Help Me Choose a Daily Driver!

F80Dreamer · 02-23-2017, 08:17 AM

Absolutely loving my M3, 7 months into ownership...but I am planning on buying a second car to use as my daily/bad weather/airport car. I can spend up to $30k, and looking for a fun, manual, efficient, comfortable car. Since I already have the 4 door M, plus my wife's truck, no real need for back seat space for kids, etc...as it will mostly be just me in the car. I also need it to be a little smaller so I can fit it into the garage. So far, I have narrowed it down to 3 choices:
- 2017 GTI, base model -- have always wanted to own one, think this would be a blast to drive
- 2017 Mazda RF base model -- sexy as hell, great manual shifter/balance, just not sure about interior space (I am 6"2)
- 2017 Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86 -- back to basic thrills
Would love to hear your thoughts on the above list, or any other choices I should consider.

frankiebones · 02-23-2017, 08:21 AM

GTI. It is a fun little car, and its German.

There is only one constant in the last 500 years of civilization...when it comes to engineering (of any kind), don't mess with ze Germans.

Kief · 02-23-2017, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F80Dreamer

Absolutely loving my M3, 7 months into ownership...but I am planning on buying a second car to use as my daily/bad weather/airport car. I can spend up to $30k, and looking for a fun, manual, efficient, comfortable car. Since I already have the 4 door M, plus my wife's truck, no real need for back seat space for kids, etc...as it will mostly be just me in the car. I also need it to be a little smaller so I can fit it into the garage. So far, I have narrowed it down to 3 choices:
- 2017 GTI, base model -- have always wanted to own one, think this would be a blast to drive
- 2017 Mazda RF base model -- sexy as hell, great manual shifter/balance, just not sure about interior space (I am 6"2)
- 2017 Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86 -- back to basic thrills
Would love to hear your thoughts on the above list, or any other choices I should consider.

Done!

Uber Commuter · 02-23-2017, 08:49 AM

Get the 2017 GTI, but opt for the Sport, not the base model. Sport adds 20 hp, better brakes, and limited slip diff among other things. It is totally worth the $2k extra you pay for it. I've owned MKIVs, MKVs, and MKVIs and the MK7 is truly a pleasure to drive.

However, I did come from VWs, so I may be biased; but I've test-driven the new GTIs and the new Mazda 3 with a manual. The Mazdas are very nice, but have no comparison at all to the GTI as far as driving fun.

BEM-S4 · 02-23-2017, 08:52 AM

GTI no doubt about it assuming we are choosing from just those 3.

Otherwise CPO M235s will start rolling off leases soon but probably a little more than you want to spend.

baege · 02-23-2017, 08:56 AM

I vote rf as i am a z4 coupe lover and i cannot lie

plus rear wheel drive more fun

plus normal aspiration more connection

PhilH · 02-23-2017, 08:56 AM

Using your own criteria, GTI would be be way better than the other two for: bad weather, airport (luggage capacity) and comfort.

Never_Enough · 02-23-2017, 09:24 AM

Miata no question

Red Bread · 02-23-2017, 10:16 AM

Miata, absolutely. I'd have one if I didn't have the kid seat.

I'm 6'2" and fit great in the regular ND, it's a lot roomier than my old NB which required taking a turkey knife to the seat foam, removing the sun visors and hammering out a lump for the RHD fuel pump to let the seat move back further.

I want to love the BRZ, and have driven them four or five times, but the steering is lacking and the motor has an awful torque hole around 4,500rpm.

KingOfJericho · 02-23-2017, 10:40 AM

GTI all day. One of my favorites amongst the cars I've owned. My dad still has a 2009 that I drive sometimes at their summer house and am reminded how great of a car that is.

BEM-S4 · 02-23-2017, 11:11 AM

Yeah but a GTI in manual can be had new for under $20k. That's a bargain compared to the others.

kprocivic · 02-23-2017, 11:32 AM

ford has a couple great small hatchbacks out in the world. but to your list the gti is the winner.

M47 · 02-23-2017, 11:37 AM

BRZ. I know its slow but its a much fun car. The car stays flat in hi speed cornering. One thing I don't like is how noisy the inside is when driving >60.

