Really itching to get a new (slighty used) car that is practical gets good hwy mileage and is fun.

Currently in a '17 Forester XT and it's great for winter weather but it's about as fun as well a Forester and it gets barely 26mpg on the highway.

Mainly I will be using this to carry a couple suitcases between TX Indy and WPA.

Also I really want a 6sp, over our holiday I had a beautiful V40 wagon and a 6sp Skoda.... enjoyed that little Skoda quite a bit.

So far I have looked at a GTI (with an APR tune) and a BMW 230i, both manuals. Also considering a BMW328xd, not as fun but 44mpg is pretty awesome.

The VW wins the practical point with the hatch back and with fwd it won't be terrible in snow. The 2 series is as close to the perfect old school bimmer as you can get and the rear seats fold down. Only draw back is for winter time it's rwd and yes I know it can be done, learned on rwd cars in NWPA many moons ago. The 3 series diesel has the Msport package and 44mpg would rock even though diesel is slightly more expensive than premium.

Anyone with experience in the above cars or other suggestions?

I seriously considered a GTI, but fell into a great deal on my C300.

I was looking at the DSG Autobahn trim & it was a blast to drive.

You could also look at Mini, I believe they're available in AWD in some trims/models. But, finding a 6MT is pretty tough. And, the Cooper S 4-door I drove wasn't really as peppy as I remember the older models being.

The new Mazda 3 is available with AWD. I haven't driven the redesign, but the prior-gen was a fun car with the 2.5 & the 6MT. Hatchback gives the practicality, but it won't have the power that the XT has. Also, AWD is not available with the 6MT on the new 3.

WRX....Get the STI package if you want the 'More Fun' version!

Mazda Miata..

Relatively cheap, manual, convertible, handles great and it’s reliable!

Honda accord sport.

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:
Mazda Miata..

Relatively cheap, manual, convertible, handles great and it’s reliable!

Not exactly 'practical'. But Miata Is Always The Answer.

quote:

Originally posted by Scurvy:
Honda accord sport.

Another that I seriously considered.
I drove the 6MT Sport & the 10AT Touring (both with the 2.0T). For a quite large car, it handles fairly well, and the 2.0T is quite peppy. also, I don't recall the 6MT having the atrocious rev-hang that I'd experienced in other MT Honda models.
The back seat space rivaled my F150 that I was driving at the time.

The Gemera looks fun, and it's a 4-seater, so there's your practical as well.

The $2M pricetag might be a bit less practical...

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
I seriously considered a GTI, but fell into a great deal on my C300.

I was looking at the DSG Autobahn trim & it was a blast to drive.

You could also look at Mini, I believe they're available in AWD in some trims/models. But, finding a 6MT is pretty tough. And, the Cooper S 4-door I drove wasn't really as peppy as I remember the older models being.

The new Mazda 3 is available with AWD. I haven't driven the redesign, but the prior-gen was a fun car with the 2.5 & the 6MT. Hatchback gives the practicality, but it won't have the power that the XT has. Also, AWD is not available with the 6MT on the new 3.

IIRC the all wheel drive is only available in the larger models (paceman, countryman etc) not the hard tops,


the Hardtop S can be practical , depending on your definition, and an absolute blast to drive,

my last S was a 2013, it was an excellent car,
the newer gen is larger,

quote:

Originally posted by lyman:

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
I seriously considered a GTI, but fell into a great deal on my C300.

I was looking at the DSG Autobahn trim & it was a blast to drive.

You could also look at Mini, I believe they're available in AWD in some trims/models. But, finding a 6MT is pretty tough. And, the Cooper S 4-door I drove wasn't really as peppy as I remember the older models being.

The new Mazda 3 is available with AWD. I haven't driven the redesign, but the prior-gen was a fun car with the 2.5 & the 6MT. Hatchback gives the practicality, but it won't have the power that the XT has. Also, AWD is not available with the 6MT on the new 3.

IIRC the all wheel drive is only available in the larger models (paceman, countryman etc) not the hard tops,


the Hardtop S can be practical , depending on your definition, and an absolute blast to drive,

my last S was a 2013, it was an excellent car,
the newer gen is larger,

I've driven the 1 & 2G Coopers, in S & JCW guise. Both were a blast, the original (BMW Mini) with that S/C was like a go-kart.

