Luxury(ish) DD for occasional autoX

Hey All,

New here, love the community!

I would eventually like to move to a newer (06+) luxury-ish sedan as I climb the corporate ladder crosses fingers.

I will most likely have a weekend drop-top that's more autoX-oriented. i'd love a NA miata but those are getting more and more rare, so perhaps an NC or even s2k (not a fan of the NB for some reason).

As for my DD, my requirements are simple.

-<$30k gently used

-manual transmission

-4doors

-fun to drive (light on it's feet to toss around a parking lot occasionally)

-luxury-ish: leather, moonroof, HIDs, etc

These few cars have crossed my mind (the usual suspects): 328i, IS250, A4 2.0T Quattro, G35/37, CSX-S (which is a dressed up Civic Si)

Each car has it's merits, but also downsides.

The BMW has the smooth i6 motor, but has front struts.

The Lexus has doublewishbone fronts but is underpowered.

The Audi has the Quattro (great for winters) but I have reliability concerns.

The Infiniti has wishbone fronts as well as LSD but is big and heavy.

The CSX/Civic is cheap, reliable, has LSD but is FWD.

Thoughts? I should really testdrive these, but I'm afraid not many dealerships would let me toss it around a parking lot. XD

Audi.

Just have an extra set of cash to fix the electrical gremlins as they happen. (ask me how I know)

RX-8, it is my 4 door company car under $30,000

How much is a used CTS-V in Canuckland?

My mom has a csx (non S). It's still just a civic with leather. Even non car people just call it a civic. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but if you're looking for some sort of status car as your other choices imply, I don't think you'll get the desired effect with the csxs. I'd get the bmw and some camber plates. Also what's the plan for the current sir? I do have an NA miata I would possibly trade.

I'd say the bmw, infiniti, lexus in that order. i hate modern audis, except for the RS4 which is delicious, and the civic clone seems out of character given the other choices. i would replace it with perhaps an acura TL-S option.

on paper the bmw front struts sounds like a limitation, and it obviously has inherent drawbacks, but i've yet to drive any bmw and lament the front suspension design, except when trying to achieve racecar alignment specs, as race parts add up quick.

The BMW has removable locating pins at the top of the front strut towers. Knock those out and you are good for about a degree of negative camber, and it's still stock legal. Then add a nice fat front bar to avoid dynamic camber change in the front - keeping the nose flatter will really help the understeer, even though that's counterintuitive use of swaybars.

Add spare wheels with sticky tires as budget permits and have a ball in D Stock. When/if they approve the amendment to allow rear bar changes, invest in a matching fat rear bar and keep having fun.

I wouldn't buy a modern audi once they reach about 100k its time for retirement. BMW sounds like the best idea.

WOW! what quick replies! Thanks so much all.

My current EP will likely be retired(sold) before it falls too much in value. Not for a year or two though, I just put in some DC5R suspension. I'm absolutely in love with the uniqueness and practicality, but I'll have to grow up eventually - right? XD

I don't care too much for status, which is why the Civic/CSX is in there. I understand it doesn't jive with the other options. It has the little bit of creature comforts I crave, and I'm a fan of how it looks.

RX8! Not really a fan of how it looks ... and not sure about the Wankel motor. Doesn't it drink as much oil as gas?

The first gen TL-S is something I was thinking about, but I'm not sure about FWD in a car that large.

CTS-V is a great idea! I'm more of a fan of the second generation, I'll keep that in mind. Supercharged LSA ... insanity.

I'm leaning most towards the BMW. Camber plates, sticky tires, aftermarket LSD. I'm not going to be compete, so perhaps even some swift wrapped ASTs :)

The only thing that (sorta) bothers me is that everyone and their grandma here drives a black e90.

I don't think you'll find a second gen CTS-V for $30k yet...but you will if you give it time. You could get a VERY nice modded first gen V for that price, though.

Also, Pontiac G8 GXP? Rare, but pretty cool. RWD, 400+ hp, 6-speed manual, four doors.

daftKow wrote: -fun to drive (light on it's feet to toss around a parking lot *occasionally*)

The I6 BMWs are almost the opposite of "light on their feet." They can be made to turn if you throw enough wheel and tire on them, but that doesn't improve the feel. The only recent BMW that fits that description would be the MINI Cooper.

The RX8 was a good suggestion.

How about a MR2 Spyder?