Yasha embraced a 2nd dog, and her two-door Mini Cooper is no longer perfect for 2 pups. She desires something with a bit more space however doesn’t desire anything huge. She is likewise trying to find something that is fairly enjoyable and has a predisposition versus anything with a CVT. What car should she purchase?
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Here is the situation.
I embraced a dog 2 weeks earlier after years of desiring one however not having the ability to provide a good life while still being a practical grownup with a full-time job. She doesn’t even have a name yet however I already chose I require a brand-new (to me) car for her! I presently have a 2016 Mini JCW 2-door handbook that I definitely love, however not having a 2nd set of doors is a discomfort with the brand-new puppy, and with the rear seat now inhabited, freight space is much more at a premium! I do all of the deal with my car, finding out as I go, from suspension bushings and shock care, fluids, pads & rotors, engine installs, and exhausts (plus after 2.5 years with a mini, I have actually ended up being an interior-rattle-finding ninja). We simply transferred to WI, and my partner is an opera vocalist so I do a great deal of trip to see her carry out.
I desire something larger than the Mini however not too huge. My dream list is – Leather interior, heated (did I point out WI?) front seats, an enjoyable powertrain (please no CVTs!), carplay (I can swing an aftermarket upgrade too), fuel economy. Flush roofing rails would be terrific for a roofing system rack, however I can constantly set up a drawback install for a rear provider. I choose a hatch or a station wagon as I’m not a big fan of high automobiles, however an extremely compact SUV with good freight space would be terrific, too! I would likewise truly choose an AWD car.
The spending plan depends on $30,000
Quick Facts:
Budget: as much as $30,000
Location: Madison, WI
Daily Driver: Yes
Wants: 4 doors, small-ish, enjoyable
Doesn’t desire: A CVT
Expert 1 – Tom McParland: The Devil You Know
Yasha, you might not like whatever that includes owning a Mini however you appear to delight in the general driving experience, size, and quirkyness of that brand name. So why not simply get the larger, a little more practical variation of your Cooper? The Countryman uses 4-doors, available AWD, and the zippiness you would get out of driving a Mini.
It likewise has leatherette or complete leather seating, roofing rails already set up, reputable fuel economy, and all the tech you might desire from a premium English/German little car. Finding one with 3 pedals most likely isn’t in the cards, however the BMW-sourced eight-speed automated relocations through the equipments effectively.
There are a number of Mini Certified examples for under $30,000 with affordable miles, which must offer you a lot of guarantee defense for the next a number of years. Here is a very cool example in metallic orange with only 13,000 miles. This Countryman S is going to be a little down on power compared to your JCW, however that can be corrected in the aftermarket with an ECU flash and a couple of other upgrades.
Expert 2 – Andy Kalmowitz: The Dogo
Yasha, my friend. I’ve got the ideal car for you. Sure, you might choose another Mini, however that’s old news. It’s time to look towards the future. It’s time to look towards Volkswagen. What you require is a Golf Alltrack. When I state it has definitely whatever you’re trying to find, I truly do indicate it.
Baked into this little package is four-wheel drive, 4 doors, a manual transmission, Apple CarPlay, leather-ish heated seats and sufficient room in the back you’ll think about getting a 3rd dog. There is actually absolutely nothing more you might desire out of a car. Sure, the 1.8-liter turbo 4 isn’t going to be the most heart-stopping powerplant on the planet, however there’s plenty to be carried out in the aftermarket that’ll repair that a person little concern. I’m likewise positive you’re not going to be stressed over dependability. I indicate, you’ve been driving a Mini for God’s sake.
As all of us understand, I’m an extremely swell person, and due to the fact that of that reality, I’ve found the perfect Golf Alltrack for you. It’s got a tidy CarFax, and it’s located not too far from you. I don’t understand. The midwest is huge. Anyway, the Golf has a little over 28,000 miles on the clock, and coincidentally it likewise costs a little over $28,000. That’s right in your spending plan. You are welcome. Yasha, I don’t typically make extremely reasonable options when it concerns WCSYB, however this time, I understand I’m ideal.
Expert 3 – José Rodríguez Jr.: The Ultimate Little Driving Machine
It’s a little-known fact that the fourth-generation BMW 3-Series is one of the best in the historic lineup of the sports sedan. Not only because of its good looks and naturally-aspirated straight six, however also because it was close enough — chronologically speaking — to the classic BMWs of the golden era. You understand? Back when BMWs were still driver’s cars and before model bloat truly set in.
The 1999-2005 BMW 3-Series, otherwise known as the E46is close enough to the E30 and E36 that it can still be called a true compact sports sedan. And from what I gather, Yasha, it seems you want a car that’s both big and small. That’s why I recommend the nicest E46 you can find locally or a bit beyond. Something like this manual 2004 BMW 330xiwhich costs less than a third of your budget at $7,500.
That’s quite a bit of money for a car that’s almost 20 years old, but the thing about these BMWs is that, other than some potential headaches with VANOS, they’re not as unreliable as people think. They’re extremely fun daily drivers, and get great gas mileage despite their performance. You’re not gonna be outracing modern sports cars in the all-wheel drive 330xi, but if performance is what you’re looking for, then I’d recommend tracking down an E36 M3 sedan, though that’ll be harder to find for under $30,000. People are getting hip to the strengths of the E36 and E46, for better or worse — mostly worse for those of us holding out hope for a fun, small BMW.
Expert 4 – Collin Woodard: It’s Project Car Time
Reading what you’re looking for, it sounds like what you’re looking for is a Subaru Crosstrek. It’s got four doors and should have plenty of space for your dogs, all-wheel drive and a higher ride height that could help you in the winter and isn’t a big, bulky SUV. There’s just one downside — it’s not exactly fun to drive. That’s partly due to the fact that new Crosstreks are CVT-only however likewise due to the fact that the engine isn’t particularly powerful.
But don’t worry, I have a solution. All you have to do is buy a used manual Crosstrek and WRX-swap it. You’ll have the perfect fun-to-drive winter-ready dog car. Should you actually do this? Probably not. But you learned all those wrenching skills for a reason. Don’t you want to at least give it a shot? Come on. You understand you do.
It’s a crazy idea, especially since you said you also value fuel economy, but hear me out. Here’s a 2014 first-generation Crosstrek not terribly far from you that has a manual and costs just under $12,000. That gives you an extra $18,000 to do the swap and add Apple CarPlay. Will that be sufficient to cover it? Who knows. I certainly don’t. I’m just an idiot giving out bad advice on the internet. But come on. Don’t pretend you’re not tempted a minimum of a little.
