Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Questions on how we spend our money and our time - consumer goods and services, home and vehicle, leisure and recreational activities
User avatar
Topic Author
monkey_business
Posts: 785
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:21 pm

Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by monkey_business »

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?
WhiteMaxima
Posts: 3338
Joined: Thu May 19, 2016 5:04 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by WhiteMaxima »

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
Last edited by WhiteMaxima on Tue Aug 21, 2018 3:47 pm, edited 2 times in total.
PFInterest
Posts: 2684
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2017 11:25 am

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by PFInterest »

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.
alfaspider
Posts: 4816
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2015 4:44 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by alfaspider »

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.
H-Town
Posts: 5905
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2017 1:08 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by H-Town »

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?
Good thread!

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.
alfaspider
Posts: 4816
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2015 4:44 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by alfaspider »

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
A few of these don't really satisfy the non-boring requirement.
User avatar
Topic Author
monkey_business
Posts: 785
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:21 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by monkey_business »

Are the VWs, BMWs, and Audis that are recommended reliable?
WhiteMaxima
Posts: 3338
Joined: Thu May 19, 2016 5:04 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by WhiteMaxima »

German cars are generally reliable and fun to drive. But cost of repair is high. Better to purchase extend warranty.
omgbirdman
Posts: 73
Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2017 3:25 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by omgbirdman »

I definitely wouldn't say the new gen (2016+) Honda Civic is boring.
adamthesmythe
Posts: 5774
Joined: Mon Sep 22, 2014 4:47 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by adamthesmythe »

alfaspider wrote: Tue Aug 21, 2018 3:53 pm
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
A few of these don't really satisfy the non-boring requirement.
Top Gear used to have the boring/ not boring board. The Camry would be allll the way over on the boring side.

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.
tavore
Posts: 46
Joined: Thu Mar 07, 2013 7:29 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by tavore »

Chevy volt - as long as the rebates exist :D
alfaspider
Posts: 4816
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2015 4:44 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by alfaspider »

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 (!).

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.
HEDGEFUNDIE
Posts: 4801
Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2017 2:06 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by HEDGEFUNDIE »

2018 Nissan Leaf
InvisibleAerobar
Posts: 515
Joined: Mon Jan 15, 2018 11:33 am

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by InvisibleAerobar »

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?
CPO Volvo V60 AWD. Fits my definition of fun
User avatar
munemaker
Posts: 4338
Joined: Sat Jan 18, 2014 5:14 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by munemaker »

PFInterest wrote: Tue Aug 21, 2018 3:45 pm mazda 3, GTI, civic R. the usual suspects.
Can you buy a Civic R for $30k. A regular Civic is still a blast. Perhaps the Civic SI?
adamthesmythe
Posts: 5774
Joined: Mon Sep 22, 2014 4:47 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by adamthesmythe »

alfaspider wrote: Tue Aug 21, 2018 4:23 pm
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 (!).

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.
Tha Camry is so boring that...Camry drivers never fall asleep on long highway trips...they fall asleep in the driveway.
MichCPA
Posts: 884
Joined: Fri Jul 06, 2018 9:06 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by MichCPA »

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.
User avatar
dm200
Posts: 23214
Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2007 1:21 pm
Location: Washington DC area

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by dm200 »

Mazda 3 - manual transmission.
PFInterest
Posts: 2684
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2017 11:25 am

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by PFInterest »

munemaker wrote: Tue Aug 21, 2018 4:26 pm
PFInterest wrote: Tue Aug 21, 2018 3:45 pm mazda 3, GTI, civic R. the usual suspects.
Can you buy a Civic R for $30k. A regular Civic is still a blast. Perhaps the Civic SI?
thats the one. although 34K type R on autotrader, 2018 so not too far off
User avatar
hand
Posts: 2201
Joined: Sun May 17, 2009 8:42 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by hand »

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
User avatar
Topic Author
monkey_business
Posts: 785
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:21 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by monkey_business »

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
MotoTrojan
Posts: 11259
Joined: Wed Feb 01, 2017 7:39 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by MotoTrojan »

InvisibleAerobar wrote: Tue Aug 21, 2018 4:25 pm
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?
CPO Volvo V60 AWD. Fits my definition of fun
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.
Jack FFR1846
Posts: 18502
Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2013 6:05 am
Location: 26 miles, 385 yards west of Copley Square

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by Jack FFR1846 »

Really? I get to be Captain Obvious?


Miata
Is
Always
The
Answer
Bogle: Smart Beta is stupid
User avatar
Alexa9
Posts: 1872
Joined: Tue Aug 30, 2016 9:41 am

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by Alexa9 »

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
Last edited by Alexa9 on Tue Aug 21, 2018 6:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
InvisibleAerobar
Posts: 515
Joined: Mon Jan 15, 2018 11:33 am

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by InvisibleAerobar »

MotoTrojan wrote: Tue Aug 21, 2018 5:51 pm
InvisibleAerobar wrote: Tue Aug 21, 2018 4:25 pm
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?
CPO Volvo V60 AWD. Fits my definition of fun
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.
unfortunately, for that, one would have to source a vehicle from Europe. Plenty of oomph at 190 hp when it's a diesel.

