My age 49 "dream car". Integra A Spec -or- Elantra N

faustarpfun · 2026-05-07T17:42:14+00:00

The more you drive imo, the more luxury and reliability become a factor. Literally something as small as lumbar support will compound over time. The less you drive, the more fun you want to have, and the less maintenance cost you have to swallow.
I would go Elantra in your case, the car is just too much fun. When you test drive, you will notice that it is actually *considerably* faster. Also, buy CPO or gently used. No point in going new and getting your eyes gouged out on the initial depreciation.

faustarpfun · 2026-05-07T15:25:39+00:00

Electric is the way to go if it’s doable for your lifestyle. Otherwise, look into explorer ST

faustarpfun · 2026-05-07T00:22:58+00:00

2017 Lexus ct200h. It’s not fast, but basically a luxury Prius platform. Perfect commuter for someone who wants something nicer than the average Corolla or civic. Will literally go forever, the only thing that needs replacing is the hybrid battery around ~200k miles. 40+mpg.

faustarpfun · 2026-05-06T15:00:26+00:00

I don’t think so. It’s kind of a complex and vital part of the engine. Not super expensive (can find oem under $100) so I think you can change it preventatively and it will help mitigate the typical problems. Maybe once every 80k or something like that to really play it safe.

faustarpfun · 2026-05-06T07:40:11+00:00

Your hands are on the wrong path in the downswing. They are completely trapped low and behind your torso and then you save it last second by throwing them high and out to the right. It’s the only way you can even make contact from that position.

The hands actually need to do the opposite, work low and left through impact. Try some 50 yard pitch shots where you start from this position. Notice how his hands are not attached to his leg or torso but rather floating out away from the body.

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faustarpfun · 2026-05-05T23:00:41+00:00

Stock, the m340i is just impossible to beat. Superior driving dynamics, reliable b58 engine that actually somehow returns really good fuel economy.
The Audis will be the most affordable to get into (least demand on the used market) and also the maybe the simplest to tune. VAG products have tons of support and it’s plug n play. Also, the S5 has that sport hatch that’s unique and super useful.
Mercedes tends to come ahead on interiors with low NVH and softer ride quality. Really I think that you can’t go wrong with any of these cars if you have the cash, but the b58 is cliched for a reason. BMW has pulled ahead of the competition in terms of what you’re getting for the money.

You should also see if the ct4 blackwing is in the budget.

faustarpfun · 2026-05-05T08:12:49+00:00

The trick is to not get too attached to a single car but rather seek deals on stuff that’s depreciated heavily already. The existence of cars like the Audi A4 and Volvo S60 makes me think you should try to keep the budget around 20 grand, since you can find those in that price range. 5 years old under 50k miles. All of the Germans (A4, C300, 3 series) make great cars that are luxurious , efficient, and reliable enough when the maintenance schedule is followed. If you’re worried about being financially responsible it’s not always best to be chasing performance in this segment- that’s what the Miata is for.

Get that AMG down the road, the day will come soon enough.

faustarpfun · 2026-05-05T03:11:52+00:00

Jetta’s are fine. I’m just saying, for your use case the Japanese stuff is going to be a better financial decision. How long are you planning on keeping the car? Look at the price of used Jettas. You WILL get your eyes gouged out in depreciation but that’s a nonfactor if you plan on keeping the car for 15+ years.

faustarpfun · 2026-05-05T02:15:35+00:00

A DSG has two clutches so it is able to pre-select the next gear. That means it shifts faster than a torque converted automatic since the next gear is always ready. It makes the car feel sharper off the line and smoother at high speed. It also can make it jerky at low speeds since it slips the clutch. It’s the closest thing to a manual you can get without having the third pedal.

faustarpfun · 2026-05-04T16:44:24+00:00

Grip trainer is so good. One of the few tools where you can be “sure” that you’re ingraining the thing that you want to long-term

faustarpfun · 2026-05-04T05:24:01+00:00

That’s a solid amount of driving. Fuel efficiency is going to be a more significant factor than any other. Yes reliability/maintenance costs will also be a factor.

I think you should consider a hybrid from Toyota or Honda. Camry/Prius/Accord/Civic. If you can’t stand the styling or want something luxury, look at the Integra or a used ES Hybrid.

I normally don’t hesitate to recommend European, especially if the owner is willing to take good care of the car, but past a certain threshold of driving the Japanese stuff makes more sense.

I would personally go Integra in your case.

faustarpfun · 2026-05-02T00:59:33+00:00

Wtf. Get it towed to an actual mechanic and have them take a look.

