11-01-2013, 02:46 PM
You're welcome to "test drive" my car if you haven't driven the DSG yet. Or you can just imagine some rattling shift forks and freaky fast shifts.
My vote goes for an MKVI 4-door DSG. I drove a 6speed autobahn package one a few months ago with 26k on it and was looking at about $22k with the CPO warranty. You know you like the car cause you already have one, you get the lady-friendly transmission and a more accessible backseat.
The TDI Sportwagen sounds like a solid option, you could throw an APR tune on it (won't affect warranty) for asphalt-curling torque to help get your noodle moving and still get 45+ mpg. The hatch is a bit bigger, not sure if you would get any more rear leg room, aren't they the same platform as the Golf?
A4 sounds like a turrible idea unless you're going to spend a buttload of money on a CPO car. They actually have a pretty extensive CPO warranty so if you got an '11 or '12 you'd have 4-5 years of warrantied driving. Even I wouldn't own one of those out of warranty, there's like 30 bushings in the front suspension by itself. *shudder*
How soon are you looking to buy? Would you buy new again? The '15 GTI is coming out in the spring and is supposed to be totally bitchin'. Bit bigger than the current platform but lighter, more power, better handling, and a fantastic interior. Not sure if the slightly larger size translates into more room in the back seats though. I'm not sure I could bring myself to pull the trigger on a new car, but I've decided to wait to buy anything until I can at least test drive one for myself and see what all the fuss is about.
EDIT: Re-read your requirements and my suggestions suck. It sounds like you're describing a CX-5 aside from not wanting it to be slow, the extra ground clearance might be nice when parking at a trailhead.
Cabell, the Saabaru was literally an Impreza or WRX with a Saab badge kit so reliability would be however well that generation of WRXs held up. Utilitarian little things though, I think they had a limited package with leather seats that might help it out a bit.
The A3 seems like a good suggestion if you like the GTI but really want the AWD. I was casually looking at them for Lauren and it seems like the slightly used ones have spiked in price a bit, maybe because they killed off the model and now the people in the narrow hatchback market has decided they actually do want them?
My vote goes for an MKVI 4-door DSG. I drove a 6speed autobahn package one a few months ago with 26k on it and was looking at about $22k with the CPO warranty. You know you like the car cause you already have one, you get the lady-friendly transmission and a more accessible backseat.
The TDI Sportwagen sounds like a solid option, you could throw an APR tune on it (won't affect warranty) for asphalt-curling torque to help get your noodle moving and still get 45+ mpg. The hatch is a bit bigger, not sure if you would get any more rear leg room, aren't they the same platform as the Golf?
A4 sounds like a turrible idea unless you're going to spend a buttload of money on a CPO car. They actually have a pretty extensive CPO warranty so if you got an '11 or '12 you'd have 4-5 years of warrantied driving. Even I wouldn't own one of those out of warranty, there's like 30 bushings in the front suspension by itself. *shudder*
How soon are you looking to buy? Would you buy new again? The '15 GTI is coming out in the spring and is supposed to be totally bitchin'. Bit bigger than the current platform but lighter, more power, better handling, and a fantastic interior. Not sure if the slightly larger size translates into more room in the back seats though. I'm not sure I could bring myself to pull the trigger on a new car, but I've decided to wait to buy anything until I can at least test drive one for myself and see what all the fuss is about.
EDIT: Re-read your requirements and my suggestions suck. It sounds like you're describing a CX-5 aside from not wanting it to be slow, the extra ground clearance might be nice when parking at a trailhead.
Cabell, the Saabaru was literally an Impreza or WRX with a Saab badge kit so reliability would be however well that generation of WRXs held up. Utilitarian little things though, I think they had a limited package with leather seats that might help it out a bit.
The A3 seems like a good suggestion if you like the GTI but really want the AWD. I was casually looking at them for Lauren and it seems like the slightly used ones have spiked in price a bit, maybe because they killed off the model and now the people in the narrow hatchback market has decided they actually do want them?
Now: 07 Porsche Cayman S | 18 VW Tiguan
Then: 18 VW GTI Autobahn | 95 BMW M3 | 15 VW GTI SE | 12 Kia Optima SX | 2009 VW GTI | 00 BMW 540i Sport | 90 Mazda Miata | 94 Yamaha FZR600R | 1993 Suzuki GS500E | 2003 BMW 325i | 95 Saab 900S