Comments by "" (@williamlong2682) on "TheTopher" channel.

  1. Really grateful that you appreciated this car for what it is - a simple, comfortable, quiet, everyday EV hatchback. I feel like I’ve seen more and more reviewers unfairly holding a lack of sex appeal against any EV not trying to project any. Not every EV has to try to rival a Tesla for cool factor, and I think the “normal car” vibe could be an asset for a lot of prospective buyers.
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  2. Grateful that you appreciated this car for the reliable, fuel-efficient comfy cruiser it is, even with all the F Sport fluff, and thank you for only invoking “old people” once in the whole video. I’m just sick of all the tired, boring, old people stereotype jokes becoming too common in reviews of cars like this. Comfort, reliability and fuel economy should be qualities ANYONE can appreciate! Great video as always.
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  3. $69k?! That’s pushin into M3 territory damn...I’d probably go light on the options
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  4. Never thought one day I’d consider a Prius/Miata 2 car garage…but here we are
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  5. HEY THAT’S MY CAR! 😍😍 It’s definitely surprised a lot of people I’ve encountered that they still make this. I’ve been super happy with mine over 3.5 years and 50k miles. I understand the space constraints relative to, say, a Civic hatch, but it’s had all the space I’ve needed (have fit whole bikes inside with the front tire off and the back seats down) and the only passenger I’ve driven who hasn’t fit in the back seats is my 6’3 dad. Driving wise, it does lean more toward the luxury/refinement end of the spectrum, but it can hang if you want to hustle every once in a while. The manual was super easy for me to get used to, but my only issue with it is with the more efficiency-focused gearing, the gears are fairly far spaced, which, with some of these Seattle hills, can be annoying. Hill start assist is a godsend, though, as is radar cruise control with the manual for road trips. Drove mine from LA to SF, SF to Seattle, and on countless trips now from Seattle to Portland and back. Best efficiency on the highway I’ve seen is 37-38 mpg. Overall, Realistick mentioned this in his review, but this is one of those very precisely and specifically targeted cars for a particular customer, but if you are one of those people, there’s nothing else quite like it. Would be a great new car for someone coming out of something like a 6-speed Volvo C30 or Audi A3. Ok, thanks for coming to my owner’s TedTalk.
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  6. Sounds like a million bucks but can’t believe I had to watch Charlie’s unsexy hands the whole time😞 Topher’s hands woulda made this vid👌🏻🤚🏻
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  7. A house on one of my bike routes has one of these. I kinda dig them. Exterior strikes the right balance between being quirky and different but not bizarre or weird for the hell of it. Don’t love the all-tablet center stack and wish there were some more hard buttons, but at least the infotainment seems pretty snappy. I’d definitely take this over a Model Y/3 or Mach E.
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  8. Fellow ‘21 Mazda owner here! Mine’s a 3 hatch with a 6-speed! Been super happy with it and your videos were part of my choice! Manual is no Civic Si manual but still feels pretty good and it’s been easy to learn as a new stick driver. Revs drop really naturally with the NA 2.5, and much prefer its power delivery to a 1.5/1.6T. The parking brake thing is actually kinda handy with the stick, tho. Drove mine from San Francisco to Seattle and it was a great highway cruiser. Super quiet, nice safety tech suite (manual still gets radar cruise!) and I averaged 37 mpg. Totally with you on the infotainment/cabin simplicity. Just a few months and I’m already super used to it, tho my center console and airbag cover also have a few scratches.
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  9. Personally, I’d love to see the 8 Series get the Alpina treatment. I feel like that would be better suited to the overall GT nature of this car...
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  10. That 5 cylinder sound never gets old! All about that slow car fast vibe!
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  11. It’s been on the market for a while now, but this is still hands down my favorite midsize sedan. Still looks sooooooo classy and elegant, even all these years later. The Mazda driving dynamics certainly don’t hurt, either. Accord, especially the 2.0T, is a very, very close second.
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  12. Fun fact - the first vehicle I ever rented was previous gen Elantra! Was flying through DFW for a job interview and the company rented me something “intermediate” and it was this or an EcoSport…easy choice
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  13. I appreciate the character and fun personality that Mini’s offer, but their pricing has just gotten wildly out of control. Wish they would make more of an effort towards affordability and accessibility of sporty dynamics. Also, as spunky and cool-sounding as their engines are, Mini is one of the few automakers I actually think should just dive straight into EV’s. Makes a lot of sense imo for the small, fun-to-drive cars they offer. And I hardly ever say that.
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  14. Lots of nice improvements overall, though I will say I wish they’d kept a V6 in some form, even if it was, say, a downsized 3.0L paired with a hybrid system. But I’m sure the powertrain synergies with the Highlander streamline production and save costs.
