What car under $30K is most fun to drive?

[careless]

OK, opinions wanted. Tell me ... what new, off the lot production car that lists for under $30K is the most fun to drive, and WHY? :awe:

 

[PhoKingGuy]

MS3/GTI/base Mustang 5.0?

 

[Jumpem]

WRX, 0-60 in ~4.7s.

 

[satyajitmenon]

MX-5

 

[KIAman]

Fun is so subjective.

 

[Zivic]

I think I would probably go with a wrx or try to get a 'sweet' deal on a evo X GSR

 

[shortylickens]

Used Audi TT or BMW 335xi.

 

[Arkaign]

WRX, 0-60 in ~4.7s.

Still slower than the Mustang GT, but then again, good luck finding a GT for the base price, they're almost all well into the $30k+ range with any options at all.

Yeah, good stuff listed here .. the obvious short list for cars that you can actually find new for under $30k would have these :

Miata (yes I know it's called MX-5, but that doesn't have enough personality)
Mustang V6 Premium (.96g grip and 0-60 in 5.1 never hurts with proper FR fun)
WRX (very effective, though AWD kind of cuts the power oversteer fun)
GTI (not that great stock, but it's fairly light and easy to mod, I don't care for FF though)
MS3 (ditto the GTI observations, but a bit better stock v stock)
Genesis 2.0T (a little heavy for the power it has, but good driving dynamics)

Open the thing up to lightly used, and the options flood open, $30k will get you CPO or almost unused very low miles stuff like this :

'11 Mustang GT (super hard to find used right now, but some program vehicles or broken lease vehicles trickle by)

370Z
STI / Evo
G37 Coupe 6MT
Camaro V8
Challenger V8
135i
335i
etc
etc

 

[Fenixgoon]

Love my genesis coupe!

 

[Arkaign]

Used Audi TT or BMW 335xi.

The Xi might be better for snow/crappy situations, but 'fun'? On normal roads, the 335i is faster and lighter, and much easier to toss around. It's similar to the G35 vs G35x situation.

 

[satyajitmenon]

Assumed you're talking new.

If used, try BMW E46 330Ci ZHP MT.

Actually, if used, the market opens up quite a bit.

exdeaths current drive falls within range.

 

[exdeath]

Define "fun"



My top picks for 30k for my definition of "fun":

03/04 Cobra
E46 M3
93-98 Supra TT

You can get any of these for well under 30k, 20-25k even.

Last gen Evos/Stis fall in that range as do C5 Z06s.

Shit I could have tons of "fun" in a $8000 1991 MR2 turbo with $15k in mods...

 

[coxmaster]

Did all of you guys miss this part:

new, off the lot production car

 

[Arkaign]

Did all of you guys miss this part:

see my post above It qualifies and lists both

Although I did leave off vehicles more than 1-2 years old even for the 'used' list.

 

[MotF Bane]

I'd go with the WRX for that price range

 

[DarkThinker]

To stick to the new ~$30K condition, I will throw in a mix of sedans and coupes, my bias is for RWD sedans for practicality's sake but I will put in some coupes and AWD sedans I like anyways for you to look into. I have not driven all these cars (maybe half) but these are cars I would test drive before I pick one if I were you:

- Hyundai Genesis Coupe with the 3.8 (Almost too much bang for the buck)
- Chevrolet Camaro SS (Just amazing)
- WRX STI (Drove one last week, the acceleration freaking blew me away)
- Nissan 370Z
- Mazda MX-5
- Volvo S60 ( Are you feeling Naughty? )
- Cadillac CTS (I love my 1st gen CTS, 2nd gen is not as good, but not sure you can wing a 3.6DI for $30K new but it's worth a shot hehe)
- Hyundai Genesis Sedan 3.8

I think that about sums up what is worth looking into at that price range NEW

 

[Jumpem]

Still slower than the Mustang GT, but then again, good luck finding a GT for the base price, they're almost all well into the $30k+ range with any options at all.

I ignore RWD cars as they aren't all that streetable for half the year here.

 

[Unmoosical]

MINI Cooper S, Handling.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

To stick to the new ~$30K condition, I will throw in a mix of sedans and coupes, my bias is for RWD sedans for practicality's sake but I will put in some coupes and AWD sedans I like anyways for you to look into. I have not driven all these cars (maybe half) but these are cars I would test drive before I pick one if I were you:

- Hyundai Genesis Coupe with the 3.8 (Almost too much bang for the buck)
- Chevrolet Camaro SS (Just amazing)
- WRX STI (Drove one last week, the acceleration freaking blew me away)
- Nissan 370Z
- Mazda MX-5
- Volvo S60 ( Are you feeling Naughty? )
- Cadillac CTS (I love my 1st gen CTS, 2nd gen is not as good, but not sure you can wing a 3.6DI for $30K new but it's worth a shot hehe)
- Hyundai Genesis Sedan 3.8

I think that about sums up what is worth looking into at that price range NEW

Half of these are closer to 40k than 30.

 

[punjabiplaya]

do you need AWD? if not, then MS3 or GTI depending on how "civilized" you want the ride. if you REALLY need AWD, then a WRX.

edit: why? - hot hatch fun and easy to mod and incrementally get more power unless you just decide to go BT

edit2: forgot Fenix's car

do you want new only or used also?

 

[Fenixgoon]

Half of these are closer to 40k than 30.

minus tiny accessories, a genesis coupe 3.8 Track is $30,750 (if you wanted you could get the R-spec instead, which is 27 or 28?)

i got my 2.0T R-Spec for $24 OTD

 

[ponyo]

MINI Cooper S.

This or the Miata. Depends if you want a coupe or convertible. I like open top so I would take the Miata.

 

[IcePickFreak]

I ignore RWD cars as they aren't all that streetable for half the year here.

Why didn't anyone tell me about this? I've been driving my RWD year round in Wisconsin, am I doing it wrong?

 

[Jumpem]

Why didn't anyone tell me about this? I've been driving my RWD year round in Wisconsin, am I doing it wrong?

My first car was a RWD Celica. Even with snow tires, it would get no traction and spin on flat pavement with minimal snow/ice.

And Wisconsin doesn't seem to get much snow at all. I just checked and it looks like you guys get ~45" a year.

 

[coxmaster]

My first car was a RWD Celica. Even with snow tires, it would get no traction and spin on flat pavement with minimal snow/ice.

And Wisconsin doesn't seem to get much snow at all. I jusdt checked and it looks like you guys get ~45" a year.

My current car is a FWD Jetta and even with no snow it can break traction. My point is, it is about how you drive. Ive seen 800+ HP Cobras being driven in a foot of snow with no trouble.