Originally Posted by JamesNoBrakes
WRX Sti 5-door. Tons of fun, very practical. Best thing is that you don't have to get to like 120mph to "have fun" with acceleration and to outrun everything else on the road. Those huge wagons limited by traction and weight might be able to pull away in the quarter when they get going fast enough, but the STi is fun in a much more practical way. Time to pass someone and "get around"? Nothing presses you as much at low speeds/initial acceleration. No one around or on-ramp and want to get to 60-70 real fast? These will just "go" when you slam the throttle, rather than spin the wheels or have to get up to 5000rpm to make serious power. Tearing up curvy mountain roads? What if there's a little dust/sand from snow-removal or just a bit of loose stuff? Nothing will have the sure-footedness of the STi awd. I wouldn't include many others in this, some are too rock-hard with little interior volume, some are front-wheel-drive torque-steerers, some are big porky sedans and wagons. All of these can be fun, no doubt, but I don't think all that many are really practical.
Plus, you put a bigger turbo in that STi, downtube/exhaust, intercooler, injectors, basically the supporting mods for 400whp, and you're going to eat most everything out there on the track because you got the power AND the handling to do so. They are not bad stock for the track, compared to many cars that need significant suspension work.
Really about the only people that I know that use their DD as their track car drive something like an STi, and although "its a subaru", remember that it's their best offering, it's oriented towards sporting, but it's going to have the power-options, nice sound, etc. No cadillac, but on par with my 2SS.
Otherwise, if not a wagon, I'd be thinking M3/335. The rear room in my opinion is damn good and it makes good use of it's space. I never felt cramped in the rear and it's pretty darn practical. 335 with some turbo/downtube/exhaust upgrades can also put out some serious power, but you'd need more suspension and brake work most likely to make it really run on the track.
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