New fun daily...
 

So I have been driving a 2005 MCS, JCW while my oldest son drives my Giulia Q4 Ti. I LOVE Cooper, and plan to give it to my younger son in a little over a year.

So I am wondering what will I replace the JCW with.

My current thinking is as follows:

2018 VW Golf R DSG (its just so much faster)

2005 STi IF, I can find a clean one (not likely)

2015-18 STi

I think the STi's would be the most fun to drive and a riot in winter. I think the Golf R is a bit more grown up and being mostly FWD a bit less fun vs the STi but has awesome tuning capability.

Focus RS has to many engine issues to consider. All the ST's are FWD which I really don't want. The Civic R is just to painful to look at.

So looking for your thoughts on this or any I have not considered.

What engine issues are the RS's having ?

How about an m235i? The n55 is very solid and they are reliable, fun cars.

Head gasket issues unfortunately. Was going to pull the trigger on one back in 2017, but the RS Forum discussion, as well as other reviewers indicated that the suspension, although brilliant, would have been murder on our continually bad western New York roads, especially where I live in farm country. Glad I backed out.

I had an 04 sti modified to have 05 hubs and suspension setup. It was one of the most fun cars ive ever owned for daily driving. The real world is closer to a rally than a racetrack. That was a long time ago though and as you said it will be tough to find a great condition one.

I have an foST now as a daily, its pretty fun and the wrong wheel drive isnt as bad as i expected. The newer di cars have much more responsive engines, but a bit more boring power delivery

The 235 might be an idea, I hadn't thought of that one.

Just a counterpoint to the RS rumors:

Our RS has almost 140K miles on it with a Mountune custom tune and all their bolt-ons. With that many miles and the stress of a tune, the car has not had a single issue engine or otherwise.

I know the stories on the forums; much like IMS bearings failures being common.

The ride isn't as nice as an Audi RS3 but not as bad as a 1987 930. A 2005 Lotus Elise is much worse in harshness of ride.

I had a 2010 GTI on coilovers and lowered by the PO. Great little car. My son has a 15 or 16 Golf R MT that I got to drive last time I was in NC. Incredible little car. My buddy found an unmolested STI, 2005, a few years ago. He had excessive oil consumption on the car with a bit over 100k in miles. Ended up having the motor gone through. He has grown tired of the suspension as a daily driver. He does love the car and plans to keep it but is casually looking for something a bit more refined for daily use. Our city roads are in terrible shape. I mean terrible. If this were a milder climate it would be a lot easier to live with.

Love the RS3 inline 5 sound. Hate the RS3 price of admission. Depreciation and time will hopefully make them a great deal soon.

Apparently, the Ford RS has an issue with under-supported ecoboost cylinder liners which can move and cause the head gasket to fail and best addressed with an ecobeast block.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1579982357.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1579982459.jpg

But you don't need fast. You have the SC :D

One of my kids had an STI, can’t remember the exact year but about ‘05 or thereabouts. I thought it was built like a cheap tin can. Compared to my ‘04 golf R32, it’s so-so quality and lack of refinement were astonishing. The local Subaru dealer absolutely sucked, also.

LOL my Cooper is faster than my SC, sadly it would take $25K to make the SC quick.

The STi isn't about refined materials, and I like it better because of it. My old crappy Abarth was way more fun that my mk6 GTi because is was a lower quality car.

I will have to drive all of them when I am closer... I still think that the STi will be the most well rounded fun, but that M235 looks like a very good car, just not sure how it will do in winter even with snow tires.

With the daily drives getting so good and fun it might me an early end to the 911... time will tell.

I DD mine in New England. With a set of snow tires, it is okay. Some of them had an LSD that was a port installed option. The ix is nice, but I was not interested - you could not get a manual with one.

At least try one. The n55 is a great engine with a ton of power. The only downside is that many of them were leased and you have no idea how the car was treated or if the engine was broken in properly.

No driving experience but the interior size of the m235 reminds me of my old e36's. I loved those things, great DDs.

I have a brz/86 on my list too, I dont fit well in the older wrz's, wish they had a 2 dr.

Yea, the M235 is on the list for sure. I have liked the N54/55 for a while now.

Man, the M240 is a monster and would be in the same price range when I am ready :)

2016 Golf R owner here... Owned it for about 2 years and don't have many bad things to say about it. For me, it's just about the perfect (non-Porsche) DD car. Mine is a manual, not DSG. I test drove a few Subie STIs and the comment about the VW being a little more refined and a little less boy-ricer is accurate IMHO. But as I age, I appreciate a little more refinement in my DD. Having a few cupholders, heated seats and iPhone connectivity is kinda nice... and I have a '74 911 w/3.6L to drive when I want something more loud and rowdy.