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.
pochax
Posts: 1380
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 11:40 am

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by pochax »

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).
bubbadog
Posts: 1061
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2014 9:17 pm
Location: Cincinnati,Ohio

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by bubbadog »

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!
michaeljc70
Posts: 10843
Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2015 3:53 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by michaeljc70 »

bubbadog wrote: Tue Aug 21, 2018 6:37 pm 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!
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.
bloom2708
Posts: 9861
Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2014 2:08 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by bloom2708 »

2017+ Ford Fusion Energi Titanium.

Sharp and cool tech. Large discounts.
User avatar
Topic Author
monkey_business
Posts: 785
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:21 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by monkey_business »

michaeljc70 wrote: Tue Aug 21, 2018 6:46 pm
bubbadog wrote: Tue Aug 21, 2018 6:37 pm 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!
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.
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.

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.
Jack FFR1846
Posts: 18502
Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2013 6:05 am
Location: 26 miles, 385 yards west of Copley Square

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by Jack FFR1846 »

Used?

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
Green Street
Posts: 129
Joined: Tue Jan 02, 2018 4:00 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by Green Street »

Nissan 370Z
Searching Through The FiRE
bubbadog
Posts: 1061
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2014 9:17 pm
Location: Cincinnati,Ohio

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by bubbadog »

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.
Great car but a horrible daily driver. The OP needs a daily.
User avatar
Chan_va
Posts: 869
Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2012 6:15 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by Chan_va »

Is this a trick question? OP needs only 2 seats, and < 30k fun car. There is only one possible answer - a Miata
User avatar
dziuniek
Posts: 1402
Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2012 2:54 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by dziuniek »

Chan_va wrote: Tue Aug 21, 2018 7:48 pm Is this a trick question? OP needs only 2 seats, and < 30k fun car. There is only one possible answer - a Miata
No there isn't.

370Z.....
Get rich or die tryin'
User avatar
Watty
Posts: 28860
Joined: Wed Oct 10, 2007 3:55 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by Watty »

monkey_business wrote: Tue Aug 21, 2018 3:42 pm What do you recommend?
A "boring" $20K car with tickets for an exciting $10K vacation in the glove compartment. :D

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.
njdealguy
Posts: 256
Joined: Wed Jul 26, 2017 8:15 am

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by njdealguy »

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.
User avatar
Doom&Gloom
Posts: 5417
Joined: Thu May 08, 2014 3:36 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by Doom&Gloom »

Green Street wrote: Tue Aug 21, 2018 7:28 pm Nissan 370Z
My first thought as well.
User avatar
eye.surgeon
Posts: 1143
Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2017 1:19 pm
Location: California

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by eye.surgeon »

VW GTI. Has a 6 year warranty now too.
"I would rather be certain of a good return than hopeful of a great one" | Warren Buffett
adamthesmythe
Posts: 5774
Joined: Mon Sep 22, 2014 4:47 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by adamthesmythe »

dziuniek wrote: Tue Aug 21, 2018 7:55 pm
Chan_va wrote: Tue Aug 21, 2018 7:48 pm Is this a trick question? OP needs only 2 seats, and < 30k fun car. There is only one possible answer - a Miata
No there isn't.

370Z.....
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.
JWnAZ
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2018 3:17 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by JWnAZ »

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.
User avatar
El Greco
Posts: 517
Joined: Tue Aug 23, 2016 2:21 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by El Greco »

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.
User avatar
peterinjapan
Posts: 605
Joined: Fri May 15, 2015 8:41 am
Location: Japan!

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by peterinjapan »

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.
User avatar
munemaker
Posts: 4338
Joined: Sat Jan 18, 2014 5:14 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by munemaker »

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.
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.
daveydoo
Posts: 1564
Joined: Sun May 15, 2016 1:53 am

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by daveydoo »

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.
+1.

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?"
User avatar
Topic Author
monkey_business
Posts: 785
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:21 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by monkey_business »

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.
FireSekr
Posts: 1388
Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2013 9:54 am

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by FireSekr »

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.
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,
FireSekr
Posts: 1388
Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2013 9:54 am

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by FireSekr »

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.
dsmclone
Posts: 653
Joined: Fri Oct 25, 2013 8:50 am

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by dsmclone »

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.
User avatar
mmmodem
Posts: 2628
Joined: Thu May 20, 2010 1:22 pm

Re: Good Non-Boring Boglehead Cars Under $30k

Post by mmmodem »

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.
Post Reply