I realize I have seat time with a lot of the cars mentioned here and would chime in more:

- Had a 135i 6mt demo for some time. No sport package. I actually really liked this car. In fact, I thought the 35i motor was too much for this chassis and thought to myself I would likely have preferred it in 28i with the sport package. The non sport package seats in 1-series are incredibly flat.

- I have borrowed a friend's M2 competition package manual for a few days and thought it was wayyy too much power for such a small chassis. I really didn't care for this car. So much artificial exhaust popping. I haven't had a chance to try a 235i but I don't imagine my feelings would be much different. I think I would likely end up preferring a 228i for it's agility much like the 128i/135i experience I had.

- Drove a colleague's S3 for a few days as well. Really bored me. This car makes going quickly clinical, in a bad way. Also just felt really cramped and too large for the cabin.

- I own an S2000 and still feel that it plus a hatchback is the ultimate 1+2 punch. You can really take a weekend car further in terms of preparing it for track while having a livable, fuel efficient and versatile daily. I don't track my S2000, but it still fulfills my needs for wanting to go for an occasional spirited drive.

Kev

^ which hatchback do you currently have?

I’m not sure what your salary is, or what you can really afford. This may sound super obvious but a lot of the cars we’re suggesting have high maintenance costs. I know you spent a lot on the 330 but prices for parts only goes up from there.

For example a full brake overhaul on a focus ST is ~$300. I just ordered new brakes for my RS (Rotors, pads, lines) and it was just over $1000 on sale. And these were still 1 piece cast replacement rotors, not the fancy 2 piece ones. And the cheaper stoptech pads, not even EBC or hawk.

So keep in mind when looking at used performance cars, especially if you will be tracking more. All the consumables can *really* add up. I know you’re aware of the ///M tax, but saying for rwd you might want porsche? That $35k porsche still has $100k maintenance costs

Tires
Brake pads
Brake fluid flushes
Track day fees / insurance / transportation/lodging costs (i.e. gas/ferry etc.)
Maintenance (if you count your time/efforts)

It gets expensive man :okay:

This probably isn't the answer you are looking for, but I like TjAlmeida's suggestion on Mustangs. The current gen (2015+) cars have IRS, and I think the V6 and 4-banger EcoBoost engines take regular gas, so they meet your 3 requirements above. Of course the GT version will be even more fun.

I'm surprised you thought the M2 had "too much power"! I like the M2 and its different versions a lot since they are all phenomenal to drive. But M2's price points are beyond what BIC_BAWS is planning to spend.

BIC: I think you should just buy a car from the Good Buys Thread so I can finally get my wings:angel2:

While you're here, what do you think about CTS-V's ... if I could find one LOL

I looked at the CTS-V and ATS-V. Depending on which generation you get, you'll get a mixed bag. Most 1st generation CTS-Vs are kind of boring/bland with aged/worn out interiors that really make domestics look and feel cheap. The engines are pretty reliable, however. ATS-V in manual is rare (good luck finding one) but they do exist. It's better on gas compared to the CTS-V, but otherwise, most CTS-Vs are automatic and can get expensive depending on model year. I can assure you your mom will disown you if you get one.

I still think the Focus ST would be the way to go (as long as you're ok with FWD).

Sounds decent, has the sameish HP as your last car with more torque, is safe, is reliable, has Recaro's, can haul kids, doesn't use much gas, and could be make track ready.

Also, servicing isn't expensive.

But the torque steer is :dizzy:

Since the FoST and the FiST have been coming up a lot, might be a good time to mention that prior to the 330, I wanted a MazdaSpeed 3 or MS6. But then I quickly learned that it was the Ford era of Mazda and things went "zoom, zoom, boom"

I share similar concerns about the STs, tho I think Stratified Auto is way more happy about Ford's than Mazdas, which the owner recommended me never to buy LOL

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

A stock Mazda Speed 3 or 6 is fine...stock. The moment you start to tinker with it, that's when things go wrong. There's an RS member here who has a Mazda Speed 3 who was happy with his stock, but until he started tinkering, it went bonkers and took him a while to get it compliant and umm...reliable. :lol

I moderately modified my ST and my RS and am 100% satisfied.

My brother and his mazda 6 wagon is a whole nother story. Bone stock, very well maintained and been nothing but problems

Edit: Alex @ stratified is pretty great too. Good wealth of knowledge

https://vancouver.craigslist.org/pml...126293131.html

What about a fiat abarth?

Golf R. I previously have owned a GTI, MS3 and STI hatch. I think I just enjoy the versatility of having a hatchback a lot.

As mentioned, I felt it was too much power for the chassis. Some cars really take a lot of power and make it seem more effortless or controlled. The M2 at anything more than 50% throttle feels like it wants to lose it's rear end. Fun for some. Just not for me.

