What to get for daily?

Looking to replace my Mazda6 that is only used for bad weather and such (I'm in PA) with something fun. Considering a Focus ST or AWD TBSS as of now, but looking for other suggestions. The 6 sees under 1k miles per year as I work from home so not going to spend a fortune. Also thought about a WRX or STi, but not really wanting to spend $20k ish.

Also, don't want anything tiny as I want to be able to load wheels & tires, etc when needed. So, sadly, things like the Fiesta ST are out.

Don't want anything with high miles or unreliable. AWD preferred, but FWD is ok. No RWD.

I have a 30th AE Miata and Hellcat for fun. Although, the Hellcat is for sale as I drive the Miata a lot more so I'll be replacing that with something else fast, fun & RWD at some point.

I'm a bit lost, still 1k miles a year? And a WRX is more than a Focus ST in good shape?

Loading big wheels and tires may be a stretch but base Giulias are incredible value, the 2T is very solid, 2019+ and they got rid of any gremlins but truth be told the base never really had them, the horror stories are with the quadrofiglio cars.

If want to dumb it down more, maybe original X1 with the 6 cylinder engine? Good size, AWD, stonking engine ..... aways been a favourite sleeper of mine.

Alfisti wrote

I'm a bit lost, still 1k miles a year? And a WRX is more than a Focus ST in good shape?

A decent mile ST3 is around $10k. I haven't seen a late model nicely equipped WRX with decent miles for that $.

Loading big wheels and tires may be a stretch but base Giulias are incredible value, the 2T is very solid, 2019+ and they got rid of any gremlins but truth be told the base never really had them, the horror stories are with the quadrofiglio cars.

If want to dumb it down more, maybe original X1 with the 6 cylinder engine? Good size, AWD, stonking engine ..... aways been a favourite sleeper of mine.

Not interested in Alfa or BMW for this.

Donatello. wrote

Looking to replace my Mazda6 that is only used for bad weather and such (I'm in PA) with something fun. Considering a Focus ST or AWD TBSS as of now, but looking for other suggestions. The 6 sees under 1k miles per year as I work from home so not going to spend a fortune. Also thought about a WRX or STi, but not really wanting to spend $20k ish.

Also, don't want anything tiny as I want to be able to load wheels & tires, etc when needed. So, sadly, things like the Fiesta ST are out.

Don't want anything with high miles or unreliable. AWD preferred, but FWD is ok. No RWD.

I have a 30th AE Miata and Hellcat for fun. Although, the Hellcat is for sale as I drive the Miata a lot more so I'll be replacing that with something else fast, fun & RWD at some point.

Get a Focus ST. I think you will be happy. Now I've never owned one, but I had a friend who passed away who did and he absolutely loved that car.

I have no idea what maintenance is like on them either.

Mk7.5 Golf R (2018-19). Spectacular all-arounder and makes a great DD. Mine is at 103k miles and has been dead-nuts reliable and is still tight as a drum.

Can you buy a 2018-19 Golf R for the $10k the OP appears to be comfortable spending? I would but think so but have not looked.

Buy a used mid-sized pickup truck.

Jeep Wrangler. Go anywhere.

Efthreeoh wrote

Buy a used mid-sized pickup truck.

^This. Nissan Frontier. Toyota Tacoma reliability and a much better drivetrain for 70% of the price used.

A daily doing 1000 miles a year

pbonsalb wrote

Can you buy a 2018-19 Golf R for the $10k the OP appears to be comfortable spending? I would but think so but have not looked.

He mentioned $20k and the answer is yes.

KevinC wrote

He mentioned $20k and the answer is yes.

You and I interpret differently the words “but not really wanting to spend $20k ish” in Post #1.

MJBO wrote

A daily doing 1000 miles a year

I had the same thought. I use to drive 800 miles weekly.

It might be more than he wanted to spend initially but could last longer... What about a Camry TRD? Trying to think of things that would be a little more fun but still a good bang for your buck. What about a Boost Blue Honda Civic? GREAT color with good reliability. Both are probably more than $20k but would probably last a bit longer.

GTI/Jetta. Camry. Civic.

Or a Bentley Conti GT. Either or.

Get a nice used GTI. They are great daily drivers. Fun, practical, reliable, sporty, etc.

(I don't think a decent used R would fit in your price point or I'd say that.)

F3x

XutvJet wrote

^This. Nissan Frontier. Toyota Tacoma reliability and a much better drivetrain for 70% of the price used.

No dispute on what you said, but they are zero fun for me. I do not offroad. With that said, I have been thinking about getting a pickup b/c useful. The Toyotas are $ even with high miles so they are out. Just cannot bring myself to spend that $ for the miles.

I would also only want a 4WD truck, no RWD only.

ZTK_M240i wrote

Get a nice used GTI. They are great daily drivers. Fun, practical, reliable, sporty, etc.

(I don't think a decent used R would fit in your price point or I'd say that.)

What gen(s) & what do they normally go for? How is the cargo space? Needs to be able to fit wheels & tires etc in the back easily

STi from DSM wrote

It might be more than he wanted to spend initially but could last longer... What about a Camry TRD? Trying to think of things that would be a little more fun but still a good bang for your buck. What about a Boost Blue Honda Civic? GREAT color with good reliability. Both are probably more than $20k but would probably last a bit longer.

With that amount of $, I may as well look at something tha can replace my Hellcat AND the 6 since I just sold the Hellcat. Not dropping $20k on a new beater that rarely gets used.

It is difficult to understand what you want. You say a daily but will drive it just 1,000 miles annually. You want to carry wheels and tires in it, so why do you want a hatchback? Wheels and tires are sometimes grubby as hell, so why would you want them inside a car? And you say a pickup truck is not fun for you because you don't off road. Okay, but what is your definition of fun? And what is your priority, carrying wheels and tires, or having a daily canyon carver.

There seems to be a bit of an oxymoron going on with what you want.

I use my pickup as a wheel/tire transporter all the time. Trust me, you want to use a pickup for such a use case.

Efthreeoh wrote

It is difficult to understand what you want. You say a daily but will drive it just 1,000 miles annually. You want to carry wheels and tires in it, so why do you want a hatchback? Wheels and tires are sometimes grubby as hell, so why would you want them inside a car? And you say a pickup truck is not fun for you because you don't off road. Okay, but what is your definition of fun? And what is your priority, carrying wheels and tires, or having a daily canyon carver.

There seems to be a bit of an oxymoron going on with what you want.

I use my pickup as a wheel/tire transporter all the time. Trust me, you want to use a pickup for such a use case.

Winter/bad weather/when I have something that won't fit in the Miata daily...

I have a carver...the Miata. No Oxymorons here

I don't disagree trucks are useful.