Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

My vote would be either a MS3, or a nice WRX wagon.

18psi

iTrader: (76)

07 wrx wagons are very cheap this time of year, (and pretty much every summer), and are much better looking than the 08's imo....torquey, very easy to drive, roomy, and with something as simple as turboback and tune can run low 13's....VERY nice car for what you are looking for

posidon42

iTrader: (4)

Back on topic, I have looked at the Mazda3 as a possible solution. We almost bought one two years ago but bought a Tribute instead. Wish I would have bought the 3 Still looking around and trying to figure out what would work. Any thoughts on a 2+2 like a G35 or something similar. I would LOVE to get a 135d or maybe a used 3 or 5 series withouth the darn iDrive. Wish I had the dough for it.

mr_mazda329

I say either the Mazda 3 or the Speed 3. I bought my 09' MS3 and it is definately a fun DD. I needed the extra room for when I do have kids and needed the room for the pets. Handling in the MS3 is unlike any FWD car I have driven. Very nimble and controllable. An intake will give you 11hp and 16lb tq. for the short ram. You wont be dissapointd in either.

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

Posiedon... I think people are giving you advice all over the place because they're all thinking you might value performance equally along the lines of a kid-hauler. A minivan is a good compromise of versatility and price... but lacks any measure of performance (which is also a measure of safety). When it comes down to a serious-god-damn-how-did-anybody-walk-away-from-that-accident, bigger and heavier is better... but it's also contrary to performance. I think you can find a happy medium.

I think if you were a little more clear about how much performance means to you, then it would narrow down the choices. If you're looking at G35's (even used)... I think we're talking in the $30k neighborhood.

A Mazda3 is a good COMPROMISE of price and performance... and is decently large enough in the back for 2 kids. Both the sedan and the 5door have plenty of room behind the seats or in the trunk for all the mandatory kid peripherals. They are however small... and even with some great safety features, might not be as safe as some other choices.

I've ridden in several years of WRX and no way in ******* hell would that make my short-list of performance kid-haulers. They exude cheapness in build quality.. the new models are a little better, but I'd be afraid to slam the door too hard for fear it would fall off.

And since we're talking short list... how about AWD, 40airbags, stability control, traction control, antilock, turbo(s), great stereo, looks like sex, big enough for the kids or 5 adults, good trunk, not too big, turning radius like a Miata... and your parents will be proud, all for $30k or less.

You'll have to settle for an '07 trade-in... but Volvo people trade-in for the latest model like wine&cheese NC drivers do... too bad they didn't import the wagon model to the states.

S60-R:

bryantaylor

iTrader: (5)

i still suggest getting a used car that you can pay cash for. a new car is nice, but if something was to happen, it is one less bill you have to worry about. newer taurus's, impalas, crown vics, and any suv are cheap as hell right now.

naarleven

iTrader: (2)

I can come up with about 1800 reasons why "newer taurus's, impalas, crown vics, and any suv are cheap as hell right now".

posidon42

iTrader: (4)

Yes that Volvo looks great, but I am looking for something a bit cheaper than that. If I bought something like that, I might not ever drive the Miata I drove behind a S60-R a couple of months ago. It looked awesome and I loved the forced induction smell from the exhaust, but he couldn't shake the itty bitty car riding his butt through the corners

naarleven

iTrader: (2)

I heard they have uber granny ecus which cut power the second the temp goes over 70 degrees too. And that even despite that they were overrated on power from the factory.