Convince me that I don't want a Golf GTI

[DrMrLordX]

I'm not sure why you need convincing not to buy one, its wrong wheel drive. Like, maybe for a cheap winter car, but even that gets very frustrating to drive.

The R has AWD (when you need it anyway). I would rather have that than FWD or RWD. Though launching a Golf R with all four wheels engaged is something the transmission apparently doesn't like in some model years. I wouldn't try to run it at any drag strips.

 

[repoman0]

lol. don't want to be driving a rear wheel drive car in the rain, which happens a lot around here. I like how the M135i or whatever has a curious tendency to spin out in the rain, on straightaways with your foot down. (yes, I'm sure these are real edge cases).

Anyway, I don't have the funds for a proper RWD car, so it's not in the equation. "Cheap winter car." It will be one car, and for me, this ain't "cheap" by any means.

You’re not going to spin out in the rain with a RWD BMW. You’d have to be driving at a highly unsafe speed and lift off the throttle driving through standing water, like that Top Gear episode. He was doing 120 and hit a deep puddle. I daily drove one for five years, rain and snow with typical continental all seasons. Swapped it out for the AWD version for some extra pull up my steep driveway, but I have a 2005 M3 to scratch the RWD itch

Now there’s a reasonably priced fun car for you that doesn’t look like a toe. The douchebag factor is significantly reduced IMO now that they’re old and fairly dated looking. Alky probably sold his by now too.

 

[repoman0]

Zinfamous, You can find lots of Miatas & Mustangs on the used market, many of them are reasonably priced.

That said, GTI is much "nicer" interior, and the hatch can carry more misc crap than either. And even then, Miata and Mustang are both "wrong engine location" since they are not in the correct allocated spot like a 911.

The 911 has it more wrong than front engine vehicles — Porsche has done a lot of engineering to overcome that rear engine design choice. If anything mid engine is where it’s at

 

[BurnItDwn]

The 911 has it more wrong than front engine vehicles — Porsche has done a lot of engineering to overcome that rear engine design choice. If anything mid engine is where it’s at

Thats what my brother, the MR2 fanboy always says, but then i remind him of the Fiero.

I'll concede that mid engine is superior, but, im not aware of anything midengine on the current market unless you go well beyond 100K budget....

 

[BurnItDwn]

Have you considered the Soul at all? I know it's ugly, but, should be cheap to insure, cheap to fix, and reliable, and with the upgraded engine, performs similarly to the GTI.?

 

[pauldun170]

Have you considered the Soul at all? I know it's ugly, but, should be cheap to insure, cheap to fix, and reliable, and with the upgraded engine, performs similarly to the GTI.?

Apples and Oranges to the nth degree. I agree on all points excpet for perform similary.
GTI is not about 0-60 times.
If all that matters is 0-60 times then any recent model V6 Camry will be fine. It will last him until the end of days... and it will be cheap as chips to run and insure.
Bonus is that he could get one with 100K on the odo and it will still last longer and be cheaper to won than VW or Kia over the 50 years he will own it

 

[zinfamous]

You’re not going to spin out in the rain with a RWD BMW. You’d have to be driving at a highly unsafe speed and lift off the throttle driving through standing water, like that Top Gear episode. He was doing 120 and hit a deep puddle.

...but that's how I drive down my street, though. Lots of kids around, so I'd hate to spin out and kill some kids through the clear fault of the car. Plus...I honestly can't drive a BMW. Completely ignoring the unquestionable fun factor, they are explicit douchebag cars.

Have you considered the Soul at all? I know it's ugly, but, should be cheap to insure, cheap to fix, and reliable, and with the upgraded engine, performs similarly to the GTI.?

Ewww, the Soul. I don't think I can whip that thing around corners with the assurance that I won't be sent off the mountain, can I?

 

[BurnItDwn]

Ewww, the Soul. I don't think I can whip that thing around corners with the assurance that I won't be sent off the mountain, can I?

This guy likes it, though not because of handling ... (Doug D's review)

 

[zinfamous]

This guy likes it, though not because of handling ... (Doug D's review)

Around here, those cars are only ever seen driving around with Herba Life vinyl wrap ads.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Around here, those cars are only ever seen driving around with Herba Life vinyl wrap ads.

Sounds like you will have lots of cheap used repo cars to choose from.

 

[zinfamous]

Sounds like you will have lots of cheap used repo cars to choose from.

 

[NutBucket]

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=511320673

Just sayin....

