[Falafel Combo]

Any one have first hand experience with manual transmission:

Honda S2000
Mazda rx8
Golf GTI
Mazda speed 3
Subaru BRZ?


Did you like it or not, and why?


Thanks guys.

[Dan_335i]

I would take the brz or gti

[infinitigor]

s2000 is fun

[nick1212]

Had rx8... Loved it but you might want to wait for next gen... Prolly coming out next year. Supposed to be an amazing rotary engine.

[Jamesons Viggen]

BRZ just cried out for 50hp more. GTI is a great all a rounder, but reliability killed it for me.

S2000 gets my vote, lacks tq but so does the BRZ.

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by nick1212

Had rx8... Loved it but you might want to wait for next gen... Prolly coming out next year. Supposed to be an amazing rotary engine.

Well, I'm probably getting something a couple of years old anyway, so I don't think it would be worth the wait for me. I'm looking to buy something right away.

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by Jamesons Viggen

BRZ just cried out for 50hp more. GTI is a great all a rounder, but reliability killed it for me.

S2000 gets my vote, lacks tq but so does the BRZ.

S2000 - 2 seater, convertible, RWD, amazing reviews, modestly priced - 5-8 year old car
RX8 - 4 seater, RWD, limited slip differential, less engaging and less road feel than S2000
BRZ - Ughh! Looks amazing! Great reviews, and yes, a tad underpowered
Golf GTI - No idea at all about this car, but I know I always wanted one growing up. Nostalgic factor?
Mazda Speed 3 - HOLY-SLEEPER-CAR! 260HP, 280lb-ft torque - stock, 4 cylinder turbo! 3200 lbs.

[Falafel Combo]

Lets throw the Hyundai Volester in the mix too. Any opinions? This is a car that I know nothing about, but man, I'm a fan! Love the design, turbo and the extended wheel base.


.

[Dinh335]

Originally Posted by KORALLROT

Any one have first hand experience with manual transmission:

Honda S2000
Mazda rx8
Golf GTI
Mazda speed 3
Subaru BRZ?


Did you like it or not, and why?


Thanks guys.

Rx8. Fantastic daily driver. Had one for 9 years...a 2004 too. Less problems than my f30 with 3k miles. It gets a bad rap online for reliability but it's solid as long as you check oil levels and make sure the ignition coils and plugs are in good order. Handling amazing, plenty of pickup and a suprisingly versatile car. I have a kid and carseat even fits. Try the refresh r3 models that have bilsteins and recaro seats. It's basically a faster br z with more room. Only knock...fuel Economy...it's bad.

S2000 is great but very little utility for a daily.

[Dinh335]

Originally Posted by nick1212

Had rx8... Loved it but you might want to wait for next gen... Prolly coming out next year. Supposed to be an amazing rotary engine.

I don t think the rx8 will be back for a few years, the 16x rotary looks good but it will be at least 3 years.

[Benstuck]

Had a 05' Rx8 before my E92. Great daily driver, 6MT. Lasted till about 135,XXX miles where she failed a compression test. I drove mostly HWY and got 23-24 mpg at best. Not the most powerful car, but was so much fun to drive! Make sure to get 05' and up, the bugs are worked out by that year. The R3's look nice. Just check the oil often and don't turn her off cold or else y'all flood the engine.

[JasonX4MComp]

Soldand worked at Honda for awhile and drove S2000's alot. The car is so much fun to drive especially when running above 5000 RPM's but can be a little cramped inside if you are a bigger person. Great transmission and shifter

[BavarianFanatic]

The only contender for a liveable daily is the Mazda 3. Very well sorted car. You'll tire of the others. The S2000 is novel, but you'll always be frustrated with the lack of torque unless you have it wound out. The RX is too soft and they're very finicky. Rotary is very sensitive to overheating and requires a bit more attention than most. Early GTIs are a blast. Not a ton of power, but that's not what they're all about. BRZ is similar. Great balance and handling characterists. But, for something to hop in every day and just go the Mazda rises to the top. Ford Focus is it's twin, but for several years Ford didn't offer the manual for some reason.

