New car day

[Mott the Hoople]

The Misses just got promoted with a sizable raise in pay. As a payback she said I could buy a new sports car but my budget is $45k tops. Which can buy a decent sports car but isn’t going to buy a race car. I’m not a mechanic and I’m not wealthy so other financial factors come into play. Like cost to own. I intend to drive this car daily.

With the financial limits I have I can eliminate a European car as their reliability and cost to own suck. Particularly the latter.

So I have limited my choice to three types. They are;

A muscle car
A hot hatch
A roadster

After doing my research I have decided on one car in each category.

Mustang GT, which is at the high end of my budget. A Civic type R which is in the middle of my budget and a Mazda MX-5 Club spec, at the low end of budget.

The Stang is the fastest in straight line speed and though they have improved the handling it doesn’t handle nearly as well as the other two. The Stang would stomp the Civic type R in a drag race, the type R has terrible launching characteristics but the Type R would beat the Stang on a road track. It’s handling is just that much better. It also has the highest cost to own.

The Type R is probably the best compromise. It’s way lighter than the Stang, is more fun to drive and with 300hp, given the weight difference, isn’t much slower. It’s also the most practical daily daily driver. It’s cost to own is significantly lower than the Stang but surprisingly is equal to the MX-5. On the down side the styling sucks. It looks cartoonish and looks like something an 18 yo would drive.

The MX-5 has upgrade its power to 181 Hp and it only weighs 2350lb. It unquestionably has the best handling and though far less power than the other two is extremely rewarding momentum car for those who know how to drive. You can also push the limits of an MX-5 in a manner you can’t do in the other two if you don’t want to wrap yourself around a telephone pole or go to Jail. Its also a convertible. On the down side it’s The slowest and least practical though it’s the most reliable of the three.

So what are my priorities? In order they are;

Fun to drive
Great handling
Speed
Reliability
Cost to own
Practical

Practical is at the bottom of the list as I already have a hatchback that serves that purpose and I intend to keep it.

So the winner is the MX-5. In terms of being fun to drive, particularly with the top down, it walks away from the others. With the hp increase to 181 and the improved aero design it’s top speed is around 145 mph. A significant improvement over the 2018 model that tops out at 125 mph. Certainly slower than the other two but plenty fast for road driving. I’m not going to drive on a track or drag race. It’s also the most reliable of the three based on statistics I’ve reviewed. In the end, for me, being the most fun to drive wins out.

[Eagle_Eye]

The Misses just got promoted with a sizable raise in pay. As a payback she said I could buy a new sports car but my budget is $45k tops. Which can buy a decent sports car but isn’t going to buy a race car. I’m not a mechanic and I’m not wealthy so other financial factors come into play. Like cost to own. I intend to drive this car daily.

With the financial limits I have I can eliminate a European car as their reliability and cost to own suck. Particularly the latter.

So I have limited my choice to three types. They are;

A muscle car
A hot hatch
A roadster

After doing my research I have decided on one car in each category.

Mustang GT, which is at the high end of my budget. A Civic type R which is in the middle of my budget and a Mazda MX-5 Club spec, at the low end of budget.

The Stang is the fastest in straight line speed and though they have improved the handling it doesn’t handle nearly as well as the other two. The Stang would stomp the Civic type R in a drag race, the type R has terrible launching characteristics but the Type R would beat the Stang on a road track. It’s handling is just that much better. It also has the highest cost to own.

The Type R is probably the best compromise. It’s way lighter than the Stang, is more fun to drive and with 300hp, given the weight difference, isn’t much slower. It’s also the most practical daily daily driver. It’s cost to own is significantly lower than the Stang but surprisingly is equal to the MX-5. On the down side the styling sucks. It looks cartoonish and looks like something an 18 yo would drive.

The MX-5 has upgrade its power to 181 Hp and it only weighs 2350lb. It unquestionably has the best handling and though far less power than the other two is extremely rewarding momentum car for those who know how to drive. You can also push the limits of an MX-5 in a manner you can’t do in the other two if you don’t want to wrap yourself around a telephone pole or go to Jail. Its also a convertible. On the down side it’s The slowest and least practical though it’s the most reliable of the three.

So what are my priorities? In order they are;

Fun to drive
Great handling
Speed
Reliability
Cost to own
Practical

Practical is at the bottom of the list as I already have a hatchback that serves that purpose and I intend to keep it.

So the winner is the MX-5. In terms of being fun to drive, particularly with the top down, it walks away from the others. With the hp increase to 181 and the improved aero design it’s top speed is around 145 mph. A significant improvement over the 2018 model that tops out at 125 mph. Certainly slower than the other two but plenty fast for road driving. I’m not going to drive on a track or drag race. It’s also the most reliable of the three based on statistics I’ve reviewed. In the end, for me, being the most fun to drive wins out.

Mustang!

[Mott the Hoople]

Mustang!

As I said. Not into drag racing. The Stang, at best, has average handling. Most have poor handling. Great for a drag strip... and that’s about it.

[Eagle_Eye]

As I said. Not into drag racing. The Stang, at best, has average handling. Most have poor handling. Great for a drag strip... and that’s about it.

You asked I gave you my opinion. BTW the mustang has suspension options and is the preferred car for the most Florida State Troopers. So go buy a fufu car. It's you that must like the car you buy.

[Mott the Hoople]

You asked I gave you my opinion. BTW the mustang has suspension options and is the preferred car for the most Florida State Troopers. So go buy a fufu car. It's you that must like the car you buy.

I actually wasn’t asking advice, no offense. Besides Do you have any idea how many Muscle cars I’ve dropped like a bad habit on my twisty rural back roads cause they have the turning radius of the QEII? My personal preference is for aggressive handling vs sheer power and I don’t earn enough for both. Besides my Misses has a Lincoln MKZ with 300 HP so I kinda have that niche filled.

