I’m starting to get the new car itch, and I’m looking around there is just about nothing out there that interests me that is at a price I’d be willing to pay.
I’ve never really been in this situation before. I’ve always loved to look at what new cars are out and even think about what I’d buy if something happened to my daily driver, but man is the selection out there bleak as hell. New or slightly used. Here is my short list, but even the cars on the list all have at least one (and most have 2 or 3) thing I’ve not crazy about.
New Mustang. Never been a Mustang-guy before but I saw the new one in person and I liked it more than I thought I would.
New or slightly used Camaro. Like the Mustang, it’s more impractical that I really want, but still tempted.
WRX. I still haven’t forgiven Subaru for phoning-it-in with this redesign. I’m actually hoping a mid-cycle refresh solves this issue.
Genesis G70. I really want to like this car.
Kia Stinger. The lack of a manual is really the biggest issue - love the hatch design. There’s just something about this car that feels cheap. Which is weird because in higher trims, it really isn’t a cheap car.
CT5-V. No not the Blackwing. I wish. I’d definitely onky be looking at used ones. I feel it is underrated car. It’s got probably the best proportions of any regularly priced car on sale today. That long hood, short deck proportions is phenomenal.
Chevy Trax. The new one. This one is a total left field pick, but I’m totally digging the super low price and small, but not too small, size. A neighbor has one ans it’s lower than most other crossovers so the wagon-ness of it really appeals to me.
Nizzan Z. Like the Camaro and Mustang, this is very impractical but the old-school nature of it (manual, RWD) is incredibly appealing.
Toyota GR Corolla. Lots to like about this, but I get the feeling it would be unobtainium because I sure fuck am not paying a dealer markup.
What’s your short list of cars?
GR86
I could definitely see it being on the top of the list for many people.
Lol, my current car is an 86, if it died tomorrow I’d buy another 86.
A tree fell on my FR-S. It got replaced with an STi because they’re only going to get older and higher mileage from here on out. It was one of the last of a dying market segment.
If a tree fell on my STi tomorrow, it’d probably get replaced with another 86. They’re fantastic cars.
I’ve already had two and I’d have another if it weren’t for having kids now.
Ditto!
If I had to buy something tomorrow? Golf GTI. It’s sporty enough and in a practical package. And I’m a sucker for the clean, simple exterior design. Unfortunately, the 6-speed manual is going away after the 2024 model year.
This or a MT Impreza or crosstrek. But only because I’ve worked on a lot of Subarus and like their simplicity. Also, my wife needs AWD.
Just be careful you clean the old Subaru’s oil stains off the driveway before you get the new one home. I’ve seen them get so worked up they blow a head gasket.
If my car died tomorrow I’d be looking at 30 year old cars. New cars don’t excite me much. My commute is 15 minutes and I need something to occasionally haul big stuff for the house. Currently driving a lifted 99 Legacy wagon. Once I catch up with deferred maintenance (about $2k) the car will be perfect for my needs and reliable.
Looking at your list it looks like you want something on the sporty side. Do you ever to haul kids, groceries, etc?
My only comment for your choices is a bout the the Kia. I don’t believe they try to do the right thing for their customers. They never took full responsibility for the exploding engines. Now with the “Kia Boys” hack they left customers on their own, again. I was caught up in the engine fiasco but my Kia is higher end so not easy to steal. The streets in my area were littered with stolen/trashed Kias for a while but I think the kids ran through the supply.
I’m with you on the 30 year old cars bit! I don’t really want to own anything built long after 90 tbh, but have been looking longingly at some trucks from the late seventies to early eighties.
I just feel like, in general, automobile designs and engines have been going downhill for a while but it also could be that I’m poor and like to actually be able to repair my stuff. Some of those trucks from between the 70’s to 90’s? Easy as pie to repair, finding parts is the issue. Everything after around 2005 that I work on just gets increasingly complicated, with redundancies all around, meant for progress but breaking setbacks along with them.
I think I’ve decided if/when I get a new car it’ll be an EV. I’m hoping the lineup will diversify beyond SUVs/crossovers by that point…
I honestly can’t say that I find any EVs out right now all that interesting. At least not for me. And they almost all are a good $10k more than I’d be willing to spend. I’ll stick to ICE for the time being.
If I had to choose right now… probably something boring like a Subaru Legacy.
My car should hold out at least another 6, 8, or maybe even 10 years, though. I hope that small city trucks catch on by then.
The Mavrick wasn’t a phenomenon, but people seem to like them. The Santa Cruz is weird looking, but I’m here for what it’s trying to do. From what I know about the Stout, that seems like it’ll be pretty cool.
Keep shrinking them, I say! Hell, let’s go full ute & bring back the El Camino or the Ranchero. I’d love that.
The Stout?! What the heck is that? Haven’t heard about that one.
It’s a small pickup that used to be in the Central & South American and Asian markets. It coming to the US and Canada is just a rumor, I think. But small truck enjoyers can hope!
We’ll see. I like that the Ford Maverick has become as big of a hit as it has because that means more companies will eventually release competitors. I’m hoping for a modern El Camino. I really think that if GM had released an El Camino on the RWD Alpha platform, it could have saved the Camaro since it also rides on that platform.
A new El Camino would be so sick. It’s highly unlikely, but in my mind the success of the Maverick could conceivably prod Ford into beating GM to the car-truck punch and dust off the Ranchero to serve a more pragmatic side of the small truck-wanting market.