VRG_135 · 02-23-2017, 11:58 AM

On your list, all 3 cars seem great, but for different reasons. For a everyday car, I'd go GTI, though I'd worry about reliability a bit.

No WRX? No Hyundai genesis 2 dr? Or even a 1er?

FriskyDingo · 02-23-2017, 12:18 PM

Biased since I own a '16 GTI and love it, but out of that list, GTI for a DD. As a toy, I would pick something else, but the day-to-day comfort, refinement, and practicality is what made me go with it, even though like you, I had other 4 doors to cover the kid-toting duties.

In all honesty, if you were going to sacrifice the the GTI's strengths, I'd just get a used Boxster or Cayman long before I got a Miata or FRS/BRZ for a daily duties.

jpnh · 02-23-2017, 12:35 PM

If BMW brought a 130/140 with an MT and xdrive into the US I would probably buy it in a second

BEM-S4 · 02-23-2017, 05:49 PM

Just saw this on my way home, good for a laugh

Uber Commuter · 02-24-2017, 08:24 AM

^That's funny. The A3 is actually smaller than the GTI is since the MKVI models

02-23-2017, 08:17 AM	#1
F80Dreamer Major 900 Rep 1,028 Posts Drives: 2016 M4 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Canadian living in Texas iTrader: (0)	Help Me Choose a Daily Driver! Absolutely loving my M3, 7 months into ownership...but I am planning on buying a second car to use as my daily/bad weather/airport car. I can spend up to $30k, and looking for a fun, manual, efficient, comfortable car. Since I already have the 4 door M, plus my wife's truck, no real need for back seat space for kids, etc...as it will mostly be just me in the car. I also need it to be a little smaller so I can fit it into the garage. So far, I have narrowed it down to 3 choices: - 2017 GTI, base model -- have always wanted to own one, think this would be a blast to drive - 2017 Mazda RF base model -- sexy as hell, great manual shifter/balance, just not sure about interior space (I am 6"2) - 2017 Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86 -- back to basic thrills Would love to hear your thoughts on the above list, or any other choices I should consider.
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02-23-2017, 08:21 AM	#2
frankiebones Brigadier General 5312 Rep 3,056 Posts Drives: Fire Orange G80 6MT Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (0)	GTI. It is a fun little car, and its German. There is only one constant in the last 500 years of civilization...when it comes to engineering (of any kind), don't mess with ze Germans. __________________ Fire Orange 6MT G80 (Miss July, 2021 Cover of Bimmerpost) SMB M3 CS (gone) YMB F80 6MT (gone)
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02-23-2017, 08:49 AM	#4
Uber Commuter Lieutenant 717 Rep 474 Posts Drives: 2014 328D xDrive Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 328d xDrive [0.00]	Get the 2017 GTI, but opt for the Sport, not the base model. Sport adds 20 hp, better brakes, and limited slip diff among other things. It is totally worth the $2k extra you pay for it. I've owned MKIVs, MKVs, and MKVIs and the MK7 is truly a pleasure to drive. However, I did come from VWs, so I may be biased; but I've test-driven the new GTIs and the new Mazda 3 with a manual. The Mazdas are very nice, but have no comparison at all to the GTI as far as driving fun.
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02-23-2017, 08:52 AM	#5
BEM-S4 Major General 4533 Rep 8,942 Posts Drives: Dinan M235, Dinan Sport Wagon Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (5)	GTI no doubt about it assuming we are choosing from just those 3. Otherwise CPO M235s will start rolling off leases soon but probably a little more than you want to spend. __________________ 2022 Macan S 2016 F31 328i xDrive Sport Wagon 2006 E46 330ci ZHP Convertible
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02-23-2017, 08:56 AM	#6
baege Lieutenant Colonel 1412 Rep 1,644 Posts Drives: 2023 R8 RWD Coupe Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada iTrader: (0)	I vote rf as i am a z4 coupe lover and i cannot lie plus rear wheel drive more fun plus normal aspiration more connection
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02-23-2017, 08:56 AM	#7
PhilH Private First Class 139 Rep 180 Posts Drives: 2018 Cayman, 2017 X1 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Phila, PA iTrader: (0)	Using your own criteria, GTI would be be way better than the other two for: bad weather, airport (luggage capacity) and comfort. __________________ Former BMWs: F80 M3, E46 330i, E34 525i
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02-23-2017, 09:24 AM	#8
