The ultimate front-wheel drive performance car? 240hp and 160 ft-lb of torque? the Mazdaspeed3 is also front-wheel drive and kicks the crap out of this car for almost half the price!
some people on autoblog were pointing out that the $38K price is JDM. if converted to US pricing it would be around $28K. apparently cars are more expensive in Japan.
at $28K that's squarely in subaru impreza territory.
I'd still get the mazdaspeed3 ($24K) compared to a $28K civic. but at $28K it's a far more credible alternative than at $38K.