 

[pauldun170]

B

...but that's how I drive down my street, though. Lots of kids around, so I'd hate to spin out and kill some kids through the clear fault of the car. Plus...I honestly can't drive a BMW. Completely ignoring the unquestionable fun factor, they are explicit douchebag cars.



Ewww, the Soul. I don't think I can whip that thing around corners with the assurance that I won't be sent off the mountain, can I?

Dont worry about spinning bmws. You will be too busy changing water pumps. And radiators. And "modules". And tires not because aggressive driving. Changing tires because it just eats tires even when driven by a 90 year old grandma...while parked.

 

[repoman0]

Dont worry about spinning bmws. You will be too busy changing water pumps. And radiators. And "modules". And tires not because aggressive driving. Changing tires because it just eats tires even when driven by a 90 year old grandma...while parked.

It's true, you should be mechanically inclined if you want to own an early 2000s M3, but for none of those reasons. I've had to change the headers, cams, and intake because I spent too much time reading the forums. Turns out the list of cars with a better throttle response and engine sound than a carbon airbox S54 is very short, and 125 NA hp/L is nothing to sneeze at, nearly 20 years later. Count me among those happy to look like a douchebag to people I don't know, though I have actually found the old BMW community to be incredibly kind, helpful and welcoming.

 

[zinfamous]

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=511320673

Just sayin....

I wish....so that is the dude's R from the Doug video? I did see an R in the Target Parking lot the other day. If I were in that price bracket, it would be a different internal debate, but I'm just not.

Or will he ship it to the east coast for a total price of ~25-29k? I'd definitely jump on that. Hell, I'd be willing to go out there and drive it back myself for that price. I did it once in my Mazda3, and wouldn't mind doing it again--that one still needs a break-in, it seems.

Seriously impressive price for a "used" R though. damn. Also--electronic dashboard? I thought those were euro-only, or does the R get them in the US because those are still made in Germany? Damn.

 

[Yeroon]

...but that's how I drive down my street, though. Lots of kids around, so I'd hate to spin out and kill some kids through the clear fault of the car. Plus...I honestly can't drive a BMW. Completely ignoring the unquestionable fun factor, they are explicit douchebag cars.

You do realize nearly all pickups, vans, delivery vehicles, are all rwd, or rwd based, without being afraid of the rain? And most pickup trucks nowadays are 300+hp, with a pretty crappy rear weight bias.
You'd need to be an idiot to do what Clarkson did with the bmw 135 or whatever it was. Yes, I just watched that clip.
If you honestly think thats due to rwd and not a soaked runway, most likely driver aides disabled, and well above a speed where hydroplaning is an issue, then maybe wrong wheel drive really is for you. Even just watching the beginning of the clip, he's driving far more aggressively and still maintains control of the BMW, including a high speed overtake in similar conditions.

Sure, some BMW drivers are douchebags, same with most luxury cars. It shows in their driving. Know how to let people know you aren't a douchebag when you drive one? Using signals, and other courteous behavior like regular folks do. After that, if someone still wants to make that judgement, they probably arent people that I'd concern myself with what they think anyways.

[edit: Not trying to make a case for the 135i. I have no opinion on that car specifically]

But I get the impression that the looks and image it presents seem to make up a decent amount of your decision making, while the "something fun before the robots take over" [edit: as in the pure sports car type of fun] not as much. If thats the case, don't listen to what I have to say. I'm very much a car performance person. I understand that all the little fancy bits make a car slower, and many a performance car lineage has lost its fun from the purity of its ancestor. (See the gti). Cars I'd pick to enjoy driving would be ones where it knows what it is. It doesnt need to be fast, it just needs to include the driver in a way I cant easily explain.
Miatas, 350/370z's, solstice/skys, z/28 camaro & 6th gen 1le. Some M cars, AMG's, and Audi RS es. I think I'd add the BRZ to the list. An engine swapped rx-8.

 

[zinfamous]

You do realize nearly all pickups, vans, delivery vehicles, are all rwd, or rwd based, without being afraid of the rain? And most pickup trucks nowadays are 300+hp, with a pretty crappy rear weight bias.
You'd need to be an idiot to do what Clarkson did with the bmw 135 or whatever it was. Yes, I just watched that clip.
If you honestly think thats due to rwd and not a soaked runway, most likely driver aides disabled, and well above a speed where hydroplaning is an issue, then maybe wrong wheel drive really is for you. Even just watching the beginning of the clip, he's driving far more aggressively and still maintains control of the BMW, including a high speed overtake in similar conditions.

