Is there a car that is Just Right?
July 2, 2018 3:10 PM Subscribe
We have always had two cars but could condense to one car, if only we could find one that ticks both of our lists. My car all along has been a 1994 Mazda Miata with a manual transmission. It's been a lot of fun to drive, but is really the "second car". Mr. DrGail has had a succession of Asian compact sedans as our primary vehicle, mostly Hondas. His current car is a Mazda3 at the top trim level. Is there a car out there that we would both love?
The sedan choices have always been driven (pun intended) by a need to keep the dimensions small so both cars can fit in the garage, but neither of us is a very big person so we prefer a smallish car anyway. Mr. DrGail likes an automatic transmission and other features that make the car easy to drive and maneuver. I'm willing to drive a car with automatic, but it has to be peppy and sporty and fun to drive or I get bored. And as we age, I'm doing more and more of the driving. We both like the modern tech like back-up cameras and blind-spot indicators. We live in the Chicago area, so it has to handle snow well. I think that means front-wheel drive although all-wheel drive could suffice if it doesn't trash the car's nimbleness and gas mileage. For the most part, price is no object for the right luxury sedan. We've always had Asian or American cars, but I'm open to the idea of a European car and suspect that's how we'll be able to get the right combination of sedate and jazzy to suit our different preferences.
So please, car experts of MetaFilter, suggest some vehicles for me to check out!
The sedan choices have always been driven (pun intended) by a need to keep the dimensions small so both cars can fit in the garage, but neither of us is a very big person so we prefer a smallish car anyway. Mr. DrGail likes an automatic transmission and other features that make the car easy to drive and maneuver. I'm willing to drive a car with automatic, but it has to be peppy and sporty and fun to drive or I get bored. And as we age, I'm doing more and more of the driving. We both like the modern tech like back-up cameras and blind-spot indicators. We live in the Chicago area, so it has to handle snow well. I think that means front-wheel drive although all-wheel drive could suffice if it doesn't trash the car's nimbleness and gas mileage. For the most part, price is no object for the right luxury sedan. We've always had Asian or American cars, but I'm open to the idea of a European car and suspect that's how we'll be able to get the right combination of sedate and jazzy to suit our different preferences.
So please, car experts of MetaFilter, suggest some vehicles for me to check out!
Why not go with a hot hatch? I don't know if they still do the Mazdaspeed3, but that's the general idea: something sporty that handles great, but is also a hatchback with room for passengers and stuff. Lots of great vehicles in that niche if that's your niche.
The Mazda3 hatch used to have a turbo option that fit right in this spot, although I think that was a manual. But even the plain old Mazda3 hatch is nice and zippy.
posted by billjings at 3:18 PM on July 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
The Mazda3 hatch used to have a turbo option that fit right in this spot, although I think that was a manual. But even the plain old Mazda3 hatch is nice and zippy.
posted by billjings at 3:18 PM on July 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Don't shoot me, but it sounds like you'd both love the dual-engine Tesla Model 3 (or perhaps S). You can't get a 3 immediately if you're not already on the waiting list, but you can buy / test-drive an S.
posted by anonymisc at 3:21 PM on July 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by anonymisc at 3:21 PM on July 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Most cars, even very affordable cars with the cheapest package, will have backup cameras and sensors now. I think it may be a federal regulation.
Go test drive a Mini Cooper probably. They even make an all wheel drive model if you want that. Extremely fun to drive, even more so if you get their sport package. The automatic transition will turn into faux-manual just by pulling the stick to the left.
posted by vogon_poet at 3:24 PM on July 2, 2018
Go test drive a Mini Cooper probably. They even make an all wheel drive model if you want that. Extremely fun to drive, even more so if you get their sport package. The automatic transition will turn into faux-manual just by pulling the stick to the left.
posted by vogon_poet at 3:24 PM on July 2, 2018
I lived in Chicago with a Mazda3 (manual transmission) and snow tires made a world of difference, even without AWD. Just an option to consider if your final dream car doesn't have it! Easy to have a tire shop switch them out seasonally, too.
posted by PaulaSchultz at 3:31 PM on July 2, 2018
posted by PaulaSchultz at 3:31 PM on July 2, 2018
Yeah, I'm surprised the Mazda 3 doesn't meet your needs. Obviously an automatic is never going to be as peppy as a manual, but I thought that one was pretty good.