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  15. This may seem like a minute, trivial detail, but I really appreciate how you use terminology like “Hyundai’s models” or “products” or “their lineup” as opposed to “the Hyundai brand.” Reinforces that you’re focused on the cars themselves and not image issues, public perception or stereotypes. A small thing that makes a big difference to me.
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  16. The interior buttons alone would sway me into this over a Golf R, as much as I would miss the hatch practicality. Agree on the wheel size, but not feeling the sound very much to be honest, tho granted, I haven’t heard one in person. I’d definitely pull the fake sound fuse if I got one of these. Honestly, I think some other options on the market might tempt me at $45-55k (G70 3.3T, Stinger GT, Giulia, TLX Type S, etc), but definitely wouldn’t fault anyone for choosing this.
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  17. I learned stick on a 5-speed X5 of this era! I still miss it sometimes, even if it leaked coolant on me at 112k miles💀 To it’s credit, though, it made it 900 miles from San Francisco, CA to Spokane, WA flawlessly with 109k miles. But I totally get your point at trusting a super high mileage well-maintained older BMW like yours over one like I had. That’s pretty damn solid for 364k miles!
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  18. A masterclass in the difference between being cohesively distinctive/unique and overstyling just to get noticed. This would be high on my list in this segment, for sure. Would definitely take one over any X3/Q5/GLC.
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  19. Was saying this on Tedward’s leaf video this morning, too, but for being in the position they’re in, Nissan and Infiniti are making pretty darn good lemonade with the lemons they have. If they keep products like this up and continually improve them, I think they’ll end up being just fine.
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  20. With the way this S Class turned out and the way the next gen 7 Series is looking, I think the A/S8 is about to be my favorite of the big 3 Germans in this segment purely by default lol.
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  21. Favorite SUV in this class. Beautiful, modern, elegant, and unique, even after a few years on the market now. Nothing else like it in the segment. Lincoln Aviator is probably a very close second - hopefully you’ll get one of those to test soon!
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  22. Kia did a great job with this. Easy to see why people love them. Personally, the enthusiast in me might pull me a little more towards a CX-9, but this would be right behind it as my runner-up pick.
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  23. In a perfect world, these would sell just as well as XC60s/XC90s😭
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  24. Makes me miss my old E53 5-speed!😢 Glad BMW stepped the plug-in hybrid up to an I-6 for these larger models. Far more befitting of a midsize/full-size luxury driving experience.
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  25. I’ve got a manual one of these 3 hatches with the base 2.5, and I thought about one of these Turbo models but decided against it for a couple reasons. As you said in your last 3 Turbo review, manual is definitely more fun and it’s also important to support the manual new nowadays. But also, as aware as I am that Mazda’s a small automaker with limited resources, I do think they missed an opportunity here to make this more of a hotter hatch. That’s not to say I wish it was a Veloster N/Civic Type R kind of rival. I think this could have been a great, say, AWD Japanese GTI in the balance between luxury/comfort amenities and driving enjoyment. This leans a little too much toward the former for me. And think about what happened the last time Mazda offered a quality, reliable, Japanese interpretation of a fun, sporty European icon. That recipe sound familiar???😏 I really think that could have been a hit for them, and I confess myself a little bit sad at this premium comfort/luxury angle Mazda’s taking and all the edges they’re smoothing over. We’ll see how it works out for them ultimately, though.
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  26. Honestly, I’m kind of getting over my quibbles with the looks. I’m just happy the grille isn’t huge lol. And it’s cool that we even have this on the market at all at this point with how coupes sell these days.
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  27. VW should consider offering the GTI tune of the 2.0T, especially for a larger entry in this segment with upper trims in the high $30k’s…
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  28. Topher hitting milestones! Congratulations! You deserve it! Is it just me, tho, or does every car youtuber and their mom have a BRZ or 86 now? Lmao this is the 4th I’ve seen (Evan Shanks, Jack from savagegeese, Everyday Driver, and now Topher), and I’m sure there are more beyond that.
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  29. Honestly part of me is just so over this whole “tuff and rugged off-roady trail ready adventure” trend going on with crossovers and thinks to myself, “Even Mazda has to do this now? Really???🙄😒” But I know I know, it’s the hot trendy thing right now, and Mazda needs all the $$$ it can get as a small automaker. That aside, though, looks excellent and interior is beautifully done in typical Mazda fashion, and I’m sure it drives great. I love so much of what Mazda’s about and the way they sweat driving dynamics and details other automakers blow over (full disclosure I have a 3 hatch lol), and ultimately I want the best for them as a company. If this is where they judged the greatest sales opportunity to be and it’ll make the cash that’ll keep the Miata around, I guess I shouldn’t complain.
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  30. Honestly I hope Lincoln takes this exact thing and just makes it electric. Don’t change much else, if anything at all. Keep all the interior buttons and knobs and conservative aesthetics and have it be the traditional American counterpunch to the Model X and other future luxury electric 3 row SUV’s.
