Possibly switching up cars...

markmerrill · **Joined:** Fri Apr 30, 2010 3:21 pm **Posts:** 48

So, I'm considering switching up cars. Right now I've got a stock 2004 Mazda RX8.

The reason, well, there are a few reasons:
Switching jobs to a longer commute, so I want a car with better gas mileage.
I want a car I can put my dog into the back of
I want a car that I don't have to tilt my head to the side and open up the sun roof just to fit my head + helmet (I'm 6' 4")

I want to get my wife into autox and she doesn't want to learn to drive and learn to use a manual at the same time (don't shoot me).

I was looking for a hatchback with an auto tranny that has paddle shifters. The contenders I've come across:
Mini Cooper S
Golf GTI
Evo or RalliArt Lancer
New Turbo Beetle?
Audi A3

Price is a concern, so I'll probably get a used one if I can find one in good shape.

I'd love suggestions for cars I haven't thought of or any reasons why some of these won't work. I haven't actually sat in any of these recently. I'd really just like a hand narrowing the field before I got out test driving.
So um... discuss?

Stephen Westerfield · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2012 5:37 pm

markmerrill wrote:

I want to get my wife into autox and she doesn't want to learn to drive and learn to use a manual at the same time (don't shoot me).

I think I'd go about that the other way around. Teach her to drive a stick THEN bring her to an autocross. Seems like she could develop some bad habits doing it the other way around. It's all moot though as the blinding glare of the CEL will be to distracting for her to concentrate on driving based on your list anyway.

markmerrill · **Joined:** Fri Apr 30, 2010 3:21 pm **Posts:** 48

Stephen Westerfield wrote:

... blinding glare of the CEL will be to distracting ... based on your list

Well, what would you suggest as an alternative?

RobLupella · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2012 6:54 pm

EEK on the beetle. :-)

+1 on teaching her to shift. It's not that you can't AX with an automatic, it's just better without and if it turns out she doesn't like AX or wants to go on track :-)

you will be stuck with the automatic.

How big a dog? I actually fit my 90lb Lab in my Miata but it isn't much fun. Anything bigger than a lapdog would require some space so that would rule out the Beetle.

How much gas mileage improvement. Anything is probably better than the RX7. Used BMW 3 series? It can't be anymore CEL friendly than the Mini.

Used Subie?

Honda Civic SI - you could then transition to the S2K like everyone else.

Just thoughts

Stephen Westerfield · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2012 8:49 pm

markmerrill wrote:

Stephen Westerfield wrote:

... blinding glare of the CEL will be to distracting ... based on your list

Well, what would you suggest as an alternative?

If you are willing to go the manual route, a Ford Focus SVT actually checks all of those boxes. I'm biased because I had one, but they really do most things well. I certainly miss mine as a daily driver. I'd imagine $6-8k and a little patience would fetch you a nice one. I'm sure there is some version of a Mazda 3 that would work for you as well, no matter which tranny you wanted.

Edit: Stinks you have to sell the RX-8. I've only driven one, but it was so easy to drive I'd imagine it would be a good car to start autocrossing in.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2012 10:21 pm

6'4" + with a helmet.

let's see, VK? Mustang

Rodney? Mustang

real men teach their wives to drive RWD muscle cars. it's a compensation issue. fortunately my wife had some assortment of big block Chevys in her youth so she barely notices my inadequacies.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2012 10:51 pm

My WRX is a good match for that. Plenty of headroom, 22mpg city/28 hwy. No CEL. Hill start assist for those learning manual.

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Sat Mar 10, 2012 12:00 am

steve remchak wrote:

real men teach their wives to drive RWD muscle cars. it's a compensation issue. fortunately my wife had some assortment of big block Chevys in her youth so she barely notices my inadequacies.

The nice thing about a RWD muscle car is it kicks ass with a manual or an automatic...

JamesShort · **Posted:** Sat Mar 10, 2012 2:28 pm

Of that list? Evo for sure but good luck finding one that either A) is not beaten to hell by a 16 year old with dis-tasteful mods or B) is less than $30k

The 4G63 is a tank of an engine if you find a Evo 8/9.

But no to the auto

. I'd just have her autox her DD if she wants to try it out rather than settling on your personal DD.

markmerrill · **Joined:** Fri Apr 30, 2010 3:21 pm **Posts:** 48

James, I'd love to have her autocross her daily driver, but it's a Saturn Vue which is not autocrossable. :-(

Just to clarify, I wasn't suggesting a straight up automatic at all. I was talking about getting an auto that has a manual mode + paddle shifters so that it could be controlled like a manual but just without the clutch. Not sure if I communicated that well previously.

I think some of my thoughts on the manually controlled automatic came from having driven some BMW M cars that all had very nice auto trannies that were completely manually controlled. I thought it might be a good middle ground that would be nice to learn on but also fun for me.

What do you actually call a manual automatic these days? (does tiptronic work?)

Thanks for the thoughts about reliability. I hadn't gotten that far in my research yet.

I'm also quite sad that I feel the need to trade cars. The yellow RX8 has become... sort of a calling card for me since there are so few out there. I've come to the conclusion that as much as I want to, I just don't fit. I guess I could replace the seats or take some of the foam out of the driver side seat... *sigh*

Thanks for the thoughts :-)

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Sun Mar 11, 2012 12:43 am

all the obvious choices are out there...how about this?

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId=&csDgId=&listingId=84765577&listingRecNum=3&criteria=sf1Dir%3DDESC%26mkId%3D20070%26stkTyp%3DU%26mdId%3D21239%26rd%3D250%26crSrtFlds%3DstkTypId-feedSegId-mkId-mdId%26zc%3D27612%26rn%3D0%26PMmt%3D1-1-0%26stkTypId%3D28881%26sf2Dir%3DASC%26sf1Nm%3Dprice%26sf2Nm%3Dmiles%26isDealerGrouping%3Dfalse%26rpp%3D50%26feedSegId%3D28705&aff=national&listType=3

ugh, that's a long link. IS300 SportCross with automanual. Or, just a manual IS300. Matt McGrain likes driving his, and so does his wife when she comes out to drive.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Sun Mar 11, 2012 1:08 am

Steven Carter wrote:

all the obvious choices are out there...how about this?

http://goo.gl/JmMKh

ugh, that's a long link. IS300 SportCross with automanual. Or, just a manual IS300. Matt McGrain likes driving his, and so does his wife when she comes out to drive.

fixed

Brett_Murphy · **Joined:** Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:02 pm **Posts:** 355

I'm in the market for an RX-8, so post it here before you trade it in.

The Ford Focus sport model has an actual dual clutch with paddle shifters. It comes in some interesting colors, too.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Sun Mar 11, 2012 8:20 pm

Brett_Murphy wrote:

I'm in the market for an RX-8, so post it here before you trade it in.

The Ford Focus sport model has an actual dual clutch with paddle shifters. It comes in some interesting colors, too.

He should just wait till the end of the year and get the Focus ST

.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:18 am

2012 S

they say the PDK is faster than the three pedal version.

THSCC Forums

Possibly switching up cars...

Who is online