In that case I would second the recommendation to look at an electric car or a plugin hybrid. Electric motors have a flat torque curve that is like always being in first when you slam the gas.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 3:32 PM on July 2, 2018
In that case I would second the recommendation to look at an electric car or a plugin hybrid. Electric motors have a flat torque curve that is like always being in first when you slam the gas.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 3:32 PM on July 2, 2018
If money were no object, this current VW GTI driver would move up to a Mercedes AMG GLA 45 (which is a hotted up GLA 250). (Here's a quick Truth About Cars review).
posted by notyou at 3:33 PM on July 2, 2018
posted by notyou at 3:33 PM on July 2, 2018
Fun to drive luxury sedan with price being no object? I would definitely be test driving an Audi S5 Sportback.
posted by General Malaise at 4:06 PM on July 2, 2018
posted by General Malaise at 4:06 PM on July 2, 2018
Mazda is putting a 2.0l turbo 4 in the its 6 sedan. Not too big, comes with an automatic, should be fun to drive. Honda also puts a 2.0l turbo 4 in the Accord and I can tell you it's got some good zip, plus it has a real torque converter automatic, not a cvt like the base 4 cyl. Just about any car these days is going to have a backup camera, (its now the law), but the Accord also has the Honda Sensing gadgetry for auto braking and lane maintenance.
posted by dudemanlives at 8:11 PM on July 2, 2018
posted by dudemanlives at 8:11 PM on July 2, 2018
The GTI and Golf R have a DSG transmission option that can be used as a regular automatic or as a sequential shifter that’s not as hands on as a manual but shifts faster and is definitely more fun than a normal automatic. The generic term is dual clutch but all the manufacturers have their own name. The GTI is a blast to drive but also very practical and surprisingly economical with sport mode turned off.
posted by Huck500 at 8:13 PM on July 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Huck500 at 8:13 PM on July 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Try an Audi A3, or for a sportier version, check out the S3. Or for a seriously fast/priceier version, the RS3.
posted by coberh at 9:32 PM on July 2, 2018
posted by coberh at 9:32 PM on July 2, 2018
I have a 2018 Toyota Yaris iA, which is really a rebadged Mazda 2. It's very underpowered, but handles extremely well and it's very fun to drive in a "slow-car-fast" kind of way. That being said, even though it's an automatic, it has a feature that allows you to put it in to manual mode and control the upshift and downshifts of the transmission. It makes the car 100x more pleasurable to drive, and it might be a good feature to look for in whatever car you do end up getting.
posted by arcolz at 10:57 AM on July 3, 2018
posted by arcolz at 10:57 AM on July 3, 2018
Slightly used Mini Cooper Clubman. Has the space of the sedan but the footprint of the Mazda. Fun as hell if you have the S-Model.
Get one with a warranty.
posted by Thistledown at 11:32 AM on July 3, 2018
Get one with a warranty.
posted by Thistledown at 11:32 AM on July 3, 2018
I've just bought a Golf R, as suggested in the first response, and I'd recommend it in the DSG (auto/Dual-clutch) configuration based on your question (mine's a manual) if, and it's a big IF, you want the AWD and can stomach the $40k price tag.
At 2k miles it has barely started to bed in, but fuel economy wise it's getting between 25-31mpg, with the difference largely based on the length of journey (cold engine, short distance, poorer economy). It's very well equipped and, in the 5-door form (I don't know if the R is available as a 3-door) extremely practical. It's not going to be as nimble as a Miata/MX-5 but nothing is this side of a lightweight Lotus.
Equipment-wise, the R is the top of the range, with all options included (I believe the options for the car are a) color and b) manual or DSG transmission. That's it.), although there's no spare tire (and the 18" wheel rims, pretty as they are, are very expensive if you ding them).
So, if you're not willing to spend $40k and/or you don't want the AWD? Look at the GTI instead. It's over $10k cheaper, and, while not as powerful as the R (292hp), the 220hp isn't bad. Most of the R's features are available on the GTI as options, including DSG box and infotainment system, which includes backup camera (fairly common, as has been pointed out above, although the Golf does a neat trick of hiding it in the rear badge. I've never seen mine although I use it frequently :-) ), Nav, smartphone integration (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), etc.
