Cross-Shopping FL5?

[menikmati]

@optronix gave some good options.

Given your requirements, I'd throw in the GR Corolla and Golf R into the mix unless the entire $70k budget must be spent.

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[zumbooruk]

What's a FA5?

FA5 is the manufacturing code or VIN code for the 8th gen Si Sedan with the K20Z3 engine with the 8,000 RPM redline (whereas the 11th gen Type R is FL5)

 

[zumbooruk]

@optronix gave some good options.

Given your requirements, I'd throw in the GR Corolla and Golf R into the mix unless the entire $70k budget must be spent.

thanks but I will not touch a VW (or an Audi) with a ten foot pole

anyway, no manual available for the 2025 Golf R

I also ruled out the GR and Hyundai N

 

[lilDumpsterRat]

If youre willing to go as high as 70k, i would be tempted to get a used vehicle. New, below 70k, that rivals the Fl5 CTR's finesse is hard to find. can you get a new nissan Z at msrp now? probably no still., but I don't know as much about that car.

Used Supra manual, Lotus Evora, even a 991 911 are all in range at that price.

But you can find plenty of CTR's at MSRP, and even in overcharging socal you can find plenty that are only asking $1500 or so above MSRP. I d take that over any cadillac or other offering.

 

[menikmati]

anyway, no manual available for the 2025 Golf R

I also ruled out the GR and Hyundai N

Whoops, I didn't know they took away the manual in the 2025 Golf R.

May I ask what made you rule out the Corolla and Elantra?

 

[menikmati]

Used Supra manual, Lotus Evora, even a 991 911 are all in range at that price.

OP has a 4-door requirement.

 

[lilDumpsterRat]

OP has a 4-door requirement.

lol i missed that. what about a new subaru wrx manual

 

[zumbooruk]

If youre willing to go as high as 70k, i would be tempted to get a used vehicle. New, below 70k, that rivals the Fl5 CTR's finesse is hard to find.
Used Supra manual, Lotus Evora, even a 991 911 are all in range at that price.

But you can find plenty of CTR's at MSRP, and even in overcharging socal you can find plenty that are only asking $1500 or so above MSRP. I d take that over any cadillac or other offering.

Agree, CTR is probably the perfect car for me, but then I started thinking (which is always a dangerous thing): "if I am paying the stealership $5-$10k over, might as well put this into a possibly "better" car... which is why I posted this thread.

I never bought a used car... as mentioned above, I only bought two cars so far, both new, and I kept both for nearly 20 years (and our 2006 Sienna, also bought new, has over 250K miles)

also, I believe that the cars you mentioned are all two door, I rather have a four door.

I contacted Honda dealers all the way from Santa Maria up north, down to San Diego, none were willing to go below $5K over. one said that they are "very flexible and willing to negotiate ... from a starting price of $70k...". another was "taking bids, with current bid at $57k". others were $5K over with additional mandatory dealer installed options of $3-$4k. some of them still contact me every few weeks, yet no one have gone down to MSRP.


and the more I read (and watch) about CT4-V Blackwing, the more I lean toward it. though I have not yet talked to any Cadillac dealership, and I have no idea what the selling price might be.

I assume MSRP since they all seem to be special order, and no dealer has a manual transmission in stock...

 

[menikmati]

I contacted Honda dealers all the way from Santa Maria up north, down to San Diego, none were willing to go below $5K over. one said that they are "very flexible and willing to negotiate ... from a starting price of $70k...". another was "taking bids, with current bid at $57k". others were $5K over with additional mandatory dealer installed options of $3-$4k. some of them still contact me every few weeks, yet no one have gone down to MSRP.

I would expand your search and cast a wide net outside of California and pay to have the car shipped. I was able to get MSRP last year from a dealer in Michigan.

Also, what is your time horizon for the car? MSRP can be attainable given enough time and patience.

 

[zumbooruk]

Whoops, I didn't know they took away the manual in the 2025 Golf R.

May I ask what made you rule out the Corolla and Elantra?

