Hyundai has even done away with the 3 door accent option in the states. The saddest part of the package and convenience option adding to me is that manufacturers are attempting to add features and content to fill comparison check boxes, which means of course that the features are designed to be as cost effective as possible, not to be design or space efficient and certainly not to be gram light in design and production. All this means more needless weight.
Have you tried the Mazda 2? 
I seem to think that I read somewhere that it makes a pretty competent budget autox'er.
In reply to JohnRW1621:
It would help if they were still made. The new-gen 2 is supposed to be great, but of course we only get it as the bloated, cladded-up, auto-only CX-3.
The Toyota Yaris iA is the Mazda2 sedan with a Toyota badge I think. Can still get it with the six speed for $15k or so. I don't think I've read whether or not it retains the 2's sportiness.
The 2 was great but it's a full generation behind new cars for sale in a lot of ways.
ebonyandivory wrote: What about the many law-enforcement vehicles? Although they're probably not available new but semi-new models of everything from Suburbans to Chargers to Taurususususes will be out there soon if not already.
This.
Want a cheaper, stripped down Chevy SS? You can find a used Caprice for 75% off sticker with the same mechanicals, longer wheelbase, and rubber floors.
Bummed that the Taurus SHO is 45k? Get a used Taurus Police Interceptor and get the same AWD/Ecoboost for under 20k.
Police package V8 Chargers, Tahoes, Expolorers, etc all follow the same idea.
Many of these are leading candidates for my pending dog/baby hauler purchase. The bang for buck seems to be there, the lack of frills appeals to my cynical/minimalist side, and the easy-clean interiors should make life's messes more tolerable.
The current Miata Sport seems a little light on standard features compared to a lot of new cars nowadays. I know you can't get it with manual locks (like my NC Sport had), but it's still fairly basic as modern cars go. Surprised I'm the first person to mention it 
STM317 wrote: Bummed that the Taurus SHO is 45k? Get a used Taurus Police Interceptor and get the same AWD/Ecoboost for under 20k.
The cruisers I have seen were all 3.7/FWD models. An AWD Ecoboost cruiser would be neet.
Mostly the PDs here use SUVs. Easier to carry all the gear they haul around and get in and out while wearing 40lb of kit.
In reply to Knurled:
If you know where to look they're available. Just a tune away from some pretty respectable drag times for a 4500lb car, and a total sleeper.
Hmm, not a commuter per se, but up until recently couldn't you get Jeep Wranglers with very specific options/packages? Obviously they made the most money off the Rubicons, Sahara's and Limited's, but I feel like you could get a Wrangler X (?) that was a very basic Jeep.
The only other thing I can think of is work trucks. I know you can get the Silverado WT, but I believe you could get the 4.8 and/or 5.3 in a single cab (although no manual trans with the V8).
I always used to tell people my SRT4 had crank windows in the back and power up front for weight reduction
The Ford Focus S comes with power windows in the front and manual windows in the back.
Never understood the marketing behind that one. No cruise control either! Starts @ $16,775
I got my 2016 GTI in 6spd, 2 door, manual cloth seat, and no-sunroof trim. While it's by no means stripped down I think that's about as base as you can get in something modern that's also supposed to be "sporty." Of course for 2017 they've discontinued the 2 door, but you can still get a base GTI with the performance pack (lsd and bigger brakes) and not have to add any other options.
In reply to ratghia:
That's an interesting car. It would be more interesting to shove that motor/transmission is a base Golf, but it's still cool.
I was riding around in a friend's Golf R this weekend and VW has done a good job with the premium hatch market. I'm sad to see the two door go away. 
mazdeuce wrote: In reply to ratghia: That's an interesting car. It would be more interesting to shove that motor/transmission is a base Golf, but it's still cool.
Why would anyone want a GTI with tiny brakes and no side skirts?
red_stapler wrote:mazdeuce wrote: In reply to ratghia: That's an interesting car. It would be more interesting to shove that motor/transmission is a base Golf, but it's still cool.Why would anyone want a GTI with tiny brakes and no side skirts?
Rallycross or even stage rally. The big motor, LSD and ability to fit 15 inch wheels would be an incredible combo.
I was wondering if I could build a Camaro similarily to the Mustang. 4cly turbo, manual, LSD and some other good stuff. It appears that I can't, which isn't cool GM. I know they built the autocross concept for SEMA, but they sure seem to be leaving the 4cyl car behind in actual production form.
red_stapler wrote:mazdeuce wrote: In reply to ratghia: That's an interesting car. It would be more interesting to shove that motor/transmission is a base Golf, but it's still cool.Why would anyone want a GTI with tiny brakes and no side skirts?
The base Golf's brakes are still pretty durn big.
This thread got me lookin' at the Spark. And wondering if the turbo engine can fit in its nose and the electronics would play nice.
Or, heck, by the numbers, it's an A2 Golf. 100hp, 2200-2300lb, 94" wheelbase. No idea how it drives, although hopefully its Korean-ness has a heavy German accent like the Pontiac LeMans did.
mazdeuce wrote: I had to check to make sure, but the base Fiesta and Fiat 500 are excluded from Street category autocross. The Spark isn't on the exclusion list, but it isn't classed either.
Base model 500 in STF. The ONLY change he had to make was Abarth springs to meet the height/width rule, at least that's all I've been informed of. He races SCCA and not SCCA in the same class though. I don't know if they'll sell it to you like that, but how hard is it to get a set of springs?
mazdeuce wrote: I was wondering if I could build a Camaro similarily to the Mustang. 4cly turbo, manual, LSD and some other good stuff. It appears that I can't, which isn't cool GM. I know they built the autocross concept for SEMA, but they sure seem to be leaving the 4cyl car behind in actual production form.
You can with the V6, it's the 1LE. LSD is standard. Alternatively, you could buy take off SS parts used and build your own, or buy items from GM performance parts which sells their factory lowing/handling kit (GRM did a piece on these kits last issue or so) or supposedly they will be selling 1LE suspension kits which you could install in the 4-cyl.
In reply to Snrub:
Which all the parts for are available from the GM Performance Parts catalog shortly. There was even a small paragraph in the last GRM about it.
The problem is less about making the car exist and more about it existing from the factory so I can run stock class AX and RX in it. And the fact that it seats four and I have four kids and I reeeealy need something that seats five even if the back seat people are miserable. Builds character.
Would a Suzuki SX4 fit in this category?
I learned of their existence 20 minutes ago by parking next to one. The AWD badge caught my eye, it's a hatch and smaller than my Impreza "wagon."
It looked like it had a manual in it too- but my peeking in the windows was cut short by funny looks from others in the parking lot.
Manual AWD SX4s exist. One of my customers has one.
The rear suspension is really interesting. It's a twist beam. I didn't think anyone would ever do a twist beam AWD, even the twist beam loving misers at Volkswagen gave their FWD-conversion AWD models trailing arm or multilink suspensions. Suzuki figured out how to package a rear diff through a twist beam.
That astonishes me more than the Smart, which packages the engine and trans inside a really big twist beam.
In reply to Knurled:
I think you just have to know which jurisdictions had them. I know my local sheriff department got a fleet of Taurus SHOs back when they were still on the newer side. County police got v8 Chargers. I've had my eye out for a while for scoop one of these up used, but they still seem to command a pretty decent premium at auction.
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