For long term use and resale, the best part? Nearly all new VWs come with a 6-year, 72k mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.
posted by Nice Guy Mike at 11:49 AM on July 10, 2018
At 2k miles it has barely started to bed in, but fuel economy wise it's getting between 25-31mpg, with the difference largely based on the length of journey (cold engine, short distance, poorer economy). It's very well equipped and, in the 5-door form (I don't know if the R is available as a 3-door) extremely practical. It's not going to be as nimble as a Miata/MX-5 but nothing is this side of a lightweight Lotus.
Equipment-wise, the R is the top of the range, with all options included (I believe the options for the car are a) color and b) manual or DSG transmission. That's it.), although there's no spare tire (and the 18" wheel rims, pretty as they are, are very expensive if you ding them).
So, if you're not willing to spend $40k and/or you don't want the AWD? Look at the GTI instead. It's over $10k cheaper, and, while not as powerful as the R (292hp), the 220hp isn't bad. Most of the R's features are available on the GTI as options, including DSG box and infotainment system, which includes backup camera (fairly common, as has been pointed out above, although the Golf does a neat trick of hiding it in the rear badge. I've never seen mine although I use it frequently :-) ), Nav, smartphone integration (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), etc.
For long term use and resale, the best part? Nearly all new VWs come with a 6-year, 72k mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.
posted by Nice Guy Mike at 11:49 AM on July 10, 2018
And because I didn't read the damn question properly (sorry!), since you specifically called out "Sedan":
I bought the Golf after looking at the following: Alfa Romeo Guilia Q4, Audi A4 Sportline Quattro and Kia Stinger Premium AWD. Of those, I'd have been happy in the Alfa or the Audi, but the Kia I found a bit too rattle-y for the price and, frankly, a bit big for my tastes.
The Audi is very similar to the Golf R, which isn't surprising since they're based off (or developed from, originally) the same base car. Tech is very similar, feeling when driven is similar, etc, and I found the Audi's in-cabin tech was a little better than the Golf, but driver assists/safety features were worse - that said, the Golf R was a 2018 model vs the A4's 2017 model, so that might have changed. The big points against the Audi were the price, at around $5-6k more for similar spec (but with 252hp engine), and the warranty, at 4 years/50k miles.
The Alfa was a better, more fun car to drive, and handled better than the Golf and the Audi, but was spoiled by the in-car tech being much more awkward to use, and more importantly, the cabin feeling strangely small for the size - the Alfa isn't a small car on the outside, but the cabin felt cramped, the seats had limited motion, and my head ended up squarely behind the B-pillar when driving - not great for side visibility. Overall, the ergonomics didn't work for me, but I'm 6ft tall - they might work for you, and the car looks gorgeous. Price wise, it was a little cheaper than the Audi, but more expensive than the Golf, and had the same 4 year/50k mile warranty.
posted by Nice Guy Mike at 12:03 PM on July 10, 2018
I bought the Golf after looking at the following: Alfa Romeo Guilia Q4, Audi A4 Sportline Quattro and Kia Stinger Premium AWD. Of those, I'd have been happy in the Alfa or the Audi, but the Kia I found a bit too rattle-y for the price and, frankly, a bit big for my tastes.
The Audi is very similar to the Golf R, which isn't surprising since they're based off (or developed from, originally) the same base car. Tech is very similar, feeling when driven is similar, etc, and I found the Audi's in-cabin tech was a little better than the Golf, but driver assists/safety features were worse - that said, the Golf R was a 2018 model vs the A4's 2017 model, so that might have changed. The big points against the Audi were the price, at around $5-6k more for similar spec (but with 252hp engine), and the warranty, at 4 years/50k miles.
The Alfa was a better, more fun car to drive, and handled better than the Golf and the Audi, but was spoiled by the in-car tech being much more awkward to use, and more importantly, the cabin feeling strangely small for the size - the Alfa isn't a small car on the outside, but the cabin felt cramped, the seats had limited motion, and my head ended up squarely behind the B-pillar when driving - not great for side visibility. Overall, the ergonomics didn't work for me, but I'm 6ft tall - they might work for you, and the car looks gorgeous. Price wise, it was a little cheaper than the Audi, but more expensive than the Golf, and had the same 4 year/50k mile warranty.
posted by Nice Guy Mike at 12:03 PM on July 10, 2018
Tesla 3. American made, drives like a MINI, but the size of a BMW 3 series. current waiting time is down to a month or two.
posted by zippy at 8:44 AM on August 4, 2018
posted by zippy at 8:44 AM on August 4, 2018
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posted by cgg at 3:17 PM on July 2, 2018 [3 favorites]