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  31. Ah yes - the car that started it all for me. A cool neighbor let me sit in his 996 (just a C4S, though) when I was like 5 years old and the rest is history! Love how Porsche knows exactly what the 911 is and evolves it so carefully to stay true to that mission, even if that means going against the grain of the rest of the market. The kinda approach that keeps me coming back to it even 15 years after that first encounter. Just the fact that you can still get a manual on the S versions in 2021 is something to celebrate. That’d be my personal choice in the 911 lineup, but these Turbos are wicked, for sure.
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  32. The whole “M” treatment just seems lost on this. I’d skip this version and just go for an eDrive40. Plenty for a daily driver, I’m sure.
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  33. Long live the NA V8! Props to Genesis for keeping it in the G90! I also appreciate the ergonomic simplicity here. Tech integration done right. Just enough features for the price and nature of the car but nothing excessive. I’d certainly take this over a Lexus LS. What were some of those noises coming from the rear suspension, though? Did not sound great...😬😬
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  34. As great as it may be to drive and as cool as it may be that it offers a manual, I could never live with that interior. Classic example of mindlessly following industry trends without any critical thought as to whether it actually makes for a better product. Real knobs and buttons, then we’ll talk.
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  35. I’d take this over a Prius on looks alone. Styling is subjective, of course, and the Ioniq is far from my favorite looking car, but I’m sorry the Prius is just FUGLY! And I like the powertrain in this with the DCT better than the Prius.
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  36. Thank you for actually providing a more holistic evaluation of this car instead of just roasting the range like so many have. There’s still a lot to like here and a lot Mazda has done well, even if many would like the range to be longer. Let’s see what the rotary plug-in hybrid version has to offer. I think that’ll really be where this car starts to make sense.
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  37. Pretty compelling package overall! Strong feature set for the price point and seems pretty fun to drive and easy to live with! Doesn’t sound half bad for a 1.6T either, tho I would definitely shut off the fake noise.
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  38.  @HardlyaDavidson  Tedward’s actually planning on getting a Civic Si.
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  39. I actually just picked up a manual Mazda3 hatch a couple weeks ago! Plenty practical for my needs and I reeeeeeeeeally wanted that stick, so definitely more of an emotional purchase lol. Rode in a CX-5 to the dealer, though, and still a great crossover in its class, even if it’s been around for a few years.
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  40. Wow I kinda forgot how well-done VW/Audi’s turbo 4’s are! I think personally, I’d be tempted by an XC60 or an RDX over this, but you can’t go wrong with a Q5.
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  41. Great to see some Alpina love on TheTopher! We need Alpina versions of the current 5 and 8 Series in the US!😭 As purely a daily driver, I’d rock any Alpina model over the corresponding M model any day of the week! So much better suited to daily driving on public roads.
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  42. What’s crazy is the concept version of this looked AMAZING! And it wasn’t like it was way too unrealistic for production. But of course Subaru tuned it into just another 3 row SUV🙄
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  43. Still love the Stinger GT. If I wanted a fast, fun, practical 4-door for ~$50k, I’d head straight for one of these and wouldn’t think twice about it. No, it’s not perfect, but none of the slight shortcomings would be dealbreakers for me personally. And as much as I try to stay above discussions of brand stigma, image, perception, stereotypes, etc., what I do think there’s something to be said for in that respect about the Stinger GT is that it’s off the beaten path. It’s an insider’s choice and shows that you’re an intelligent buyer, and to me that’s worth more than any Audi or BMW or Mercedes logo.
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  44. Is the Tedward a standard feature?
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  45. If this keeps the NA 4 cylinder when the Rogue gets the 1.5T 3 cylinder, that alone would make pick this over the Rogue. And I’d take this over a 3 cylinder Escape or Trailblazer or Encore, I’ll give it that 😂
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  46. Hell yeah long live the wagon! These deserve so much more love than they get. I gotta say...if I needed a daily dad whip cruiser, this would probably be my #1 choice. I might skip the cross country and I think I’d get a lower trim version to keep the price in check. But I’d probably splurge on the B&W audio, too
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  47. A constructive criticism if I may as a fan of the channel, though it applies to other car reviewers, as well. Is it just me, or does anyone else think that “special” is becoming one of the most vague, overused buzzwords in car reviews now? I feel like it’s been thrown around so much now that it just lacks meaning. With the Santa Cruz, when you say the interior doesn’t feel as “special” as the Maverick, what specifically do you mean by that? What do you wish Hyundai had changed vs the Tucson? Material choices? Colors? Design? Utility? Would love for you to elaborate further on that in future Santa Cruz videos.
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  48. Never has GT been such a relative term lol
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  49. I’ll give Nissan this…for being in the position they’re in, they’re really trying to make the best lemonade they can with the lemons they have.