Sure, some BMW drivers are douchebags, same with most luxury cars. It shows in their driving. Know how to let people know you aren't a douchebag when you drive one? Using signals, and other courteous behavior like regular folks do. After that, if someone still wants to make that judgement, they probably arent people that I'd concern myself with what they think anyways.

[edit: Not trying to make a case for the 135i. I have no opinion on that car specifically]

But I get the impression that the looks and image it presents seem to make up a decent amount of your decision making, while the "something fun before the robots take over" [edit: as in the pure sports car type of fun] not as much. If thats the case, don't listen to what I have to say. I'm very much a car performance person. I understand that all the little fancy bits make a car slower, and many a performance car lineage has lost its fun from the purity of its ancestor. (See the gti). Cars I'd pick to enjoy driving would be ones where it knows what it is. It doesnt need to be fast, it just needs to include the driver in a way I cant easily explain.
Miatas, 350/370z's, solstice/skys, z/28 camaro & 6th gen 1le. Some M cars, AMG's, and Audi RS es. I think I'd add the BRZ to the list. An engine swapped rx-8.

Right, and all of those last cars, which I like very much, can never be an option because the point is that it has to be all things at once. It will be one car, and I can't haul lumber in a miata. RS3 is comparable of course...but ah, but in terms of budget, lol.

lol, I don't think some of you get that in my mind, I do not buy a car for one purpose, one for another, and maybe another for special occasions. I get it, but to me, personally, that's lunacy. Also, I'm just not an AT baller, so I really don't have that option.

It's all about the one car option. But hey, we're pushing 3 weeks now and I'm still GTI-less, so this thread is currently a success!

 

[Yeroon]

It will be one car, and I can't haul lumber in a miata.

Apparently some people disagree with that.

Honestly, I expected a few 2x4's in the pass seat area. Seems there's some, uh, clever drivers out there - and no shortage of bungie cords or ratchet straps.

Since you have a car that you do like, have you considered something to scratch that driving itch in a way that doesnt require you to buy a car? Go-karting with some friends when the mood strikes, or renting a sports car for a weekend when the weathers nice, or even hitting up a track/car event where you get to drive some legit fast cars?

 

[IronWing]

The one car to rule them all is a late 70s - early 80s Suburban. Haul God and the whole choir, having them sit on the stack of plywood sheets that fit completely inside. The Miata can ride in the glove compartment.

 

[NutBucket]

And it's cheap and easy to maintain!

 

[zinfamous]

The one car to rule them all is a late 70s - early 80s Suburban. Haul God and the whole choir, having them sit on the stack of plywood sheets that fit completely inside. The Miata can ride in the glove compartment.

I recall being hauled around in that era of Suburbans, many, many years ago. If the tank category was included with my car category...I might consider it.

 

[zinfamous]

Apparently some people disagree with that.

Honestly, I expected a few 2x4's in the pass seat area. Seems there's some, uh, clever drivers out there - and no shortage of bungie cords or ratchet straps.

Since you have a car that you do like, have you considered something to scratch that driving itch in a way that doesnt require you to buy a car? Go-karting with some friends when the mood strikes, or renting a sports car for a weekend when the weathers nice, or even hitting up a track/car event where you get to drive some legit fast cars?

I have thought about the weekend rental thing, and I still think about it. Currently, my weekends are tied up with other projects...which is actually good because I am now spending the money on the house that I should be spending, so might manage to price myself out of this current "want," which is a good thing.

...or I'm just looking at a few extra months delay

 

[BurnItDwn]

I have thought about the weekend rental thing, and I still think about it. Currently, my weekends are tied up with other projects...which is actually good because I am now spending the money on the house that I should be spending, so might manage to price myself out of this current "want," which is a good thing.

...or I'm just looking at a few extra months delay

I've been "delaying by a few months" for the last 2 years on my car purchase.
If it aint broke, dont fix it.

 

[zinfamous]

I've been "delaying by a few months" for the last 2 years on my car purchase.
If it aint broke, dont fix it.

I did that with my current computer that I eventually built ~September...and that's way easier to spend money on.

 

[nakedfrog]

lol. don't want to be driving a rear wheel drive car in the rain, which happens a lot around here. I like how the M135i or whatever has a curious tendency to spin out in the rain, on straightaways with your foot down. (yes, I'm sure these are real edge cases).

I think the only RWD car I've had that was subpar in the rain was my '77 Grand Marquis, but that could have been the tires more than anything else. My Volvo turbo wagon, Mercedes, Firebird, and Miata have all been just fine.