bdisco
Member
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2023
- Threads
- 2
- Messages
- 35
- Reaction score
- 51
- Location
- Flashing my lights behind you
- Car(s)
- ‘24 ITS, ‘21 Bronco, ‘15 Chevy 2500, ‘88 911
- Thread starter
- #1
How we got here…
I had sold my 2015 Subaru STi to a friend (who blew the motor 4 months later)and ordered a new Bronco Wildtrak. So after driving the Bronco for a while I came to realize I missed rowing through the gears. I know the Bronco can be had with a manual but it doesn’t handle like a sport sedan. You can hustle it around (at the expense of your passenger’s comfort) but it rolls through corners like a hippo on skates.
Before the STI the list was:
(not counting the previous 2 decades)
1999 New Beetle TDi 5 speed
2002 Subaru WRX bugeye 5 speed
2005 Subaru Legacy GT 5eat
2010 VW Golf TDi DSG
I began looking for something sporty with a manual transmission but it needed to have a usable back seat that could fit a full size adult (our daughter still lives with us).
A Mustang would have been cool. Soon the next generation won’t know the sound of a V8. Was looking at used GT350s the high revving Voodoo engine sounds glorious but it’s made of glass and buying one out of warranty would be a huge gamble. Plus I sat in the back seat and while I had legroom (barely) headroom was non-existed.
I test drove a VW GTI. The tartan plaid seats are a neat throwback. It was sporty but offered no sense of drama. It was quick enough but lacked character. The Haptic Touch buttons were a huge turnoff. I like buttons and knobs so I don’t have to take my eyes off the road to change stations or temperature. Yes I’m old, I can remember the high beam switch being located on the floor operated with y foot.
Camaro same issue as the Mustang.
BMW M cars were intriguing. Too expensive and costly to maintain once the warranty expires.
Caddy CT V Blackwings nice. Again too pricey.
Honda Civic Si. Local dealer wanted 2k over MSRP bitch please f’ that.
Mazda 3 hatchback. I actually had a deposit down for one of these. Polymetal gray with red Napa leather interior. Near luxury for about $32k.
What I got was a dealer optioned Integra Type S. I paid more then I wanted but the copper wheels are sweet.
So far 1800 miles and I’m happy. Good highway cruiser, a little road noise in the cabin but can be drowned out by the excellent stereo. Handles great , forget it’s FWD, don’t know what witchcraft Honda did but no torque steer. The suspension will pogo on rough New England back roads when in Sport+. Makes nice noises not V8 rumble or Suby rumble but pops and crackles.
Rev match is silly, even blips the throttle on down shift in comfort. The fuel tank is tiny. Low fuel light comes on and only 10 gallons to top back off. No spare tire, I for one would gladly suffer a few pounds more weight a couple more gallons of gas. No rear A/C vents or USB.
I had sold my 2015 Subaru STi to a friend (who blew the motor 4 months later)and ordered a new Bronco Wildtrak. So after driving the Bronco for a while I came to realize I missed rowing through the gears. I know the Bronco can be had with a manual but it doesn’t handle like a sport sedan. You can hustle it around (at the expense of your passenger’s comfort) but it rolls through corners like a hippo on skates.
Before the STI the list was:
(not counting the previous 2 decades)
1999 New Beetle TDi 5 speed
2002 Subaru WRX bugeye 5 speed
2005 Subaru Legacy GT 5eat
2010 VW Golf TDi DSG
I began looking for something sporty with a manual transmission but it needed to have a usable back seat that could fit a full size adult (our daughter still lives with us).
A Mustang would have been cool. Soon the next generation won’t know the sound of a V8. Was looking at used GT350s the high revving Voodoo engine sounds glorious but it’s made of glass and buying one out of warranty would be a huge gamble. Plus I sat in the back seat and while I had legroom (barely) headroom was non-existed.
I test drove a VW GTI. The tartan plaid seats are a neat throwback. It was sporty but offered no sense of drama. It was quick enough but lacked character. The Haptic Touch buttons were a huge turnoff. I like buttons and knobs so I don’t have to take my eyes off the road to change stations or temperature. Yes I’m old, I can remember the high beam switch being located on the floor operated with y foot.
Camaro same issue as the Mustang.
BMW M cars were intriguing. Too expensive and costly to maintain once the warranty expires.
Caddy CT V Blackwings nice. Again too pricey.
Honda Civic Si. Local dealer wanted 2k over MSRP bitch please f’ that.
Mazda 3 hatchback. I actually had a deposit down for one of these. Polymetal gray with red Napa leather interior. Near luxury for about $32k.
What I got was a dealer optioned Integra Type S. I paid more then I wanted but the copper wheels are sweet.
So far 1800 miles and I’m happy. Good highway cruiser, a little road noise in the cabin but can be drowned out by the excellent stereo. Handles great , forget it’s FWD, don’t know what witchcraft Honda did but no torque steer. The suspension will pogo on rough New England back roads when in Sport+. Makes nice noises not V8 rumble or Suby rumble but pops and crackles.
Rev match is silly, even blips the throttle on down shift in comfort. The fuel tank is tiny. Low fuel light comes on and only 10 gallons to top back off. No spare tire, I for one would gladly suffer a few pounds more weight a couple more gallons of gas. No rear A/C vents or USB.