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  50. To Subaru’s credit this whole Wilderness trim idea is a good one. Here in the NW there are tonsssssss of Outbacks and Crosstreks running around with modifications like this (lift, knobbier tires, body cladding, etc). Just wish they’d dial in the CVT tuning a little bit more and add some more physical controls to supplement the touchscreen.
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  51. Fun fact - a lot of the carbon chassis components of this and the i8 were made in central WA state! Moses Lake to be specific. They also did a lot of collaboration with Boeing on composite materials research.
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  52. If👏it👏ain’t👏broke👏don’t👏fix👏it. New car old for the win!
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  53. Mercedes is losing me with these new interiors…the center and passenger screens don’t bother me as much as the gauge cluster, which looks so poorly and lazily integrated and like a complete afterthought. Return of physical controls would also be much appreciated.
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  54. Been fun watching this car on the channel! Personally, of the possible next vehicles you listed out, I’m rooting for an RC F or a 1LE Camaro. There are already plentyyyyyy of people doing stuff with Broncos and Model 3’s imo. Can’t think of anyone off the top of my head who’s done much content on an RC F, and Chevy could certainly use some sales help with the Camaro lol. And both are NA V8 - last of their kind! Whatever you ultimately decide tho, can’t wait to see what you do with it.
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  55. I hardly ever say this, but Mini is actually one of the few automakers that I think should just dive full-on into the EV game ASAP. Makes a lot of sense for the small, athletic cars they offer, and could provide an opportunity to breathe new life into some of their more niche models like the convertible and the Clubman. Yes, the stickshifts and gas engines would be missed, but I still think it’d be the right move. Provided they can get the range/charging times improved, of course.
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  56.  @garrettw99  THANK YOU! I hear so many reviewers bitch and whine and complain about “the AnCiEnT, dAtEd, oLd 6 SpEeD aUtO” when Mazda still programs it beautifully and it returns competitive (if slightly lower) performance and fuel economy. Also means it doesn’t gear hunt all the time like a 9 or 10 speed. Could an 8-speed deliver better 0-60 and mpg’s? Sure. But the Mazda 6-speed auto is still perfectly fine for getting the job done.
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  57. Love the Alpina treatment. Hope BMW applies it to more of their models like the 5 and the 8. I feel like it’s better suited to the bigger Beemers than the M treatment is.
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  58. I miss the pre-facelift looks especially up front to be honest, but I actually appreciate the reigned-in powertrain. Still sounds plenty throaty with a nice amount of supercharger whine, but a lot more fitting for a luxury car.
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  59. Am I crazy or does it lowkey sound like an Alfa Quadrifoglio V6?
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  60. A 2 door manual hatch in 2021?! Doth mine eyes beseech me?😱
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  61. If they’d make the mild hybrid Ingenium inline 6 an option I’d have one faster than you can say “but the reliability tho”
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  62. Absolutely agree! Fellow Mazda3 owner here! Mines a ‘21 with a manual, though.
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  63. Hey Infiniti, why don’t you go ask Audi how trying to get away with CVT’s in the luxury segment went🤦🏼‍♂️ Sad to think that this is the successor to sportier RWD SUV’s like the old EX and FX, but at least there are new entries in this segment like the Stelvio and GV70 to spiritually take that place.
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  64. Is there a traditional dial-shaped tach you can pull up on that center gauge display? Especially on the manual versions…
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  65. Topher Fridays!😍 Been biking down my local auto row a lot recently and I was talking Miatas with the Mazda sales manager and he was so nice he even gave me his card and offered me a test drive! What a homie lol. Think I’ll have to take that up pretty soon here.
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  66. My dad and I ended up with one of these from the rental counter moving myself into my sophomore year of college. Rear seats down and it actually almost fit my entire dorm room’s worth of stuff in there.
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  67. I appreciate the conservative exterior but those screens and especially that gauge cluster just ruin the interior for me😞 I’d honestly rather have a mildly optioned base or S Panamera for the same price.
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  68. I could see this being a hoot with a decent stick
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  69. I think I’d still prefer my Mazda3 hatch 6 speed over this, but definitely some solid improvements here. Glad they cleaned up the looks and improved the manual experience at least somewhat. Hopefully this bodes well for the Si and Type R.
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  70. I wish I could share substitute Topher’s appreciation and excitement around this. It still just doesn’t do it for me🤷‍♂️
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  71. Honestly I feel like the M40i would be plenty for a fun daily driver SUV. The full-on M just seems silly, and I’d probably go for an X3, too. If I really wanted something this fast, I think I’d rather have a Macan Turbo or a Stelvio Quadrifoglio. Also, minor point but I like how this has BMW’s original digital gauges and not the weird live cockpit.