I drove my 1st Gen MS3 from new to 150k with a turbo-back, FMIC and tune. It never actually blew up on me but I read too many forums, panicked and sold it. Oddly, I think the car is still around today, 10 years later. Curious what it's life has been like.

Kev

LOL I know it doesn't fit your critera at all and it was mentioned already... but... I want to mention again Miata

fun-ish to drive
stick shift
good on gas
takes 87

my NA Miata goes from 7L/100KM to 12ish L/100KM depending on how I drive... and even at 7L... Im not exactly grandma shifting it around either...

you can get into a reliable one for 3K to 4K, and very well sorted one for 6 to 8K (or a newer one with more creature comforts for more ofc... but I got the 97, last year of the NA generation 1.8L with torsen LSD) never bothered me, have a single din bluetooth player... all I really needed tbh... and a 2 way compustar with remote start (mmm winter warm ups in the drive way)

I don't have much experience on other cars, but I can chime in on EVO X (I assume it will be similar to the RS/STi ... even a lil bit Golf R experience?) VS my ownership of Miata

Anything on the EVO is at least 2 to 3 Xs more expensive... especially if you track the cars often...

Tires...EVO 275/35/18 star specs... got it on sale for like $1400
Miata 205/50/15 RE71R... full set $598

Brakes.... EVO... rotors (1 pc) and pads ... $1100ish?
Miata... rotors + pads .... $240

Clutch... EVO .... $1800 (you have to drop the AWD to get to it)
Miata .... havn't done one yet, but I asked and it was like >$500

EVO city milage... close to 18L/100KM (full bolt on with tune, abt 400 crank)

Insurance is a surprise though... lol EVO was only $18 more expensive per month, $186 EVO vs $168 Miata (full coverage, work less than 15KM, 300/300/300/3 mil)

Lastly just driving impressions in general, the EVO is fast... but the AWD gets old.. the weight shows.. the understeer going into corners too hot.... the Miata (I can't believe I waited 30 years to finally driven one)... the turn in response is incredible, short wheel base + rwd is awesome, more than enough power to let the tail out on every corner as needed (within legal speeds i might add), and when that happens, it so progressive, so controlled... (or could be my previous owner just dialed the car in super well lol)

Final thoughts... with my income, I could afford the EVO .. but every time I upgraded or some big maintenance came up.. i felt it...and my wife will give me that face.... with the Miata... its like going to dollarama, I could buy anything that is up my fancy... and I can drive it harder knowing I could buy the car several times over if needed...

Oh for commute/family duties I got a hybrid lol...its great...=D

this reply turned out way longer than anticipated, kudos if you bothered to read thru it...

This is the best. :lol

205/50/15 is one the reasons I am back to tracking ITR again.

RE71R for 1M = $1800
RE71R for ITR = $600

The Miata is a great choice as a fun car. Not so much as a daily. Plenty of good suggestions in here.

I've owned an E30, E46, and an E39. Then, I got married and had two kids, upped our mortgage, and increased my commute to 30 clicks one way.

You're going to be commuting 100+ kms a day. You need something that is going to be reliable and comfortable. Spending your weekends and weeknights doing maintenance saps your enthusiasm for driving a high maintenance car pretty quickly.

Buy a MK7 GTI and call it a day. My wife has a MK7 Golf Wagon and it is a very good daily driver. I can only imagine a GTI would be at least twice as good. If you want to stick to regular gas, buy a MK7 Golf Alltrack with a 6-speed - a unicorn car that will maintain its value well over time and that will pretty much serve all of your commuting, errand-running needs for many years.

If you're buying a house, maybe buy a second project car that will satisfy your race car urges, like an E36 M3 or an E39 M5.

How are the gti on gas? Do they require premium? I've been looking at them for a commuter too

GTI is reasonable on gas if you keep the ECU tune stock, but they do require premium gas.

Depending on how much you drive, premium may not really add up to a whole lot. Also, if you’re comparing the fuel economy of different cars, you need to factor both in (A premium car that consumes 8L/100 km is going to be similar in annual fuel cost to a regular car that consumes 9L/100 km)

I gotta disagree. When everyone else was filling up at $0.80/L a few weeks ago premium was still $1.20. That stings and adds up massively if he’s commuting from maple ridge

Yea I will be doing around 80km a day, mainly highway so gas matters lol

And when I needed 91, price shopping all the time was annoying (since not every station had the same jump in price from 87 to 91)

It dropped at Chevron and Shell here (same $0.18/$0.20 on top of regular for 91 octane).

I also wouldn't base my decisions on what is likely a once-in-a-century event.

According to Statistics Canada, for the Greater Vancouver region, the average prices of fuels over the past year (May 2019-April 2020):
Regular: $1.425
Premium: $1.639 (+15%)
Diesel: $1.339 (-6%)