Best Handling Car for Under 30K

[Baked]

I'm in the market for a new car 'cause my current one's not quick enough for my needs. It doesn't necessarily have to be fast, but I want something that's really quick with good handling. Mostly for making quick turns. I drive mostly cities, and highways from time to time. Suggestions?

Edit: I don't need a new new car. A used car's fine.

 

[HarryLui]

New to you or new? Door requirement? Space requirement?

 

[power_hour]

I'm in the market for a new car 'cause my current one's not quick enough for my needs. It doesn't necessarily have to be fast, but I want something that's really quick with good handling. Mostly for making quick turns. I drive mostly cities, and highways from time to time. Suggestions?

Not much except the usual Miata, Honda Civic SI, Genesis Coupe, Mazdaspeed3.

Out of those from a practical point of a view I would take a 4 door Honda Civic SI. Reliability, Resale, Excellent handling, Above Average Speed and Acceleration, No fussy turbo, Room for 4/5 peeps. I would buy a year old model tho or a new 11 if you can find one.

 

[xSkyDrAx]

New or new to you? Your options would vary greatly if you consider used cars as well.

New car wise if you want pure handling characteristics then I would guess at the FR-S/BR-Z, Miata, and RX-8s.

For some power mixed with handling you got the Mazdaspeed 3s, GTIs, WRX's, Civic Si's, Mustangs, Genesis Coupes, etc.

 

[Arkaign]

Probably the best all-rounder in that price range (new only) is the WRX. They upgraded them substantially not that long ago, and the current one is solid. It's a great platform to build on as well, and they seem fairly stout without stratospheric parts cost or ludicrous maintenance. It's roomy and flexible as well.

Other good handling stuff is either obsolete (some RX-8s still floating around Mazda dealers, but horrible fuel economy and questionable maintenance combined with zero torque make that a skip), FWD (Speed3, GTI, etc .. FWD is just a fail for performance no matter what anyone try to tell you) or weak (Miata .. great handling but meh power).

Mustang V6 with the track pack and 3.73s is basically unbeatable for the price (new vs. new), but you may not want a Mustang. It will get you nearly 1G lateral grip and a ~5 second 0-60 (perhaps a shade better with sticky tires and the 3.73s). They're also pretty fast with boost : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCOYuGFR0_k

I'd say test a WRX and see if it makes you smile. Stock is 265hp, but you can hit above 300 with very minor stuff, which is around my comfort limit with the non-STI tranny/diff.

 

[MagickMan]

Pre-owned Elise? Should be some available in SoCal.

 

[vshah]

new subie brz / scion fr-s?

i have a civic si sedan and love it for the combination of fun & practicality. it's fun at autox, fits 5 people, and i can still get 35mpg on the highway. way way down on power compared to other stuff in the price range though.

 

[postmortemIA]

Subaru Impreza WXR or legacy 3.6R
Ford Fusion 4WD

 

[Jumpem]

WRX.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

GTI with the stage 1 chip will get you 33ish highway and handles plenty fine for what it is. Also does wonders as a good DD.

 

[overst33r]

If you drive cities and highways you won't really get to exploit the handling anyway...

If new, the FR-S/BRZ hands down.

If used, the RX8 handles amazing. 911/M3 also comes to mind if you can stomach the maintenance. These are on the practical side.

Obviously if you don't need practical, then go with a Miata/S2000/Elise.

Mustangs and Corvettes come to mind, even though they put up good numbers, the way they go about it is meh compared to the cars above.

 

[RavenSEAL]

WRX STi or maybe something along the lines of a Porsche if you can put up with an used car.

 

[jagec]

MR2+mods.

 

[jonesthewine]

Speed3...brand new, $23K out of the dealer price - a drivers car with plenty of torque and terrific road manners.

 

[Throckmorton]

Speed3...brand new, $23K out of the dealer price - a drivers car with plenty of torque and terrific road manners.

It's FWD

 

[Sulaco]

Speed3...brand new, $23K out of the dealer price - a drivers car with plenty of torque and terrific road manners.

Not even close...

 

[arcenite]

M3?

:sneaky:

Watch out for those Frontiers, though.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

i'd look at picking up a used sti. certified if you can, they come with warranties on them.

Or find a dealer sitting on previous years models and talk them down below your mark.

Although, if you have 30k cash i'd buy a used miata and throw an ls1 in it.

 

[RavenSEAL]

M3?

:sneaky:

Watch out for those Frontiers, though.

 

[Throckmorton]

Does an STI really handle well? From what I hear they understeer because of the 50/50 AWD. I don't see the appeal unless you're rallying or driving in snow.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

Does an STI really handle well? From what I hear they understeer because of the 50/50 AWD. I don't see the appeal unless you're rallying or driving in snow.

correct me if i'm wrong but the sti's are 40/60 rear biased (or 46/54 in older years). and yes it handles amazingly well. imo it handles miles better than a WRX. the 50/50 bias is put it all their other models, but the STI is different. its also the one exempt from certain emissions requirements manufacturers had to make, or at least it used to be which is why my model year has sodium filled exhaust valves and a better stock tune than newer ones.

I live in a cold weather environment half the year and subaru or audi are the only two car companies that put out a reasonably good AWD sedan. Ford does pretty good, Volvo's are kinda lame, I don't want an SUV, and I don't want to look like a cock so I don't have an Audi.


edit: sorry I was wrong, its 35/65 rear biased in the 06-07 models. 41/59 in 08+ and 50/50 before that. pre-06 for the STi

edit2: also, their automatic transmissions aren't fully 50/50 split either. only the manual transmissions are full 50/50. the autos are fwd biased.

 

[Throckmorton]

correct me if i'm wrong but the sti's are 40/60 rear biased (or 46/54 in older years). and yes it handles amazingly well. imo it handles miles better than a WRX. the 50/50 bias is put it all their other models, but the STI is different. its also the one exempt from certain emissions requirements manufacturers had to make, or at least it used to be which is why my model year has sodium filled exhaust valves and a better stock tune than newer ones.

I live in a cold weather environment half the year and subaru or audi are the only two car companies that put out a reasonably good AWD sedan. Ford does pretty good, Volvo's are kinda lame, I don't want an SUV, and I don't want to look like a cock so I don't have an Audi.

60/40 sounds pretty good.


Somebody watches Top Gear

 

[HybridSquirrel]

60/40 sounds pretty good.


Somebody watches Top Gear

too much top gear....but its true just the other day I was driving to work and someone in a q7 was doing his hair and blew through a red light and hit a garbage truck.

 

[Jumpem]

Does an STI really handle well? From what I hear they understeer because of the 50/50 AWD. I don't see the appeal unless you're rallying or driving in snow.

They oversteer. Easily.

 

[Baked]

Looks like I'm gonna have to test drive the STi 4D. The 5D looks kinda ugly.