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I am about to have a 45 minute commute each way to work. I think the best way to make it a pleasant experience other then a helicopter would be a fun but efficient car. I would spend up to $30k and would like something sporty (prefer 4 door but 2 door okay) that gets good hwy mpg (hope 30+) that is also comfortable for a 6' tall 40 year old (no boy racer). It will be in Florida so no winter weather and 90% of it will be highway.
Any recommendations would be welcome.
Thanks.
It might help us if you were to tell us what your current ride is.
I have been searching for one too. I am looking to buy a stick shift, am 6' tall and in my 40's, my budget is lower, so I have midlife crisis on a budget. I also need to fit 3 passengers at times.
I think the Scion FRS is a great car, just too low for me. The rear seat is also an issue-it is more targeted to the younger generation and is a bit out there (At least for my work's parking lot). I test drove the Mazda 3, the VW Golf (regular, but they did not have the stick) and the Ford Focus Hatch. The VW was the nicest, but none with manual in my area and also not sure about long-term reliability-those who have had good luck with them are noted/don't post, because there are a lot of others out there where the opposite has happened to them.
So at this point I am just waiting it out for a good deal on a CPO Mazda 3 vs Ford Focus. Very difficult to find one with a stick. I might buy a brand new Focus. If my budget was in your range, I would go for the Focus ST.
2014 Mazda3. Lots of interior goodies and features, up to 39 MPG highway with the 2.5L and i-ELOOP system, or 41 MPG with the 2.0L. The 2.5L has more goodies though.
The 2014 Kia Forte5 is a close second, but it's more comfortable than fun, and doesn't get as good fuel economy. The fan-cooled driver's seat might be worthwhile in Florida though.
Chevy Cruze is a nice comfy highway cruiser too, and now comes with a diesel for MY2014. 46 MPG highway. Sedan only though, because GM hath decreed Americans don't buy hatchbacks. Guess all those FOcuses and Golfs and GTIs and Mazda3s are Mirages. Narf.
You could probably get a good deal on a VW GTI, but that's because it'll be redesigned next year.
Don't buy diesels. None of them is sporty.
Don't buy Mazda. We have Mazdaspeed 3 in garage. You'll regret it.
Don't buy Subarus as they suck on gas and have major engine issues.
Koreans? Sporty? Joke must be..
Don't buy diesels. None of them is sporty.
Don't buy Mazda. We have Mazdaspeed 3 in garage. You'll regret it.
Don't buy Subarus as they suck on gas and have major engine issues.
Koreans? Sporty? Joke must be..
Here's your boy toy:
I've been drinking a bit tonight and that appears to be a Scion Fr-S to my drunken eyes. What is it?????
Don't buy diesels. None of them is sporty.
Don't buy Mazda. We have Mazdaspeed 3 in garage. You'll regret it.
Don't buy Subarus as they suck on gas and have major engine issues.
Koreans? Sporty? Joke must be..
Here's your boy toy:
So your solution is to tell him to buy a Toyota? Gimme a break.
The regular Mazdas are fine. The Speeds did have more mechanical issues. Then again they were nearly completely different cars with a lot of exclusive parts, including the entire drivetrain.
Diesels can be annoying because they run out of breath at high RPMs. On the other hand they have a monsterous amount of low-end torque, which in its own right is fun, and really kicks you in the pants.
Koreans are trying to be sporty. I wouldn't so much say a joke as sort of one of those sad funnies where you see the skinny kid try to lift the heavy barbell? You know he's going to fail but gosh darn it, he keeps trying, no matter how ill equipped he might be.
Don't buy diesels. None of them is sporty.
Don't buy Mazda. We have Mazdaspeed 3 in garage. You'll regret it.
Don't buy Subarus as they suck on gas and have major engine issues.
Koreans? Sporty? Joke must be..
BMW 335d is a nice piece, the A6 TDI w/ the sport package is a really nice package also. New diesels have nothing in common with the 70s/80s diesels.......btw Audi won Lemans with a diesel so that seems pretty sporty!
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