For anyone who wants fast, practical, cheap, and efficient, the car i recommend that does all of these well is either the GTI or the Golf R. But they are best with some small mods. With a Cobb AP and off the shelf tune from someone like EQT you can really make these cars surprisingly quick. And the GTI remains quite…

My first car ever was just a fun car. A 1986 Mr-2 manual in silver. But prob the first one i really waited on and purchased and really loved was the 2002 WRX bugeye when it made it to the US. Still have a soft spot for that car

without question it would be the Boxster Spyder RS

Personally im impressed by the used car deals you can get on a Kia EV6 GT.
Thats the 576hp high performance version
0-60 in 3.2 (5-60 in 3.4)
0-100 in 8.0
1/4 mile in 11.6@119
You cant get more performance for less, especially with daily practicality

2023 models with very low miles can be had in the high $30k range. The Non…

for me it was the pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix
Great little wagony hatch thing. underpowered but still lots of fun to drive. I owned two with manual everything including locks and windows. First gen was best but both good. Bulletproof reliable, handle great especially if you make some minor changes. And dirt cheap. Plus…

I think my favorite is the 2016 GTI 2dr. S model comes with plaid seats, performance package gets you LSD and big brakes. Mine had a manual and lighting package. As a 2dr it was just right under 3000lbs, and its FWD setup can handle a lot of power without torque steer. I purchased mine brand new, having special…

Better yet give us the Golf R wagon

it exists, we dont get it

for me i think the ideal wagon is one that has performance and handling and isnt insanely heavy. Wagon lovers are practical people they dont really want $100k luxury wagons. What they want is a well priced fun and practical wagon. With that in mind i think the ideal wagon would be a GTI wagon. Plaid interior, enough…

It till be much better once i finally finish the mods.  Right now the suspension has coilovers, RSB, front strut tower, roll control knuckles.  Ive added wireless android auto and some other tweaks but up next are engine mods.  just a tune is 235hp.  but ill be going is38 turbo after that. that golf r turbo with DP,…

they can you do have to make sure the drains are clear and you dont buy one that has a leak.  you can also get them without the moonroof

Most sportwagens are FWD and with an auto that is not a DSG. They do make a sportwagen with AWD and a dsg or manual but they are exceedingly rare. The sportwagen has less features. In the Alltrack you can get better features like fender stereo, moonroof (make sure its not leaking), leather seats, dual climate control,…

I also REALLY like the CX-50 interior. If you had shown me that interior and not told me what car it was in i might have thought it was the interior on a new S2000

Or if you are going this route the CX-50 is the better more attractive car IMO with more cargo and the same engine
here is a used CX-50 turbo AWD for $29k with 28k miles

This is what i did. Went from a 2016GTI 2dr with 90k miles to a 2017 Alltrack with 25k miles. I wanted the space but also to get a DSG and AWD instead of the manual that was causing me issues. Its slightly better than the sportwagen in several ways. Then i lowered it on coilovers to get righ of that offroad height and…

You could do what i did when i sold my 2016 2dr GTI. Get an Alltrack (and bonus you can make it a GTI wagon for cheap)
I purchased an alltrack, swapped over plaid interior, GTI brakes, gave it coilovers. And just a tune gets it up to GTI power at about 230hp. Plan to keep my wagon for a while. In the cargo area you can…

Depends on the cargo needed. If i dont need cargo then something thats small and fun to drive. If i do need cargo then ideally a wagon like a V60 Polestar wagon or a Panamera Wagon.

btw i learned to drive in a 1984/85 Dodge Caravan. My parents had two. I could choose from the brown with wood panels or the blue with wood panels. 95hp with a 3-speed auto. It was dangerously slow. To merge on the highway you had to turn the AC off in the summer in Texas if you had any hope of surviving the merge…

Instead of the question “how much horsepower do you need” I prefer the question “how much lightness do you need”

yeah but thats 4dr and basically a lowered SUV.  I really like a smaller lighter car but yes that car way out performs its size and weight