Holy ****, you are all sorts of confused if those are your top pics.

I could never own a 25k ford focus.
I could never own a VW anything later than 1968.

 

time to start adding more requirements

Do you want a hatchback?
Manual or automatic a must-have?
NA or Turbo preference?
Do you care how tuneable it is?
Brand preference?

Tme to start narrowing it down

cuz after all this duscussion you have the same list you started with

 

My vote is for a 2012ish Taurus SHO. AWD, 365hp, twin turbo. Cops use it for a reason. General badass car. Here's an example, with a loooong aaaass link....

Cars for Sale: Used 2012 Ford Taurus SHO AWD for sale in Highland Park, IL 60035: Sedan Details - 400666456 - Autotrader

 

You can tell how much help I need because you're exactly right, I'm in a loop. And also I came to a bunch of chumps on a miataturbo forum for help

-I'd like a hatchback for my 3 dogs, but a sedan doesn't kill it.
-Manual preference, automatic is OK.
-Turbo preference, because:
I'd like some tunability. Although I doubt I'd have the much extra cash to pay for and tune a car while doing what I want with my miata, at least for the best part of a year.
-No brand loyalty.

I like cars that have torque, good road manners and generally can do the things my miata can't.

 

If you decide you want hatchback, GTI or Focus ST.

If you want sedan, ATS or (if OK with automatic) that SHO is cool. Not remotely flickable, but they're pretty sweet and suuuuper comfy.

If you don't need sedan but still want rear seats, G35 or shitty Genesis Coupe (with turbo)....

/thread?

 

Your dry logic upsets my obsessive compulsive habits of circling around until I pass out from exhaustion.

 

I'd take a turbo Gen coupe over a G35. SHO is also available in the police interceptor model if you're lucky. Rear doors open up 90 degrees and it's washable. Great for kids or perps. May not handle nearly as well as other suggested cars, but it fits most other criteria.

 

I must employ my dry logic when possible, as it's suspiciously unavailable when the time comes for me to make a purchase decision.

 

Those SHO are stupid fast for a 4500lbs behemoth.

 

deadspin-quote-carrot-aligned-w-bgr-2

A fun read for the 2015 model. If I were in the market, that's my current target car.

 

They're cool, for sure. Just too heavy IMO. Not particularly good mileage, not particularly fun to drive in a handling and steering sense. But they're quick and comfy.

 

As a DD maybe, and a Miata for the fun stuff.

 

I get the appeal honestly. I've driven a Flex 3.5TT for a couple weeks and actually quite enjoyed it, but i was taking care of 5 kids under the age of 11 with my girlfriend. So the space was great and I never pushed handling or the kids would fly into the window. It does feel like a very fast truck in a lot of ways.

I think I'm still leaning towards a clean 2016 Focus ST. It isn't ideal in a handful of ways, but is fun and gets the job done.

Unless someone has a better idea.

 

The ST is a great car too. I'd get one. It fits all your requirements and then some, and handles very well for a FWD. Much like the MazdaSpeed3 I assume, but better. I had one of those and it was wicked fun. Reasonable for DD, yet fun when you want it to be. Plus compact and light enough to whip and get into tight spaces.

 

100 pages later, OP still deciding between a school bus and motorcycle

 

Fozzie xttttt.

No interest in things like the Acura MDX? V6 Rav4 or that kind of ish?

The V6 rav4 seems like a good fit for your needs. They're also well within your price range and it's a toyota so it's not going to be a PITA if anything happens.

 

You don't know how true this is.

Don't. Start.

 

Rav4 is gayer than a Miata, and handles worse than my Tacoma. Stay far away from the crossover **** unless you like driving a bus.

BUICK. Yes, I know it sounds stupid, but have you driven one of the newer ones? They are much more like BMW than road barge these days. There's a reason they sell like hotcakes. And they are amazingly quiet inside.

 

The new style regals are really nice. But won't ever be fun like a Focus ST.

Good choice mang.

 

Any reason why Mazda6 2014+ have tanked in value? I can get a really nice one for $15k.