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  72. This new Chris’s hands are almost as sexy as regular Chris’s…still nicer than Charlie’s tho (no offense Charlie) I’ll take em
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  73. It’s taken me quite some time to warm up to the new NSX if I’m honest, but I think I’m getting there. For some background, I credit the 911 for making me a car guy. Our neighbor across the street had a 996 and he was nice enough to let me sit in it, and from that moment on, I was hooked on cars. Since then, I’ve really come to appreciate how steadily and carefully the 911 has evolved from generation to generation as I’ve grown up. When the new NSX first came out, I thought Acura went wayyyyyyy out over their skis with the tech. It seemed so detached from the purity and simplicity that the original NSX represented and way too video gamey and digital to me to be a rewarding driver’s car. I still think that to a certain degree, but much less so than when it first came out. And hey, NSX does stand for NEW Sports Experimental, so by it’s very name, it can’t be what a 911 is. Maybe I didn’t quite approach it with an open enough mind at first. Still, though, what I’d like to see is a RWD NSX - keep the rear electric motor for the torque fill and the electric only driving capability, but ditch the two front motors to get some of the organic feel back. I’d be willing to take the hit to the 0-60 and handling numbers to get that feel back. Just my thoughts, though.
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  74. Am I a crazy stubborn old grandpa for thinking the touchscreen is too big? I guess it just sticks out a bit too much on the dash. LOVE the analog gauges though.
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  75. Mama Topher has excellent taste! Would love to see her make a video appearance one day!
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  76. Want one of these ND3’s soooooooooooooooo badly. Though would probably go for a Grand Touring with the tan interior personally. Maybe even wrap it BRG!
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  77. I’d get it in blue, but Lexus did a great job with this facelift. The subtle tweaks make a big difference to me compared with the pre-refresh version of the RC F. Looks so much better! And gotta love that NA V8! Sounds glorious!
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  78.  @dylanw890  Well…have you seen the new C Class released for Europe? Basically this interior scaled down soooooooo…🤡 Excited to see the next gen Genesis G90 though. With the roll Genesis is on I really hope they’ll hit it out of the park.
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  79.  @NaijaBull  Oh no, not at all, I’ve been very happy with it! Been a great, fun daily driver with the stick. Lighter than the Turbo models and the power is more usable on the street. Definitely my preference over, say, a Civic or one of the Hyundai/Kia compacts with the 1.5/1.6T. Much prefer the NA sound and power delivery of the base 2.5 and I was willing to trade some handling and suspension refinement for that. With the Turbo versions, though, just wish Mazda had made more supporting changes to back up the extra power to make it more of the Japanese GTI I referred to.
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  80.  @Fordguy1997  Oh I didn’t mean substitute Topher doesn’t do it for me. He’s introduced himself in other videos before. I meant the Mach E doesn’t do it for me.
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  81. Aesthetically not my personal taste and the crackles and pops are honestly a little overdone imo, but still a blast to drive I’m sure. Veloster N would be my personal choice but awesome that Hyundai is offering this, especially with a stick! And you know it’s good when TheTopher spends 36 minutes reviewing it!
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  82. I appreciate that this offers something different in the compact crossover segment, as well, but it would be nice to see the handling dialed in a little bit more for an athletic edge, along with some real non-gloss-black buttons. Also, this powertrain really oughtta be in the XF in some way, shape or form, even if they have to ditch one aspect of it to make room for it.
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  83. Can’t stand the exterior styling, specifically the front end, but I do appreciate the creativity in interior colors and material choices. I’ll give them that.
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  84.  @nurzhantemirbek6911  Powertrain similarities. This shares largely the same 4 cyl-based hybrid systems used in the Highlander and Rav4 Prime. Common components make manufacturing/production costs cheaper.
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  85. This makes me curious what this motor would be like built and tuned to Hellcat power levels😛...being a Toyota I’m sure it could handle it
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  86. The Tophers back together! Missed these videos!
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  87. Love the GLS and definitely prefer it to the X7, but the AMG treatment on a 3 row SUV like this just seems dumb. And good lord those wheels🙈🤢🥴
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  88. Scenery takes me back to my SAE Baja days in college!
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  89. Usually I’m not the kind of person to fixate on one feature (or lack thereof) in my judgement of a vehicle’s price, but even I’ll admit that I do kinda bristle at the notion of a turbo 4 cylinder at this price point. I think my ideal spec of this would be a 540i (or i5 40) with no M Sport anything but everything else on the base 19” wheels (maybe 20’s…maybe). Built one on the configurator and that came out to ~$77k
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  90.  @everydaybodybuilding2282  I would disagree with that. I think $50k is plenty fair considering that a comparable German choice with a turbo 6 will run you $10-15 maybe even $20k more. There’s definitely a strong case to be made for the value the Stinger offers for those not interested in purely the logo (even if that’s not many people). Don’t get me wrong - I love stuff like the GTI and WRX, but they’re not nearly in this same performance bracket, nor are they as roomy.
