't be bored.
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
Wow, was going to reply the same thing, Mazda cars are all excellent and fun to drive. If you live in a diesel-friendly place (I am in Japan) they're even better.
I love the new Mazda MX-5 (which I will call Miata until the end of my days), and the CX-5 is brilliant too.
I love the new Mazda MX-5 (which I will call Miata until the end of my days), and the CX-5 is brilliant too.
Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
Maybe so, but I would have trouble paying $30K for a 12 year old car. Parts go bad with miles, but some go bad with age.Jack FFR1846 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 21, 2018 7:00 pm Used?
2006 Lotus Elise.
It will make every other car mentioned in this thread seem as fun a slapping mud on a table.
Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
+1.alfaspider wrote: ↑Tue Aug 21, 2018 3:49 pm The usual suspects for fun cars in the $20-30k range: VW GTI, Subaru WRX, Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86, Mazda Miata, Civic si (maybe stretch budget to an R), Mustang GT, Camaro SS. The 2.0 Accord with a manual is also an interesting proposition.
OP, how old are you? If you're not a kid, I'd stay away from the WRX and BRZ. Especially if you do freeway driving with any regularity.
Civic R is overpriced according to pretty much everyone and looks like a Happy Meal toy -- but it would be fun. Might as well get a used Boxster for that money.
My picks would be VW GTI and Mazda 3. They're very different and I've never owned either but I think I could drive one of those for the rest of my life. Fun but also usable, practical, and sufficiently reliable. Some "fun" cars are simply exhausting and hard to live with; these are not. MX-5 is more fun than the -3 but too little interior room for pretty much anything at all -- fun to take for a drive but it's hard to actually go anywhere. Although maybe I'm thinking more of the new hard-top that eats up half the trunk.
A "fun" BMW is either too new to be in your price range or too old to be recommended (pre-2012).
"I mean, it's one banana, Michael...what could it cost? Ten dollars?"
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Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
Anyone have thoughts on used Acura TLX? Just browsing what's out there and I see 2018 V6 TLXs with various packages and very low miles (5-15k, seems most are dealer loaners) for $28-32k. I priced out new ones and the MSRP is $43-46k. Could be a good value. Also read that Honda updated the TLX infotainment with the 2018 refresh and one of the upgrades is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
OP requested a fun car. The TLX is a moderately engaging front wheel drive appliance. Admittedly it’s more fun than the Camry and the Ford Fusion energy suggested by someone above,monkey_business wrote: ↑Wed Aug 22, 2018 1:19 am Anyone have thoughts on used Acura TLX? Just browsing what's out there and I see 2018 V6 TLXs with various packages and very low miles (5-15k, seems most are dealer loaners) for $28-32k. I priced out new ones and the MSRP is $43-46k. Could be a good value. Also read that Honda updated the TLX infotainment with the 2018 refresh and one of the upgrades is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
The BRZ/GT86 is one of the most engaging cars I’ve ever driven and it was a great daily driver. I’ve driven it on long trips 5+hours on mediocre California roads and in traffic and it never wore me out.
The engine does sound like marbles though and the interior is cheap, but all is forgiven while you’re driving because it’s so much fun...I completely ignored the cheap interior and crappy sounding engine and enjoyed the ride.
The lack of refinement is only noticeable if you drive it back to back with a smoother ride. If I got out of the BRZ and drove my BMW 328 6MT right after, the BMW felt so much more refined but quite boring in comparison. The BMW is not a boring car by any means, but in relation to the BRZ it felt like a boat.
Another nice thing about the BRZ is that you don’t have to be going idiotic speeds to have fun. Driving that car at 25mph is just as fun as 50 or 60MPH. In contrast, the BMW has to be going significantly above posted speed limits to be enjoyable.
As far as BRZ/86 vs Miata, I prefer the 86 as a daily because it’s a bit bigger and heavier and I’m willing to bet would be safer in a collision with a larger car compared to the Miata. It’s also got a bigger trunk with fold down seats so you can throw track tires in the back and go to the track.
GTI is a moderately fun car, but it reminds me a lot more of my 328i than it does of the BRZ. The GTI is very refined and responsive but nowhere near as engaging as the BRZ. The BRZ does make you work for it which adds to the fun, the GTI is a bit more effortless because the engine is always in the power band, but the turn in isn’t as sharp and you won’t feel the bite mid-corner that you get with the RWD BRZ with limited slip.
