Trident, you are basically living my life. I'm nearing year 3 of my new car search with no end in site so I'll be following this thread closely. Basically all affordable cars suck.
- Sep 4, 2006
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One thing I noticed about the car(GTI) and it REALLY annoyed me was that the shifting pattern for the shifter knob in manual mode was wrong. Press forward, goes up a gear. Press backwards, goes down a gear.
That was so hard for my body to learn that I had to start using the paddles on the steering wheel. The paddles were very small and unsatisfying too. I'd definitely get aftermarket paddles and see if I could rewire the shift knob mechanism for that up/down shit.
That was so hard for my body to learn that I had to start using the paddles on the steering wheel. The paddles were very small and unsatisfying too. I'd definitely get aftermarket paddles and see if I could rewire the shift knob mechanism for that up/down shit.
You might be able to find a 2013 BR-Z/FR-S in that price range. It feels/handles a lot like the Miata, but is a bit more practical. A little more room for people of normal height, 30mpg highway (34 for automatic - but does require premium so the fuel economy might be a wash), and backseats and trunk that give you more space for stuff than the Miata.
It's not quite as fun to drive as the Miata - I'm not a huge car guy or familiar with all the technical stuff, but I'd say the Miata has or at least feels like it has more low-end torque, and the BR-Z has more precise throttle and brakes - but it's probably one of the best coupes you can get for under $20k used. Reliability of the Toybaru is decent, though I think there were issues very early on with the first year (most will have been recalled and fixed by now).
It's not quite as fun to drive as the Miata - I'm not a huge car guy or familiar with all the technical stuff, but I'd say the Miata has or at least feels like it has more low-end torque, and the BR-Z has more precise throttle and brakes - but it's probably one of the best coupes you can get for under $20k used. Reliability of the Toybaru is decent, though I think there were issues very early on with the first year (most will have been recalled and fixed by now).
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- Sep 4, 2006
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Another issue I'm running into is that almost all the ads on the private party section of craigslist are actually dealers just posing as private parties. Or, there's also a ton of people who buy a lot of cars and sell them. Basically, dealers without dealer label.
tortillasoup
Golden Member
- Jan 12, 2011
- 1,977
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civics are great cars and if you want to feel connected to the road, avoiding newer cars is the answer.
Fenixgoon
Lifer
- Jun 30, 2003
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i would also recommend a genesis coupe if you wanted slightly more practicality than a FRS/BRZ. It's a bigger car by quite a bit, but the back seat is actually useful (unlike the FRS/BRZ) and the trunk is surprisingly spacious for a coupe.
turbo'd 4 got decent gas mileage (30hwy?) while the 6cyl won't be as good (26?)
i don't know that there have been any major issues with any of the gen coupes other than a 5th gear grind on the 4cyl/6MT
halik
Lifer
- Oct 10, 2000
- 25,696
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tortillasoup
Golden Member
- Jan 12, 2011
- 1,977
- 4
- 81
Civics of that generation are double wishbone and don't have too much insulation. Newer vehicles have different suspension geometries that are less handling friendly (though work surprisingly well) and largely insulate the driver from the road. My Camry didn't liven up until I put over 40 psi in the front tires.
halik
Lifer
- Oct 10, 2000
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Well for one, road noise is not what people mean when they say the car is communicating the road conditions.
Also I would challenge the notion that Camry handly - fwd, unequal drive shafts, overboosted steering, low wear skinny allseasons etc etc. They're designed to be comfy commuting appliances.
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tortillasoup
Golden Member
- Jan 12, 2011
- 1,977
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All true. As for communicating the road conditions, I mean through the steering wheel. At 32 psi, car felt like marshmallows and felt like using a playstation wheel. At 44PSi, car felt much more sporty, but never uncomfortable, could feel the road and how the wheels were behaving with the road through the steering wheel. For a Camry, it felt pretty drivable.
- Sep 4, 2006
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Those are also uncommon and only come in manual. I want an automatic. I live in dense traffic zones and don't feel like riding a clutch or burning through a clutch all the time.
Somehow JLee manages to get through those same dense traffic zones with a stick. Get an IS300 (or IS350 if welfare allows) and be done with it. Auto, cushy, reasonably priced parts.
- Sep 4, 2006
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I happen to mostly live in the bay area, so I don't think he does.
He lives in a land with 0 hills too.
jlee
Lifer
- Sep 12, 2001
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Then learn how to drive.
I happen to mostly live in the bay area, so I don't think he does.
I didn't always.
- Sep 4, 2006
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Then learn how to drive.
I didn't always.
Still not SF.
Everyone hates driving in SF with a manual if they're just commuting. You are riding the clutch all day. I don't feel like bothering.
Ns1
No Lifer
- Jun 17, 2001
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jlee
Lifer
- Sep 12, 2001
- 48,518
- 223
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Last I heard you were driving across the US again. Now you're commuting in SF with no job? I can't keep track.
BTW, my 2004 Subaru had a hill-hold feature so whiny people wouldn't whine about hills. I would think some newer cars have that too, but the Speed3 does not.
Just buy a Camry and be done with it.
BTW, my 2004 Subaru had a hill-hold feature so whiny people wouldn't whine about hills. I would think some newer cars have that too, but the Speed3 does not.
Just buy a Camry and be done with it.
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I happen to mostly live in the bay area, so I don't think he does.
I can't imagine how I got the idea Phoenix was in the picture again. Oh wait, yes I do.
- Sep 4, 2006
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jlee
Lifer
- Sep 12, 2001
- 48,518
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nakedfrog
No Lifer
- Apr 3, 2001
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I'm five inches over that, and my '92 Miata holds me just fine.
I haven't modified the seat as many tall guys have, but the guy that owned it for the ten years before me was a bit portly, so maybe he compressed the foam over time...
The '03 I test drove before buying the '92 was only a little more cramped.
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