Possible 2nd Car

[Raza]

So, by next winter or early next year (way in advance, I'm sure this comes as a surprise to no one), I'm probably going to be picking up a second car.  Something practical to drive when I need to, something a little low-key if I go to law school in a less than perfect area (if I get into my dream school or my backup school, they're both in shitty areas).  Good on gas is a plus, reliable is a plus, but it's not top priority; I'll have two cars. 

And since I'm moving to a house, I'll actually have a place to put it! 

So, what I've identified:

Mini Cooper/S
Pros: Small, great in the city, good on gas, cool, and supposedly extremely fun to drive; plus, my grandfather had an Austin Mini back in the day. 
Cons: Perhaps a little too small to be practical, reliability a question.

Saab 9-2X Aero
Pros: WRX wagon the cheap with better looks, unassuming, fast, practical, AWD, Subaru reliability, four doors and four usable seats, I finally get to have a "Saab", possibly the best choice of the three.
Cons: Not so great on gas, possible high mileage worries with the turbo, longer than the Mini (although shorter than my Jetta), scarcity.

Honda Civic Si EP3
Pros: Cheap, great on gas, fun, but perhaps not as fun as the Mini, Honda reliability, a Civic, but not a target for thievery.
Cons: Possibly a little on the old side, less practical than the Saab but lacking the style of the Mini, an obvious safe choice.


As you can imagine, I'm looking for your input. 

Requirements:
FWD or AWD
Manual transmission

Preferred:
Hatch greatly preferred, but sedans are okay if they have a fold down seat.  No coupes.
Non-luxury make (Saab and Volvo okay)
Sunroof


Now, if I'm trading in my mother's S500 towards it (a possibility), I'll go up to $10,000, but I don't want to go higher than that.  Let's work with that budget for now.

I'm not considering any Volkswagens this time around; I've been in them for 8 years and they're great, but a GTI would feel like having my Jetta again.  I'm looking for something different this time around.

Again, I know this is way, way, way in advance, and my mind will change a thousand times from now until then, but having a Z4 as my only car just won't work if my brother and I aren't working in the same place anymore.  If it snows, I'm fucked.  But I shouldn't have to worry about that for some time.

Thanks in advance.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Winter beater: Subaru AWD. No question. Also, consider the tire size. Low profile tires, like the Cooper S has, do not work quite as well in winter conditions.

[Cookie Monster]

1st gen MS3's are trickling down into that range.

[Raza]

1st gen MS3's are trickling down into that range.

That's kind of interesting, actually.  I never really looked into them much.  The old Mazda3 was a good looking car too, unlike the current one.  Mileage isn't even bad.

I am wary of turbos from companies that don't have the a reputation for turbos though--I mean, look at all the teething issues BMW had with the 335i.  Basically everything I can find under 10K is 120K miles or more; same worries with the turbo as I have with the Saab, but without that Subaru turbo reputation.  Definitely worth looking into though.  Even a regular Mazda3s hatch wouldn't be a bad idea. 

Do you know of any issues or quirks with them?  I have heard about issues with Mazdas and rust, but I don't know if that applies to the 3.

[Raza]

Winter beater: Subaru AWD. No question. Also, consider the tire size. Low profile tires, like the Cooper S has, do not work quite as well in winter conditions.

Yeah, the 9-2X is really, really compelling.  It's the choice my head is saying is the right one, but my heart is screaming Mini.  Considering I followed my heart with the Z4, maybe following my head for the practical car wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. 

Actual Subarus hold their value really well--too well. 

I mean, look at this:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?endYear=2014&zip=19130&sellerTypes=b&transmissionCode=MAN&maxPrice=10000&transmissionCodes=MAN&mmt=%5BSUB%5BIMPWRX%5B%5DLEGACY%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&modelCode1=IMPWRX&makeCode2=SUB&modelCode2=LEGACY&showcaseOwnerId=294911&makeCode1=SUB&startYear=2003&searchRadius=0&listingId=342747736&listingIndex=2&Log=0

A 9-2X with the same mileage would be like $3,000 to $3,500 cheaper probably.

[Laconian]

I know two happy MS3 owners. Those cars pull so goddamn hard, and those race seats are great.

[Raza]

I know two happy MS3 owners. Those cars pull so goddamn hard, and those race seats are great.

They are ridiculously fast, I know.  I've messed around with a few in the Jetta and it wasn't even close. 

[SVT666]

Mini.  Nothing on your list will come close to being that much fun.

[Vinsanity]

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=337833341

[Eye of the Tiger]

Yeah, the 9-2X is really, really compelling.  It's the choice my head is saying is the right one, but my heart is screaming Mini.  Considering I followed my heart with the Z4, maybe following my head for the practical car wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. 

Actual Subarus hold their value really well--too well. 

I mean, look at this:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?endYear=2014&zip=19130&sellerTypes=b&transmissionCode=MAN&maxPrice=10000&transmissionCodes=MAN&mmt=%5BSUB%5BIMPWRX%5B%5DLEGACY%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&modelCode1=IMPWRX&makeCode2=SUB&modelCode2=LEGACY&showcaseOwnerId=294911&makeCode1=SUB&startYear=2003&searchRadius=0&listingId=342747736&listingIndex=2&Log=0

A 9-2X with the same mileage would be like $3,000 to $3,500 cheaper probably.

