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Old 12-21-2016, 04:34 PM
 
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
34,660 posts, read 57,778,624 times
Reputation: 46126

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Audi seems to 'fit' me quite nice, (and your SO might fit). Too bad we can't get the euro cars as they have MANY more 'city-commute-car models' and narrow carriageways / alleys to match.

Try an Audi A3, but the Mazda 3 might be my next choice. Does VW still offer the new 'rabbit'? Toyota will be the most reliable / long care-free service. The Mini, may be the most troublesome (according to friends that own them).

As mentioned... keeping the Jetta and renting a $9.99 Enterprise car makes the most $$ sense.


My 40 yr old daily driver still gets 50mpg on free cooking oil. LOVE the hatchback. I build houses in my free time, and the "StealthRabbit' has hauled a lot of treasures home from free/recycle stores, as well as 20' pipe, lumber, rebar on my temporary 'racks'.

Hatchbacks make great utility / camping vehicles. but a bit noisy on the road.

$50,000 is a LOT of dough for an infrequently used city car. I prefer buying 'used' so I don't fret about scratches and dings on city car. I search for 'one-owner' for sale BY OWNER and then carefully screen for the most reliable vehicle that matches my needs.

My "StealthRabbit' cost me $35 bucks at a towing company 'abandoned vehicle auction'. It has never darked the door of a 'fix-it-shop / dealer' ~ 500,000 miles, expect to eventually double that.
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Old 12-22-2016, 05:22 PM
 
6,885 posts, read 8,895,425 times
Reputation: 3495
Prius, Toyota
Impreza / CrossTrek, Subaru
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Old 12-22-2016, 06:37 PM
 
Location: Was Midvalley Oregon; Now Eastside Seattle area
13,032 posts, read 7,426,952 times
Reputation: 9751
How can you be stealthy in a diesel rabbit with 500k?
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Old 12-22-2016, 07:47 PM
 
415 posts, read 489,174 times
Reputation: 616
Sounds like you're looking for something that is beyond mere sensibility.

If you absolutely have to own...

Fiat 500.

Get that.

Still the hatchback offers surprising stowing space.

Everytime I get in my bella bianca cinquecento (500) I can't help the silly childish smiles. It zooms and handles with such precision. I feel so confident and safe in traffic because I always know where I and the boundaries of the car are and can maneuver with such agility. I'm ready for the premature mid-live crisis when it strikes. I've already got the silly Italian sports car without the crazy extravagance.

I even test drove Audi TT & Ford Mustang, but there was no competition what was most fun.

Obviously I can't judge your subjective tastes. Get behind the wheel and test drive a bunch of cars. The choice should then become clear. The Fiat dealer sent me home on a test drive over the weekend. They knew what they were doing and the experience sold me. Decision 100% from the heart but still no regrets. Don't underestimate the quality and reliability of precision Italian engineering...

More sources if curious
Activity Stream - Fiat 500 USA Forum
Fiat 500 Forum : US Fiat 500 Cinquecento Forums

And for any car shopping I found this tool useful:
https://www.cargurus.com/
with this tool one can search for exact features in current regional dealer inventory... and show current reduced promotional pricing. Negotiating is such a pain. Maybe I'd let Costco do it for me next time?
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Old 12-22-2016, 09:30 PM
 
Location: Bend OR
811 posts, read 1,056,384 times
Reputation: 1733
Quote:
Originally Posted by hellopity View Post
Thanks for the suggestions! I looked into the cars and I have to say my favs are Mini, Beetle, and Fiat 500/Mazda 3. My S.O. tells me that if I'm going to torture him with tiny cabins (he is much bigger than I am) then I should think about an Audi TT or Miata (if they still make Miatas??)
As long as you realize FIAT stands for Fix It Again Tony.

My family owned a FIAT the first time they rolled into the USA. It was about when I first started driving.
Every time I would borrow that car, something would break. My sister wasn't as mechanical and I would have to drive some of the favorite parts out to wherever she was broken down in the FIAT and fix it for her. I could swap out a new fuel pump in the dark, in a few minutes.


Yes, they still make Miata's. In fact the newest model is a fun to to drive manual, nimble roadster.
Smallest cabin in the world. My bro-in-law that has the latest one fits it nicely. I am 5'10" 185 pounds and I have to shoehorn into the seat. Its a fun car though. His son is larger than me and literally cannot fit to see what how the car rides. Its a great car for wiry, little people.

If you have to spend a lot of money to feel good about yourself....get the Audi. Otherwise get a recent Subie Impreza for a fun little sporty car that will get you through all sorts of conditions with AWD.
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