SketchMaster
Diamond Member
I've been looking at getting a new car at the end of the year and the Impreza is starting to really catch my eye. But I want to make sure I'm not getting tunnel vision with this and get stuck on one car, I have been looking at a lot of cars on edmunds.com but I wan't to get some more input on whats out there.
This is what I'm looking for in a car in no particular order...
* Good gas mileage. Doesn't have to be awesome, but I'm not driving around in something that gets 19MPG city.
* Comfy with good field of vision.
* Fun.
* Good handling and breaking. I was taught to avoid accidents, not lean on my horn and hope they move.
* MANUAL transmission. I'm sick of auto!
* Seats that are comfy enough for long trips but keep you planted on windy mountain roads (colorado).
* Safe and reliable.
* Under $30k.
Thanks in advance!
Update.
I think I have changed my idea of what kind of car I want. I was talking with my mother about how hard it was trying to find a good paint balling car, she asked me why I was looking at a car for just paintball when I would only use it for that maybe once every two to three months. I thought about it for a minute and decided it was a pretty dumb idea, she then went on to tell me that I'm young and I should get a ?fun car? while I can.
When you mother tells you to buy a sports car, you don't argue.
So with that in mind, two of my friends and I went out at looked at cars that fall under the ?fun? class that are still in my price range.
My list so far:
Mazda3 Hatchback.
Test drove: Yes
Pros:
*Don't hate the Style.
*Adjustable EVREY THING.
*Smooth clutch.
*Vision is acceptable.
*A good amount of pep.
*Still affordable even with the fancier trims.
*MPG city.
*Handling.
Cons:
*Not the fastest thing on my list.
*At times it feels like there are too many buttons, had a hard time finding things.
*If I ever wanted to replace the radio it looks like it would be a real chore.
Subaru Ipreza.
Test drove: Not yet
Pros:
*AWD w/manual.
*Trunk space.
*Good Vision.
*Known to last long.
*Roomy.
*Ground clearance.
Cons:
*WRX may be out of reach.
*Reviews show it's not as nimble as the Mazda3.
VW GTI Mk V.
Test drove: Not yet.
Pros:
*Love the style.
*INSANE low-end torque. (200 @ 1,800RPM)
*Clean and stylish interior.
*Very nice seats.
*Big windows give a nice FOV.
*Auto could be fun with the paddle shifters.
Cons:
*Heavy.
*Expensive.
*Not a fan of leather or plaid.
*Hood is a bit too high giving you a funky view.
*Auto looks fun but for $1,000+ I think I can live with a stick.
Chevy Cobalt SS Super charged
Test drove: Yes.
Pros:
*OMG SUPERCHARGED!!! 😛
*Good price Vs. Power.
*Like the body
*Pretty much comes fully loaded.
Cons:
*Not the best FOV and the fin blocking the rear doesn't help.
*Touchy clutch.
*Power kinda scared me, but I'm sure I just need to get used to it.
*Could be a high maintenance car.
*Cop bait.
*Don't feel safe while driving it, not a lot of room.
*Steering is so-so.
*Not a Day-to-day car.
Thats my list so far, more too come soon.
*Note: I know this is turning into more of a review thread than a "Help me buy a new car" but I think it may come in handy for thoes looking for a new car in the same class.
This is what I'm looking for in a car in no particular order...
* Good gas mileage. Doesn't have to be awesome, but I'm not driving around in something that gets 19MPG city.
* Comfy with good field of vision.
* Fun.
* Good handling and breaking. I was taught to avoid accidents, not lean on my horn and hope they move.
* MANUAL transmission. I'm sick of auto!
* Seats that are comfy enough for long trips but keep you planted on windy mountain roads (colorado).
* Safe and reliable.
* Under $30k.
Thanks in advance!
Update.
I think I have changed my idea of what kind of car I want. I was talking with my mother about how hard it was trying to find a good paint balling car, she asked me why I was looking at a car for just paintball when I would only use it for that maybe once every two to three months. I thought about it for a minute and decided it was a pretty dumb idea, she then went on to tell me that I'm young and I should get a ?fun car? while I can.
When you mother tells you to buy a sports car, you don't argue.
So with that in mind, two of my friends and I went out at looked at cars that fall under the ?fun? class that are still in my price range.
My list so far:
Mazda3 Hatchback.
Test drove: Yes
Pros:
*Don't hate the Style.
*Adjustable EVREY THING.
*Smooth clutch.
*Vision is acceptable.
*A good amount of pep.
*Still affordable even with the fancier trims.
*MPG city.
*Handling.
Cons:
*Not the fastest thing on my list.
*At times it feels like there are too many buttons, had a hard time finding things.
*If I ever wanted to replace the radio it looks like it would be a real chore.
Subaru Ipreza.
Test drove: Not yet
Pros:
*AWD w/manual.
*Trunk space.
*Good Vision.
*Known to last long.
*Roomy.
*Ground clearance.
Cons:
*WRX may be out of reach.
*Reviews show it's not as nimble as the Mazda3.
VW GTI Mk V.
Test drove: Not yet.
Pros:
*Love the style.
*INSANE low-end torque. (200 @ 1,800RPM)
*Clean and stylish interior.
*Very nice seats.
*Big windows give a nice FOV.
*Auto could be fun with the paddle shifters.
Cons:
*Heavy.
*Expensive.
*Not a fan of leather or plaid.
*Hood is a bit too high giving you a funky view.
*Auto looks fun but for $1,000+ I think I can live with a stick.
Chevy Cobalt SS Super charged
Test drove: Yes.
Pros:
*OMG SUPERCHARGED!!! 😛
*Good price Vs. Power.
*Like the body
*Pretty much comes fully loaded.
Cons:
*Not the best FOV and the fin blocking the rear doesn't help.
*Touchy clutch.
*Power kinda scared me, but I'm sure I just need to get used to it.
*Could be a high maintenance car.
*Cop bait.
*Don't feel safe while driving it, not a lot of room.
*Steering is so-so.
*Not a Day-to-day car.
Thats my list so far, more too come soon.
*Note: I know this is turning into more of a review thread than a "Help me buy a new car" but I think it may come in handy for thoes looking for a new car in the same class.