Did they sell the Mitsubishi Colt CZT Ralliart in the US?Very simple and inexpensive to take the 163 BHP engine to 200 BHP.It will make far more than that dependably but you will then need a stronger clutch. Or what about a Mitsubishi Evo X?

What’s your budget?

i'm thinking $30Kish... I mean I'm paying just over $500 a month on my Alfa lease. If I was a smart man I'd buy another R53 mini cash and put $500 a month toward future Porsche breaking fund. lol

Alas I am not a smart man.

My thoughts:

Golf R - great cars but do you really want to own one out of warranty?
STi - I haven’t driven the STi but did drive a new WRX and was totally underwhelmed. Cheap interior, really top heavy handling but still rough ride, and the engine made good power but felt very coarse and unsophisticated. No comment on the old ones but good luck finding a stock one that hasn’t been hacked up.

A few to consider:

Civic Si - drove one and was really impressed. Decent power with a gem of an engine, fantastic handling with an LSD up front, nice and very usable interior, active dampers. I may end up with one at some point as a DD. You could get a brand new one.

Veloster N - in my short list to drive, some reviews say it’s as fun as the Type R for $10k less.

Mustang GT - totally different option, but you could get a lightly used Performance Pack GT for your budget.

Cayman - your budget buys a really nice Cayman S.

C63 or E63 - another left field option, but damn good cars. I’ve had a C63 and my wife daily drives an E63.

Lexus IS-F - think reliable M3.

Lancer Evolution - if you are considering an STi, might as well consider its arch nemesis.

C5 Z06 - another goofy suggestion but I’m considering getting one to replace my Boxster.

I've also never had an issue with my '17 Focus RS. Only 32k miles on it though. I was nervous of the headgasket issue as well, so I purposely bought a late 2017 build, with the current revision one installed.


(it's for sale, PM me if you're interested in talking more about it.)

Can any of the RS folks share their feedback on using one as a daily driver? I had an ST that I liked but didn’t love, but am intrigued by the RS.

My husband drives his 2016 RS everyday. We ordered new from the factory, replacing our ST (which our son now drives and has 200K miles with no issues). Currently he has 140K on it. We did get the head gasket and head replaced with a recall. He has done a tune. We have not had a single problem with this car. He loves it. He says this is his last daily driver. If needed, down the road we will do an engine rebuild and maintenance. It has great pick up and the cornering on that car is special.

Civic Si - I would have to stab my eyes out... they are that ugly, and FWD :(

Veloster N - Slightly less ugly slightly less capable Type R Also FWD :(

Mustang GT - I could get a 1LE as well.

Cayman - I want back seats, and deal lord would you want a Porsche out of warrenty. :O

C63 or E63 - I think I would need a manual.

Lexus IS-F - The only car that makes a Type R less ugly

Lancer Evolution - AMAZING CAR, but would only want an EVO IV, and would hate to winter that car.

C5 Z06 - Ageing very poorly, horrible interior, could get into a C7 for that budget, but back seats, and Detroit Winters.

Well it sounds like you have your mind made up. Not sure why you made a thread asking for suggestions since you don’t seem to want any suggestions. Btw the Golf R is based on a FWD car and FWD biased. Most reviews say that it feels like a FWD car when pushed. Since you seem to have a bit of a hang up on that topic. And having owned and wrenched on a number of used VAG and Porsche products, I’d take a used Porsche out of warranty all day long.

Didn’t Geronimo ID his new driver in the random transportation thread?

Edit: wrong Geronimo ��

The m235/240 was a user suggestion, sorry I just didn't like any of your suggestions.... geeez guy get thicker skin.

I agree on the Golf R, which is why I was considering the STi, I know it's driving dynamic, though it also pushes it's still RWD biased.

I do think that from what I have read/watched that the R is very composed and good at what it does. The tuning potential is pretty amazing as well. But I am not sure it is "fun" like some cars are. Sometimes less is more, my Abarth 500 and JCW are some of the most fun cars I have owned.

But it seems that most reviewers love the M240 in every way. I will have to drive a few cars to see what fits best. But I do like what I am seeing of the M240.

I have a 2018 Golf R manual. I love love love this little car. 6 year 72k warranty. I havent modded it yet, but for not a whole lot of money you can get a 400 foot pound monster. (Probably need a clutch with that)

Yup, that was me :)
Picking it up today.

Without driving any of them yet, I am leaning toward the M240, just based on the reaction of pretty much anyone who has reviewed it. It also suffers from the same amazing tune potential of the R. 90HP gains for nearly nothing. ;)

I'll have to drive a few to see what really fits me.