[ThatOwlWoman]

You asked I gave you my opinion. BTW the mustang has suspension options and is the preferred car for the most Florida State Troopers. So go buy a fufu car. It's you that must like the car you buy.

For real, the FL troopers drive Mustangs??

[Eagle_Eye]

For real, the FL troopers drive Mustangs??

Yes they do. Most troopers I knew when I did the installs of light bars, communications gear in the new cars preferred the Stang for it's speed and agility.

[ThatOwlWoman]

Good choice! Mr. Owl has a Mazda 6 and loves it. It's eminently unsuitable for winter driving here but in a milder climate it is definitely a year-round vehicle. It's zippy and fun to drive, yet gets outstanding gas mileage.

[PoliTalker]

Hello Mott,

Good choice.

I have rented a lot of cars just to compare handling.All of the selections were in the entry-level pricing group. One was a Mazda 3. I absolutely LOVED the handling. I think it was the best of everything I rented. The worst was a Chrysler SUV. That thing was so bad it was scary. I could hardly believe it was legal for those to be sold, so bad. I felt like if I had to make a quick swerve at speed I would lose control of the car.

Mazda carries on about the fun of driving one. I think they are correct. It was a pure pleasure to drive the 3. Yours must be amazing.

Congrats.

Enjoy!

[Aimée]

I am glad you chose the Mazda! I almost went with a Mazda 3, but was able to get a better deal on the Nissan Sentra. It's surprisingly good in the snow. I drove it up to Sugarloaf in February, and it made it up the mountain with flying colors! LOL! "How did I do making it up here?" "Mama, you're crazy!" LOL!

The only thing I can't get used to in the newer cars is traction control. It's a pain in the ass.

[Celticguy]

Congrats.
I would have hit the used market and let someone else eat the depreciation but thats me. Loved my old Toyota MR2.

[PoliTalker]

Hello Celticguy,

Congrats.
I would have hit the used market and let someone else eat the depreciation but thats me. Loved my old Toyota MR2.

Totally what I do. And pay cash.

[Celticguy]

Hello Celticguy,



Totally what I do. And pay cash.

My dad refused to buy a new car that lost half its value when you drove it off the lot.
I give a good home to inexpensive cars with a little life left in them. Had a Jag which I had always loved the look of. Got it out of my system (english cars are fine if they do not need to be reliable or water tight) and on to the next.
I find it more fun and you get a better grade of car in the process.

[PoliTalker]

Hello Celticguy,

My dad refused to buy a new car that lost half its value when you drove it off the lot.
I give a good home to inexpensive cars with a little life left in them. Had a Jag which I had always loved the look of. Got it out of my system (english cars are fine if they do not need to be reliable or water tight) and on to the next.
I find it more fun and you get a better grade of car in the process.

I prefer to buy a one-owner directly from the original owner about 4-5 years old in very good condition, keep it real nice, drive it till it has about 130K, then sell it.

I rarely have to do many repairs, but I often perform deferred maintenance. I usually upgrade the oil to synth, change the tranny fluid and anti-freeze, put on a set of tires, and do a detail job. Maybe I have to replace a battery sometimes. The dollar-stretching way to do that is to buy refurb batteries instead of new. They are about half price. The way you get a good refurb battery is check the voltage. The higher the better. Don't accept anything below 12.7V.

I used to drive 'em till they drop, but decided it is more economical to get out before many repairs are needed, and get some money back when selling. That way, I end up spending as little as 1K to 2K per year on a car, and get to drive relatively nice cars.

I like buying used cars because you get real data on how well the cars hold up over the years.

A good way to find a reliable car is to use

CarComplaints.com

Find out through wiki pages on cars how many units of each prospective car were built that year, then create a ratio of complaints per number built to get a good comparison.

You also get feedback on what owners disliked about the car. Of course, it never hurts to be familiar with how the car drove when it is new, so I rent newer prospective cars from time to time for a trip or vacation. Keeps your own car young and mileage is everything when it comes to used car value.

[Celticguy]

Hello Celticguy,



I prefer to buy a one-owner directly from the original owner about 4-5 years old in very good condition, keep it real nice, drive it till it has about 130K, then sell it.

I rarely have to do many repairs, but I often perform deferred maintenance. I usually upgrade the oil to synth, change the tranny fluid and anti-freeze, put on a set of tires, and do a detail job. Maybe I have to replace a battery sometimes. The dollar-stretching way to do that is to buy refurb batteries instead of new. They are about half price. The way you get a good refurb battery is check the voltage. The higher the better. Don't accept anything below 12.7V.

I used to drive 'em till they drop, but decided it is more economical to get out before many repairs are needed, and get some money back when selling. That way, I end up spending as little as 1K to 2K per year on a car, and get to drive relatively nice cars.

I like buying used cars because you get real data on how well the cars hold up over the years.

A good way to find a reliable car is to use

CarComplaints.com

Find out through wiki pages on cars how many units of each prospective car were built that year, then create a ratio of complaints per number built to get a good comparison.

You also get feedback on what owners disliked about the car. Of course, it never hurts to be familiar with how the car drove when it is new, so I rent newer prospective cars from time to time for a trip or vacation. Keeps your own car young and mileage is everything when it comes to used car value.

Nothing so helpful as knowing a mechanic.
But i bought the MR2 from an older gentleman who had been in the used car biz for like 60 years. He knew what to buy and what not to buy. And since he knew all the new car dealers since they were babies they would let him have dibs on trades.
Dad had a friend in a nearby small town who was buds with the Plymouth dealer. Any cleam station wagons that came in (with 4 kids they were a must) and dad would get a call to see if he was ready to trade.
Networking is a wonderful thing.