Help Momma Hughes get a new car.

[ispoonwithmugen]

Alright so my mom is about to close on her home and wants to "celebrate" with a new(er) car.

Requirements she mentioned:
Leather
Sporty
Be able to drive in snow equivalent to her 2010 TSX.
Under 30k

I'm having trouble thinking of cars that will handle in the snow the same as her car (it's only fwd). I'm not sure how a RWD handles in the snow but from what I've heard it's not good. Does it matter if she has snow tires?

She really like the BRZ and Z4. What else am I missing?

Suggestions: (I'll ask her tomorrow)
Miata
GTI
Focus ST
MSP3
1 series
3 series
S2000
Sky
Boxster
350/70z

[Mike]

RS4.

[/thread]

No, really, we need more info, and a lot of it. What is "Sporty" to her? Something that looks fast? Something that is fast? What is "fast" to her? Are there any makes she does not want? RWD on snow tires will be just as good as her TSX on all-seasons, assuming that's what she had on there. Is she willing to switch to snow tires for half the year (it seems like winter is September to March now)? What kind of space does she want? Does she care about gas mileage at all? What does she want to spend?

Based on the cars she liked, we're eyeing a small car that is marginally fun at the very least and she doesn't really care if it is a little boy-racerish. FR-S, Miata, GTI, Focus ST, Mazdaspeed 3, 1-series, 3-series, S2000 (good luck in snow), Sky, Vibe, Boxster, 3(5|7)0z, A5, and Crossfire off the top of my head.

[WRXtranceformed]

No budget pretty much blows it wide open.

F Type Coupe. Throw some snow tires on it and she's good. It was made in Britain and it's cold up there.

[Goodspeed]

Leather, definitely sporty, and the narrow tires mean it'll cut through snow like a boss.

[*insertusernamehere*]

Yeah but see that one doesn't have a top in case she need to run out while its snowing. This'll do her much better! It's got a straight 6 too :wink:

[Senor_Taylor]

Honda S2000.

[Mike]

White with porn red/black interior. Not the all red. 2001 was a good year. I'll see if I can track my old one down.

[WRXtranceformed]

[WRXtranceformed]

Alright alright let's be for real here for a second. Sporty, great in the snow, leather.

[Mike]

and look at that cargo space!

[Mike]

No budget pretty much blows it wide open.

F Type Coupe. Throw some snow tires on it and she's good. It was made in Britain and it's cold up there.

:lol:

Today, in "How not to start a thread," we present "Help Momma Huges get a new car."

[Senor_Taylor]

The epitome of luxury.

[Mike]

Or screw a car and just get a bottle of bubbly.

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[ispoonwithmugen]

Forgot the price :doh: Under 30k. Something that looks sporty, doesn't really care about space but I'm sure that has some sort of weight, doesn't mind it being manual but wants auto preferably (stepdad commutes to DC from Fredericksburg), and something newer than an S2k.

[Goodspeed]

Tell her to wait for the upcoming ND Miata or its Alfa/Fiat spinoff.

[Sully]

Any word on possible release date for an ND? If I recall that was just a possible idea someone unaffiliated with Mazda came out with but Damn that is sexy car

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

[Jake]

Nothing's been officially released about the ND launch date yet. I am Le Sad because of this.

Mikey, for someone who dotes on interior quality so much, I can't believe you recommended a Crossfire. Have you sat in one? I swear they made the dash and door panels out of compressed foam and recycled Nikes. The car is pretty, but doesn't drive particularly well and the interior is garbage.

Garrett, would she/you consider swapping wheels twice a year (summer & winter sets) a massive pain? Will she keep up on maintenance and not neglect it? A Z4 will not respond well to "deferred/ignored" maintenance like a Honda would.

[Jake]

Forgot the price :doh: Under 30k. Something that looks sporty, doesn't really care about space but I'm sure that has some sort of weight, doesn't mind it being manual but wants auto preferably (stepdad commutes to DC from Fredericksburg), and something newer than an S2k.

So wait, is this car for her or your step-dad?

In any case, I'll throw in a shameless plug for some BMWs. The 128i would be pretty fun, pretty nice, pretty reliable, and not too expensive to buy. I got mine for a smidge under $20k, and for $20-30k you have your pick of color and coupe/convertible. If she wants a convertible but the 128 is too big/unattractive (face it, they look weird), look at the Z4 3.0's. The 3.0si has the same N52 motor as the 128 and would be pretty fun. Newer Steptronic automatics suck a lot less than the old BMW automatics.

Also, the Easy Button is a brand-new power hardtop Miata. My dad got his for right at $30k and it's a Grand Touring with every option on it. Heated leather seats, Bose audio, Bluetooth, keyless start, HIDs, "big" 17" wheels, Bilstein shocks and Torsen LSD, power hardtop (only one on the market that doesn't take up trunk space when down). The automatic is a 6-speed and isn't horrible. Either trans is a good choice, really. The manual is what he got and it's a blast. We threw some Conti DWS all-seasons on his car for winter and between those + LSD, he's gotten around everywhere in the snow this year. Fantastic little car.

The BRZ/FRS doesn't really impress me for the price. Get a PRHT Miata instead, it's more grown-up and a bit nicer to drive IMO.

If she wants a Focus ST, get a GTI.

[Senor_Taylor]

I was completely joking on the S2000. I think the 1 series is absolutely perfect for a mom wanting something sporty but very practical.

[ispoonwithmugen]

Jake, it's for my mom but occasionally my stepdad will use it. Most likely in poor(er) weather. She keeps up on her maintenance all the time, so that shouldn't be a problem. The changing tires/wheels is easy. I can do that for her whenever it starts to snow. If not me then Frank can do it for me.