Looking for a daily driver

[rockfan4]

Since this seems to be the "find me a car" forum lately, let me add my requirements.
First, it has to be a manual transmission. No flappy paddles, no DSG, 3 pedals and a stick.
Second, heated seats. It gets cold in Wisconsin.
Third, 30+ mpg highway, regular gas.

Ideally, something a little nicer, leather, sunroof, etc. I'm currently driving a 2011 Jetta, and I'm tired of sitting on plastic, staring at plastic. The 2.5 has been dead reliable, but the electrics are acting up and since it's a VW / Audi, it's only a matter of time until some unnecessary sensor fails and the check engine light comes on. The previous car was an Audi A3, the CEL was on almost the entire time I owned it.

So what's out there? Mazda 3 / 6, Ford Focus, Chevy Cruze, Nissan ?? Anyone run a BMW 1 or 3 on regular? Maybe an Impreza. How about the GM 2.0 Turbo Ecotec motor? Any issues? I've thought about a ATS or Regal, but maybe the mpg isn't that great.

[KNS]

For Japanese reliability and fun to drive a Mazda 3 or Mazda 6 are excellent choices, our kids both drive a 3.

I have a BMW 128i which is a blast to drive (with leather, heated seats and heated steering wheel). Hard to find rear wheel drive and manual combo in a small daily driver. MPG is not as good as the Mazda but so far reliability has been great (my 200,000 mile E46 has been bulletproof, still yet to see a check engine light...). I always use super unleaded but I'm also in scorched earth Arizona. Upper mid West climate may be fine.

Manual trans 128s can be hard to find (located mine in Madison WI and drove it home).

[Charles Freeborn]

Turbo Subaru.

[-Levi-]

Lexus. Good solid reliable and decently quick all around. My ass sits in one for nearly 30k sales miles and it has been nothing short of perfect-
For me it's been the is350

Idk f they make a stick anymore

[thamlin000]

I recommended a Lexus IS on recent similar thread. I also do 35k mi per year with my outside sales job. Reliability is top notch.

[rockfan4]

There's one IS with a manual and less than 100,000 within 200 miles of me. A 2009 IS250 near Chicago. Almost 8 years old and they still want $16,800 for it. Can anyone suggest something more common?

Related question: Do car dealers know what a manual transmission is? If you can put it in "P" and there's only 2 pedals on the floor, it's not a manual!

[ckelly78z]

My wife really likes her 03 BMW 325 CI convertible. It is a bit small for the whole family with only 2 long doors (not 4 short doors). Get the 4 door 330/335 and have plenty of power to boot.

[Otter74]

What's your budget? Mileage requirements?

The first-generation Acura TSX is excellent, reliable, fun, and not unreasonably hard to find with a manual. It is pretty hard to find one with under 100k and a manual, though, as everyone who owns ones seems to drive it a lot.

For the last year and a half I have been at the same time trying to think of something to replace my appliance car (low-mileage 2003 Accord, I4/5AT) with that has a manual transmission and a liftgate, and stopping myself from replacing it with a higher-mileage German car (for reasons, see your experience with VAG vehicles)

TSX is a perennial short-lister even though the wagon body was never available in the US. Made when Honda still made some nice-driving cars.

[VincentVega]

I really like the Mazda protege 5 if you can find one in good shape. A little underpowered but fun to drive for a little wagon. For something a little newer I think the mazda 3 is hard to beat. If I fit in a frs/brz I would have one but they arent long on storage space.

[rockfan4]

Originally Posted by Otter74

What's your budget? Mileage requirements?

Let's say under $20k, mileage under 50,000, although both are somewhat flexible. I'm more flexible on the miles than the price. Before the Jetta I had a 2006 A3, bought it with over 100,000 on it, sold it with 140,000. Other than a torn CV boot, no mileage related repairs. But again, 90% of the time the CEL was lit up. It also drank a lot of oil. Before that I had a 2002 Saab 9-3, I had that 8 years and might have bought another, although if I think about it too much I'll remember all the things I hated about it.

I've thought about a TSX or a Honda Accord, but I worked on a 2006 TSX for a World Challenge team and really grew to hate that car. It's also hard to find either with a manual and heated seats.

[Charles Freeborn]

How important is AWD, up there in cheese head country?

[rockfan4]

AWD is not a big deal to me. I think snow tire technology has reached the point where I could consider a RWD car to drive year round. If it gets really bad I can always drive the pickup.

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

My wife really likes her 03 BMW 325 CI convertible. It is a bit small for the whole family with only 2 long doors (not 4 short doors). Get the 4 door 330/335 and have plenty of power to boot.

There's a nice looking 2005 in Madison. I'd have to find a hardtop for winter however. There was also a 2011 that caught my eye until I saw it had a rebuilt title. I'm thinking a Z4 might be too small.

[Arizona_928]

Fiat 500? Can buy two for when the first one breaks.
If you park them side by side you should be able to fit two in one parking spot.

[unclebilly]

Nissan SER SPEC-V?

Cadillac CTS-V?

One of the above will be my next daily driver...