u/AdministrativeAnt872

I’m 16 and trying to decide between three cars for my first car: a Hyundai Elantra N, Mazda3 Turbo AWD, or Subaru WRX. I would only be looking at automatic versions, so manual options are not part of the decision.

Before people bring up insurance or payments, I’ve already gotten insurance quotes through USAA, and insurance does not really affect the decision. The car would also be paid for in cash, so I would not be financing it or taking on a payment.

I’d say I’m pretty responsible for my age. I have around a 3.9 GPA, take school seriously, and I’m not looking for a car to mess around with on public roads. I want to learn the car safely through autocross. I’m already learning car control in a Miata at autocross, so the goal would be to keep building skill in a controlled environment.

The Elantra N DCT seems like the most fun and performance-focused option. It has strong handling, good brakes, an LSD, and feels like it would be the best choice if I care about autocross and driving feel.

The Mazda3 Turbo AWD seems like the most mature and comfortable option. It has AWD, a nicer interior, good power, and would probably be the easiest to daily drive. My concern is that it might feel less exciting once I get used to it.

The Subaru WRX automatic/CVT seems like the middle ground. It has AWD, good power, and more of a performance-car feel than the Mazda, but I’m not sure if the automatic version is as fun or worth it compared to the Elantra N DCT.

For people who have owned or driven the automatic versions of these cars, which one would make the most sense as a first car for someone who wants something fun but still somewhat reasonable? Is the Elantra N too much, is the Mazda3 Turbo too tame, or is the WRX automatic the best balance?

I’m 16 and looking at getting my first car. Right now I’m between a Mazda3 Turbo AWD and a Hyundai Elantra N.

A few things that matter: I’d be paying cash, and insurance quotes are basically the same for both, so insurance doesn’t really change the decision. I’m also planning to learn the car through autocross instead of messing around on public roads. My dad is a cop, and I’m already learning car control in autocross with his Miata, so I’d want to keep building that experience safely.

The Mazda3 Turbo seems like the more practical and mature option since it has AWD, a nicer interior, and would probably be easier to live with daily. But the Elantra N seems way more fun and performance-focused, especially with the manual/DCT options, LSD, better handling setup, and track/autocross feel.

For people who have driven or owned either, which one would make more sense as a first car if I want something fun but still reasonable? Is the Elantra N too much for a first car, or is the Mazda3 Turbo going to feel less exciting once I get used to it?