So the time is fast approaching to get rid of my automatic focus sedan and get a real car. Money's still fairly tight, cant afford to spend any more than 13000, and with my horrible driving record i cant afford to insure anything thats actually all that quick.
Choices are as follows:
2004 VW Golf
2004 Mazda 3
2004 Subaru Impreza 2.5rs
2003 Mini Cooper

Each of these has a faster stock counterpart (which i cant afford to insure), the GTI, Mazdaspeed3, wrx, and cooper s. It should be fairly easy for me to find parts from any of those cars to upgrade any of my options cheaply and effectively, in addition, each of these has a good selection of after market parts available. What would you all do?

 

Uhhhh I dunno, I'd personally look for an 99-01 Civic Si with that budget and description. I don't think insurance would be killer.

 

2.5RS by far. you could always STI swap it should you get some extra mone yand wanna go faster...Plus i love the way that car looks! My favorite Subi by far

 

As far as a civic goes, i realize that they're great performers and easily modified, but up until the 06 si, I've just always hated the way they look. Im not looking for a show queen or anything, and i wont be doing any visual mods at all, but i cant see driving around in something i just flat out dont like. If i could afford to hop in an 06 or 07 civic si and more importantly afford to insure it, I'd be at the honda dealership right now.

The sti swap into the 2.5 rs is certainly tempting, but once my driving record clears up, im out of college, and i've got a decent job, I'll be getting something newer, nicer, and faster than whatever i purchase now. So i'll likely be sticking to bolt ons rather than full engine swaps as it would seem ridiculous to drop that kind of money into a car im replacing in just a few years.

That being said, the Subie is right around the top of my list right now, neck and neck with the mazda as they both have a similar power to weight ratio. The thing i like about both the mini and the mazda is that they use the same powerplants as they're quicker counterparts, i could find the turbo out of a wrecked mazdaspeed or the supercharger out of a wrecked cooper s and get pretty inexpensive forced induction out of either of them. Keep the input comin guys! I really appreciate it!

 

Any of the above except Golf. Mazda 3 should be a very reliable and yet good looking car. Impreza has the classic suby look. Cooper is a love it or hate it car, so if you love it, go for it.

 

subaru for sure out of your choices

Id get a rsx type s if it was my money though

 

i don't know about the subie. I always see women in the RS's. I really wouldn't want a car like that. if you want to keep it new and reliable i'd go with the mini. But if you don't care just buy a cheaper gen II rx-7 and put some cash into the engine. you'll get some good experience with mods, tuning, and maint.

 

Mini = BMW, thus beware high maintenance costs

 

A minicooper is such a chick car. Every girl i know wants a mini because its cute.

I rarely see RSs, but when i do, its a guy driving it.

 

2g DSM AWD

 

+1

 

subaru..girls drive minicoopers

 

99 Civic EX

 

As far as the RSX-s, I'd ****** one of those up as quick is i could if i could insure it, but unfortunately i cant, im already paying astronomical rates just to insure me driving my focus sedan.

The "girls drive minis" doesn't bother me much, although i'll concede, most of the mini drivers i know are girls. I don't have a problem with my masculinity and i certainly know the girls i know that drive minis cant drive them like i can so i wont be bothered by it. Its true that bmw maintenance is expensive, but they're reliable enough that problems are few and far between.

An awd dsm would be a neat car and they're cheap enough that i could do some nice mods. Factory turbo makes it more expensive to insure but they're cheap enough that it might still be manageable. Trouble is finding one in nice condition with low mileage as they're at the very least five years older than the other cars im considering.

 

the only guy's I see driving RS's also have rainbow stickers on the back. look, you only buy the RS because you want to put STI stickers on it to make everyone think you have one. there are no redeeming factors. its slow, looks like sin (which is to say exactly like the STI)(i know that's a touchy subject for some, but thats my opinion so please don't post 89789072349087 times about how cool the STI is), and doesn't really come with a lot of options (again i didn't buy my evo because of the amenities so please don't rip). there are much better cars with much more performance potential, short of putting an STI engine in the RS, out there. the mini, IMO, in stock form is a ton of fun to brake slide around; and there are more creature comforts.

yes, the mini is a BMW, but I've replaced plenty of parts on my BM. its not that bad. a water pump on a civic is about 20 bucks cheaper than the BMW's, assuming you do the work yourself. its a wifes tale how much BMW's cost to maintain. do you really think BMW would put a warranty on their cars that covers everything if it cost's an arm and a leg? do you know why mitsu does not cover CRAP on the Evo?

I digress.