Test: Which New $20K Sporty Car?

nucleus · 06-28-2006, 23:55

Okay, you have twenty grand to spend, and the car must be new, fast, good handling, and practical, ie must have at least four doors.

Notice I said good handling, so no crossvers or SUV's. Upcoming models okay.

Post Away!

Nucleus

bac1023 · 06-29-2006, 05:42

It might sound boring, but I'd go with the 4 door Honda Civic. The Accord is over the price range.

epsylum · 06-29-2006, 07:04

The same one I chose, Corolla XRS. I got mine for $16,000 used with only 5k miles.

It has the Corolla GTS engine and 6-speed, 8200 rpm redline, and 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS. It will run 15s in the quarter, is limited to 135mph. I have gone past 100 and it was still pulling.

Plus it is a Toyota, so it will last.

Rob1035 · 06-29-2006, 07:37

Subaru WRX, Civic Si, Neon SRT4, maybe even a Miata or Solstice?

ProfMoriarty · 06-29-2006, 07:44

Quote:

Originally posted by Rob1035
Subaru WRX, Civic Si, Neon SRT4, maybe even a Miata or Solstice?

He wants 4 doors.

nucleus · 06-29-2006, 19:06

Quote:

Originally posted by epsylum
The same one I chose, Corolla XRS. I got mine for $16,000 used with only 5k miles.

It has the Corolla GTS engine and 6-speed, 8200 rpm redline, and 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS. It will run 15s in the quarter, is limited to 135mph. I have gone past 100 and it was still pulling.

Plus it is a Toyota, so it will last.

Wow, I didn't know this car existed! Thanks for the tip, I'm off to go build one online.

Nucleus

WellArmedSheep · 06-29-2006, 19:32

Quote:

Originally posted by nucleus
Okay, you have twenty grand to spend, and the car must be new, fast, good handling, and practical, ie must have at least four doors.

Notice I said good handling, so no crossvers or SUV's. Upcoming models okay.

Post Away!

Nucleus

Check out the Mazda 3...or if you can find one used in the most recent itteration, a Mazda 6. My wife and I test drove the Mazda 6 a while back. It was the most fun I've ever had (driving

) in a four door automobile. This particular one had the 6 speed semi-auto transmission...what a hoot!

ETA: the only reason we didn't buy it was because at $28,000 it was a bit out of our price range.

epsylum · 06-29-2006, 22:11

Quote:

Originally posted by SCRCTeach
Check out the Mazda 3...or if you can find one used in the most recent itteration, a Mazda 6. My wife and I test drove the Mazda 6 a while back. It was the most fun I've ever had (driving ) in a four door automobile. This particular one had the 6 speed semi-auto transmission...what a hoot!

ETA: the only reason we didn't buy it was because at $28,000 it was a bit out of our price range.

The 3 is another choice, but the 6, unless it is the bare bones model, is out of his price range also.

I still think my XRS can take a 3 though

I am one of those guys that knows what he has (as in, no I don't think it can take a vette), but is willing to find out first hand. I am not too proud to loose. I keep wanting to race my buddies '00 Mustang GT, but he keeps making excuses.

There is a guy on Toyotanation that has an XRS with simple bolt-ons that is staying with RS-X Type Ses and regularly beats Sentra SE-R Spec Vs and SVT Focuses at the track. All that and he has 4 doors, roomy interior, a nice sized trunk, etc.

If you can test drive the XRS. That is what sold me. I went in to get a Scion tC and left with a Corolla XRS. The Corolla fits me better and gives me more room. Plus, I LOVE the six speed manual (VERY short throw for an OEM shifter). Once I dorve it, I had to have it.

One last thing. One downside is it takes premium gas only. IIRC it has around an 11:1 compression ratio. I only fill it up with Shell premium and only run Mobil 1 synthetic oil w/ a Mobil 1 filter.

JosieWales · 06-30-2006, 00:16

Quote:

Originally posted by bac1023
It might sound boring, but I'd go with the 4 door Honda Civic. The Accord is over the price range.

Should be able to do an Accord for 20

arrowdriver · 07-05-2006, 08:08

With some of the deals Mazda is making on the RX-8 now, it should be getting close to 20K for a base model......

97guns · 07-08-2006, 06:13

VOLKSWAGON JETTA TURBO

epsylum · 07-08-2006, 16:29

Quote:

Originally posted by 97guns
VOLKSWAGON JETTA TURBO

That or the TDI for the even better MPG.

My dad's friend has a TDI Jetta. He likes it so much he is planning on getting another one for his wife.

I hate to brag agian, but the XRS stays with the new Jetta GLI through the quarter.

I am a VW fan too though and wanted a Jetta GLI pretty bad.

adamgh81 · 07-10-2006, 13:57

I know you said NEW, but I've always purchased used cars with low mileage that are only a year or 2 old. I love my 2000 Nissan Maxima SE...4 door, V6 222hp, 5spd(or auto if you'd like), great styling and performance. 2000-01 have 3.0l v6 and 2002-03 have 3.5l v6. I'd get a 2003 if I were to get ride of my 2000. But if your looking for better gas mileage, my 2000 gets 27-30mpg highway, 24-26 city with A/C cranked.

