I looked at the Volvo but couldn't quite talk myself into it for the price.
Well, the X1 went to a new home, and this was the winner of the wheel-of-car-o-rama. My goal is to actually keep this for 3 years...we'll see how that goes.
On the plus side, a fair chunk cheaper than the X1, about 700 pounds lighter (and you can feel it), the DSG is much more entertaining than the BMW auto and isn't a drag in LA traffic like a manual can be, and a really well designed rear hatch area with a 2-position floor. My cabinet now will fit standing upright and plenty of room for my other gear. Sport seats are more supportive than the BMW ones (and not painful like the Recaros in the Fiesta ST).
Downside - steering is a bit light, especially compared to the X1 which was brutally heavy (somewhere in between would be about right). It is electric like almost every car now, and does have normal and sport setting, with the sport tightening things up a bit. Evidently the resistance can be tweaked by the dealer so I may go a bit stiffer but am going to drive it for awhile and see. Other than that, no real downside yet. We'll see how VW reliability fares, but this car is very quick, nicely appointed on the inside (maybe a bit nicer than the X1), and should make for a good DD. Forward into the past as I had an '07 for awhile. We'll see...
