New car suggestions
 

Alright guys as some of you know I am graduating and will be looking for a new daily driver for work (keeping the 318is as my weekend and temp track day car). I will be working for a consulting company and be working onsite at ford daily, so there is going to be some pressure for me to drive a ford product but I think I can still do what I want. I have been thinking about rides I want to check out and am trying to keep it below $25,000, so far I am thinking about the following options:

Mazdaspeed 3: (might be able to get good terms through my ford supplier status), supposed to be very good car.
MINI Cooper S: its almost a bmw and a blast
VW GTI Mk5 2 door: pretty cool but I would need a new test drive the last place I went sucked
VW Rabbit: cheap and its only a daily so might be perfect.

I would like to stay away from american cars for the most part, let me know what you think of the possibilities or if there are others you would put into the running.

There is still a chance I will look for another used Bimmer though.

I wouldn't drive any ford even if I worked for them. Unless it was like a Truck or a Mustang. I say go for the Mazda.

Mazda 3 are good cars.

keep the 318 and spend 25K on the turbo!!!

no, im just kidding, but seriously too many retarded people suggest that very idea in every "new car advice thread"

do you need brand new or can you go CPO? u can get some good deals for 25K CPO

I would keep something CPO in mind, I do plan to check my local BMW CPO retailer for anything that catches my eye. I don't mind going CPO as long as it has a decent warranty.

I should also mention that I'm thinking about leasing whatever I get for 24-36 months, that way I can get a different car every so often. I'm not that intersted in getting something to mod since I will still have a car to do that with. I might get some rims but thats it.

well if you go for CPO you should go german(and no, not VW haha, if you buy VW might as well go brand new) because usually they have 6 years 100K miles warranty, i dunno how much snow you get, but consider a quattro from audi, maybe an S4 or something or you can always stick with BMW(although if you want a NICE bmw you'll have to pay more.. sorry, e46's dont really do it for me unless its an m3 haha)

I know friends with brand new versions of all of those models. Would be a tough choice. The new Mini Cooper S is awesome. The GTI can be really nice with some minor mods, that wont affect the warranty. Same with the mazdaspeed 3, they are pretty quick in the stock form, teh fastest out of those 4, not sure by how much. The rabbit is slower than those 3, but still a nice car for sure.

Mazda is the fastest as stated. they pull pretty good.

not sure as far as the actually driving experience goes..i didnt like it when i drove one.

mini is too small imo.

not sure on VW the two we had sucked, but they were bad models(cabrio and beetle)

CPO..expensive you might as well get a new car imo.

k thats my negative side.

i like the mazda idea. Check some "02" "03" E46's. see what you can find.

I think I will keep my eye out for a e46 330ci (coupe) at a decent price. I am planning to drive everything I have listed and more before making a final decision.

I wish the mazda was awd then it would probably be the lock. Also if I get a decent ford deal through mazda I would be pretty happy and it might be hard not to.

you should get what ever you want but not the mazda, they dont last at all by friend had one he had to change all the sensors and stuff in like a half a year

for the love off all things german stay away from VW. ( another one of hoppys unexplainable hatreds)

the mazda is a great car fo what it is. as is the Mini. the only down side is both are FWD ( another thing hoppy hates)

the mini gets 22. lb/hp
the mazda is something like 18lb/hp

the mini gets the extra points because it is a BMW product. hey, no one ever said im fair

that said. iv never driven a mini. but i have driven the mazda 3 and it is a very nice car for what you pay.

MINI OR MAZDA!

I would get the mazdaspeed 3 over the MINI. I think, for your price range, that is what you should get. Take it out for a test drive. It's just going to be your DD, and everyone I know that has dirven a mazda3 says the FWDness isn't as much of a turn off as one would think. The mazdaspeed3 has to be even better.

lol

Hahaha, I could say the same for any BMW. You'll always have some cars with problems in any brand.:deal

Mazda makes good cars, and they won't cost an arm and a leg to fix.

Out of those choices any of those would make good daily drivers except the mini, its really small, but outside of those choices I have to say go for a 325 or something of that range.

I'd say to go with the Mazda. IMO, the only thing the Mazda doesn't have going for it is the fact that it's not a BMW. Go for it. Just don't put racing stripes on it like a retarded friend of mine did. That would make me sad. :(

:lol Racing strips! They should have done racing zig zags.

edit: That was a terrible joke.

I am a bit partial to the Lexus IS for a reliable nice daily driver. You can get one with a 5 speed. The new IS250 has an option for a 5 speed. They are rwd, a plus in my opinion. I also like the S4 or R4 from Audi.

Of the four you listed, I love the new vw GTI, great to mod and fun. The mini S can a great car too.

What is your price range? The e46 330Ci are awesome if you can get a CPO.