I currently drive an 07 FA5 (Si Sedan) and I love it, I really did not consider any other car except for the CTR till now.

it just seemed, based on reviews, the the Elantra is not as refined and fun to drive as the CTR, and I can afford a CTR, so why look lower?

as for the Corolla, I know I looked at it, and at comparison videos, and I decided against it, though I do not recall why (am I getting too old?)

 

[zumbooruk]

I would expand your search and cast a wide net outside of California and pay to have the car shipped. I was able to get MSRP last year from a dealer in Michigan.

Also, what is your time horizon for the car? MSRP can be attainable given enough time and patience.

patience is a virtue... but it ain't one of mine...

that said, I still very much love my 07 Si, and I will definitely miss shifting at 8,000 RPM, so I am in no big rush to get a new car.

I started contacting Honda dealers about a year ago, and again in December (thinking I might get a better deal at the end of the year... )

I have considered going out of state and driving it back, but should probably wait till spring time.

our son is graduating from WVU this spring, so I could fly there with my wife, and drive the CTR back home.

meanwhile, I started thinking (see above)... which led to this thread.

 

[zumbooruk]

lol i missed that. what about a new subaru wrx manual

no STI since 2021, and the tS is not available yet, and when released, I would guess that it will go for over MSRP for the first few months to a year... or maybe not.

 

[Rhorn]

I'm going to have to disagree, they are very capable cars.

I never said they weren't. They give you the big V8 pony/muscle car energy in a luxury sedan. Its a complete different experience to the CTR.

Not going to argue on behalf of OP. Its
just a performance luxury sedan vs a hot hatchback and I vote hot hatchback, just like many of the people here have already done.

I wanted a M5 for the longest time but when I had the money and thought long and hard and realized for that money I'd rather just buy a proper sports car and another car to daily. It was silly to me to spend all of that money on a sporty luxury sedan to use as a weekend car. Id rather just get something like a GT500 lol.

 

[thatonedaveguy]

I never said they weren't. They give you the big V8 pony/muscle car energy in a luxury sedan. Its a complete different experience to the CTR.

Not going to argue on behalf of OP. Its
just a performance luxury sedan vs a hot hatchback and I vote hot hatchback, just like many of the people here have already done.

I wanted a M5 for the longest time but when I had the money and thought long and hard and realized for that money I'd rather just buy a proper sports car and another car to daily. It was silly to me to spend all of that money on a sporty luxury sedan to use as a weekend car. Id rather just get something like a GT500 lol.

This ^


A big heavy v8 is apples and oranges to a Type R driving experience. Luxury sedans are great for standing starts and enjoying the v8 engine sound and experience every time you put your foot down while being pampered with luxury amenities.

The Type R on the other hand can brake later and take corners at a higher speed than heavy rwd v8 sedans. Curvy, hilly back roads are where the Type R is at home and you will have much more fun on those in an R than a heavy car. If you truly want more straight line performance, an FL5 completely stock with nothing but a TSP or Phearable tune is faster in a straight line than the CT4 V Blackwing. But you can't realistically do anything to make the CT4VBW as light as the Type R is.

Lastly, Cadillac and BMW are not capable of making a stick shift that is as good as the one in the Type R even if you get into the 6 figure cars.

 

[Bigfx]

This ^


A big heavy v8 is apples and oranges to a Type R driving experience. Luxury sedans are great for standing starts and enjoying the v8 engine sound and experience every time you put your foot down while being pampered with luxury amenities.

The Type R on the other hand can brake later and take corners at a higher speed than heavy rwd v8 sedans. Curvy, hilly back roads are where the Type R is at home and you will have much more fun on those in an R than a heavy car. If you truly want more straight line performance, an FL5 completely stock with nothing but a TSP or Phearable tune is faster in a straight line than the CT4 V Blackwing. But you can't realistically do anything to make the CT4VBW as light as the Type R is.

Lastly, Cadillac and BMW are not capable of making a stick shift that is as good as the one in the Type R even if you get into the 6 figure cars.

uh… any videos to prove this bw can do zero to 60 in 4 seconds and 12 flat and high 11’s on a bad day in the quarter and typically run significantly faster on most tracks. I get it love my type r but it’s slow af and I’m good with that.

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