The engine does sound like marbles though and the interior is cheap, but all is forgiven while you’re driving because it’s so much fun...I completely ignored the cheap interior and crappy sounding engine and enjoyed the ride.
The lack of refinement is only noticeable if you drive it back to back with a smoother ride. If I got out of the BRZ and drove my BMW 328 6MT right after, the BMW felt so much more refined but quite boring in comparison. The BMW is not a boring car by any means, but in relation to the BRZ it felt like a boat.
Another nice thing about the BRZ is that you don’t have to be going idiotic speeds to have fun. Driving that car at 25mph is just as fun as 50 or 60MPH. In contrast, the BMW has to be going significantly above posted speed limits to be enjoyable.
As far as BRZ/86 vs Miata, I prefer the 86 as a daily because it’s a bit bigger and heavier and I’m willing to bet would be safer in a collision with a larger car compared to the Miata. It’s also got a bigger trunk with fold down seats so you can throw track tires in the back and go to the track.
GTI is a moderately fun car, but it reminds me a lot more of my 328i than it does of the BRZ. The GTI is very refined and responsive but nowhere near as engaging as the BRZ. The BRZ does make you work for it which adds to the fun, the GTI is a bit more effortless because the engine is always in the power band, but the turn in isn’t as sharp and you won’t feel the bite mid-corner that you get with the RWD BRZ with limited slip.
Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
I've been very happy with my 2015 CPO BMW m235i that costs just a little north of $30k. The engine and trans are both known as being super reliable. It gets about 25mpg(premium only), looks good, it will do 60 in 4.5 seconds, handles like a champ, turbocharged 6 sounds glorious, etc. The only thing it doesn't have on your list is carplay/android Auto. Oil changes are 10k. I'm 6'2 230 and fit in it with room to spare. About 90% of the time when buying a car, I go with the Japanese option but after about a year of driving this, I've been very happy with the purchase.
I've also owned a VW GTI, Mazdaspeed 3, Honda Civic Si, and a Nissan 350z. The GTI was the most solid of the group and I liked the DSG but the car got a little boring. The Mazdaspeed was probably the fastest but was cheaply made and you could tell from day one. The 2000 Honda Civic Si was one of the best cars I've ever owned. Bought it new in 2000 for $16,500 and after having it for about 18 months sold it for $17k. They only made that model for 2 years and everyone wanted it. 18 years later the design is still the best of any Civic ever made. It was slow compared to the cars of today but it was high reving, sounded glorious, handled great, and was a blast to drive. The 350z was the first year model and was fine but it's very dated now and Nissan needs to do something with it.
I've also owned a VW GTI, Mazdaspeed 3, Honda Civic Si, and a Nissan 350z. The GTI was the most solid of the group and I liked the DSG but the car got a little boring. The Mazdaspeed was probably the fastest but was cheaply made and you could tell from day one. The 2000 Honda Civic Si was one of the best cars I've ever owned. Bought it new in 2000 for $16,500 and after having it for about 18 months sold it for $17k. They only made that model for 2 years and everyone wanted it. 18 years later the design is still the best of any Civic ever made. It was slow compared to the cars of today but it was high reving, sounded glorious, handled great, and was a blast to drive. The 350z was the first year model and was fine but it's very dated now and Nissan needs to do something with it.
Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k
If I had a family, I'd get the used VW GTI. If I didn't then I'd get an used Infiniti Q60. The 2017 model is just gorgeous. It'll be tough to get one under $30k at the moment though. I'd avoid 2015 and under as they are the previous model. If I wanted something sized in between, I'd get a used Lexus IS.
You can't buy a Civic Type R for any reasonable price at the moment, certainly not for $30k. An Si pales in comparison to a GTI in terms of bang for the buck. You can find an Si for under $30k but its price will be bloated. If it was 2011, then I might entertain a BRZ/86 but for now it's just too old a model. Ditto for a used Miata. The current model has been around too long. The new 2019 Miata is interesting but again you cannot buy for $30k.
You can't buy a Civic Type R for any reasonable price at the moment, certainly not for $30k. An Si pales in comparison to a GTI in terms of bang for the buck. You can find an Si for under $30k but its price will be bloated. If it was 2011, then I might entertain a BRZ/86 but for now it's just too old a model. Ditto for a used Miata. The current model has been around too long. The new 2019 Miata is interesting but again you cannot buy for $30k.