Or... if that's not practical enough, how 'bout this? :D

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/bmw-cars-sale/487384-95-race-ready-m3.html

also consider the Nissan Q-thing

does an EVO have enuff back seat room?

or.... hey - what about an RX-8?? surprising room in the rear and suicide doors...

EVO's are sedans. The back seat is reasonably sized.

Mazdaspeed 6 with the manual. AWD and 260 hp from a 2.3L I4. Room for 5.

Speedy:)

Friend of mine has one of those. He hates it.

I am actually going to go out on a limb and suggest the new taurus SHO. And I hate Ford's...blimey!

i like the mini cooper s.
they are coming out with a 4 door all wheel drive model.
i don't want to sit in the back though.

Hyundai budget, I assume $20k? If so, new SHO or Lexus IS-F aint gonna happen. By no BMW you've ruled out your best fun options. That money will buy you a very nice M5 or 540i, both with a 6 speed. The 540i even gets better than 25 MPG and has great interior space. MB has some great options, like an E55 AMG but its auto only. Same goes for a Jaguar XJR. Cadillac CTS-V is stick only, that's a fun car. If you like the Audi you can get a V8 S4 but its not very big, A6 comes in a stick depending on motor, or you could get an S6 wagon but auto only. VW Passat or GTi 5-door are other interesting options with a stick. The suggested Japanese options are good as well, like the Mazdaspeed 3 or 6, Evo, and WRX. Maxima is another sporty-ish option that comes with a stick.

Of course, if your budget is $40k you have a LOT more options.

Im sold on the Subaru drive train, I would go with something like this. Practical and if you want some GO just buy the turbo version

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1264636626.jpg

Have you ever driven a Mitsu EVO? :D

Have you considered the Volvo V50 T5 AWD R-Design? I've just ordered one with 6-speed manual, 230hp 5-cylinder engine that makes for some fun - plenty of room inside for both cargo and passengers. Price, with selected options, came in at $32k.

What about the Jetta TDI cup edition that is coming out soon?

Don't know about the practicality, though. Bad mpg, low torque. Sure, it revs to 9,000 RPM and kicks most anything's butt around a race course, which says a lot about the car's true application. The back seats are bucket seats, too. I'm not sure baby's seat will fit there.

All true. Very large inside, and the boot is fairly large too. Trouble is, finding a 6-speed is next to impossible. They have to be specially ordered, AFAIK.

The auto CTS is no slouch, but really, the car accelerates, turns and stops so well, a stick should be axiomatic.

DD can you read? He just said that the CTS-V is a STICK only.

If you could read, you'd understand I'm talking about the CTS. I know about the CTS-V; it gets fairly bad mileage (14 mpg) -- not very practical, which if you could read, you might comprehend to be one of Blue's criteria on the subject.

Now if you read into his description, you might understand he's fairly done with VW products, which is why your suggestion of a TDI Cup is, well, not enlightened.

Carry on throwing stones in your glass house...SmileWavy

Bruce: let us know how that volvo works for you , I've been looking at that one too

He didn't say he was done with VW... just that one.... He is looking at an Audi which is just a pretty VW... So obviously VW isn't off the table... And quite honestly I don't find the M3s that have been suggested practical.... Thats a hard combo.... Practical and fun

Are you feeling ok?! You just recommended a turbocharged 4 cylinder car over a V8 one!

Except for the MPG a CTS-V is just as practical as a regular CTS, just more fun. I was actually referring to the previous generation, I don't know if the new one is in our car shopper's budget. Perhaps if he were slightly more specific than a $250k spread we could be more helpful? But while we're on the topic, the new CTS wagon is a particularly good choice.