With a twist: needs to be an automatic. Helping gf choose between new or very lightly used 25-35k.
MK7 GTI w/ dsg
FRS/BRZ with the "paddle shift" slush box (apparently same unit the IS-F used?) I've driven a few, it actually feels pretty close to a dct/dsg.
'15+ WRX w/ paddle cvt
She likes Mini Cooper, I know the old ones were piss poor in reliability. The current ones I've heard better of though. I'll do my OCD research, but appreciate other input or if there are any Mini experts on here. She kept her last car 8 years. Not liking how cost of ownership is like BMW, uses BMW parts, and the philosophy "why use 1 part when you can use 3". Plus changing water pump requires taking car apart entirely, and rebuilding it upside down.
She likes Ford ST twins just not their awful build quality. Exhibit A being my ST and its paint and panel fitment issues.
Trying to make her test drive the Abarth just for lols since the exhaust (designed by Ferrari) induces grinning from ear to ear. She what she has to say about that.
Needs fun and decently quick, but staying as much as possible conservative, humble, inconspicuous. SO yeah, I think GTI is the most likely candidate for that. On another token, she's looking at lightly used auto FRS/BRZ with <15k KM's since you can get those considerably less than 25k. Pretty spartan inside though, but she expressed not caring about that e.g. I told her she loses steering wheel audio controls, you sure? lol also not super fast but a step up from what she's coming from. There's also the Scion TC, new ones have pretty good stock sounding exhausts. Underrated cars for the money, I was pleasantly surprised when I drove a few.