My girlfriend wants a new (used) car

[chadthestampede]

Help her choose one.

She's looking for a newer car (preferably 07-09). 4 doors, compact or mid size. She wants something sportier, so I suggested she test drive a Focus or Mazda 3 but I have no knowledge concerning them other than what they look like.

She really likes the 07-08 Jettas she's looked at and test driven, but I'm doubting the VW reliability. I don't want to be fixing this thing all the time.

Something relatively reliable, sporty, and decent looking for around 15k or less.

No bmws, no e30s. 07 or newer.

inb4 'pics of gf' and quotes from the car forum video.

[z31maniac]

I drove a base model Mazda 3 today along with the SPeed3.

For a basic appliance it was still a decently sport little machine with good room inside and good options to choose from if one was so inclined.

[pureaudio]

Mazda 3 definitely fits the bill on all those requirements, one of my favorite compact cars that have been recently produced. Check out the Subaru Impreza 2.5i also, the Focus is a decent car but doesn't come close to those cars in terms of sportiness and looks.

[e30e]

V6 altima

[z31maniac]

^Does not fit the price range, not even close.

[george graves]

I have the perfect car for her. A Lotus Elise or a Honda S2000. They are both great cars and she could take them to the track.

[dreamer420]

blech focus is ugly, and all the ones ive been around fall apart miserably. shitty ford construction

[mrsleeve]

Going to have to say Scoobie Legacy or 2.5rs it snows a fucking ton in Buffalo and winters are long up there AWD would be on my short list. That leaves you with few options as the Audis are out still by price Vs year. and sportier, really leaves not much left.

Ford 500 was available in AWD but they are holding value well and well not too sporty

other wise I would say Ford escape or other smaller AWD cross over from GM, stay away from Chrysler they are totality shit

[chadthestampede]

blech focus is ugly, and all the ones ive been around fall apart miserably. shitty ford construction

It did feel a little cheap. Not as cheap as a cobalt but getting there.

[chadthestampede]

Going to have to say Scoobie Legacy or 2.5rs it snows a fucking ton in Buffalo and winters are long up there AWD would be on my short list. That leaves you with few options as the Audis are out still by price Vs year. and sportier, really leaves not much left.

Ford 500 was available in AWD but they are holding value well and well not too sporty

other wise I would say Ford escape or other smaller AWD cross over from GM, stay away from Chrysler they are totality shit

Any FWD car does surprisingly decent in the snow around here, if you know how to drive. And you tend to learn in about one winter how to drive here or you don't survive.

What she really wanted (read: what I wanted) was the new Fiesta, but no one has them yet.

[mrsleeve]

^^^^^^^^^^^

Where I live winter is oct-may I know a little about driving in the snow LOL. My truck get the 4x4 locked in maybe once a month, I get 99% of where I need to go with rwd. But woman lots of snow I would want the at least the option of both axles turning.

[325i_Medic]

The Jetta is a roll of the dice. My '06 was the biggest POS I ever drove. Most other people I know that have 07's and '08's have had 0 trouble with them.

[Kershaw]

What she really wanted (read: what I wanted) was the new Fiesta, but no one has them yet.

the fiesta/mazda2 look great. both will be available as 2011 models. so look for them sometime later this year.

[chadthestampede]

The Jetta is a roll of the dice. My '06 was the biggest POS I ever drove. Most other people I know that have 07's and '08's have had 0 trouble with them.

That's exactly what I don't want to happen. She has a Grand Am now that's the biggest pile ever built. She's had nothing but problems.

I talked her out of the tarbo Jetta cause a tarbo is the last thing she needs.

^^^^^^^^^^^

Where I live winter is oct-may I know a little about driving in the snow LOL. My truck get the 4x4 locked in maybe once a month, I get 99% of where I need to go with rwd. But woman lots of snow I would want the at least the option of both axles turning.

True, but she's generally a pretty good driver so I'm not too concerned. Plus with any luck we'll be out of here within the next year or so.

the fiesta/mazda2 look great. both will be available as 2011 models. so look for them sometime later this year.

I've been in love ever since the Top Gear review.

[e30e]

^Does not fit the price range, not even close.

an O7, yes it does ;)

kinda know about a thing or two on used nissans.