I'm torn here. I love my fit, but it many ways it's just not totally satisfying. It has the cargo space and the nimble handling, and definitely the reliability and fuel economy, but it's just not meeting my gearhead needs.
I NEED a hatchback or small wagon.
I NEED four doors.
I NEED reliability.
I NEED a fun and sporty character.

So I have four choices.

1. I keep the Fit and buy an old NA Miata for $2,000 and drive it when I need some behind the wheel shenanigans.
2. Mazdaspeed 3. It's ugly but kicks ass.
3. WRX 5-door, also ugly but also kicks ass.
4. Mk VI GTI. Not ugly, but overpriced (IMO) for the amount of car you get compared to the other two, but also a lot more grown up and reportedly easier to drive day in and day out.

All of the last three options are in the mid-$20k range, which is totally doable, but do I wanna do it? Get rid of a car I really like for something more expensive to buy and to run, but that really satisfies my need to drive? Or find a cheap money pit that will displace the Fit from the garage and that I will only drive occasionally?

Argh.

 

i donno, if your Fit is already a MT, how about stiffening up your
suspenion and putting some aftermarket wheels or something to
get the ride tighter?

sounds like you're going for more direct road feel, not for
acceleration so just thought i toss that in there. :p

the MS3 is kinda nice but it's really cheap when you get inside.
the initial feel is 'wow, kinda nice' but then you notice the
quality of the car is just not in par with the Fit. well, that's
from actual experience earlier this summer when i physically
sat in one of the new MS3's.

 

If I were to get another car right now it'd be a Civic. Not a Si but a regular ass Civic. Either that or an Evo V. I have always been in love with that car.

 

dang man, I tell you what, I'm about this close to getting a Transit Connect. Put a hitch on it and I'd be set. Just like with the fit. yah, I know, it's a van, not a car.

 

We have an '02 Miata in the garage. They make a nice pair !!

 

fit and miata out of those options!

 

one letter, one word....


k swap

 

Keep the Fit, and buy the Miata.

"I NEED reliability" eliminates all the other choices except for the Subaru. In 118,000 miles with a 2003 Forester, the only failures have been a fog light bulb, the OEM battery at 110,000 miles, and the water pump at 111,000 miles.

 

you said you wanted a volkswagen but you want reliability? ......

id say the speed3.

 

Fast, nimble, reliable and a ball to drive within your price range, the Honda S2000.

 

The Miata gets my vote from the choices if you don't mind an older ride. Keep your Fit since it still ticks most of your "needs" boxes IMO. :)

 

previous gen Forester xt:


if i could have afforded the insurance, it would have already been mine.

 

my vote is for the fit + miata combo...

my route is going to be fit + mki mr2 SC.... :p

 

For the price of a k swap u can buy like 3 miatas lol.

 

Out of those options, Id say Fit and Miata combo, no contest.

 

Fit + Miata.
Cheapest option and you now have 2 cars to use.

 

Cheapest short term, but long term, factor in insurance and maintenance, and it's probably not. But, probably the most fun option for the money.

 

If you want more performance then you probably want more maintenance right?

Well the two don't usually go together, so maybe get a cheap car (miata) that might break while you're playing in it, and still have the Fit to rescue you from being stranded.

 

On paper the MS3 is a clear winner, but of course that's not always how it goes. A Fit + Miata is a good combo too.

 

well one doesnt need full coverage when buying an old car... the smallest fender bender would total it anyway because the full value of the car is so low... just liability, the insurance company isnt going to cover all the aftermarket parts anyway...

i see it as.. why pay insurance that costs more then the car?

maintenance is another story tho... previous owners usually dont take care of their cars like we'd want them to... so a lot would prob need to be fixed right when you buy the car...