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  91. 34:00 Like if you think one of the Tophers fried up those donuts in that parking lot🍩🍩😋😛
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  92. I’m sorry - all I see here is a pandering cash cow on wheels. I’ll stick with the RWD 2 Series real coupe lol. If I wanted a four door this size, I’d just get a GTI or Golf R. Or hell, even a Mini Clubman S or JCW. Completely agree with your thoughts at the end of the video - this emerging class of entry level luxury cars doesn’t make much sense to me. The German luxury brands have far better offerings, even at similar price points, and to me, the brand prestige doesn’t mean jack. You can get so much more car for your money than you do with something like this. Although I will say - the A/S/RS3 is still quite a well done car, even having been around for as long as it has.
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  93. Totally with you. Taking interior tech this far was a huge misstep that completely ruins the car for me. Think about how much we stare at our phones and computers every day anyway. Do we really want more of that from car interfaces? Also, this is supposed to be the “traditional” option relative to the EQS???? Really???? Never has “traditional” been such a relative term lol
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  94. weirdshibainu EXACLTY! And with the Alpina tan interior!
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  95. Imho the Si really should have the Type R 2.0T detuned to like 230-250 hp to compete more directly with the GTI, but maintain the <=$30k price tag...for something with about this much power, I think I’d rather have a Veloster R-Spec. Also, is it just me or is that beep at redline annoying af?
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  96. Yes, the name is dumb, and no, I don’t love some of the exterior body cladding and interior design choices, but I actually appreciate the “normal,” “boring” driving experience, weird as that might sound. I’m just getting tired of all these new EV’s that feel the need to be statement pieces and (figuratively) shout at everyone that THEY’RE FAST AND COOL and shove contrived marketing sex appeal down our throats, and I think it’s refreshing that this is comfortable just embodying the classic Toyota philosophy: easy to live with, dynamics more comfortable than sporty, and built to outlast almost anything else. It may be NPC from a driving standpoint, as savagegeese often likes to say, but it’s good at that, and that shouldn’t be held against it in my book.
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  97. I’ve got a Mazda3 6-speed with the NA 2.5 and I’ve been really happy with it! Manual is no Civic Si manual and it’s geared more for fuel economy than performance but still feels pretty good and I love having a big displacement torquey NA 4 cylinder over a 1.5/1.6T. Not a rocket by any means but still ample power and no fake noise.
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  98.  @everydaybodybuilding2282  The only way to arrive at a $20k difference is to be comparing an absolute base WRX to a fully-loaded GT2 Stinger, and that’s kind of an apples-to-oranges comparison.
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  99. Stickers for 44 g’s?! And that’s even before dealer markups?!🤯 Sheeeeeeeesh. That can get you a Veloster/Elantra N (or even a GTI/Golf R) AND a helluva lotta mods on top of that.
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  100. Who are you and what have you done with the real Topher?! Jk jk
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  101. Alex on Autos/Auto Buyers Guide had an interesting analogy on these Swoopy Coupey SUV’s a little while ago…they’re kinda the sedans of the 21st century. Same…ish (though very loosely) 3-box sort of profile, but lifted up to meet the preferences of current buyers in the market
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  102. This has always been a tricky one for me. This 2nd gen NSX was the first car I remember reading about where everyone who drove it had a wiiiiiiiiildly different opinion of it. I remember Automobile Mag loving it right away, Car and Driver and Road and Track being kinda lukewarm on it, and Motor Trend not feeling it at all, at least initially. For me personally, having been made a car guy from the 911, I really appreciate how steadily and carefully it’s evolved from generation to generation, and that evolutionary approach has made it easy to maintain a mental relationship with it. This, by its very name (New Sports eXperimental), can’t be that, and I’m not saying that that’s bad - it’s just not what I’m most naturally drawn to. Though I should disclaim up front that I’ve never driven or even ridden in one, I still find the powertrain tech to be overboard and little too much for a driver’s car. Personally, I wish they’d gone with a RWD setup with just the rear electric motor for boost/torque fill and ditch the front motors. Yes, you’d lose the AWD some of the handling tricks those front motors can do, but the return in actual mechanical feedback would be absolutely worth it imo. I will say, though, that I think the criticism these get can be too harsh. Cool that Acura decided to even develop this, even if it’s not what I’d hoped it would be.
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  103. Had one of the PHEV versions of these as a loaner while my 3 hatch was in for service and I liked it a lot! PHEV thing was cool and all but I was really curious the whole time what the I-6 versions are like. Road tripped it from Seattle to Portland and back and made for a great highway cruiser, and even hustled it a bit through some winding roads in the Oregon backcountry with some Miata friends who were very surprised how well I managed to hang with them! I just feel like making the case for the PHEV model with these is tricky (I only saw ~20 miles of real world EV only range, but did manage to average 30 mpg when I returned it…it’s still a big 3 row SUV lol), and I’d imagine the I-6 being the more befitting option for the car generally. Definitely want to get behind the wheel and try one at some point.
