banimod / etpro / ettv forums

not interested in spending >$30k on a car. which rules out audis too (and mercs, so dont go there either ).

Took an extended test drive today in a 4 door GTI. The sport seats are a little too hard and hurt my lower back. No amount of lumbar adjustement or anything else made it any better.

2006 MINI Cooper S Trim tested Sport package, Automatic Transmission Not that it sounds like it would change the overall conclusion, but this isn't the sort of car I'd choose to equip with a snotomatic :? that's all they had, automatic. wouldnt change the overall conclusion though -- Cooper S owner...

I dont like gambling and with VW the odds are not good. I'll wait a while and see how the MKV reliability turns out.

I would jump all over the GTI, but VW's legendary unreliability and horrible warranty support are two major issues. Having a first-rate interior and excellent handling hardly offset the pain of being in the shop all the time. Maybe with the MKV GTI VW has finally addressed their reliability problems...

TBH I found the GTI much more fun to drive. The Cooper S is raw and unrefined and if you arent paying 100% full attention 100% of the time the car will kick you in the head. But then some people like kickbox sparring with their car, and so the Cooper S will appeal to them.

I'm shopping for a new car. To help sort out the decision I'm putting down my test drive notes 'on paper'. 2006 MINI Cooper S Trim tested Sport package, Automatic Transmission First impressions: That's a *small* car... Interior Utterly hilarious. Just about the only things that are where you expect ...

What is funny is the R32 is one of the few cars i've found that actually appreciates in value over time.

the downside means that the R32 that MSRP'd for $29k new in 2004 is now selling in 2006 with 20,000 miles on it for $31k.

deej wrote:

bani wrote:i'm shopping for a practical daily driver, not a road penis

How about a Yaris then?

if you look at the cars i've been test driving you might notice a pattern.

and the yaris somehow doesnt fit in...

an a4 avant trimmed comparatively with a wrx is wayyyyyyy too expensive.

i'm shopping for a practical daily driver, not a road penis :alliedengineer: Why GTI then? Its as much a raod penis as the M3, except its cheaper, and all the nerds own one (at least in germany). hardly. the M3 is way more road penis than a GTI. the M3 is a $50k luxury performance sedan. 3.2L I6, 3...

Ragnar_40k wrote:They say "More sport than wagon": http://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/3/325xisportswagon

slower, heavier, and $10k more expensive

also less reliable (#65) than the impreza (#28 )

Deus wrote:BMW M3 > *
Very expensive though

http://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/m/m3coupe/default

i'm shopping for a practical daily driver, not a road penis

mortis wrote:He does unholy things like putting Japanese engines into British cars!

"lotus elise"

...unholy?

was driving next to one today, in fact.

I would probably buy a GTI in a split second, but VW's consistently terrible customer satisfaction and reliability ratings make me think twice.