These newest ones, just feel a bit numb to me, and my local dealer didn't have a single S on the lot with an MT. Only a couple JCWs in MT and they were outside my budget.

I love my car. It's the fastest AWD car you can possibly buy for the money. Will beat a STI, GTI, or an Civic Si which are the other cars I was considering, but this one due to price. 2019 Fusion Sport. 325 ponies 380 lbs of torque sent to intelligent AWD system. Zero to 60 in 5.1 and 13.7 in a 1/4 mile. With a simple tune you can squeeze another 70hp into it. It's got trunk space for days and enough room in the back for a kid or two. I love this thing. Stopped making them in 2019, but you can find a used one for sub 20k to $30k.

Car & Driver Write-up

I'm on my second Honda Accord Sport.
The latest one is a 2018 with the 4 banger and CVT.
I thought the trans was shot on the first one I test drove as I had never drove a CVT car and I almost didn't get one due to how funky it felt.
Now with two of them under my belt I don't even notice it and am glad I got that over the 6x6.
Decent power, climbs steep grades and passes everything while getting 29 MPG in the city.
It works for me.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
I love my car. It's the fastest AWD car you can possibly buy for the money. Will beat a STI, GTI, or an Civic Si which are the other cars I was considering, but this one due to price. 2019 Fusion Sport. 325 ponies 380 lbs of torque sent to intelligent AWD system. Zero to 60 in 5.1 and 13.7 in a 1/4 mile. With a simple tune you can squeeze another 70hp into it. It's got trunk space for days and enough room in the back for a kid or two. I love this thing. Stopped making them in 2019, but you can find a used one for sub 20k to $30k.

That's better than my (2005) 911. It's amazing what they're doing with engines in the last few years.

Practical, fun, and good mileage???

Subaru WRX.

The Golf is okay, same as a Focus. But the WRX will Trump them time and time again.

Jesse, please take this with a grain of salt and know I’m just poking fun. Everyone loves their cars. I get that. It’s like anything else, what’s good for you may not be good for me.

I had a Fusion Sport for a rental for a few days. It was fully loaded and as you stated, it was pretty quick. But it could have easily been the centerpiece of this video, instead of the Vauxhall.

You have to watch the whole video. It’s pretty damned funny.

Chevy SS. I have owned a number of sports cars and this one by far is the most fun to drive!

https://www.motortrend.com/car...s-first-test-review/

Beancooker that is hilarious. My car is just a really fast taxi cab. I like it and it's a great sleeper. It's a dad car, not a sports car, but she fun. I'm surprised you found one for a rental. The rentals are usually Fusion S, not Sport and are not sold to the public they are made specifically as fleet cars. You sure you are not mixing an S and Sport up?

My dream practical /fun car would be a front wheel drive (2 w.d.)
1990 full size chevy blazer.

automatic on the column , bucket seats with a center console box , in between
swing or drop end gate,
4 wheel power disc brakes,
5.3 liter

Practical : because the front wheel drive would get me around in the mid west winters,

two people could easily go shopping at Costco, with room to spare,

short wheel base would ease parking , maneuvering

Fun : because you are not trying to manage a big old barge of a truck,

plenty of leg and head room,
2 wheel drive ride height would improve handling and entering an egress.

I'm not enamored of my current Silverado. It's the second out of the last 4 that seems like it will be a transmission lemon.
Never thought I'd say this, but it's also just a bit too big.
I'd also like a practical but fun vehicle, but am leaning more in the SUV direction.
Anything new in this area costs a mint, but I'm trying to work up my list. I have a few in mind to test drive.
I'm wondering what the new Bronco will be like.

My Accord has paddle shifters and it’s ok, but there’s nothing like a real manual transmission for fun.

A car doesn’t even need to be fast to be fun to drive with a M.T.

hurstolds1 I tried to find a SS last year, they were selling for in excess of $30k if you could find one. They didn't sell many as new cars, but as a used car they have a cult following. Hold on to yours, as I'm sure you are well aware, you have a diamond in the rough.

Edit just checked again to find an SS. $35k for a 2015 to $40k for a 2017. Man I'd love one of those cars, but those prices are stupid, especially for an ugly American sedan.