Thanks for all the suggestions. Will definitely check out the 335 and have the S4 as a back up candidate since that one also received many votes.

 

Mini Cooper S.

 

Oh I thought we were talking about cars for a man...

 

I love my GTI DSG for everyday.

 

i have a 2011 audi a3 tdi and i love it. its fun and very economical. 40 mpg! the golf tdi would be in your price range for sure though and it has the same economy and a dual clutch tranny. I have a 911 turbo as my other car and its been clean and warm in the garage during this terrible winter.

 

Some of us are apparently more secure in our Manhood without needing a car to express it for us.

 

The GTI is a great car, probably one of the best FWD cars ever. I would choose it over the mini cooper s. Also the DSG is the best automatic I drove.
But I said to myself that unless it's for only around town I don't really want a FWD car ever again. RWD / AWD for me only please.

 

Um, you do own a turbo, so unlikely! lol

 

I recently traded my E46 M3 for a TT.

THe M3 was very versitle and did most everything well. With a few minor upgrades you can get the enging to sing(although no where near a TT).

I had the car 10 years and it was a great DD. The last year it did have a lot of trip to the mechanic, but it was at that 100,000 mark where things wear out. So I would agree the maintinance is a little higher than average. Still I actually miss it, and that is saying something being that my TT is running about 600hp !

 

I had a 335XI for 3 years. It ran beautifully for the first 30 months. Then not so much. The BMW maintenance program is a joke, so don't weight that in your decision. Also so many people modify those cars that the dealer is skeptical about everything. Any time I had any issues fuel related, they immediately tested the fuel in the tank and told me I was running too low an Octane - 91. What, am I supposed to drive out of state for gas. Thankfully it was a lease and at 34000 miles it was gone. Fun car and very comfortable, but there is no way I would ever own one out of warranty.

 

I love my Golf R32 DSG for everyday.

Seriously check out either one of these cars as your the utimate city car, once you had hot little AWD German Hatch Back you can never go back.

So much fun in the wet and dry, great solid build, huge brakes and the exhaust note is sweet!

 

The M-3 pre V-8, Audi S4 pre V-8 or an AMG C-55. All can be had in very good condition for $25K. As close as they look on paper, they are all completely different as a daily driver.

 

I love my BMW X5. very nice dd.

 

+1 for 335 bmw. I have a 09 coupe that i picked up at the factory. It is very comfortable and fast. With a tune even faster. CPO cars are avalible in your price range with waranty to 100K. Fuel pump waranty was extended on all cars to 100K and recently bmw is doing a recall on all cars to replace the fuel pump not already updated. I have 20K on my car and have had no trips to the dealer except for maint.

john

 

I think someone else may have said it, but the 2006 C55 AMG is a pretty fun car too. Easy to drive and a great engine that really sounds good. They come loaded with features and you can [pick one up with lower miles for about $20k.