5 Seater Shootout - Thoughts on the next buy?

J

JimiJak

New member
Fun commuter - Looking for feedback on a new whip that fits the following stipulations:
Under $30K
seats 5
Hatchback / cargo room is a bonus

Been kicking around -
- Ford Focus ST
- MazdaSpeed3
- Subaru WRX (no longer making a hatchback for 2015)
- Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart

All of these are $25-30K with roughly the same HP and performance...just looking for some feedback on which direction to head...or veer away from.

TIA!
 
Focus ST ... mod the hell out of it too , we need one on the forum.

2nd choice Mazda3

Just say no to mitsu ....
 
panther427 said:
I would have a tough time choosing between the WRX and Focus ST.
What are you planning to use the car for?
Click to expand...

Mostly just for a fun, sporty little toy to throw around. Probably use it as my commuter to and from work / hauling kiddos around...
 
Well for commute i might lean for the WRX with the awd for the snow up north.. The ST is rated as one of the best handling FWD cars anywhere.  Especially if you wanted to take it on a road track.
 
Mazdaspeed 3; My brother has a 2010 and it is a blast to drive, and there forum is filled with very knowledgeable people.
My picks would go like this

Mazdaspeed 3
WRX
Lancer/ST- Both are garbage in my opinion- very little support/ The ST uses its brakes to act like a differential- It sounds like a horrible design/ extra wear on the brakes.
 
wrx for sure lots of parts out there to mod with and tons of fun to drive and the awd in them is sweet as well and the 2015 has a six speed in it now and handles better then both those car on your list
 
Find a unmolested mazdaspeed 6 there awd turbo and tons of fun I've owned two of them same platform as speed 3 and u can get them for like 10-13 k with like 50- 60k miles. And good mpg


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SHOSTL88 said:
Find a unmolested mazdaspeed 6 there awd turbo and tons of fun I've owned two of them same platform as speed 3 and u can get them for like 10-13 k with like 50- 60k miles. And good mpg
Click to expand...

Interior looks familiar. Lol
My current commuter is an '04 6s.

Good idea though. I'm partial to something new, but I'll keep my eyes open!
 
first off have a sho & escape & love ford.
2nd at the big ford show in town last year the fiesta st's had there own section there were so many of them & lots of moding going on & they looked real good.
now for the downside, if it had the 2.0L that i have in my escape it would be a no brainer, but that 1.6 which also is in the escape scares me & here's why & this is from a recent article.

"Ford has a problem child and its name is 'Escape with 1.6-liter Ecoboost.' The automaker announced today it's issuing two more recalls to stop fire risks that have been plaguing the vehicle since its 2012 redesign, bringing the total to six recalls for the popular crossover"

every time my wife's friend, who bought a kia, brings up the recalls on the escape i have to explain to her it's not on ours as we've got the 2.0l & our escape has never been recalled. maybe it's has no problem in the fiesta but in the escape that 1.6L a real issue.
mikev
 
swrat:
thks for setting straight. the focus would then for me be a no brainer. my escape is on same platform & love the way it rides & the 2.0l for 250hp pulling around 3200# is amazingly quick. mine is only fwd as wife is retired & won't drive in snow & have not taken to mexico to let it run like have done /w my sho  but even without a tune  i  know it would smoke tires in 1st &  probably 2nd it's that quick.
mikev
 
Just as a side note, if the Fusion had the Focus ST powertrain (in other words, a manual), I'd be driving one yesterday. **** in the bigger package it may even fit an AWD model...

But since that is a pipe-dream, my vote is for the ST. I feel it is the most grown-up of the 4, depending on the paint-job, lol.
 
Honestly I drove an st and it just wasn't comfortable to me so I passed on it.. Although the recaro seats would be great for autox for daily commute it is an uncomfortable ride.. I'm also 6 3 so maybe my height has a rile in that...

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The Speed3 is no longer in production. Might be a few left overs here and there, since you stated you're shopping new.

Our of the others, the FST is the clear winner...

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Thanks for all the input guys! Let's not turn this into another pissing match between tuners though.

That's good to know about the speed3 not being offered for 2015...guess it takes that off the table.

So it would come down to the ST and the WRX...I do like all the plusses of the ST; more cargo room, Ford Ecoboost platform, loads of fun to drive (from what I've heard), lots of modding options...but the WRX certainly has it upsides too...mainly more power and AWD.

Both available with a 6sp. manual gearbox and a turbocharged 2.0L power train.

I admit, the fake "torque vectoring" accomplished by the brakes instead of mechanical means is a turn off...but for $25K it's not going to be perfect.

Looks like when the time comes, I'll be doing some test driving between the two and going from there.

Now to find them in stock somewhere...
 
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