The fun small cars thread

[MontuckyFried]

You can have the white car - I’d like the Buick please.

Yeah. No kidding. I got half a mind to contact the owner just to find out more about that. Good eye, Aldo.

[Bushwacka]

One of my favorite channels (savagegeese) just dropped this great video about the Integra Type R. Man. Makes me yearn for simpler times. I always liked the Integras well enough but I guess I never appreciated the Type R as much as I should have. Didn't realize just how much extra work went into them! Most impressive.

lol I linked earlier.

His channel is criminals underrated.

An ITR is a car I wish I had owned when I could. with that said I love how its great stock, but all 88-00 Hondas once built right can be more or less the same since their basically share the same architecture. My 90 Hatch I linked earlier has a Type R head on a destroked B20(CRV) bottom end.

[MarcusBrody]

Just stopped in and sat in a BRZ. I liked the feel, but literally couldn't stick my son's car seat in the back. With the front seat slid up, there was actually plenty of legroom, but the headroom was too limited for the fairly large car seat to sit correctly. Maybe an option when he soon hits a booster seat.

[Art Shirk]

Just stopped in and sat in a BRZ. I liked the feel, but literally couldn't stick my son's car seat in the back. With the front seat slid up, there was actually plenty of legroom, but the headroom was too limited for the fairly large car seat to sit correctly. Maybe an option when he soon hits a booster seat.

Have you considered a late 80s Ford Escort?


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[MarcusBrody]

Have you considered a late 80s Ford Escort?


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I tried to talk the seller down, but apparently he was expecting to get top dollar from some guy.

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[MontuckyFried]

Just stopped in and sat in a BRZ. I liked the feel, but literally couldn't stick my son's car seat in the back. With the front seat slid up, there was actually plenty of legroom, but the headroom was too limited for the fairly large car seat to sit correctly. Maybe an option when he soon hits a booster seat.

Yeah. I hear ya. Stuck in the same position. I REALLY want a halfway affordable, smaller car that's actually fun to drive, but unfortunately the BRZ just doesn't quite have the backseat room.

Anybody here ever had a Hyundai Genesis Coupe? Those can be had with a manual trans and are RWD. Wonder how well they hold up over time since you can only get used ones now and I fear they're driven like Mustangs, which I also typically wouldn't buy used. Haha.

[MarcusBrody]

Yeah. I hear ya. Stuck in the same position. I REALLY want a halfway affordable, smaller car that's actually fun to drive, but unfortunately the BRZ just doesn't quite have the backseat room.

Anybody here ever had a Hyundai Genesis Coupe? Those can be had with a manual trans and are RWD. Wonder how well they hold up over time since you can only get used ones now and I fear they're driven like Mustangs, which I also typically wouldn't buy used. Haha.

I haven't totally given up on the BRZ/86, but now I'll probably wait for the new gen to actually be at dealerships (assuming nothing terrible happens to my current small, fun to drive car, which is definitely a possibility). My kid is 5.5, so six months from now or whenever they start to actually be in stock, he will probably be ready for a booster seat. I was actually surprised that with the seat pushed up a bit, legroom wasn't much of an issue. It was really just how high the back of the car seat was. I sat in front of him and while I couldn't have done it for more than a block, I bet my wife could have (I'm 6'3", she's 5'4"). We have a bigger car that we tend to use anyway most of the time if we're going together, but I want to have the option.

Another car that I had forgotten about was the BMW 1 series, as they didn't last that long here and people thought they were ugly. The 128i in particular seems to be reasonably reliable and not very fast, so I get to feel like I'm driving it reasonably hard at mundane speeds. A lot of them seem to be convertibles, though, which isn't my preference. Also a lot of people think they're ugly. But as a 318ti owner, I have a thing for unloved, budget BMWs.

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[Bushwacka]

Just stopped in and sat in a BRZ. I liked the feel, but literally couldn't stick my son's car seat in the back. With the front seat slid up, there was actually plenty of legroom, but the headroom was too limited for the fairly large car seat to sit correctly. Maybe an option when he soon hits a booster seat.

2nd gen?

[MarcusBrody]

2nd gen?

Nope. First gen. I haven't seen a second gen in person yet, though looking at the specs, they might have even less headroom.

The salesman told me that they'd had a couple delivered for folks who had ordered them, though. He said lead time would be about 3 months at the moment. The dealership didn't have any of their vehicles marked up above MSRP, though I didn't ask about if I would order a BRZ in particular.

If I was to get a BRZ, I would get a 2nd gen. it would be a 7-8k difference for a new, supposedly better car given the crazy used market.

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[Bushwacka]

Nope. First gen. I haven't seen a second gen in person yet, though looking at the specs, they might have even less headroom.

The salesman told me that they'd had a couple delivered for folks who had ordered them, though. He said lead time would be about 3 months at the moment. The dealership didn't have any of their vehicles marked up above MSRP, though I didn't ask about if I would order a BRZ in particular.

If I was to get a BRZ, I would get a 2nd gen. it would be a 7-8k difference for a new, supposedly better car given the crazy used market.

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yeah just the more power alone would be worth it. O-60 went from 6.8 - 7.0 seconds to 5.8 seconds for the stick.

[riser4]

Dunno. Subaru engine. Definitely something you want with low mileage and preferably under warranty.

[Bushwacka]

Dunno. Subaru engine. Definitely something you want with low mileage and preferably under warranty.

Eh I have forester with 205k on it, its fine.

