The time has come to join the Placidemic of 2018

[D Griff]

Hi DFD.

After much tire kicking which will obviously continue, the time to purchase a new car has arrived.

I have accepted a new job where I will be traveling much less and I will now be commuting daily. The commute will be long, 30ish miles each way depending on route. Traffic may blow but I'll likely be working 10-7 or so due to it being a sales role serving the Western States, so it should only take 35 minutes during the hours I'll need to be on the road. The pay has a commission element to it, so overall salary is somewhat TBD, but the base is equivalent to my current salary, and the total target is about 70% higher than my current pay. We shall see how this works out, but I'm confident it will be a significant bump even if I don't quite hit that number.

As such, I am going to treat myself to not commuting in the diff whining, anus shattering, premium fuel hogging . My current plan is to keep the C5 as a fun car for track days, TOTD trips, etc. I may wind up selling it at some point in favor of something more track prepped, but due to its relatively low value now, it seems like just keeping it and having fun with it is the way to go. Insurance on it is dirt cheap and will likely be near a wash with a multi car discount and it's really cheap to maintain other than tires, which is entirely use based.

So this leads me to a new daily. !!!!!

But no. I'm hoping for something fun, relatively usable not only for driving to work but also for weekend trips with the gf, as it would be nice to not always take her car (Ford Fusion). Definitely needs to be fuel efficient as 60+ miles/day will add up quickly. Reliability is also a big benefit here, I would rather spend time fucking with the Corvette, track mods, than wrenching on a DD, but I'm sure I'll end up doing most maintenance myself, as I do, because scrooge. I would also like a manual transmission... because.

Right now I'm leaning towards hot hatches, they make nice dailies, don't hog fuel and are pleasant and usable enough. My front runner is a Fiesta ST. They're cheap, really fun, get great gas mileage. It is a little low rent but I think that's not the end of the world. Obviously another GTI makes the consideration list, a Civic Si, and perhaps the new Veloster N, not sure when those launch. Am I missing anything? Another option would just be getting an NC Miata or something NFG, but probably a bad idea.

So... tell me about how I'm !

[SAWCE]

I vote :gti: MK7 obviously ruined the car and you should get a MK6

[goIftdibrad]

VW is running sweet 's on used TDI's that have been made EPA compliant. They sip fuel and are pretty fun to drive with all the torques.

The Fiesta ST is a hard package to beat though.

If we are considering used... fiat 500 abarth is a HOOT, but vv small.
Used mazda 3 hatch check all your boxes and won't make you hate life.
If keeping running costs low is a concern a volt has to be on the list IMHO.

Whatever you do...get a 4 door.

[razr390]

GTI. 2017 Sport or a 2018 through [user not found] with 6/72,000 bumper to bumper warranty.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Yea, in that situation I'd be seriously considering a GTI or a Golf Wagon whatever it's called. You'll already have a great fun car, might as well get something more comfortable and utilitarian.

A Golf Alltrack would be sweet since I know you guys like outdoors stuff, it could lend itself well to softroading AND you can get a IIRC.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Also, Ferd sux.

[razr390]

Also, Ferd sux.

[Tar]

I think that's all there is, good luck with the new GTI. Get the 2018 soon to be discounted and have the better warranty

[razr390]

I think that's all there is, good luck with the new GTI. Get the 2018 soon to be discounted and have the better warranty

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Also, Ferd sux.

[Tar]

The yellow that comes in the ST is but i wouldn't trade it for the superior interior and warranty

[Acid666]

My MKV Gti was awesome. Only car I've ever bought new. I'll never do it again but I don't regret it. The space was awesome, the power was awesome (With APR Stage 1 tune for just $600), and the gas mileage was good. I got mine in '08 when the gas crunch hit and my 4.3 Blazer sucked down gas. The GTI with the tune got 22mpg in the city and about 28 on the highway. I wanted something quick and somewhat fuel efficient. All the stuff that was way better on gas was way slower so I wanted something in the middle ground for good gas mileage and sporty fun. Down here there's no good roads so raw power is usually where the fun is.

I think you're in the right ballpark looking for a hatch. It's really the best of a lot of worlds. I had a 2dr and sometimes wished I had a 4dr just to be able to open the back door and throw shit in it easier, but I used the hatch space a LOT. The only problem I had with the 2d was that the door was :yuge: and would literally open nearly 80°.

[troyguitar]

Velobster R-spec in bright ass orange for the full lobster experience. Same power and weight as the Fiesta ST but it runs on 87 and has independent rear suspension and better ergonomics. Don't they have a 10 yr 100k warranty too?

[Gberg2119]

DSGay Egg.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[Johnny_P]

Call me stupid and not an enthusiast but I wouldn't be looking forward to 60 miles a day on the highway in a FiST. You already have a fun car that's loud and rough why get another.

GTI is a better option IMO.
Mazda 3 hatch with the 2.5 will have lower running cost, takes donkey piss, and handle similar but slower. I think they're decent. Loud though. And not exactly "fun" so maybe pass? Could be worth a look I guess. I'd think a Civic Si would be more fun though. IMO the 6 is the better car in the Mazda lineup.
ATS 2.0T/MT - Are these reliable? Some issue with the 2.0T from what I remember?
New GTI money = CPO Audi A4 or used S4, both can be had with MT, just food for thought

Hm, yeah I'd probably say GTI vs Si vs Mazda 6.

[max225]

So, civic sport not even si. That’s my vote but I’m you can go with an egg but premium + a fair bit more esspensive

[4zilch]

You know the answer, go forth and

[Johnny_P]

So, civic sport not even si. That’s my vote but I’m you can go with an egg but premium + a fair bit more esspensive

This is really not a bad option, but I think if he wants more "fun" and is considering a FiST off the bat, the Civic Sport will likely fall short of what he wants? Never driven one so I have no dog in that fight.

Worth checking out though. I think the hatch is the best version of the Civic. 1.5T makes some power, 6MT can be upgraded with Si/R shifter tower for cheap to make it sublime, 87 octane donkey piss, heard there's rev hang so that kind of blows, very likely better resale, IMO it looks good.

[goIftdibrad]

You know the answer, go forth and

But is it really a if he does not sell the ?

[coogles]

I think a Civic Si would be worth a drive, perhaps, but the GTI gets my vote too.

[goIftdibrad]

oh plac

[fledonfoot]

I drive a manual MK7 GTI Sport 100-110 miles a day with a decent amount of highway usage. It's a perfect highway commuter, does well on fuel and gets me right around 32MPG. The MK7 is incredibly well composed on the highway and soaks up miles no problem.

[Johnny_P]

I drive a manual MK7 GTI Sport 100-110 miles a day with a decent amount of highway usage. It's a perfect highway commuter, does well on fuel and gets me right around 32MPG. The MK7 is incredibly well composed on the highway and soaks up miles no problem.

is really probably the best call. It's what the GTI was made to do.

[4zilch]

You know the answer, go forth and

But is it really a if he does not sell the ?

Technically an n+1

[4zilch]

GTI gets my vote. Those cars are great commuters/highway bruisers. 6 year 72k warranty, and you've got an SCCA membershit, right?

Come buy from me and have an epic road trip home.