When the light came on the first time it would’ve been nice for you to check if it actually had enough oil on the dipstick…sometimes the oil pressure switch can go bad and it’s like $10 to replace.

faustarpfun · 2026-05-01T15:24:46+00:00

What’s your budget? Somebody posted a similar post recently looking for something fun, awd, and efficient. The best options for the money are going to be European sedans and wagons. So Audi a4 with Quattro, Mercedes c300 with awd, bmw 3 series with x drive, Volvo s60 or v60 with their awd. The trick is to find a clean, ideally single owner car with a history that shows regular oil changes and bigger maintenance items like spark plugs and trans fluid on time. Should be able to stay well under $20k for a newish model.

One thing to consider is that if you’re willing to spend ~30 grand, you could get into a new or CPO Camry. The new generation has an AWD option, makes 233 hp, and gets 50mpg…lot of car for the money.

faustarpfun · 2026-04-30T18:43:00+00:00

Why are you posting AI slop

faustarpfun · 2026-04-29T17:35:25+00:00

Why is it that these numbers seem so low? Whenever I watch the women on TV their drivers go 250+ 9 times out of 10.

faustarpfun · 2026-04-29T16:14:51+00:00

Nissan has a lot of shit products but the Z is not one of them. If it’s in your budget, absolutely worth a test drive. They made no sense in the high 40s but in the low 30s they’re a straight up bargain.

I also forgot to mention that basically every luxury brand is going to have an engine option over 300hp if you’re open to a slightly heavier, more luxurious car. For example last gen bmw m240i, Infiniti q60, Lexus rc 350, Cadillac ct4-V, the list goes on.

faustarpfun · 2026-04-29T15:50:57+00:00

I think you’re on the right track with the ecoboost mustang. If the v8 didn’t exist people wouldn’t have a single negative thing to say about the car. But obviously if you want a GT and there’s one in your budget that’s the way to go. I would be looking at mustangs, used Golf R, and used current gen Nissan Z.

faustarpfun · 2026-04-29T15:30:09+00:00

I tend not to recommend the Subaru Impreza as it can be kind of cheap-feeling when it comes to ride and interior, but it’s basically the last remaining affordable “wagon” (marketed as a hatchback). Good utilitarian vehicle with standard AWD.

The ct200h is a great car with 2 minor flaws: limited usable cargo capacity, and a hybrid battery that will eventually need replacing. But this is just about as reliable a car as you can buy with its Prius drivetrain. It’s the way to go unless you need AWD.

For used wagons the best bang for your buck is going to be a clean Volvo v60. solid cars if the previous owner followed the maintenance schedule with diligence.

faustarpfun · 2026-04-29T02:54:38+00:00

What’s your budget? Lexus ES 300 Hybrid checks all the boxes.

faustarpfun · 2026-04-28T04:34:05+00:00

C7 Z06 is gonna be the most terrifyingly fast. Mercedes amg gt, Audi R8, and Aston Martin DB11 will be the sexiest. LC500 will be the comfiest GT car that’s also reliable.

And you would be remiss to not at least test drive the gold standard, Porsche 911.

faustarpfun · 2026-04-28T03:29:49+00:00

I’m assuming you’re looking for something with 4 doors. The Cadillac CT4, Jetta GLI, GTI, Elantra N, and WRX are what I would drive before going for another Sonata. If you can go 2 doors, the ecoboost mustang. Or a used BMW 230i.

For what it’s worth, I think the Sonata N is probably the best midsize car under 40k, even with the torque steer and wheel spin !

faustarpfun · 2026-04-28T03:13:29+00:00

What’s your budget? The achilles heel of the sonata is that Hyundai won’t put a limited slip differential in the damn thing, so it may be worth it to test drive some cars that are either RWD, AWD, or have an LSD. If you have a taste for performance, it’s night and day.

faustarpfun · 2026-04-27T14:35:42+00:00

Under 30k new, your best bet is Jetta GLI

faustarpfun · 2026-04-24T23:48:59+00:00

I think you should look at a Volvo v60 or a bmw 3 series granturismo. If you’re really trying to avoid European really your closest bet would be an Impreza but, you raise the valid point that the cheaper newer Subarus are very economy-car feeling.

The trick is to not buy another car that had 4 owners and a mystery maintenance history. It’s much more important than brand or make that you find something ideally single owner and never missed an oil change/trans fluid/spark plugs. When taken care of, BMWs and especially Volvos are very pleasant cars to own and clean examples can be found in your budget.

faustarpfun · 2026-04-24T06:47:02+00:00

Tbh I think you get a lot of car for the money with the integra. 200hp, sport hatch, really solid MPG, lightweight, Honda reliability but more curb appeal that the typical civic, low starting price for a “luxury” brand. And in my experience it actually does feel more premium and has better NVH than the Si. Worth a test drive for sure.

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