[1.fresh.f30.335]

Originally Posted by KORALLROT

Lets throw the Hyundai Volester in the mix too. Any opinions? This is a car that I know nothing about, but man, I'm a fan! Love the design, turbo and the extended wheel base.


.

...It's slow, really really really slow. It's made to look sporty but thats about it, all show, no go...

I vote GTI, easily upgradable, fairly easy to fix (then again I've worked on VW/Audi for the past decade so it's probably all relative), and they come in AWD if thats something you want (R20, R32)

[BavarianFanatic]

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by BavarianFanatic

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by 1.fresh.f30.335

...It's slow, really really really slow. It's made to look sporty but thats about it, all show, no go...

I vote GTI, easily upgradable, fairly easy to fix (then again I've worked on VW/Audi for the past decade so it's probably all relative), and they come in AWD if thats something you want (R20, R32)

Even the Turbo version? 1.6L, 201HP, 195lb-ft.? Seems decent for the weight, no?

[Falafel Combo]

EDIT: Never mind. My hopes have been crushed.


"New engine, same suspension
Even before turning a single wheel in the Veloster Turbo, however, our expectations met harsh reality again this summer when product planners at Hyundai's U.S. headquarters revealed that the damping, the spring rates, and the bushings were all left unchanged for the Turbo. We had been hoping for a more mature setup -- something with the suppleness and sophistication of a Volkswagen GTI. Instead, the Turbo suffers the same busy, stiff-legged ride over cracks and heaves as the base car.

Read more: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1206_2013_hyundai_veloster_turbo/#ixzz2T09qRze7"




But man ... SEXY!


.

[Dinh335]

Originally Posted by BavarianFanatic

The RX is too soft and they're very finicky. Rotary is very sensitive to overheating and requires a bit more attention than most.

all internet rumors. my sense is you've never owned a rotary.

no overheating issues and if by attention you mean check the oil every three weeks, well, it's called owning a car.

and soft? was rated the third best handling car under 100K by car and driver and regarded as one of best handling cars out there.

not fanboi-ing, just providing first hand information rather than internet skimming, and of course you're entitled to your opinion, i strongly disagree on personal experience. Is it a bit more involved than owning a mazdaspeed 3, or GTI, sure, but we're talking barely here.

I do think the GTI is a great choice as well, but why go FWD if you go RWD.

[Falafel Combo]

OMG! So many good options! You can get a Ford Focus ST in the US now? This is very appealing to me. 250hp, 270lb-ft! On that little thing? In 6MT? Wowzer!


Man, the US is finally becoming Hot Hatch eligible. Now BMW better bring over the M135i, and soon. Might make it to my next DD list.


.

[Jamesons Viggen]

Originally Posted by KORALLROT

S2000 - 2 seater, convertible, RWD, amazing reviews, modestly priced - 5-8 year old car
RX8 - 4 seater, RWD, limited slip differential, less engaging and less road feel than S2000
BRZ - Ughh! Looks amazing! Great reviews, and yes, a tad underpowered
Golf GTI - No idea at all about this car, but I know I always wanted one growing up. Nostalgic factor?
Mazda Speed 3 - HOLY-SLEEPER-CAR! 260HP, 280lb-ft torque - stock, 4 cylinder turbo! 3200 lbs.

If you are looking for a truly fun drivers car, skip the FWD. I had a Viggen with all the power in the world, it was still a FWD hatchback no matter what you did to it. That scratches off the ST, MS3 and GTI.

The Rx8, it intrigues me, have not driven one. The V8 fuel economy and oil burning a turn off compared to the S2000.

If you are considering an S2000 and have the coin, check out an '01-02 M Roadster which has the E46 M3 S54 in it. Or, an S52 like mine '98-00 which can be had for under $20k with low miles. You get a lot of the S2000 experience but with the sound and feel of a BMW straight 6.

http://www.mroadsterbuyersguide.com/listings/

[Kankles]

Had an 06 GLI, sedan version of the GTI, loved it and would def buy again. 200hp w 6mt was very fun. Would also like to drive the mazdaspeed3. S2000 would be a top down Sunday driver for me.