I think performance is more part of the El Camino’s DNA than the Ranchero’s. It would be fun if Ford offered an economical ute thing with a smaller motor and few substantial performance options. Maybe a small Ford Ranchero SHO (RancherSHO?) production run for funsies, but otherwise super basic. If those did well, then Chevy could go “hold my beer…” and make things fun.
Unfortunately I think we are caught in a weird holding pattern for cars like that. For the last few years all car makers have been cutting almost anything fun or interesting as they ramp up their EV game. And that’s going to continue for a few more years as there is a whole ton of stuff going on internally and tons of uncertanty. I think (or at least I hope) that once these comapnies figure out their EV game-plan, they will use the cost savings allowed by using a common skateboard platform and let their designers run wild with crazier designs. But if that does happen, it probably won’t for a while. I think the first sign of this is that rather cool ID.Buzz retro EV van from VW.
Recent Miata’s seem like they would be in good company with your other picks
I really hate the looks of the squinty headlights of the current model. It irks me so much. Plus I don’t really live in convertible location. Would be a waste, but I do love sunroof. I do like the Miata, but I’d be more interested in an early gen model that wouldn’t be a daily.
Would a miata be your pick if your current car exploded tomorrow?
Not who you responded to, but I currently daily drive a 2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder. If it gave up the ghost and I wanted a similar new car, yes. The Miata would be my current choice.
If my 2003 WRX died, well again since it’s on its third engine, I’d probably rebuild it. Or get an Outback. I lifted my WRX, so I’m looking for more of the off-road and camping life with it. Its main purpose is to tow, do trail runs, and when it snows.
I probably would buy something older, I like wrenching and would get something pre-smog. But I also drive only something like 1500 miles a year.
I miss my bugeye Rex so much. Most fun car I’ve ever had. Put 240k miles on it and every last one of those miles was a hoot. Never get rid of that car - there’s nothing else like it out there.
Well, I just bought my current car (actually, truck) a few months ago so I certainly hope it does not explode tomorrow! A Miata was in the running for this recent purchase, though. What does a truck and a Miata have in common that I would be considering both? IMO they are both honest about what they are: there is minimal software interfering between me and the machine (at least the case for basic work trucks). No drive modes, lane assist, intelligent cruise, auto braking, etc. Thats pretty rare in modern autos.
If my STI died tomorrow it’s getting a built block haha. That car is staying with me to the grave
I’ve had mine for about a year. It’ll be paid off in another 2-3 years.
I’m already budgeting for an eventual IAG block. Just EJ25 things.
My most fun car was my OG bugeye Rex. Wasn’t an STI but damn did I love that car. Was so sad to have to say goodbye to it after 13 years of daily driving it.
Well theres a 67 Mustang with a 289 on craigslist right now for 3 grand. No ac, not much interior, first gear slips, and theres rust.
So that.
Definitely get an old car. The usual rule is to get the best example you can afford though even if that means a lesser car in better shape versus a higher end car in worse shape. Rust is a bitch. I love my '64 but I wouldn’t daily drive it.
I’d spend $75,000 on overhauling my car.
The 2002 Subaru Outback was perfect.
I’ve got a lifted 99 Legacy with a manual trans. It needs a little work then it will be fine for short daily commute.
Instead of having a new car payment I can get another older car. Wife is on board and her only request is automatic so she can drive it too.
Biggest thing for me is way too many models have had decades of the same fucking design. Same shape. Same engine types. Just new paints parts and fancy cheap LED all over the place.
And when they do let a designer make something new we get the most stupid shit imaginable like the Santa Cruz
Just new paints parts and fancy cheap LED all over the place.
The worst part about this is that when you have a single year version of stupid shit like taillights, they start getting super expensive. If you are going to do the same shit for 10 years in a row, just stamp them out, and don’t dick with the little things.
If my current car died tomorrow… I’d probably buy a 20ish year old car. Maybe an Acura Integra, TL, or a Honda Civic SI. Don’t think I could afford much newer than that and still have fun with it the way I want to.
Honestly, my main goal is to stick to what I’ve got, and pick up an old Honda Insight for daily driving. Of course, there are more practical cars to get, but I like what I like.
If I had to pick new cars, probably a brand new Civic
Anyone have cool electric picks?
Maybe this doesn’t qualify as “cool” in the sports car sense, but how about the Rivian R1S or R1T?
If I could get one at msrp I would get the GR Corolla hands down. It is the coolest hatch in recent years other than possibly the focus rs.
Damn shame Ford has decided to turn its back on cars (other than the Mustang).
Yeah it makes me sad they had a really cool car, with one of the piece awd systems on a street car, and that was also affordable and decided to axe it in favor of electric cars and trucks.
And they didn’t axe it and immediately replace them. Even now they only have like 3 EVs and none of them are Focus-sized and all of them are expensive.
I’ve had three Jeep wranglers across the past 20 years and I liked them because they were fun to drive, easy to fix, and relatively cheap. That’s not the case anymore so when my current Jeep dies I’ll likely end up in some kind of EV. If money weren’t an issue I would do a new Bronco with 35s but those are insanely priced. If I had no choice and needed a car now I would probably do a used BMW 3 series like the e90 or something.
Not from the US but I felt like sharing. I would get a Renault Clio station wagon It’s about the right size for me and I can do some decent road trips through all of Europe with it. I currently drive a Smart and it would be a gigantic upgrade.
Wagons are awesome. It makes me sad that there are essentially no options for wagons in the US.
