back to a stick: choices

[javadog]

Drive a used VW R32, if you can find one. You'll like it.

JR

[Noah930]

Keep the vee-dub. It's just a daily driver, anyway. Don't take the financial bath. And get a new Monster.

[nostatic]

arrgghh....stop showing me pictures of Italian bikes...

Even though it is a daily driver, I gotta have a stick. I just can't deal with the automatic. Plus I need to practice heel and toe every day.

Gonna drive a Cooper S. I drove one many years back before I bought the 911 and remember being underwhelmed, but different times. BMW wagons with stick are few and far between, and I just can't do a 3-series sedan unless it was an old e30. It would be a no-brainer for the WRX but I've gotten spoiled by the leather and interior of German cars. How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm...

[JeremyD]

The cooper is like the 911 - sure just driving around the block - big deal - but get the revs up, and it's like it gets on it's tippy toes and goes...

[javadog]

I find that I must repeat myself. Drive a used VW R32, if you can find one. You'll like it.

It has a stick.
It is a hatchback.
It has power.
It handles.
It has a nice German leather interior, with nice German sport seats.
It's pretty loaded with options.

I suggest a blue one. Observe picture below:



JR

[nostatic]

The R32 is nice, but is tough to find one that hasn't been pimped out or abused.

[Gene Wilkes]

I just picked up a low mileage 325is w/stick! SWEET RIDE!

[Hetmann]

The mini cooper S is a lot of fun. Dare I say as much fun as an older 911, but in a different way. The gear box is amazing and steering very responsive. My only complaint is my car (02) is full of rattles. Hopefully, a newer example will have some of these addressed.

[vash]

i am gonna make the same purchase soon. my decision is not on your list. i am going to go with the mazdaspeed3. it may be difficult to find one used tho.

on your list, go with the WRX. get a white one, and black out the wheels. the asian chicks will dig it.

[cantdrv55]

Originally posted by vash
on your list, go with the WRX. get a white one, and black out the wheels. the asian chicks will dig it.

Don't forget to add a fart can exhaust. Your neighbors will dig it.

Seriously, a Cooper S is the way to go.

[javadog]

Originally posted by nostatic
The R32 is nice, but is tough to find one that hasn't been pimped out or abused.

Perhaps that's true. I did a quick search and there are a half dozen for sale in SoCal. No idea of their condition.

You can always buy a new one. The latest version comes out in late summer.

JR

[nostatic]

The new R32 will be DSG - no stick.

I will check out the MS3 as well. But obviously I have to drive a Mini.

I was thinking that the Asian chicks my age would likely dig the Audi more than the Subie. I don't date the young ones

[Superman]

Dismiss the front wheel drive cars now. Drive wheels belong in the rear. Porsche has never made a front wheel drive car, and probably never will. There is a reason for this.

[the]

My neighbor got a Cooper S a few months ago, I've driven it a few times and driven in it a bunch of time.

Don't waste your time. I knew you were wasting your time and would eventually take a financial bath with your automatic VW (but was too polite to say anything because you already bought it), you'll do the same thing with a Mini.

I'm like your mother. I've read your posts and know you!

[nostatic]

Originally posted by Superman
Dismiss the front wheel drive cars now. Drive wheels belong in the rear. Porsche has never made a front wheel drive car, and probably never will. There is a reason for this.

that shortens the list pretty heavily. I have to admit that my gut feels the same way...one reason my heart lies with a Subie (I did like that STI test drive).

There are a couple of R32s around (awd and 3.2L na engine). I'll try to drive one.

Beyond that, not much rwd other than bwm. Suppose an X3 would fit the bill but...

[NICKG]

Originally posted by nostatic
Ok, so I have control issues. I can't take driving an automatic any more...no matter how cool the DSG is. So I'll wave goodbye to a chunk of money, but I gotta have a clutch. Easier to trade it in (otherwise I have to pay it off, deal with title, etc), so the current candidates are:

Audi A3
Subaru WRX Wagon
Mini Cooper S

The VW has been ok (10K miles on it), but there are some issues. I have to admit that I've gotten spoiled by the nice interior though...the Subie is pretty cheap/spartan by comparison. The A3 is on par (and is the same platform, albeit built in a different factory with some different parts). Cooper might be a tad small. I'm still diggin' hatchbacks as I can haul my music gear, head to the beach, etc. WRX is about 4K cheaper than the A3, but the A3 would have leather and is arguably a much "nicer" car.

Anyone had one of the above and loved/hated it? I'd ponder another GTI like mine with a 6 spd as well.

i had a stick gti...awesome car.(got t boned) that dsg is really good...are you sure you want to do this? i had a stick and was not digging traffic, and the dsg is just pukka

[bleucamaro]

Go with the WRX, the wagon has better torsional rigidity than the sedan, fits a ton of stuff, and has a whole world of go-fast bits available.

[nostatic]

Originally posted by NICKG
i had a stick gti...awesome car.(got t boned) that dsg is really good...are you sure you want to do this? i had a stick and was not digging traffic, and the dsg is just pukka

I drive in some of the worst traffic around (stretch of 405 in west LA). Gotta have a stick. Hell, I'd drive my track car every day if it had ac and room to carry stuff in the back (but has neither).

The DSG is amazing. But I like rowing gears and my left leg is horribly bored.

[Noah930]

Originally posted by nostatic
I was thinking that the Asian chicks my age would likely dig the Audi more than the Subie. I don't date the young ones

FWIW, my sister (Asian) picked up an A3 (2.0 DSG) last year. She's pretty happy with it, so far.

As nice as it is to be a hardcore sportscar guy and demand a RWD car, it's pretty slim pickings in this price range (unless you're willing to look at older stuff). Miata, Mustang, Solstice, Sky, Z3/4. None seem to fit your need to haul stuff, occasionally.

[JavaBrewer]

Holy crap an X3...you're knee is healed so quit the narcotics dude.