Never_Enough Banned 2225 Rep 2,476 Posts Drives: Satan's Chariot 2.0 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: PA iTrader: (6) Garage List 2018 Charger Hellcat [0.00]	Miata no question
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02-23-2017, 10:16 AM	#9
Red Bread Major General 4458 Rep 9,160 Posts Drives: Smog machines Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	Miata, absolutely. I'd have one if I didn't have the kid seat. I'm 6'2" and fit great in the regular ND, it's a lot roomier than my old NB which required taking a turkey knife to the seat foam, removing the sun visors and hammering out a lump for the RHD fuel pump to let the seat move back further. I want to love the BRZ, and have driven them four or five times, but the steering is lacking and the motor has an awful torque hole around 4,500rpm.
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02-23-2017, 10:40 AM	#10
KingOfJericho Major General 2458 Rep 7,341 Posts Drives: Yes Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CT iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 135i Coupe [5.26]	GTI all day. One of my favorites amongst the cars I've owned. My dad still has a 2009 that I drive sometimes at their summer house and am reminded how great of a car that is. __________________ The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Bimmerpost. 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee High Altitude Hemi \| 2010 S4 Sold \| 2010 BMW 135i Retired \| 2006 Lotus Exige Sold
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02-23-2017, 11:11 AM	#11
BEM-S4 Major General 4533 Rep 8,942 Posts Drives: Dinan M235, Dinan Sport Wagon Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (5)	Yeah but a GTI in manual can be had new for under $20k. That's a bargain compared to the others. __________________ 2022 Macan S 2016 F31 328i xDrive Sport Wagon 2006 E46 330ci ZHP Convertible
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02-23-2017, 11:32 AM	#12
kprocivic Lieutenant Colonel 814 Rep 1,575 Posts Drives: ecoboost s to the t Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: 92346 iTrader: (7)	ford has a couple great small hatchbacks out in the world. but to your list the gti is the winner. __________________ 2.0l ecosmackkaa
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02-23-2017, 11:37 AM	#13
M47 Second Lieutenant 65 Rep 246 Posts Drives: F30 328 xDrive Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Pacific NorthWest - PNW iTrader: (0)	BRZ. I know its slow but its a much fun car. The car stays flat in hi speed cornering. One thing I don't like is how noisy the inside is when driving >60.
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02-23-2017, 11:58 AM	#14
VRG_135 Banned 848 Rep 1,944 Posts Drives: 2012 Silver 135 DCT Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Dallas Area (McKinney), TX iTrader: (0)	On your list, all 3 cars seem great, but for different reasons. For a everyday car, I'd go GTI, though I'd worry about reliability a bit. No WRX? No Hyundai genesis 2 dr? Or even a 1er?
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02-23-2017, 12:18 PM	#15
FriskyDingo Rather Ambivalent 384 Rep 755 Posts Drives: Spiritedly Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Trapped In My Mind iTrader: (0)	Biased since I own a '16 GTI and love it, but out of that list, GTI for a DD. As a toy, I would pick something else, but the day-to-day comfort, refinement, and practicality is what made me go with it, even though like you, I had other 4 doors to cover the kid-toting duties. In all honesty, if you were going to sacrifice the the GTI's strengths, I'd just get a used Boxster or Cayman long before I got a Miata or FRS/BRZ for a daily duties.
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02-23-2017, 12:35 PM	#16
jpnh Brigadier General 1430 Rep 3,395 Posts Drives: NA Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	If BMW brought a 130/140 with an MT and xdrive into the US I would probably buy it in a second
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02-23-2017, 05:49 PM	#17
BEM-S4 Major General 4533 Rep 8,942 Posts Drives: Dinan M235, Dinan Sport Wagon Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (5)	Just saw this on my way home, good for a laugh Attached Images __________________ 2022 Macan S 2016 F31 328i xDrive Sport Wagon 2006 E46 330ci ZHP Convertible
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02-24-2017, 08:24 AM	#18
Uber Commuter Lieutenant 717 Rep 474 Posts Drives: 2014 328D xDrive Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 328d xDrive [0.00]	^That's funny. The A3 is actually smaller than the GTI is since the MKVI models
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