What do you recommend for a "used" sporty family mover?

[r3ccOs]

Ideally... I'd buy a 4 door E36 M3, but those are far and few between... as well my other half thinks that its a bit small and dated

She on the other hand wants an A3 (regardless of sport or not)
I'm not a fan of paying an Audi premium for essentially a Jetta/Golf wagon w/ the 2.0TSI

So I'm figuring a good compromise for quality, reliability, cost of maintenance yet still with a sporty undertone...

I'm thinking all used:
Altima SE-R
Saab 9-2 (WRX)
WRX Wagon (hard to find not abused :P)
G35 Sedan (man they depreciate )
A4 advant or A3
Volvo V50 T-5 (but... probably brutal for maintenance costs)
Passat Wagon

Of the bunch, what would you guys concider?

So far, value for dollar, used G35 sedans seem to have depreciate and can be found w/ low K for very very agressive prices. Mind you they don't look nearly as good as their coupe counterpart nor the Altima SE-R

The Saab 9-2 WRX, which I happen to like the looks of, are very well priced as well, perhaps even better than the Suburu counterparts, but usually come in automatic (boooo!)

What would you guys recommend?

[hampstor]

A few off the top of my head... 4+ doors and "sporty" :

Pontiac G8 GT
Subaru Legacy GT Spec.B
Any of the SRT dodges (Magnum/Charger/300)

Your list seems a bit diverse, you've got compact wagons with midsize luxury cars...

Off your list, I do like the Altima SE-R.

[r3ccOs]

oh -- wifey says no to big V8s

I saw a Magnum SRT8 for $27k that I was ready to pounce on, but noop

[scat19]

A4 wagon or 3 series wagon

[spike98]

I have a 09 Jetta with the 2.0T in it. I dont have a family at all but i love it. Lots of room for people and truck space to hide the hookers you dont want your wife to see.

Once its chipped its a monster on the street and is a BLAST to drive. I am bias but i have to recommend it to anyone that wants to have a sporty car but still retain comfortablity.

[dino_martini]

Altima SER is a pretty under rated performance car. I've been scoping those as well. Tons of 'sporty' family movers out there. The G35 is a great car as well...with this much selection its tough to choose.

I don't know what your price range is or if your girl is adverse to driving stick....but the CTS-V has depreciated into the $35,000 range....

Edit - I waited too long to post...no big V8's...thats a pitty

[r3ccOs]

ideally <25K otherwise, I'd be looking new or newer

Jetta Wagon would be nice w/ a chipped 2.0T... cept need a bit of suspension work + LSD

By chance, did the jetta wagon ever come in a GLI?

[r3ccOs]

Originally posted by dino_martini
Altima SER is a pretty under rated performance car. I've been scoping those as well. Tons of 'sporty' family movers out there. The G35 is a great car as well...with this much selection its tough to choose.

I don't know what your price range is or if your girl is adverse to driving stick....but the CTS-V has depreciated into the $35,000 range....

Edit - I waited too long to post...no big V8's...thats a pitty

the SER is probably the best looking of the VQ35 engine'd sedans w/ the exception of maybe the new maxima (I sitll like the SER)
The interior does leave alot to be desired, but so do the G35s as well....

[Cos]

Audi 4 series

[spike98]

Originally posted by r3ccOs
ideally &lt;25K otherwise, I'd be looking new or newer

Jetta Wagon would be nice w/ a chipped 2.0T... cept need a bit of suspension work + LSD

By chance, did the jetta wagon ever come in a GLI?

The GLI is just the tunned version of the jetta. If your looking for a wagon get the 4 door GTI. Its close to an A3.

My jetta is completely stock except for the chip. I wouldnt worry about anything suspention related for now. It handles ok in the corners. Later you could do a minor spring drop to tighten the wheel gap and keep the factory ride.

Unless your tracking it, i think it will be more than enough for a grocery getter.

A chipped jetta is faster than a V6 altima, V6 Accord and the G35/350Z. I know this from experiance...

[r3ccOs]

Originally posted by spike98


The GLI is just the tunned version of the jetta. If your looking for a wagon get the 4 door GTI. Its close to an A3.

My jetta is completely stock except for the chip. I wouldnt worry about anything suspention related for now. It handles ok in the corners. Later you could do a minor spring drop to tighten the wheel gap and keep the factory ride.

Unless your tracking it, i think it will be more than enough for a grocery getter.

A chipped jetta is faster than a V6 altima, V6 Accord and the G35/350Z. I know this from experiance...

I love the GTI regardless of the MKV or MK6 w/ the FSI/TSI 2.0... but I have an MK4 right now and its just not big enough

[AllGoNoShow]

Subaru Legacy GT
BMW 525iT

[G-ZUS]

Maxima?
Accord?

older M5?

[Tomaz]

G35 FTW!

[Cozmanator]

Passat W8 4mo wagon , 6.5 secs stock to 100.. and you get a really nice interior (awesome quality) or a Audi Avant wagon.

[r3ccOs]

M5 - no v8 and man the maintenance costs must be astronomical

and really the maxima & accord don't seem to have anything that again has more or less a sporty undertone to it... (well except the latest gen Maxima)

I wish there was a big brother of the SI from the honda offering... well there are Type S's from acura

[JAYMEZ]

Go for the A4 , awesome cars and quattro

[r3ccOs]

Originally posted by JAYMEZ
Go for the A4 , awesome cars and quattro

I'm actuality really contemplaiting the A4, in the 03'-05' era w/ the 1.8T in an Avant

I know you can APR-em if I don't like how it drives, but curious as to the relability of the cuplink differential and well... do you think it'll have the volkswagen nasty VAG issues with the electral? like burning lights, ECU issues etc...

[spike98]

Originally posted by JAYMEZ
Go for the A4 , awesome cars and quattro

If you have the coin this is the route i would go. An A4 is going to be my next car.

[atgilchrist]

Buy my Murano!