and the car quest continues...
 

Another change afoot in the garage. Well, actually the street because we only can fit one car and the motorcycle in the garage, but who's counting. The wife is still loving her i3 Rex and I had thought about going electric but a road trip to Lake Arrowhead disabused me of that. The C-Max Energi that I got for the boy is actually a pretty neat car for what it is, but sporty/entertaining aren't really the words I'd use for it.

At any rate, thinking I was going to make a change I had found someone to take over my X1 lease. I actually had second thoughts after our road trip but I'd agreed to the swap so the X1 will be heading to its new owner next week. Which brings me to the search for my next DD.

The goal is actually to go a bit more budget as the i3 isn't that cheap. My criteria are 4-door hatchback due to my gear hauling needs. Beyond that, in a perfect world it would be cheap to lease/buy, entertaining, and reasonably comfortable. Originally I was thinking Mazda 3 or Golf TDI, but the GTI crept into the mix. I drove the Mazda and it left me kinda "meh." The GTI was better, but they have odd trims. I drove the 6-speed but am not sure I want to go back to a stick in LA traffic. I haven't driven one regularly in a few years. The DSG was like my old GTI - has some quirks but not a bad box. I haven't driven the new TDI but figure it is like my old JSW. The plaid sport seats are cool but they were a bit tight. I'm actually in good shape at this point from swimming every day but I'm a bit wide through the shoulders for it. The leather ones felt more comfortable but then you have to get a sunroof (which I hate) and is more money.

The dark horse that I'll drive today is the Fiesta ST. I actually like the looks of both the Fiesta and the Focus ST. It forces me into a stick, but from all accounts the Fiesta is a pretty fun little car. Dirt cheap to lease, likely will carry my stuff, and ok on the interior (the C-Max is actually pretty livable other than the Ford starting chimes that make me think I'm in a rental on work travel).

Have thought about Mini but can't get past the interiors. Not sure I'm missing other candidates...

Todd the focus st will have more space. Drive it too.

I happen to know of '13 with 5k miles that's for sale...

Thought you loved the X1(?)

You are god's gift to the retail auto industry in Los Angeles, that's for sure. Making up for me, who only buys used cars. :)

Yeah, I'm going to check out both the Focus and Fiesta. May be a non-starter as I'd have to go back to using a clutch which can be a nightmare in LA. Have to see what I bond with. The VW is more "adult" but the local dealership kinda played games on pricing which pisses me off. I found out that you can get a "VW Partner" deal if you have an association with some company/organization on VW's list. Turns our SCCA is one of them, so if you join SCCA you get a certificate for a VW at $500 below invoice with no haggling. VW reimburses the dealer so they don't care. But then dealers still like to play games with lease or finance rates. It is a buyers market right now so there are lots of choices...

Did like the X1, but I get bored easily, plus not sure I ever got over the BMW stigma. I still love my GS though.

Someone has to drive the economy. Plus life is short and you're dead a long time...

You could also consider the Mercedes-Benz GLA

Amen to that, I'm not doing a GD thing for that part of the economy! I make up for it by over-spending on other things, though. My $$ circulates. :)

What is the "BMW stigma"?

I don't think I can bring myself to drive a Mercedes. The BMW was a stretch. Then again, the GLA comes in purple and the lease is less than the GTI (go figure...).

I could care less what supposed image my vehicle projects if I like it. Life is too short, as you mentioned.

In LA it is pretty much the douche mobile. Highest percentage of douchy driving seems to emanate from the Roundel. Plus every "entrepreneur" who gets his first round of funding or gets bought out immediately goes out and buys the obligatory BMW.

Certainly not a deal-breaker as we currently have 3 BMW vehicles in the household now (then again maybe that is saying something about me :eek:) but there certainly is a vibe to the marque.

I just bought a 15 Tundra TRD so we represent opposite ends of the spectrum, however...

I rented a Ford Escape last week and put at least 500 mixed (freeway, Lake Barryessa, city, etc.) miles on it. Great little whatever it is in the market segment. It was also very roomy. The car had 42,000 on the clock and was solid and very quiet, felt brand new.

I would own the Escape.

Other than that, the Tundra is the deal.

I've got a new escape Paul. I've put 2500 miles on the clock in the first month and I love it. Todd, you should drive one of those too. About the same size as what you've got though.

Hyundai... there I said it...
Nothing to see here, carry on... carry on...

No kidding! I thought my automotive A.D.D. was bad, but you've got me beat.

I think the escape is a really good looking vehicle. That said I'm not crazy about the Ford auto trans. The Mazda was worse as it felt like it was always hunting. But at this point I may go back too manual or want a dual clutch auto as that can be entertaining.

and the car quest continues...
 

Agreed - 3-series BMWs are the Toyota Camrys of la-la land. They're nice cars in their own right but every insecure douche out there buys one to try and fit in, and there are a LOT of insecure douches out there, so lots of 3-series. Like anyone really gives a crap what anyone else drives (unless it's a true exotic like an SLS or Carrera GT or Bentley or something).

Todd, there are these really cool places that will let you actually try out different cars without having to buy them so you don't have to spend $30k for every conceivable different vehicular need. They have names like "Avis", "Enterprise", "Alamo" and "Hertz". :p

I recently purchased a new GTI equipped with a manual transmission. I spent a little over $800 to get the APR stage 1 ECU tune. The tune transformed the car from a respectable 210hp with 258lbs of torque to 305hp with 380lbs of torque. It's fantastic to say the least. It gets great gas mileage, it has awesome utility, it handles like a dream (lowered it too), and it hauls @ss.

Drove the focus and fiesta. Focus didn't impress me. Fiesta otoh was a hoot. Cheap interior but it isn't an extensive car. Very fun too drive. Going back to try the recaros. Also sat on the gti again and the seats are fail for me. The golf tdi might work. We'll see. The hunt is probably the most interesting part.

Is the Fiesta big enough to satisfy your needs? They seem pretty tiny to me.

My DD is a 4-door 2015 GTI 6-speed right now. Black leather interior--I had to have the sunroof vinyl wrapped to block out the sun, otherwise I was getting cooked.

I'm getting 34mpg in mixed driving now that I don't use the A/C so much (I was getting 31 then).

I quite like it. It's a bit bigger than my 2010 Golf TDI was, but makes tons more HP and is a lot more fun to drive. The only thing I would change is the crappy iPod interface. It's been a decade now and VW still hasn't figured that out.