I hear WRXs are expensive to insure.

As to the MS3, even a standard Mazda3 is a great driving car, and wouldn't overshadow the Z4's awesomeness.

[Laconian]

Mini.  Nothing on your list will come close to being that much fun.

I would only own a Mini that's under warranty. I browsed enough owners forums to know that they don't last.

[Cookie Monster]

That's kind of interesting, actually.  I never really looked into them much.  The old Mazda3 was a good looking car too, unlike the current one.  Mileage isn't even bad.

I am wary of turbos from companies that don't have the a reputation for turbos though--I mean, look at all the teething issues BMW had with the 335i.  Basically everything I can find under 10K is 120K miles or more; same worries with the turbo as I have with the Saab, but without that Subaru turbo reputation.  Definitely worth looking into though.  Even a regular Mazda3s hatch wouldn't be a bad idea. 

Do you know of any issues or quirks with them?  I have heard about issues with Mazdas and rust, but I don't know if that applies to the 3.

They are higher mileage now, but I mention them because by the time you buy in a year, you may be able to get some newer ones in that range.

I don't know of any problems since I don't have experience with the MS3 but I bet they are pretty reliable due to the MZR engine. I haven't heard of many NC's with engine problems.

Also, complete wildcard, but MS6? Not sure if the seats fold down but that would be a perfect car for you.

[SVT666]

I would only own a Mini that's under warranty. I browsed enough owners forums to know that they don't last.

I saw the same thing in Infiniti owners forums...and Mustang forums...and Explorer forums...and Ram forums.  Maybe I've been lucky but they were all virtually trouble free for me.

[Raza]

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=337833341

No way in hell. 

[Laconian]

ROFL

But bro, you can customize it with TuRD OEM parts!

[Raza]

They are higher mileage now, but I mention them because by the time you buy in a year, you may be able to get some newer ones in that range.

I don't know of any problems since I don't have experience with the MS3 but I bet they are pretty reliable due to the MZR engine. I haven't heard of many NC's with engine problems.

Also, complete wildcard, but MS6? Not sure if the seats fold down but that would be a perfect car for you.

I thought about the Mazda6 hatch or wagon, but I think those are the ones that had the rust issues.  Plus, they're extremely poorly packaged.  Midsized on the outside and compact on the inside.  Older midsized cars don't make much sense to me.  At 186", it's 11" longer than the next longest car and yields 5 cubic feet of interior space (and the Saab has 5 more cubic feet of cargo space, though that's due to shape, I'm sure).

[Cookie Monster]

I thought about the Mazda6 hatch or wagon, but I think those are the ones that had the rust issues.  Plus, they're extremely poorly packaged.  Midsized on the outside and compact on the inside.  Older midsized cars don't make much sense to me.  At 186", it's 11" longer than the next longest car and yields 5 cubic feet of interior space (and the Saab has 5 more cubic feet of cargo space, though that's due to shape, I'm sure).

Yeah but 276 hp and AWD...

I think MX793 might be having rust issues with his 3. You should ask.

[Raza]

Yeah but 276 hp and AWD...

I think MX793 might be having rust issues with his 3. You should ask.

Eh, the power isn't all that interesting to me.  The 9-2X literally has more than enough.  The Cooper S would be great too.  I'm just not a power guy. 

[Vinsanity]

Eh, the power isn't all that interesting to me.  The 9-2X literally has more than enough.  The Cooper S would be great too.  I'm just not a power guy. 

Unthusiast.

[SVT666]

ROFL

But bro, you can customize it with TuRD OEM parts!

You could just cut the springs.

[Cookie Monster]

Eh, the power isn't all that interesting to me.  The 9-2X literally has more than enough.  The Cooper S would be great too.  I'm just not a power guy. 

Me neither but I'd like at least one fast car around... it's fun to just romp on the throttle and get pushed back super hard into the seats.

[Raza]

Me neither but I'd like at least one fast car around... it's fun to just romp on the throttle and get pushed back super hard into the seats.

The Z4 is plenty fast enough.  I've had 125mph through my hair more often than I should admit to...

[Cookie Monster]

The Z4 is plenty fast enough.  I've had 125mph through my hair more often than I should admit to...

I think I just want more power because I was winding out 3rd gear yesterday and it was slooooow. I was going flat out and it just wasn't accelerating that fast.

[Secret Chimp]

High sustained speed isn't as fun as acceleration.

[Laconian]

Acceleration is 5 seconds of fun followed by intense pangs of guilt and shame.

Just like sex!

[Eye of the Tiger]

Acceleration is 5 seconds of fun followed by intense pangs of guilt and shame.

Just like sex!

Accent acceleration lasts much longer. It can go all night long.

[MexicoCityM3]

Out of your options, MINI. But I'd suggest something more practical that complements your Z4 better.

A3 maybe? I know it's a veedub but good car.
3 series/A4 touring with AWD?

[Madman]

If you're worried about a MINI not being big enough, check out a Clubman.

[MexicoCityM3]

If you're worried about a MINI not being big enough, check out a Clubman.

That's a great suggestion.

[Cookie Monster]

^Probably too expensive.