ShipWreck · 07-10-2006, 14:08

Love my Toyota Matrix. Have had it over 3 years now. 1st car I could ever say that I plan to buy another one eventually.

epsylum · 07-10-2006, 16:46

Quote:

Originally posted by ShipWreck
Love my Toyota Matrix. Have had it over 3 years now. 1st car I could ever say that I plan to buy another one eventually.

I hope you aren't waiting for that thing to wear out. You may not be around to get another one.

ShipWreck · 07-10-2006, 17:18

Why is that?

WellArmedSheep · 07-10-2006, 23:48

I think he's insinuating that Toyotas are very durable and reliable automobiles, and that you're probably not gonna wear it out anytime soon.

ShipWreck · 07-11-2006, 07:57

Quote:

Originally posted by SCRCTeach
I think he's insinuating that Toyotas are very durable and reliable automobiles, and that you're probably not gonna wear it out anytime soon.

That's kinda what I thought he meant - I realized it after my post

GroovedG19 · 07-13-2006, 07:59

Sporty 4 door? How about a used Mitsubishi Evolution?

The sound of the turbo hissing when you shift gears is very addicting.

nucleus · 07-15-2006, 20:08

Well I thought the answer would be the Mazdaspeed 3, but I am afraid that it is going to come out at like 23K rather than 20K. Nice little pocket rocket with about 250 HP. Check it out here.

I have looked at the Corolla, but I think it is too slow for the money. A better choice would be the Yaris or the Fit, and put the money difference into a turbo kit. Smaller cars are inherently sportier and funer to drive.

I noticed that the Yaris has an option of 18 inch wheels from the factory, that little car could be a good autocross car in stock class with such big wheels from the factory.

Nucleus

Rob1035 · 07-15-2006, 20:21

Quote:

Originally posted by nucleus

I noticed that the Yaris has an option of 18 inch wheels from the factory, that little car could be a good autocross car in stock class with such big wheels from the factory.

Nucleus

From my autocross experience, the last thing any 1.5 liter powered car needs is 18" wheels, tires, and the weight that goes along with it. For autocross, the smallest wheels you can fit over the brakes and the stickest tires available in that wheel size is the name of the game...MHO of course.

epsylum · 07-15-2006, 23:14

Well nucleus, I am in the same boat as you now. That white car posted above is no more thanks to someone running a red light.

I seriously like that car so much, I might try to get another if no other viable alternatives come up.

nucleus · 07-16-2006, 11:44

Quote:

Originally posted by epsylum
Well nucleus, I am in the same boat as you now. That white car posted above is no more thanks to someone running a red light.

I seriously like that car so much, I might try to get another if no other viable alternatives come up.

Bummer, I lost my 350 HP Turbo RX-7 to a girl not yielding to me when turning left ten months ago. Still hasn't gotten paid by her insurance company by the way.

If you can hang tough until the fall, I think the Civic Si sedan would be a nice car:

Key Civic Si Sedan Concept Features:
A 197-horsepower, 16-valve, DOHC i-VTEC engine with an 8,000 rpm redline
A close ratio 6-speed manual transmission
A helical-type limited slip differential
18-inch cast aluminum alloy wheels
225/40ZR18 high performance tires
4-wheel disc brakes with large cross-drilled brake rotors
4-piston Brembo calipers

Best of luck, look out for hidden whiplash.

Nucleus

nucleus · 07-16-2006, 11:59

Quote:

Originally posted by Rob1035
From my autocross experience, the last thing any 1.5 liter powered car needs is 18" wheels, tires, and the weight that goes along with it. For autocross, the smallest wheels you can fit over the brakes and the stickest tires available in that wheel size is the name of the game...MHO of course.

Well, it definitely will make a car slower to accelerate, but in the end the more tire you can fit on the car the more speed you can carry through the corners which is everything in autox.

I had my 92 Civic Si tuned in good with super light fifteen inch rims and 205/55 racing tires used to whup up vettes all the time. Then I switched to super wide thirteen inch Keizers 13x9's I think, and the acceleration was crazy, but they changed everything about how the car handled and I never did get it dialed in again.

In stock class you are limited to what size the factory offered so 18 inch rims while not ideal could be a winner.

Nucleus

spober · 08-01-2006, 18:22

Quote:

Originally posted by arrowdriver
With some of the deals Mazda is making on the RX-8 now, it should be getting close to 20K for a base model......

maby for a 2003 model.the problem with the rotary engine is it has so little tourque.this is due to the little moving mass,comparred to a piston ricip engine.yes it developed 230 hp at 9000 rpm but has about 150 foot pounds of tourge.not good.the tourque is what presses you back at accelleration.a 2003 nissan 350 z is a better car by far.270-300hp and a goc of low end toque