Need a daily driver recommendation

[dienstuhr]

Hey all,

My 2007 GTI is in the shop again after stranding us on a road trip and it's time to think about shopping.

Here are my wants:
-Comparable size to the GTI
-4-door sedan or hatchback - no coupes
-Manual transmission if possible
-All-wheel drive would be great
-Handling/fun comparable to GTI
-2014 or newer, but prefer pre-owned to new
-~$30K or under

I don't particularly care about fuel economy as we don't drive a lot. I've driven a new Audi A3 and that's a contender, but no manual transmission :-(

Any ideas gratefully received!

Cheers

d.

[Eric Hahl]

Yep, Subby.

[Eric Hahl]

I had an 04 Outback Sport for 225k miles. Loved that car. The AWD system is terrific. MPG wasn't bad. Never had any problems with the car.

[Vipergrün]

May be tough to find, but a beemer with x-drive?

[Jim Bremner]

GTI? Focus RS?

[Tobra]

Focus RS is AWD.

Mazdaspeed 3 is a beast too.

[blucille]

easy. Golf R, 2013 misses your year by 1, but who cares, attainable for $25k, otherwise get a 1 year old one for 30ish

[Otter74]

Mazda 3? Great car, by all accounts. Japanese reliability, fun to drive, C-segment hatchback like your VW. Or else, as others say, some flavor of 5-door Impreza if you really want AWD.

[wildthing]

https://youtu.be/WWnAdB-vkXo

[onewhippedpuppy]

Focus ST is just as practical and more fun than the GTI in my opinion.

[racer]

Fiesta ST or Focus ST ?
newer GTI?
Mini Cooper/Clubman S?
Mazda 3?

BMW 2 or 3 series?

[pavulon]

How much snow clearance do you need?

[Cajundaddy]

Subi

[Charles Freeborn]

Our Outback has hands down been the best car I've ever owned. I'd get the smaller version (Impreza) in a heartbeat if I could do all my work activities with it. As it is, on a recent 1500 mile trip of hwy and some city we averaged 30mpg.

[billybek]

VW has jumped into the all wheel drive market with the Golf Alltrack.
If I wasn't spending my money I might like to try one.

[John Rogers]

I bought a 2007 Chevy HHR with auto and 2.4L engine 3 1/2 years ago and it is great. I needed room to carry my range box (Fat Max), muzzle loaders and associated cleaning rods and it has been great. Around town it gets 24 MPG and at 70 on the highway it gets 32 MPG. Very easy engine to work on although I have not had to do any thing except replace injectors, CAT and Monroe Quick Struts so up keep is not too bad. I paid $7,000 cash for it from a Marine being retired and going back to Arkansas.

[Fein 79]

A used Sub hatch or wagon would be top of my list. They pretty much invented the AWD category.

[dienstuhr]

Loving these recs, thanks!

We do get a good deal of snow here in Winnipeg but I take the bus to work so I can afford not to have a snowplow as a dd :-)

Looks like I'll need to drive a Suby or two. Was looking to stay German with an Audi A3 or another VW but small car, AWD and manual gearbox... pick any two. I like the idea of a Golf R but the prospect of not having a sunroof bugs me as I use it nearly all the time in summer in preference to A/C.

Would love to try a small BMW but I don't love the 1-series 5-door's styling, we can't have a coupe, and it's RWD only which I may not want to foist on Mrs dienstuhr.

I think if we go with another VAG turbo we'll need to trade it before the warranty's up ;-)

Keep em coming boys!!

d.

[blucille]

No sunroof in the golf R? Maybe that's a Canadian problem, here in the states, it's an option but most have a sunroof

I think the R meets all your requirements....and I love mine, manual, German, small, AWD, affordable and sunroof.

[petrolhead611]

Fords and Mazdas are reliable cars, with good handling, but the rust protection is, in my recent ownership experience, not as good as on other cars in the segment.