Time for a car

My Miata will be sold as of Friday (to a very loving home), which means I'm on the prowl for a new car. Not going to lie, I'm all over the map for what I'm looking for. I'm split between buying another cheap car outright ($3k) and running it or buying something nicer and newer. I drive a little more than 15k a year in a range of conditions. The Miata was fun, but it got old folding in an out of it (6'2" 190lbs).

I'd like something newish unless I find a killer deal on something oldish. Also, I work for a marketing company that deals heavily with the auto sector, so I can generally get good deals on vehicles.

My requirements for ze new ride:

1) Not a project. I need my wrenching time for the race car. I want to turn the key and go for a couple years without spending cash fixing stuff.

2) Roughly as good on gas as the Miata was (28 mpg)

3) No appliances. I already have a Prius for SWMBO.

4) Room for myself, the lady and the dog plus luggage for a weekend. Basically a hatchback.

5) Must put a grin on my face regularly to keep me from wanting to commit horrid crimes during my commute in Boston.

6) Not a Subaru or a Volkswagen product. Had a horrid experience with an LGT. Brother had worse experiences with 3 consecutive VWs.

7) Stick shift.

8) $20k or less.

Cars in contention:

New Mazda3 Skyactiv

CPO Mazdaspeed3

Honda CR-Z?

What say you GRM hive mind? No Corvettes either - I don't want to deal with that in winter. I know ZO6 is the de-facto 20 grand car around here.

On the $3K end of the spectrum; Porsche 944, Nissan 240SX, LT1 4th Gen Camaro/Firebird, 1G Focus hatch, 1G DSM.

On the $15K side... uh, lots. CPO MS3 would be my #1 test drive for sure.

MS3.

Seems like most of the $3k fun cars around here have been ragged on, which means deffered maintenance and repairs that I don't want to deal with. Plus, North East rust.

Low end: Focus SVT, Protege5, EF Civic Si

High end: Mazda3/MS3, Honda Fit (slow though),Mini.....

MINI

Cobalt SS Sedan? kinda unicorny, but doable for the money youre talking
Lexus IS? It wont get you 28 MPG combined, but it has space, aftermarket, fun, looks
TSX? because racecar
Lincoln LS? heavy is the new sexy...ask...well...most car manufacturers
G35x Sedan? VQ powaaaaah
P10 G20 - think Sentra SE-R with nicer seats...without the molestation that SE-Rs have been subjected to

A $3k car is going to be a project, so it's out by definition.

I'm liking the Focus SVT suggestion.

I already have one spinning triangle in my life so I'm not itching to add to that paddock.

I have a couple MINI clients that I can call on. I just never liked the sight lines out of those things.

I'll second the Cobalt SS - tons of potential in those with tuning the LNF motor and less driveline loss than in the Kappa (Solstice and Sky)

How big is the dog? We ended up with a Mazda5 for our German shepherd because we were tired of squeezing him into our Integra's hatchback (for the record he fit fine back there, but not so much our luggage).

E46 Wagon? Manuals are rare, but I guess they're out there somewhere since the staff and others on this forum seem to have found them. That said, I couldn't find one in our $6-7K price range, but you may have better luck with twice the budget.

Ms3- but then again, what else would I suggest? I'd be wary of a MINI, not sure a dog+ luggage is too feasible in that, if you ever want the back seat for anything.

Mazda6 wagon?

In reply to Matt B:

Border collie. 60 pounds.

DaveEstey wrote: In reply to Matt B: Border collie. 60 pounds.

In that case, Mazda5. Your back (and your dog) will thank you.

Plenty of room in the back seat for a border collie in an ms3, throw the luggage in the hatch.....

E46 M3.

1) Good, solid cars. There are some things you need to make sure were addressed though.
2) Won't make the cut at 28 except long highway cruises with the tires overfilled in 6th gear with the wind at your back but 25-26 is possible.
3) Not an appliance unless maybe you have an arcade.
4) Room for 4. Nice big trunk. Comfy.
5) Grin on your face... every damn time you get in it 6) Check.
7) Check.
8) Juuust nipping in.

3 series wagon, in your price range you can find a e90 style, possibly CPO.

For lower priced options, how about an Integra GSR or RSX-S.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: E46 M3. 1) Good, solid cars. There are some things you need to make sure were addressed though. 2) Won't make the cut at 28 except long highway cruises with the tires overfilled in 6th gear with the wind at your back but 25-26 is possible. 3) Not an appliance unless maybe you have an arcade. 4) Room for 4. Nice big trunk. Comfy. 5) Grin on your face... every damn time you get in it 6) Check. 7) Check. 8) Juuust nipping in.

The E46 is a fantastic car and all, but I dunno about its dog hauling capabilities...

MS3, go ahead and get the 07-09 too and ill have a box of fun to sell you

FRS/BRZ (little over your budget, but make up for it in MPG) Mazda 3/Speed3

Our 60lb Shepherd mix loves his spot in the hatch portion of the wife's Mazda3 (without the cargo shelf of course!)

I really liked my MS3 the year or so I had.

BOOOOOSSTTTTTTTOOOOOORRRQQQQUUEEESSSTTEEEEEERR!

Agree on the MINI (S). Snorty & fun to drive at any speed,30-ish MPG, torque steer is the only fly in the ointment as far as I'm concerned. I stuck a foam block in back to level the floor and folded the seats down. 2 - 80+ Lb pooches in back no problem.

637284th on the 3/ms3/5/protege5 suggestions. One of those will be my next DD.