What's next - Mazdaspeed 3 replacement

[JST]

Originally Posted by John V

This is off topic for this thread but pickings are slim for that kind of thing these days. Reaonably quick four-doors with a stick are almost nonexistent now. The Chevy SS, Caddy CTS (the ATS back seat is TINY), the current 3er and Audi S4 and that's pretty much it.

For new cars, anway:

CTS has no stick.

S4 has no stick.

SS is end of life.

Basically if you want a stick and four doors and reasonable performance, your choices are:

BMW 3er
Audi A4
ATS-V (which as JV points out isn't really an option because the back seat is laughable)

I think that's it.

The good news is that even with just the 2.0L turbo the A4 seems pretty quick; I've seen 0-60 times in the low 5s.

The bad news is...eh, Audi.

Stepping down a level, you can still get the Jetta GLI with a stick, but it's smaller and nowhere near as nice.

[bren]

I know JV's wife. JV's wife likes Porsches. Thus, this is the actual answer here:

[Josh (PA)]

No, she wants this:


(Just to go full carmudgeons Tesla/Porsche on the thread in a short two posts)

[wdc330i]

Apparently this comes with a stick: http://www.vw.com/models/golf-alltra.../transmission/

And the higher line version: http://www.vw.com/models/golf-alltra.../transmission/

And this one: http://www.vw.com/models/golf-sportw.../transmission/

And this: http://www.vw.com/models/golf-sportw.../transmission/

[JST]

Originally Posted by bren

I know JV's wife. JV's wife likes Porsches. Thus, this is the actual answer here:

I mean, it makes more sense than a CX-5.

But the thing is, if you're willing to put up with an auto, there are dozens of interesting choices out there. Why go with an underpowered CUV?

[Jeff_DML]

http://www.autoblog.com/2017/04/09/j...=hp-tile-large



I don't know your wife but cx-5 seems like a good choice if she likes it.

[John V]

Originally Posted by bren

I know JV's wife. JV's wife likes Porsches. Thus, this is the actual answer here:

Very cool, but way too much money.

Tesla vaporware lol.

[equ]

I'd give the CX5 more rear space, but it's hard for me to believe that the rear seat and cargo room of the MS3 is that much larger than a mk7 GTI. What year is the mazdaspeed3?

[equ]

We checked out the Alltrack. The whole car is meh. Meh engine, meh interior. Unlike the GTI, the alltrack does not hide its econo-competitor roots. But yes, it checks boxes:
- stick
- wagon
- awd
But fail on the overall, whole gestalt.

[equ]

Originally Posted by Nick M3

Stuffing a couple of investors in the back of the E46 M3 during the monsoon rains last Thursday was entertaining. I really do need to find an acceptable sedan.

I can't imagine a better sedan for that than the F10. Yes, the steering is a bit remote. So what? The ergos are good, the ride is very, very good (my friend's a6 was poo back-to-back) and the car is calm but competent enough. 2011 to 2013 you can get a stick either on the 535i or the 550i. The adaptive shocks and roll bars maybe complex and somewhat costly on the back end, but my, do they ride well.