[Run Silent]

Okay folks, my wife is about due for her next car and is an enthusiast as am I.

Her requirements are as follows:

1) Max price = $25,000 plus taxes and such
2) Must have a manual transmission unless it is a large sedan
3) Must have at least a tiny back seat that can fit a small child
4) Must be reliable enough and have low enough miles that she can drive it for the next 5 years / 75,000 miles without having to worry about any serious problems (i.e. not a ten year old, 80,000 mile E92 M3)
5) Must be fun to drive

She really enjoys my E93, but that series is getting long in the tooth.



Thoughts?

Some on the list were a 2015 or newer, low miles 228i, another option was the 2.0T Audi A3 except that isn't available with a manual. She really likes it, though. I thought about the Subaru WRX also, but the interior was horrific.

[Red Bread]

The A3 is a GTI/Golf R underneath. If she's not hatch-phobic, go that route. Full disclosure, I have a manual GTI for carrying the 3 year old around.

BRZ is another good choice, but interior is a bit naff.

2er is heavier than I'd like, but coming from an E93, might not be as bad.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by usshelena725

Interesting, she has had two VW's in the past (A VW Golf 2.5 and a VW Passat 1.8T) and she really liked them. I've mentioned the GTi, and while she isn't opposed to it completely, she did state she would like to consider moving up to a more luxurious interior. I think that if she sat in and drove a nice GTi with the proper leather seats, she might like it more.

I've pointed out the BRZ before and she absolutely hated it. Wouldn't even consider looking at it. Said it looked like something a high schooler would drive. Not sure I fully agree, but she was pretty set on that as fact.

Funny, I've had a number of BMW's and Audii and love my GTI. I just had a 17 totaled and switched from leather to cloth. I seem to be going the opposite way.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by usshelena725

Too funny. Yeah, unsure of her thoughts on this. I know she absolutely hates the plaid pattern in the Gti cloth versions, I don't mind it, but it isn't my car.

Shes isn't from the USA originally, so her thoughts on cars differ a bit as well. She has a very high regard for German cars over American or Japanese. She has mentioned that she really loves the newer MB C300 as well, even with the automatic. It is likely too much money for the budget, though. I had her look at a CLA250 also and she liked it, but wasn't completely enamored with it or anything.

The only car she has been completely smitten with so far is the Audi TT, but it doesn't fit our budget either.

TT's are pretty tight in the back, think 993 tight. The last two generations with the aluminum sub frames are pretty fun though.

CLA is not a good car, the C is much nicer all around.

Maybe consider a Mk6 R? The stability control is non defeatable without aftermarket coding, but they're still fun and had a more mechanical awd setup than the current ones, allowing for easier tuning to get more rear wheel bias. Plus Mk6's had stronger clutches than the current Mk7 which even with stock power is not adequate.

[Soterios]

Golf R. I think it checks the boxes.

[Efthreeoh]

Any chance your wife has a sister (single), say in her mid to late 40's?

Get her a new Ford Focus ST.

[SteveinArizona]

Honda Civic SI. Not quite as good as the R model but stylistically more attractive.

[Alfisti]

GTI, this is absolute GTI territory.

A left field option.

First Gen X1 with M package and the big engine, chip it for a near 400Hp sleeper and she can be tossed around.

[SunnyD]

Fiesta ST checks all the boxes and is more fun to drive than the Focus ST.

[******]

Originally Posted by usshelena725

Okay folks, my wife is about due for her next car and is an enthusiast as am I.

Her requirements are as follows:

1) Max price = $25,000 plus taxes and such
2) Must have a manual transmission unless it is a large sedan
3) Must have at least a tiny back seat that can fit a small child
4) Must be reliable enough and have low enough miles that she can drive it for the next 5 years / 75,000 miles without having to worry about any serious problems (i.e. not a ten year old, 80,000 mile E92 M3)
5) Must be fun to drive

She really enjoys my E93, but that series is getting long in the tooth.



Thoughts?

Some on the list were a 2015 or newer, low miles 228i, another option was the 2.0T Audi A3 except that isn't available with a manual. She really likes it, though. I thought about the Subaru WRX also, but the interior was horrific.

I have just the thing. My 2014 BMW X5... 38000 miles, mint condition, good for your mileage requirement... sadly that’s the only one it meets, but, hey, women change their minds about these things. Oh, wait, it has a nice back seat and it’s fun to drive. This turns out to be a very close match.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by usshelena725

Haha. Nope. She was hard to find - had to import her from South Africa, hehe. She does have a brother in his mid-30's, not sure if you swing that way...


The Focus would be a hard sell. I've mentioned it to her before, but she had one as a long term corporate rental right when she came to the US back in 2007 and it was one of those previous generation models that were horrific.

We rented a new Focus 1.0T in South Africa back in May and she seemed inclined to think it was a huge step up, but I don't know if I can sway her. I will have to mention it though, since it does check all the boxes.

Let's not start any rumors... I asked for a sister (old school definition meaning comes with a V)....

The ST gets good reviews. My brother has a non-ST and it's a well-made machine. You can easily find a 2018 new for $20K.

[KingOfJericho]

GTI is the best value in that range. Gets the German feel (via Mexico lol) with the price range and fun factor she's looking for. Even more so for the Golf R but that will push your budget a bit. My wife was born and raised in Europe and my GTI remains her favorite car of those I've owned. Just a really fun and easy car to drive.

[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

uhhhh duhhh G35

[Red Bread]

Good advice on an X1 35i. We had one before our current South African 3er. X1 was great. 3er, not so much.

The X1 is an E91 on stilts though, so will drive very much like your E93 and weigh about the same too. A GTI would be wildly more fun, just make sure it's got the Performance Pack with the larger brakes from the Golf R and a mechanical limited slip.

Interior quality is better on the GTI than an E9x. It's actually better in a lot of ways than our F30. Hope you like black seats with red stitching.

[Darth One]

look at the Mini Coopers too!

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by Darth One

look at the Mini Coopers too!

Really? First gen was the only one I found even mildly fun. I've test driven the F56 in all three trims and frankly don't get it.

[Darth One]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Really? First gen was the only one I found even mildly fun. I've test driven the F56 in all three trims and frankly don't get it.

Is the F56 the latest one? I agree that it's not the best version of these cars. They've gotten big.

I like my previous gen:

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by Darth One

Is the F56 the latest one? I agree that it's not the best version of these cars. They've gotten big.

I like my previous gen:

Well yeah, the GP is tits. Well done.

[c1pher]

135is? I may need to part with mine.

[c1pher]

I dunno, there are still a number of 2008/9 135i running around.

[Humdizzle]

FRS or GTI

the FRS interior and sound deadening is garbage, but its rwd and extremely fun to drive.
the GTI is a good all around package, but its fwd.

[MJBO]

Originally Posted by usshelena725

I've pointed out the BRZ before and she absolutely hated it. Wouldn't even consider looking at it. Said it looked like something a high schooler would drive.

Agreed 100% with this statement. It's an awkward design, underpowered engine and nasty interior. Poorly packaged as well with a rubbish boot.

Literally the only thing going for it is rear wheel drive, but the rest of the car is