Sporty Daily Driver...Options?

In a 5 year span I went from Honda S2000 to Boxster S to M3 to a Maserati Spyder. In the end I realized the cheapest (S2000) was the most fun and sportiest of all

 

While these don't have the rally-type handling, these cars have nice interiors and can come with a 5/6-speed.

Acura TL or TSX (new)
Infiniti G35 (new)
2000-3 BMW 3/5-series
2001-3 Audi A6 2.7T
2000-2 Audi S4
2003 Volvo S60R
Saab 9-5 Aero (almost brand new if not brand new)

Just a partial listing...If you go used, you can easily find a great car that will last you just as long, with just as many options - generally you can get a very late model $45-50K car with 20K miles on it for your price range - still under warranty.

Just my two cents.

Isaiah

 

I'd like to second this. I just went through a 3+ month long car search with my girlfriend, and she literally drove almost everything we could get our hands on (M3, Boxter S, 911, S2000, Audi A4, Audi TT, WRX, Miata, Z3, Z4, etc etc). She ultimately decided on the S2000 and is VERY happy. We got it used, 2004 with < 3,000 miles on it for a great price. I'll be posting some pictures later this evening - we just washed and waxed it!

 

Hmm... manual transmission, AWD, more "giddyup" than a G35 and under $35K will be quite difficult, I think. The subaru might be one of your only choices. If I come up with any ideas I'll chime in.

 

Mini Cooper S.

Then you can spend the $10K in change on one hell of a vacation!

 

I'd second the vote for the S4 - a used one should be well into the 35k range and it doesn't take much to get them over the hump of 300hp (older TT, not the V-8 obviously). That said, the STi is a great choice, fun, reliable, fast. S4 is just more to my personal taste, although I would guess a bit below the STi in terms of long term cost of ownership and reliability.

 

I had a 2000 Audi S4 and loved it.

Replaced it with a Subaru STi, which was WAY too rough as a daily driver, plus I hate those blue seats, and the interior is just a little tight (I had to move my seat forward when 4 of us would go to lunch). I did buy the car without the dumb wing (the dealer swapped with a spoiler-less Impreza).

I had looked a Evo's, the seats are better, but the interior is worse than the Subie. In terms of refinement, think of the STi as a $20K car with a big motor, and the Evo as a $15K car with a big motor.

I'm now back in an Audi, bought a 2004 S4, white, with 13K miles for under $40K. I love it, but it does get lousy (16 or so) mileage.

 

I just went through this exact same situation and considered the exact same cars.

Get the EVO GSR. With the current 0% financing offer the and 30k going rate the car can't be beat.

It is expensive to insure and maintain but I do enjoy it. The car is not refined by most peoples standards but that is part of the fun.

I have only had my car 5 days and I really love it. I have 600 miles on it already.

The STI would be in my garage if it weren't for the finaincing offer though. The sixth cog and 2.5 liter is attractive

 

You can get a new BMW 325 with a 6 speed manual and the sport package for that amount, if you gett a good deal on a new one from the dealer.

I got one, and it is a blast to drive.

 

I would also suggest, an Alitma SE.R, Volvo S60 R, Audi S4/A4 3.0, BMW 3 series, Nissan 350z, Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works Package. Dont forget, once you buy a car you can always place and exhaust system or a turbo or some other after market parts to make the car more to your liking.

 

awd limits the choices significantly...the g35x was the best, and its quick , but not sports car fast....it also depends on ones age and how much refinement one needs...an sti is a fine , fast, reliable car, great for a 20 something guy....but if were to drive one to a meeting or to the club, people would think i have lost my mind...also the car is very tinny feeling and has a cheap interior....s4 is a good choice, esp with the v8, but its above your price range...the s2000 is a fun little car, but its not a daily driver for my taste...way too loud, and the engine sound is not that great...could also use a little more torque, you have to drive the heck out it just to get it to move...i know, i had one for 6 months....................

 

Forget the wannabes, go for the best.

Porsche 993 or 996.

Nothing is sportier and they are comfy enough for daily driver.

 

how bout an older NSX, can't go wrong there

 

Get a NEW car with a warrenty. You'll probably be much happier.

 

I went with an EVO. If you go that route, you might want the MR (or GSR?) -- with an unlocking center diff. If you can get the FQ330 kit out of europe...

But I find that the mod I most think about is replacing the stock Recaros with something that's less of a pain in the a** -- literally.

But then, this is the tallest car I've owned since Nixon was president, and the seating position has my legs far lower than I'm used to -- so it's not all the seat.

But the good news is that any Recaro should fit on the mounts.

The stock rims are fine, but you'll want a set of aftermarket rims for your snows -- those Yokos are ice skates below 40F.

You need to order the sport gauge kit to get a boost gauge, which is a bit odd -- and even then you don't get an oil press gauge; just oil temp.

You will want the cargo net. With those monster brakes and fat sticky tires, anything that isn't nailed down will rattle around.

Check out the "Top Gear" segment about the FQ400 versus a Murci. Most of the complaints about the FQ400 are pretty close across the product line. The hydraulic damper in the clutch master cyl protects the gearbox, but makes it nearly impossible to work the clutch smoothly.

But keep in mind that neither the EVO nor the STi are real rally cars -- just the parts that can be made into one. It handles snow well enough, but don't expect it to take impacts like you see on WRC. The street version will fold up on you.

Between the EVO and the STi: the Scooby (with the 2.5L) has more straight line oomph than the "standard" EVO, while the EVO corners a hair better in the dry. But the differences are close enough that winter choice is more in the tires than the car.

As a daily commuter, the EVO's front mounted intercooler handles stop and stop city traffic better than the STi's top mounted -- sitting at lights heat-soaks the scoobie's I/C.

Both have HUGE turbo lag.

 

Road&Track did a good head to head on those two
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?print_page=y&section_id=3&article_id=592&page_number=1

 

The 05 Evo I just got is a remarkable improvement in this regard over the 03-04 model I drove.

 

Skip the EVO and STi, and get a Legacy GT. 0-60 is under 6 seconds, handling is very good, and the ride is surprisingly good. Oppostie end of the spectrum from the STi. Very nice interior, and loaded barely breaks $30k! Throw a couple of SPT/STi goodies at it, and you'll have a mid 5 second 0-60, AWD, near luxury car and have change to spare.

 

It actually already does 0-60 in 5.2s, but granted most people can't get them to go that fast, so 5.4 or 5.5 is a bit more realisting, but it still hauls. Not to mention that it's AWD, so your handling is superb. Go Subaru, a fanstastic model. Here are links to the article on the Legacy GT from Autoweek in early July 2005.

First page:
http://premium1.uploadit.org/cultofthejedi//legacyarticle1.jpg

Second page:
http://premium1.uploadit.org/cultofthejedi//legacyarticle2.jpg

Does the 1/4 in a hair under 14, at 97 mph.

 

I agree the Legacy GT is a very good choice for a new AWD fast and COMFORTABLE Every day driver.

Of course the Audi S4 is a great ride too but new its priced beyond the target you set.

Comfort and speed in a daily driver make these two cars more livable then the evo or STi.

I have heard the upcoming Evo X to be released might be the one for you but it won't be ready for another year I believe.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/59242/mighty_evo_x_revealed.html

http://www.autoblog.com/entry/1234000960055261/