I think people do stupid things to subie motors. Are they a honda or Toyota? no but again I feel the old head gasket problems give them a ton worse reputation.

[MarcusBrody]

yeah just the more power alone would be worth it. O-60 went from 6.8 - 7.0 seconds to 5.8 seconds for the stick.

I honestly barely care about actual speed at all as long as the car is engaging to drive (within reason). The slower it actually is, the more I get to feel like I'm wringing it out while driving at normal speeds.

But with that being said, the power delivery looks a lot better on paper with the new engine, and I think that would make for a more enjoyable driving experience.

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[riser4]

Eh I have forester with 205k on it, its fine.

I think people do stupid things to subie motors. Are they a honda or Toyota? no but again I feel the old head gasket problems give them a ton worse reputation.

Ya, they earned a bad rep. And I think possibly the BRZ will invite people doing stupid things.

[MarcusBrody]

Ya, they earned a bad rep. And I think possibly the BRZ will invite people doing stupid things.

I have no experience with Subaru engines so I only know them by rep, but the naturally aspirated 2.4 in the BRZ is turbo charged in the Ascent/WRX, so I assume that it's reasonably robust for the power it's putting out in the BRZ. obviously there can be engine problems unrelated to that, but it seems like it would tolerate a bit of extra silliness for those so inclined.

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[Bushwacka]

Ya, they earned a bad rep. And I think possibly the BRZ will invite people doing stupid things.

I am not sure what other point there is to the BRZ/GR86 twins except have fun, do stupid things, and track and autocross it. I mean it looks good but you are not buying that car for its looks, your buying it as fun toy you can daily if your climate allows.

[MarcusBrody]

I am not sure what other point there is to the BRZ/GR86 twins except have fun, do stupid things, and track and autocross it. I mean it looks good but you are not buying that car for its looks, your buying it as fun toy you can daily if your climate allows.

I assumed that he meant slapping on aftermarket turbos to increase hp, get rid of gen 1s torque dip.

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[riser4]

And generally beating the piss out if it without any regard for maintenance of something you are beating the piss out of I have to admit, I'm a Toyota fan boi, and so based on rep, I look down at Subaru. I'm aware there's some level of partnership with Toyota. I'd be more interested if they chose a Toyota engine. I should give it a fair shake. It's probably a blast to drive.

[Ted Striker]

Ownership. That said, the BRZ/FRS is 100% Subaru.

I had a first gen. The engine reved flawlessly. And there are a few easy mods to get it to breathe a little better. With the oem tires it was so easy to drift. When that got old, I put supersports on it, which were like glue. The factory seats were perfect.

Oh, and the trunk pass-through fit my 186 Lhasas without interfering with the shifter!

But, it was loud. Like zero insulation loud. Driving on the freeway was torture.

[Bushwacka]

Ownership. That said, the BRZ/FRS is 100% Subaru.

it does use toyota's intake tech in the engine. but subaru makes the whole thing.

Toyota does not currenly have good smaller displacement motor.....and the flat four is really LOW CG.

[54-46]

Anyone here ever own a BMW 128i? Thinking about one for about town

[gravitylover]

I loved my BRZ and would have kept it forever if Subaru hadn't ruined the engine for me and 40k others so there were no replacement engines available. I'd get a new one but for the same money the new Mazda 3 AWD Turbo would be a smarter move for me at the moment and, as a daily, probably similar fun other than at the limits which you don't get to take advantage of very often. It sure would be nice if we got the Yaris GR4 though...

[MarcusBrody]

Anyone here ever own a BMW 128i? Thinking about one for about town

I was literally browsing them this weekend as a nice, manual came up in my area (though convertible rather than coupe). I can't help, but we're on the same page.

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[hawkgt]

new Mazda 3 AWD Turbo would be a smarter move for me at the moment and, as a daily, probably similar fun other than at the limits which you don't get to take advantage of very often. .

spawn #1 just picked one up a couple weeks ago. Previous daily (still sitting out front) is 2012 STI. The 3 is fun little car and good for commuting with the auto vs manual.

[MontuckyFried]

Anyone here ever own a BMW 128i? Thinking about one for about town

Good call on thinking 1 series. EXCELLENT little driver. I was 'bout to suggest checking into the 1 Series M, but looked them up on Autotrader and just about spit out my coffee when I saw the prices they're going for. Nevermind. WTF happened?! They USED to be a halfway affordable little weapon! They were a great deal new in hindsight. Shoulda bought one way back when. FML.

...I'd get a new one but for the same money the new Mazda 3 AWD Turbo would be a smarter move for me at the moment and, as a daily, probably similar fun other than at the limits which you don't get to take advantage of very often.

Yeah. The Mazda 3's great and I hear the AWD is a shockingly capable effort by Mazda. However, what kills the AWD Turbo for me is just the lack of the 6MT. After driving the manual last week, I'm sold. That's the only version I want. It's SSSOOOOOOO good. With some better tires and a mild tune, that car would be a super fun daily to fling around the cloverleaves. I didn't get a chance to drive it hard, so not sure about how bad understeer is compared to my '04. Was definitely noticeable on mine when pushing it to its limits. Motivated me to go back a FRD layout where I could steer by throttle. Haha. God, I miss my CTS-V. Wish used car prices hadn't spiked so much, or I'd be maybe taking a hard look at the also fantastic smaller sibling, the ATS-V as I prefer the size of that more than the CTS in all honesty.