Who says adults don’t like to wring out their cars (frequently)?
It’s one reason I like leasing...

Why wasn’t a brand-new-with-warranty Honda Civic Sport hatchback suggested?

She’s a Honda person, looking to graduate from a Honda Fit... It’s literally the next hatch up! In Sport trim is still a few grand below $25K (most trim levels are, but it’s the best fun-for-the-buck version).

It has a lot more interior room…

I think you are making assumptions, rather than commenting on the actual capability of the Macan - on a track.

It’s a tough CP from me... and to be fair, more a reflection on my thoughts of a $60K CUV than anything. If it were $5K less, I’d have a different vote.

The Clubman must be the one I’m thinking of.
But the Countryman actually does look better - especially this exact one in the article here. So good.
I’ve always been a rally car fan - I figured maybe Mini might have struck the right balance with their CUV.

There’s a 4-door Mini JCW too... which is supposed to get the GP 301hp motor too. It’s actually been just those two that I’ve seen in the promotional materials.

I think you may be misdiagnosing Audi’s uber-conservative bland design language.

Gas mileage - Diesel is always a cruel, fist-shaking way to save at the pumps, when the manufacturer charges such a premium up-front. Then you are just paying before you even use the fuel, and hoping to save money down the road.
(Side note: diesel VW’s didn’t cost this much more... feels like profiteering)

Then each is just giving you mono sound.
Music is recorded in stereo. You’ll never walk into an audiophile’s house and find a single speaker in their listening room!

Even if this Tundra had those amenities, I would think it was a crack pipe price - but at least then it would be a matter of cost-itemizing the camper on top of the 141,000 mile “other people’s project” (but otherwise clean) truck.

Money spent in the aftermarket is never a factor - in fact the “other people’s project” factor can drive resale down, not up.

It has nothing to do with tech talent. GM (and Ford) are conservatives in suits, who would rather sell high-profit SUV’s and trucks than low-profit electric cars that don’t yet sell well, and cause dealer profits to slump (because: less maintenance). They are doing everything they can to actively suppress EV growth,…

The Bolt is so symbolic of GM’s “always screw something up” philosophy-
They had a great car, by technical measures...
...then they completely whiffed on the styling. Or was it intentional?

For years, across the late 90's to early 00's, I watched from the inside, as the mobile audio / mobile electronics industry withered and declined, across about 10 CES shows and 3 SEMA that I attended.

Repaints are always scary. What are they hiding?
Especially when you have a clamshell hood unit that originally (and can’t imagine why it would be any less today) that had a replacement cost - for the part alone - of something like $15,000. Before bodywork, installation, etc. The price of a fender-bender is high, in a…

Addition -
OR - use that “3 years old” as a strategy to get into a more expensive car.
For example - Mercedes C300 sedan.
2019 - $44,395 new
2016 - $22,500 used
2013 - $11,100 used (C250)

The good news is, that Mazda3 is worth more than $6K I’m sure, even trade-in value. If for some reason you really wanted out of it, you are probably already fine.

Don’t discount that leasing may make sense for people as well...
...even if you are looking to buy.

Why? as in... ....wwhhyyyyy?

Design-wise, this thing is exceptionally good.
Personally I hate huge behemoths, the driving dynamics, the parking difficulties, etc... the very opposite of sports car fun.