Thinking about a new daily driver.

[Joecooool]

I have always liked those little hot hatches. Rented a Mazda Speed 3 a couple of years ago and it was a blast. Any one have any experience with a Focus ST? Also looking at the new GTI.

[Sea Six]

Did you ever get the three wheeler delivered?

[MidLifeinMI]

I've had a Focus ST for about 5 months; great little hatch (sold my C5 and an Equinox to get it). Other than being wrong-wheel drive, I can't say enough about it. Handling is great; HID lights, shifter & Recaros blow away the awful headlights, MN6 & cheap leather seats on the C5. Acceleration is more than adequate for a DD (mid-14 car), and the fit, finish and materials are good.

More refined than the MS3 (but not as fast); more fun than a GTi (but not as refined). A good balance for a DD.

[snide]

Bored with your Grand Cherokee?

[Joecooool]

Originally Posted by snide

Bored with your Grand Cherokee?

Shannon drives that. I still have my Vette.

[99 pewtercoupe]

Cant speak from experience but it sounds like Ford is putting some pretty spiffy little powerplants in their subcompacts. I know this review is for a Fiesta but I thought it was very encouraging that a US car builder is making engines with a displacement less than the average soda purchase that can deliver this kind of performance

Ford Fiesta's Little Engine Is Mighty - WSJ

[RED-85-Z51]

Fiat 500 Abarth is a neat car.

Id have one of those before I had a Ford...

[LATB]

A small truck would be perfect for a Keys DD
I suggest a Toyota Tacoma
Easy on gas
Fun to drive around town
Easy to park
Dependable as daylight

And, as a homeowner and boat owner...
a pickup is real practical

[RonC5]

A guy I work with has a GTI, a 2012 I think. He has put 65K on it in 2 years, so far no issues. He has done an APR upgrades, tuning, exhaust, etc. Neat little car.

[onedef92]

Definitely audition the Subaru WRX STi, too. Looks like a Mazda 3 clone, but dope as hell! Lots of aftermarket go-fast goodies, too.



Can't wait to crack open my '09 Vibe GT. I've only put about 5,300 miles on it since I got it in Feb. Gonna' start with a performance intake and exhaust.

[StaticCling]

Originally Posted by LarsAtTheBeach

A small truck would be perfect for a Keys DD
I suggest a Toyota Tacoma
Easy on gas
Fun to drive around town
Easy to park
Dependable as daylight

And, as a homeowner and boat owner...
a pickup is real practical

My '14 Tacoma 4x4 Regular Cab, 4 Cylinder.

[onedef92]

Originally Posted by TxAg

OD gonna have to change your name to oneDefVibe

Yeah! I love my Vibe's tiptronic 5-speed (can shift like a manual on-demand, or slushbox) plus it's got tons of cargo room for zipping Bruce to the vet or hauling weekend warrior cargo like 50 lb. bags of mulch or potting poil.

Gets close to 30 mpg on the highway, too. Not bad for a twin-cam, 158 hp. four-banger!

[snide]

Originally Posted by Joecooool

I have always liked those little hot hatches. Rented a Mazda Speed 3 a couple of years ago and it was a blast. Any one have any experience with a Focus ST? Also looking at the new GTI.

If those were my choices, I'd go with the GTI.


If I had the scratch, and was looking for a new daily driver, I'd be looking at the F-Type.

[onedef92]

Originally Posted by TxAg

If I had the coin, one of those or a Matrix would be my next DD.

And since Pontiac tanked in '09, you can cop a Vibe (essentially the same vehicle as the Matrix) for a song! Parts are still readily available and there are lots of aftermarket mods.

This is the last year for the Matrix in the U.S.

Toyota Matrix discontinued for 2014 - Autoblog

[Chuck A]

I refuse on buying something nice, where i park if the animals see something nice, they will either scratch, ding it , or burglarize it, that is why i love my huyndai, and that has been sideswiped and broken into several times

[onedef92]

Originally Posted by Chuck A

I refuse on buying something nice, where i park if the animals see something nice, they will either scratch, ding it , or burglarize it, that is why i love my huyndai, and that has been sideswiped and broken into several times

Is Long Island that brutal of a 'hood?

[simpleman68]

Originally Posted by Chuck A

I refuse on buying something nice, where i park if the animals see something nice, they will either scratch, ding it , or burglarize it, that is why i love my huyndai, and that has been sideswiped and broken into several times

I hear that but I think Phil will not have to worry as much about that due to his area, less traffic etc.

Vote #3 for the GTI. They've long topped my list of imports I'd play with that are fun to drive and cheap to lightly mod. What I'm not educated on is long term reliability, but they are fun cars to drive around and easy to park.
Scott

[onedef92]

Originally Posted by simpleman68

I hear that but I think Phil will not have to worry as much about that due to his area, less traffic etc.

Vote #3 for the GTI. They've long topped my list of imports I'd play with that are fun to drive and cheap to lightly mod. What I'm not educated on is long term reliability, but they are fun cars to drive around and easy to park.
Scott

They practically pioneered the whole hyper hatch market. Been around since 1979.



My Dad had a '78 Type C fuel injected model that was a blast to drive. It was fun to make it do the "three-legged elephant dance" on rural backroad twisties when I was 16.

[Chuck A]

Originally Posted by onedef92

Is Long Island that brutal of a 'hood?

no, i am talking about Queens NY, were i park their are surrounded my million dollar houses, but their are scumbags that feed on destroying nice things, just recently seen a Mercedes on cinder blocks and tires removed

[Mirroredshades]

Haven't driven one but I looked at the Focus ST when I bought my Stang. They look really good. I would go Ford before Fiat or anything German.

My 2 cents of course.