Counterpoint: WRXs are not fun and feel like tractors. I replaced a GTI with a WRX; I’m not going to say it was the worst mistake I ever made (that was the Countryman I foolishly bought some years later), but after the initial thrill wore off I just found it mostly tiresome.

I eventually replaced the Countryman with…

I don’t think she wants an interior that terrible. Great car, but good luck being taken seriously by other people in it.

How about this: VEHICROSS. You know it’s what you want. Or at least, I do.

Door closing sound is a big deal. So is fuel door feel.

She’s only looking for 3 things in a car. Space for kids, not terrible to drive, and has good door closing sound/feel.

Mazda 3 hatch.
Manual? - check.
Fun? - check.
20-25K? - check.
German? - Really? You haven’t learned?

I’m just gonna say... that Beetle on steelies and fat snow tires looks kinda badass.

The door closing sound leaves too much to be desired, though.

As long as they don’t blind oncoming drivers, seems to be more of a problem these days, either people leaving their high beams on, or their lows are too damn bright. Either way, I’ve taken to just turning my high beams back on until they either turn theirs off drive past. I used to second guess it thinking “maybe…

You have my vote if you do that and you promise to make all self-serve gas stations actually have squeegees and something resembling windshield fluid to dip it in. We’re getting to road slop season, so it’s more important than ever.

Agreed. Every single vehicle I’ve owned with sealed beam headlights got upgraded to Euro Cibies or Hella units. We had a VW Jetta Sportwagen and I was looking to buy the Euro units for that car too, but we ended up selling it.

3rd Gear: Our Headlights Suck

We have a non-HID Sienna that my wife drives. I actually think it has pretty decent output for having halogen projectors. I haven’t monkeyed with those lights yet and I don’t think I will...

But yeah, how they justify nice HIDs on corollas but not on the more expensive van, I don’t know.

3rd gear:

No crap. That’s why I’ve had retrofitters do their magic on my headlights in my last 2 vehicles. Most think it’s because I like the cool look. No doubt the SC430 projectors with clear lenses, S2K shrouds and custom shroud extensions look absolutely bad ass.... but I actually did it for the function of it. …

3rd Gear: Our Headlights Suck

Isn’t that a pretty car? This was roughly the same time that Mazda also produced the NA Miata and the FD RX-7. There’s not a mass-produced car in the world today as nice-looking as those three. In fact, these days Toyota and especially Honda seem to be on a kick of making their line-up as ugly as possible, I guess…

Had a 93 of the same configuration... and I was cross shopping DSM’s at the same time and man I was happy I went with the 6. The fact that they weren’t featured in the Fast/Furious movies help keep it off the radar a bit, I felt like I was driving Japan’s best kept secret. I remembered being so excited for the next…

Don’t forget it’s cousin. The Ford Probe. Horrible name but a nice car.

I had one as well... was my first self-bought car. Wonderful vehicle and far more unique than the Ford Probe it sistered-with. Took mine to the drag strip a few times as well - the V6-manual surprised a lot of people, particularly the Integra and Civic crowd. My favorite were the idiots with ground-effects and…

Had a 94 LS that I bought on a whim, complete with the 2.5 V6 and a manual. One of my favorite cars ever, I still regret selling that thing.