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  104. One of the only cars whose looks would keep me from buying it. I could live with the way the 2nd and 3rd gen Priuses (or Prii?) looked (restrained, conservative and inoffensive), but I can’t stand the look of this gen Prius, especially pre-refresh. But hey, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I’d rather have an Ioniq or Insight personally. That’s just me🤷‍♂️
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  105. Also worth nothing I’ve seen quite a few of these at car meets, and supposedly they actually respond really well to mods. People push these to like ~500 hp on stock internals easy, and some of the exhausts out there low key make them sound like Ghiblis.
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  106. Also, I’m definitely rooting for a rallycross build! That’ll really set you apart from the 27 other YouTubers who have one of these haha.
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  107. I would have liked at least a portion of the drive to be without the music personally. I liked what you were doing earlier when you just saved the sound test until the end of the video. Just my opinion, though.
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  108.  @ARCNA442  Mini’s already kinda moved upmarket, though, into this whole premium-but-not-quite-luxury netherworld where automakers like Acura and Mazda are. If they could keep prices reasonably comparable to their existing gas models and make the range more competitive, I could see a lot of current owners making the switch. And models like the 2 door Cooper and Convertible are so small anyway that they already lend themselves well to being second cars.
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  109. But is the steering column casing finished in leather with deviated stitching tho? That’s the real question
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  110. 0:30 Sofyan Bey would not approve of that shut sound!😬 2 Gran Coupe doesn’t do it for me either. A/S/RS3 is still my favorite competitor to this, though honestly you can get way more car for the price than you do with any of the entries in this segment
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  111. Just for fun, I went on the configuator and maxed one out to…wait for it…$80,075!🤯
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  112.  @everydaybodybuilding2282  It’s also worth noting, though, that a base GT is like 40 and a GT1 is like 45, and they’re still plenty luxurious and feature-rich. Yes, a manual WRX might be more fun and more fuel efficient, but the Stinger GT has 80 more hp and is much more comfortable as a long distance GT cruiser.
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  113.  @diegolijeron9279  Primary factor there I think would be the interior room. G70 is smaller inside. Also, the Stinger is set up as more of a GT tourer so better for long distance cruises.
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  114.  @TheTopher  TheTopher be drinking and driving?! Jk jk.
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  115. I’m working part time as a service valet at a Subaru dealer here in Seattle and surprisingly I’ve actually seen a few CVT WRX’s come in. I guess there’s some subset of people, however small, that just like the “vibe” of it without wanting to shift for themselves. Wouldn’t be my personal choice, don’t get me wrong, but I guess Subaru figures better to have some automatic than none at all 🤷‍♂️
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  116.  @crisaldrinemasilang3125  Goes Premium then Limited for BRZ
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  117. If you’re gonna go almost all touchscreen, it better be as damn close to iPad responsiveness as it possibly can be. Otherwise, just give me real buttons. Also not a fan of Subaru’s active safety tech. Wayyyyyyy too overactive. Otherwise, I like some of the material choices on the interior and the performance with the 2.4T seems quite good.
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  118. There are definitely better base models and comparable $50k entries in this segment, even in the luxury space, but this isn’t horrible for a base model. Wouldn’t be my choice personally, though.
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  119. Real knobs and buttons, then we’ll talk.
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  120. Didn’t even hit a crowd smh. And that hybrid Sorento you were driving down there woulda walked that thing.
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  121. I wish Mini would bring back the 2 seat Roadster but make it RWD! Could be the turbo Miata Mazda won’t make!
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  122. 0:45 if that was me on one of those bikes I woulda ran over and fanboyed so hard.
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  123. Literally the only thing I don’t like about this thing is the plastichrome on the interior. But the rest of the car is so good I could live with that or replace it. Okay and maybe the fuel economy. But who cares?😂 Such a badass whip!
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  124. This whole trend of these uberluxo-pickups is just one of those that makes think like…just…”WHY????🤨” Idk just doesn’t make sense to me, but I guess if it brings in the 🤑 for the 86 and the GR Corolla, I can’t argue with that.
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  125. What about something like a Z as a replacement? Which isn’t to say all the cars you mentioned wouldn’t be great next steps!
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  126. To be honest, I’m not exactly sure why this is, but high dollar sports cars and supercars have excited me less and less as I’ve grown up. The GT3 still intrigues me, though. It’s not just that it’s fast or even that it revs out of this world. It’s that it’s fun. It’s tactile. It’s involving. The driving experience is multi-dimensional, even in everyday situations on public roads. And that’s what it takes to capture my fascination. This is definitely very high on my dream garage list.
