Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

Here my "what car to get in 3 months time" post.

I'm gaining momentum for a new car soon. Last effort was squashed by the arrival of a new baby and upgrading my wife's car. I'm in the States. Here's my short list.

1. New Golf R
   
2. New WRX STI with wing delete.
   
3. 2016-2018 Focus RS (if I can find one)
   
4. 2016 S4 Manual transmission (very hard to find)
   
   

Anything else? It has to have 4 doors and be a manual, and it should be AWD.

Probably going to go with the Golf R because it's the most practical and understated. I just feel like I should wait for the MKVIII if going that route.

I also wonder whether I should just drive my paid for, perfect condition, 50K, 2011 MKVI GTI for 3 more years and then go electric when things get more interesting. I just find myself driving it like I stole it too much lately... in other words, really finding it boring.

Could you lease a Model 3 for close to the golf r money?

M140i

What’s the driver for AWD?

@Soul Nothing against tesla or any of that empire, I just really don't like them as a car. I'd much sooner be in an ID.3 or that new small Honda if they were available here in the states.

@StevePeel Sorry no can do with the small family.

@Dammit Snow, ice and very often lots of it. Would have to be FWD at the very least.

Fair enough.

Have you driven one? The performance model is insane. I was surprised how well it handled and rode.

Also, super lovely place to be, especially with the glass roof.

Mk7 golf R and a full revo kit will see it run 11.6 1/4 miles, 0-60 in ~3secs

I almost bought a WRX STI recently but the fear of ringland failure put me off quite a lot, although if you're buying the brand new model i'm not sure if that's still an issue.

No v8/v10/v12 options ;)

New WRX STI with wing delete

i've not driven the new gen WRX STI but i had a previous gen and it was a pretty frustrating car to drive for all of the time when you weren't wringing its neck in the back of beyond areas in Scotland or Wales.

When you were doing that, it was bloody brilliant but for me, that was only about 5% of the time and the rest of the time it was a crashy, noisy car with a cheap cabin and nothing to give below 4,000 rpm. And circa 200 miles between fuel stops.

New m135i xdrive.

Nicer place inside than a golf.

I've never driven one, but all folks say that. The rough personality I can deal with, but the low RPM slag is pretty discouraging.

I'll admit the only reason I really would ever want one is the sound. Lame, I know.

No manual

Is manual non negotiable? I'm a die hard manual fan but admit that a modern 8 speed auto is a pretty good thing day to day. I wouldn't say the same for a Dual clutch tho...

Do you get Golf R wagons in the states? That would be the choice.

Also, mate of mine at work just got a Golf R hatch - installed a wheel spacer kit and subtle lowering springs and it looks a lot better, without standing out as modified. Same ride quality too.

I'd love a Golf R Wagon.

Coincidentally they don't make a manual in the Golf R any more either

New C63 is only available as AWD in the US I think.

Thoughts on this plug?

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is it using oil?

I haven’t been keeping a close eye. No low oil warnings

is it a relatively new plug? The electrode looks pretty good. The sandy grey deposits can be consistent with normal use

Burning lean? Lots of pinging?

Could be OEM (FoMoCo branded) - Ford Ka only on 30k miles!

I always thought pinkish/brown/grey deposits okay, it’s just these are a little more extensive.

Resistance tests at 5.7kohm which I’d expect.
HT lead tests about the same
I’m suspecting coil pack

No, just intermittent hesitation and clearly dropping to 3 cyl.

Spark is first port of call. However could be fuelling, possibly caused by a duff or dirty sensor.

I know nothing about fuel trim other than these numbers look low enough not to be concerned

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Considering newer cars are more and more causing the impression of not feeling anything (except if driving like a mad man), would the newer golf R (despite higher power) not be as "boring" as your MKVI Gti because it is more recent, has more driving aids and has AWD?

If your GTi is in perfect condition and paid for, your wife's car is upgraded, and you are not struggling right now without AWD (i.e. it would be nice to have but not mandatory), why not picking a totally separate/additional car, "fun oriented", older, with a shorter budget?

For example, old BMWs like the E30, E36, E46, or old Mercedes come in as 4 door (and are less searched for than 2doors), most are RWD even some of them with AWD, have lower power than current models but still reasonable, you get more involved and feel more than in newer cars (i.e. you can have more fun at lower speed, so lower danger to get caught and mostly to hurt yourself). I suspect compared to a newer golf R budget, buying a one in good nick and insuring/maintaining it should be really reasonable?

Does it have individual coil packs or a coil and leads?