Wife says I need a "real car"

I vote Acura TL with a stick shift. Reasonably fun to drive, cheap to run, never needs fixing, and generally qualifies as a "real car."

Red you are probably correct. The local Carmax has one that I can look at, they also have a TL SH-AWD with the stick but it's 20 large more than the older TL with the stick!

Are Evos really small in the back seat? The last generation STI certainly looks small in the back seat area. Both cars would be a lot of fun although I've never driven either one.

Evo 8-9 have a larger back seat vs the STI of the same vintage. Not sure about the new ones. The Evo 10 trunk is tiny, whereas you can get the STI in a 5 door hatchback.

If you are considering the GTI I would look and test drive an 8th gen Civic Si sedan. I have driven both in anger at autocross and the local track and the civic is infinitely more of a drivers car. I would say the interior of the GTI is slightly nicer. The lag kills me though, even with the instant tiny small turbo. In an autocross situation I sometimes apply the throttle for 0.5s, and I like linear torque control over my car all of the time. Plus I like to do my own shifting.

Plenty of space, great soundsystem. Upkeep and maintenance will be much more reasonable than the premium cars (Lexus, Acura...etc). If you are willing to buy new, the 2012 is supposedly getting the much torquier K24. Mileage is not amazing, but pretty decent.

GRM has done at least 2 reviews of this car, there is one on the site and they all seem to be very fond of this car as well.

I'd go with the CTS-V, though I'm the only one. Cheap interiors? Downshift from fifth to third on the highway and bury your right foot. I personally guarantee you won't notice the interior.

Then again, if wifey can't drive stick, it's out

I have the G35 6MT Coupe - I hope the sedan has more headroom, as I'm nearly touching the headliner at 6'3". I really enjoyed test driving the M-B W203 C240 Sport (sedan and coupe) with the 6 speed, though if you must have an automatic, my impression is a Benz is the automatic to get. Plus hey, blue window tint.

i know I'm late to the party but, i just bought a 2005 G35 (for me) and a 2005 TL (for the wife) last presidents day. Both stick shift. the TL is a nice car, but the G makes me want to do bad things! I am 6'3 and fit in both cars with room to spare.

Y'all are going to hate me for this but...

Really good legroom, Huge Back set room, Good gas mileage.

Toyota Avalon....

I know it is not a "Drivers" car but it will start every day, it's ultra quiet on the road. Someones Grandma hads one and is moving to the home and will sell it cheep...

Flame away...

bluesideup wrote: Wife shot down a 940 Turbo wagon because it was "old". I had dreams of a big turbo RWD wagon but that's not going to happen. V70R is difficult to find and the wife might be allergic to wagons for some reason.

But wagons are as real as "real cars" get.

Tell me about it. I remember reading that the 940 wagons can carry plywood sheets. I haven't taken the time to look at any rides yet. The nice thing is cars get cheaper every day.

The wife can't drive a stick but it's not a huge consideration. There are only a few cars I'd buy with a slushbox.

C43, E55, GTI, A3

Is the A3 Quattro with the 3.2 as cool as an R32? That 2.0T can get some crazy horsepower numbers for under $1000 but is only available in wrong wheel drive.

The fact that kids have to ride backwards in a car seat until they are 2 and in a booster until they are 4'9" is a consideration.

Thanks for the suggestion but I wouldn't own an Avalon for anything. Ok maybe if I was a travelling salesman and my gearhead soul had been forcibly removed

I'd go G8 GT or CTS-V from that list. i'd drive the G8 GT auto as well as i've really enjoyed my TBSS which is fat and heavy with only 4 speeds by comparison and its still effortless to pass or just romp.

Avalon back seats are magical and they're fast in a straight line.

I wouldnt mind having one.

But then again i drive mostly highway and im very pragmatic about the amount of turning i do. I have other cars for that.

I've ridden in an Avalon. They're pretty comfy. Think of it as a poor man's Mercedes S-Class. It's not so bad, really. A sports car? No.

I'm pretty convinced that the next car I spend real money on will be from the g8/gto/cts-v family.