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  127.  @koko_5662  Admittedly I have not
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  128. Luis Ramirez I have a hard time buying the “reliability” argument. If the 2.0T is already pumping out ~300 hp in the Type R and ~250 hp in the Accord, then 230 hp seems like a pretty conservative output for that engine. I guess my big issue is yeah, you get the LSD and active dampers and stuff, but I just don’t see enough to justify the upgrade over a Sport hatch...
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  129.  @houseofhas9355  Marketing may be part of it and I think the dealer network is another. Mazda’s dealer network is much smaller than, say, Honda or Toyota. In some areas, like LA metro where I got mine, there are plenty of Mazda dealers, but in other areas, a Honda or Toyota dealer is more likely to be nearby when a Mazda dealer is like an hour away.
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  130. Turo rented an ND2 for TOTD a few weeks ago and goddamn I want one so badly now 😭😭 Think I’ll wait for these to get onto the market used and come down in price a bit and save up in the meantime, though I’d probably go for a Grand Touring with the tan interior. Hope they pair it with Soul Red again like they did for some of the ND2’s.
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  131. Yes, I’m gonna be this guy. Fix the grille, then we’ll talk. Until then, it’ll be a Giulia 🍀 for me.
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  132. New drinking game: Look up every MX-30 review on YouTube and take a shot for every “100 MiLeS oF rAnGe WtF🤬 ItS jUsT a CoMpLiAnCe CaR tHo. UnCoMpEtItIvE LaMe Ev” comment
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  133. A great re-interpretation of a Model Y. They followed all the industry trends perfectly. But that’s the problem in my book.
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  134. Skye Higa Yeah true. The enthusiast in me prefers the Accord for that reason, but purely as a luxurious daily driver, I still think I’d take the ‘6
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  135. frogger72 AWD would be a nice addition, especially with the 2.5T.
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  136. So curious what this or an E46 ZHP 330i is like having learned manual on a 5-speed X5. Was actually fairly fun and interesting to learn on, but it was definitely a lot of car for just the 3.0L I-6. This or an E46 is the perfect size for it.
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  137. Imagine if Mini made a RWD roadster with this same 2.0T based on a Miata chassis…Mazda’s next gen Miata partner, possibly?
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  138.  @gaberansom7666  But is there as much enthusiast attachment to the Mini Roadster as there is to the Supra? Could be a cool way to offer a turbocharged Miata with more power from the factory🤷‍♂️
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  139. Kinda what I think an electric luxury Chrysler PT Cruiser would be. In a good way lol
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  140. Turo rented an ND2 for the tail of the dragon a couple weeks ago and ugggggggggghhhhhhhhhh I want one now 😭😭 Though id probably go for white or ceramic gray with the tan interior
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  141. One of you guys should get one so you can make some comparison videos with Tedward!
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  142. Yesssssssss Ga$ Money back in the sound test let’s goooooo😩🙌🏻🔥🔥
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  143. Pronuncia e accento molto buoni 🇮🇹
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  144. Wow, very tastefully modified! If I were to get a VA WRX, this would be pretty much exactly what I’d go for (or maybe all the same power/exhaust/drivetrain/brake stuff but lift the suspension for off-roady fun…TheTopher’s lifted BRZ shenanigans rubbing off on me!). Having driven a few stock VA’s when I worked at a Subaru dealer for a few months, I’m really curious what a tuned one like this would be like.
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  145. Ayyyye return of the classic Topher parking garage route. Missed it. Gotta park, turn off the car and get out at the end tho! Not a complete night drive without that!
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  146. Should have done a comparison video with Momma Amos’s SC430!
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  147. Z4 is like $60-70k tho. I’m thinking make it like $30k and hell, maybe even just build it on the Miata platform like the 124 was
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  148. Ford can make the Mach E as fast as they want, but it’s still just American cheese with more orange coloring dye as far as I’m concerned.
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  149. You should pick one of these up so you and Tedward can off-road them and bring us some content together!
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  150.  @NaijaBull  Definitely, it’s a great manual! I see where people are coming from in saying this gen 3 isn’t as fun to drive as the prior gen, but the manual makes it more fun for sure.
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  151. I know many aren’t overly concerned with how dated these are at this point and appreciate the tried-and-true reliability, but is the current Tacoma V6 with a 6- or 8-speed auto too much to ask?
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  152. The capacitive touch crap and downgraded interior materials are primarily in the name of cost cutting, right? If those actually translated to a lower MSRP than the Mk7/7.5, that’d be one thing. But it’s the fact that VW went this way for the interior and yet is charging MORE than the Mk7(.5) that kills me. Yes, I know there are performance improvements, etc, but even those aren’t worth living with this interior to me.
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  153. TheTopher Oh yeah and now I know what had Tedward doing a spit take😂😂
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