Anyways, in search for a new car, I've decided to have a list all of different kind of cars, from high end range, to low end right, to high price, to cheap price, so not all cars I am going to list are in the same range.

What I am looking for is a nice looking car for a daily driver and if I want to bring it to the track (autox or drag) it'll be able to perform. I will be doing mods on the car, exhaust, coilovers, etc, and depending on the car, I will work on the engine, some of these cars have enough power as it is. Gas mileage has to be on par or greater than the 8 (I got 16.5-17mpg shifting like a grandma at 3.5k)

Anyways, the past two days I've gone to dealerships to check out the cars and these were the ones I have test drove and my thoughts.

First test drive: 2006 Base Nissan 350Z
I sat in the car. Felt pretty nice, very little blind spot in comparison to the 8 when I first got it. Downfall on view is looking out the rear view mirror, there is not much window to look out of because of how steep the back window is angled at. I started the car and loved the sound at startup. Drove it out to the road and started the test drive. Felt good, definatly had the low end torque that the 8 was missing, so acceleration was a quicker. Ride was sorta bumpy, about the same as the 8. Was able to take it on the freeway, but didn't really gun it at all, because I didn't want to make the sales person nervous. He let me take a turn to test handling, it's pretty good, but no where close as the 8. Overall, I loved the looks of the car, the power and interior was decent, once again, nothing compared to the 8.

Second test drive: 2006 Chevy Cobalt SS Supercharged
So, of course in a total different ballpark in comparison with the Z. The car actually impressed me a little. The exterior and interior is better than I expected, except that ugly spoiler has to go. Drove it around the city, felt good, ride was not bumpy at all. Let me take it on the freeway to test acceleration. The handling was pretty good, a little worse than the Z which impressed me. Acceleration was pretty quick too because of the supercharger. It might have even accelerated a little quicker, but that's because I never really got on the Z. It was a really fun car to drive, really surprised me for what it is and how much they are.

Third test drive: 2005 Pontiac GTO
Wow, that is really all I had to say after the test drive. If you can even call it that. I asked if I could test drive it, and the guy first asked my age, thinking I wasn't old enough to drive or something? This was the first time someone had asked me my age before test driving a car, usually they would just ask for my lisence first. Anyways, the sales person only wanted me to drive it around the block. I got in the car, started the car and loved the sound of the LS2 engine. I pulled onto the road and just got used to the car for a little. I could tell from the beginning I started looking at the GTO the sales person did not want me driving this car, so he only let me drive it around the block, literally, we pulled out of the dealership and just circled around it and that was it. For the time I was in it, I tested the acceleration a little and you definatly knew the power was there. Can't really comment on this test drive since it wasn't really one. If I was looking at a GTO, I'd probably pickup a 2004 LS1 GTO though, but who knows.

Fourth test drive: 2006 Subaru WRX
Don't really like the looks of this car, but I soon started to fall in love with how fun it was to drive. I got on the road and the sales person let me take it on the expressway and told me to gun it. I went through 1st-3rd quickly, as the boost kicked in and sent the car flying. Now the scary part was when my sales person grabbed the wheel and started to jerk it back and forth to show how sturdy the car was, but he stopped thank goodness. The car felt extremely light compared to all the other cars I drove. He let me launch it at one of the stop lights and I did not expect the fast jump and somewhat a whip of my neck. This was also a very fun car to drive.

So in all, every car was great, the Z and GTO are in the same category, and the WRX and Cobalt are in the same. I would probably choose the WRX > the Cobalt and the GTO > the Z but who knows.

GTO>Z>WRX>Cobalt in Power

Cobalt>WRX>Z>GTO in MPG

GTO>Z>Cobalt>WRX in looks for me

Who knows...

 

...is the rx8 not on your list?

 

I don't think I want another 8

 

I'd go with the Z if it were my choice. Which obviously its not.

 

Why not?

 

I thought we already did this thread. And, by we, I mean you.
https://www.rx8club.com/general-automotive-49/8-gone-next-car-76270/

 

Line em up and shoot em down.

 

gto is an ls2 dude....and speaking of LS1....an F-body would be pretty sweet...i drove a trans am for a while, i absolutely love it, my 8 cant even start to compare to it. and if you do get a muscle car like that, i have a website, that my brother distributes for, which sells perfomance parts for those cars....ill leave it at that so it doesnt seem like im spaming...PM me for details


I say you should test drive a Camaro or a Trans am...GL dude

 

I really don't suggest you getting a car with more power and less forgiving than the rx8. Tough to imagine if you can't handle a forgiving car like the rx8 what would you do with more torque with rear wheel drive.

With that said you should get a rsx type s. Pretty forgiving, power that you could handle, probably cheaper insurance, and better mpg. There was a comparion with the type s and the cobalt ss, the rsx was the winner I think.

 

Forgiving, capable RWD? Try a 330i. A bit more coin, but you'll be cossetted by the best handling RWD with four seats.

 

Duh, did you forget about the RX-8?

 

Well, the RX-8 aside. It doesn't sound like he's/she's interested.

 

my suggestion for you would be the STI or you say the WRX.
so it goes like this. STI>WRX> Z>GTO>SS