Where have all the fun cars gone?

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#2685036 31-Mar-2021 20:25

Further to my above comment list, A 2013 WRX STI seems to be the closest fit to the brief:

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/subaru/listing/2995968616

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#2685059 31-Mar-2021 21:19

If you want something really truly excellent, I can strongly recommend the BMW 335d. Get it in the xDrive. The handling is exceptional, it's stupidly quick, peel your face off torqy and I highly recommend it in a wagon.

It's possibly one of the most fun cars I've driven/owned and it's fuel economy isn't terrible either.

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#2685067 31-Mar-2021 21:40

networkn:

If you want something really truly excellent, I can strongly recommend the BMW 335d. Get it in the xDrive. The handling is exceptional, it's stupidly quick, peel your face off torqy and I highly recommend it in a wagon.

It's possibly one of the most fun cars I've driven/owned and it's fuel economy isn't terrible either.

Aren't they a bit more spendy than 30k?

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#2685073 31-Mar-2021 21:55

Handle9:

networkn:

If you want something really truly excellent, I can strongly recommend the BMW 335d. Get it in the xDrive. The handling is exceptional, it's stupidly quick, peel your face off torqy and I highly recommend it in a wagon.

It's possibly one of the most fun cars I've driven/owned and it's fuel economy isn't terrible either.

Aren't they a bit more spendy than 30k?

My 2015 sold for ~42K, the sedans are cheaper, and a lower spec model with higher km's would probably fit the budget or pretty close.

Edit: just had a look on TM, they seem to up a bit in price than a year ago.

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#2685106 31-Mar-2021 23:14

Scott3:

"Where have all the fun car's gone"

In short, a combination of emissions laws & consumer preferences mean they are harder to come by.

My take is that the car classes that traditionally were very slow & had poor handling (i.e. economy hatches & utes), now have improved to a level where they are acceptable. Couple this with increased urbanization, more traffic and heavier policing, plus the SUV & ute fashion trend, and there is a lot less demand to performance cars. Seems the demographic which traditionally purchased the likes of Commodores / falcons has moved across to ute's and larger SUV's.

Still there are some interesting options if you can flex your requirements a little;

Merc A45 AMG. a 2013 is asking $38k. 265kW AWD in a hatchback.
Renalt Megane RS 265 CUP: 2014 is asking $24k. 195kW, and 0-100 of 6.0s
Lexus is350. A 2013 is asking $32500. 234kW RWD small luxary sports sedan.
Nissan 370z. a 2010 is asking $30k. 241kW Rwd coup (2 seater).
[edit] - Could add the levorg into the Mix. Sensible, practical car which goes like stink.

I second the Megane RS 265 Cup. I rented one from Hertz in Australia for a week a couple of years ago and it was the highlight of the trip! Quiet and sedate when needed, but push that throttle to the floor and it really snarls, pops and crackles, and it corners like it's on rails with very little torque steer. Great little gearbox and not too heavy to throw around. The 2 litre turbo was a joy. At the time of release it was the fastest production front wheel drive car around the Nurbergring (might still be?).

I know some people don't think much of French cars, but I had a Peugeot 106xsi for many years and never had any trouble with it - but maybe I was just lucky. If I was looking for a fun late model track car that doubles as a daily driver, I'd definitely consider one.

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#2685108 31-Mar-2021 23:24

The Merc A45 is a fantastic little hot hatch too. It's very direct and road connected and pretty aggressive, but fun. Very good performance, *very* thirsty. It has fantastic steering.

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#2685110 31-Mar-2021 23:28

Meganes are fun. I ended up with one in Melbourne once. Great fun except I had 2 passengers with luggage. It was a rubicks cube to fit it all in.

It was fun to fang up the Dandenongs.

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#2685111 31-Mar-2021 23:38

Whats "not massive?"

Strech budget to $40k, and get a merc C63? 6.3L NA V8 RWD compact sedan making 336kW, and doing 0-100 in 4.5s...

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/mercedes-benz/listing/3029490859

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#2685114 1-Apr-2021 00:00

I'm already stretching the budget to 30k, I was originally wanting to spend more like 20k.

Not massive means not Falcodore size.

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#2685116 1-Apr-2021 00:22

Scott3:
Whats "not massive?"

Strech budget to $40k, and get a merc C63? 6.3L NA V8 RWD compact sedan making 336kW, and doing 0-100 in 4.5s...

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/mercedes-benz/listing/3029490859

The AMG version of those things are insane. Last December we had family visiting. One of them is a big GM fan so we got him and his son some drag runs in Camaros in Abu Dhabi. They weren't busy so the instructor asked me if I wanted to do a hot lap. The quarter mile was quick but the insane bit was him doing 200km/hr up the return track.

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#2685244 1-Apr-2021 11:09

Wheelbarrow01:

I know some people don't think much of French cars, but I had a Peugeot 106xsi for many years and never had any trouble with it - but maybe I was just lucky. If I was looking for a fun late model track car that doubles as a daily driver, I'd definitely consider one.

Yes, you got lucky. Neither peugeot or renault fare well in most reliability surveys

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#2685278 1-Apr-2021 11:32

lxsw20:

I'm already stretching the budget to 30k, I was originally wanting to spend more like 20k.

Not massive means not Falcodore size.

If $30k is a stretch, the Renault Megane RS 265 CUP is looking like the best fun to $ ratio. There a white 2013 one (with a damaged import advisory) asking $19,999, which would keep you within your original budget.

Any strong preferences when it comes to:

FWD / RWD / AWD,

Auto / Manual,

Refined & comfortable / More race style.

Obviously a massive between a FWD manual hot hatch, and a RWD auto lexus small sedan, even if both are very quick and handle well.

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#2685281 1-Apr-2021 11:39

Scott3:

lxsw20:

I'm already stretching the budget to 30k, I was originally wanting to spend more like 20k.

Not massive means not Falcodore size.

If $30k is a stretch, the Renault Megane RS 265 CUP is looking like the best fun to $ ratio. There a white 2013 one (with a damaged import advisory) asking $19,999, which would keep you within your original budget.

Any strong preferences when it comes to:

FWD / RWD / AWD,

Auto / Manual,

Refined & comfortable / More race style.

Obviously a massive between a FWD manual hot hatch, and a RWD auto lexus small sedan, even if both are very quick and handle well.

I think the IS350 is one to look at. The Megane sounds like a weapon, but I just know I wouldn’t trust it. I know I’m being bloody fussy, but if you’re thinking every time you drive something what’s going to break today and what’s it going to cost to fix it. It takes a lot of the enjoyment out of a car for me. Even if I can do most of the mechanical work myself.

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#2685315 1-Apr-2021 13:14

duckDecoy:

Yes, you got lucky. Neither peugeot or renault fare well in most reliability surveys

I was wary of their reputation too. However, I've had a troublefree run in my little Puggy.

If hot hatches appeal to you, the Peugeot 205/6/7 GTI were the genuine article, but there's no 208 GTI due to EU antipollution laws.

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#2685317 1-Apr-2021 13:18

frankv:

I was wary of their reputation too. However, I've had a troublefree run in my little Puggy.

If hot hatches appeal to you, the Peugeot 205/6/7 GTI were the genuine article, but there's no 208 GTI due to EU antipollution laws.

Honestly with the run I've had with my Prince-engined Mini Cooper S, I'm surprised anyone buys anything from BMW or PSA anymore.

It's taken about three years of constant repairs to get it to a place that I consider reliable enough for a car that is 7 years newer than my beater Corolla.

I might actually be reluctant to sell it!

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