Hey!
I’m in my late 20s and live in a major city in Canada. I work from home, don’t have a commute, and want a daily that’s a ton of fun to drive alongside my NA Miata that I’m swapping for an S2000 next spring.
I’d like to spend under $35k CAD on the daily, I’m open to modifying it, and most of my driving is going 0-40kmh downtown or visiting my parents. I love turbo pststststs over exhaust noise, and would love something reliable. Here’s what I’m thinking-
[2010 STI Hatch](https://www.autotrader.ca/a/subaru/wrx%20sti/nepean/ontario/19_12867376_/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=2_5_5&pc=L5M%204L8&sprx=1000) ($20k with 100,000km)
* Pros: My favourite body style, a huge aftermarket community, AWD for snow.
* Cons: Most of them have been used and abused. Weary of high mileage engine issues.
[2022 Veloster N](https://www.autotrader.ca/a/hyundai/veloster%20n/hamilton/ontario/5_61970739_20230203201308914/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&ursrc=boost_hl&orup=1_7_7&pc=L5M%204L8&sprx=100) ($35k with 15,000km)
* Pros: Super aggressive styling, burbling exhaust, creature comforts, active warranty
* Cons: FWD and a smaller enthusiast community. Aftermarket support is smaller.
[2018 Golf R](https://www.autotrader.ca/a/volkswagen/golf%20r/newmarket/ontario/5_63042640_20120130165014542/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=1_2_2&pc=L5M%204L8&sprx=100) ($35k with 50,000km)
* Pros: Fit, finish, and performance rated phenomenally. Aftermarket support.
* Cons: Super understated design, and blends in easily amongst a crowd.
[2022 Kona N](https://www.autotrader.ca/a/hyundai/kona%20n/brantford/ontario/5_61813449_on20080317092146390/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&ursrc=boost_hl&orup=2_7_8&pc=L5M%204L8&sprx=250) ($35k with 50,000km)
* Pros: I dig the funky alien shape, and the practicality of a mini SUV.
* Cons: No manual transmission, FWD, fake hood vents, and minimal aftermarket support.
[2020 STI Sedan](https://www.autotrader.ca/a/subaru/wrx%20sti/woodbridge/ontario/5_62537838_20171214141601320/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=7_12_12&pc=L5M%204L8&sprx=250&modalXS=1) ($40k with 60,000km)
* Pros: I know these can pump out a ton of power, and aftermarket support is great.
* Cons: I don’t like the sedan body style, and feel these are super common in my area.
I’d love your opinions on what you’d get if you were me, especially if other cars come to mind that haven’t made my list! This is my first time buying a daily, and any help would be amazing 🙂
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10 Comments
Out of that list the golf r is personally the only one I’d even consider.
Have you driven any of these? Ideally you would Turo each for a day or two and make a decision based on that.
Oh, and have you checked insurance costs? That might eliminate some.
Have you driven an FWD car? Given that you say that it’s a con. It really isn’t – driving an FWD car feels like you’re the one in control, as opposed to being pushed around as with an RWD car.
Have you considered a Ford Fiesta ST? They’re loved for a reason.
What’s wrong with the Miata? You can do a lot of repairs and get some really nice winter wheels/tires for the down-payment on one of these cars
I’m partial the to the Golf R because it’s the most “sleeper” of your list. I know you listed the understated styling as a con, but by my 30’s I was wishing I was blending in more, so that I didn’t attract attention all the time, when I was only trying get somewhere (not race every kid at a stop sign, or get noticed by every cop). You might end up feeling the same during your ownership of your next car. You can always put an aftermarket exhaust on it. That way you only attract attention when you’re flooring it.
VW isn’t the most reliable, but better than they used to be. The Mk7 generation with the EA888 engine you are shopping for is basically the pinnacle of Golf-platform reliability. Keep and eye out for a slow coolant leak, but otherwise, they pretty much solved all the issues by 2018. And nothing on your list is *super* reliable, IMO.
I would stay away from the STI Sedan, because there is basically no benefit vs hatchbacks. In theory, the same car, in sedan form, will get better efficiency due to aerodynamics, but at the downtown speeds you’ll be driving, and knowing you like the pstststs… it’s not going to matter. At least with a hatchback you can put large stuff in easily when you need to. I lost track of how many times I have hauled things in hatches or wagons that I wouldn’t have been able to in a sedan. Once you have one, you just realize how handy it is to have a that big open space available. BUT… if you really want an STI, I would still take a newer sedan over a quite old hatch, just for reliability sake. It would be a blast in the winter. Even slower AWD cars are fun in the snow, as long as they can send at least 50% to the rear wheels.
On the STI note: it’s hard to compare a 14 year old sports car vs a nearly new one. I wouldn’t buy a 2010 sports car with a big modding community unless I had some kind of understanding about how much it has been beat on and modded, like buying from a friend or family member. Or if it was a semi-project car that I wasn’t afraid to wrench on myself. It sounds like you just want a reliable daily.
I know it’s not on your list, but if I was going to spend up to $40k on a lightly used daily hot hatch, I’d consider EVs too, especially since you have a fun ICE car already. Ioniq 5 would be on my list, if I was you. “Mini SUV” as you said about the Kona, but the styling nails something between retro rally car and futuristic vehicle. Not sure if EV charging is a barrier to entry for you, though. Obviously, you have no qualms with Hyundai. The Korean makes have made great strides lately (Kia’s massive failure with immobilizers aside).
Anyway, just my 2 cents. I wish I was in your position. My latest acquisitions have been boring cars of necessity, like a truck for towing. I daily a Mk7 GTI, have a project RX-7. But I’m not going to lie, I really dig the little twin turbo 2.7 in my new-to-me F-150. It’s peppy and I love hearing the turbos spool up and down. It’s almost as fast to 60 as my GTI, while weighing nearly twice as much. Feels like driving a small apartment though. You can take the guy out of the small car, but you can’t take the small car out of the guy.
Anyway, enjoy whatever you choose! And props for the excellent reddit formatting.
There is nothing more fun in the winter than an STi
I had an easier time winter dailying a GR86 (manual) than Veloster N (DCT) for what it’s worth. Both on winter rubber.
The veloster is a good shout with the warranty. Golf R is the best pick here definitely but I would prefer the veloster personally
I have an NA for summer as well.
My second car is an Impreza. I live in a snowy area.
I’ve never regretted that decision.
I’d do what i did again. An older, well maintained Subaru.
I only drive the other car for a couple months during winter or up to the lodge / or bringing stuff.
Makes no sense for another sportyish hatch when I’d rather spend those days in the MX5.
Neither of the cars listed are really that interesting imo. And spending 40K on a car you’re not even that into makes zero sense.
Golf GTI