Golf GTI or Volvo C30 or SportWagen TDI or...

[NikonsAndVStroms]

Originally Posted by Ko

We did, and it's anything BUT a small CUV/SUV/whatever.
As we sadly found out, a 'driver's' car doesn't mean manual transmission anymore. I prefer that over a tiptronic/etc.
The CX5 and its 2.0 150someHP is anemic in a car of this size, it's nothing to write home about the CX5 in the base level, GS I think.

Edit- a Kia Soul was much more fun to drive than a CX5.

Ko

Ouch, I test drove one and I just couldn't deal with driving it day in and day out. The 2.0 has decent power (and you can get it with a standard in mid level trim) but the handling sucks.

[azcycle]

Looks like you've already written off the C30 but I have to give kudos to our 2010 that we've had about a year. It's the wife's fun, runabout and we both love it. The suspension is a bit soft but it still corners well, and the turbo gives it enough kick to make it very fun off-the-line.

Yes, it is small and has some blind-spot issues. And with my lead-foot mileage hovers about 19mpg. Now that we've had our baby boy, my wife has to take my Jeep with the baby seat (baby in daycare on-site at her job) and I SUFFER taking the C30. We did put the baby seat in the Volvo for one short trip and while it works, it's not fun.

I also like that it's still rather unique on the road. VW's are a dime-a-dozen.

Vroooom!

[Ko]

Originally Posted by azcycle

I also like that it's still rather unique on the road. VW's are a dime-a-dozen.

Vroooom!

If it wasn't a space issue, that car was at the top of our list!

JNRobert, don't know if it applies to US, but Volvo Canada had a one year rental deal- i.e., they rented out a bunch of C30s, and after one year they got them back and offered them up for sale with an extended warranty of 6 years/160k km.

Ko

[Ko]

Originally Posted by NikonsAndVStroms

Ouch, I test drove one and I just couldn't deal with driving it day in and day out. The 2.0 has decent power (and you can get it with a standard in mid level trim) but the handling sucks.

Different strokes for different folks It's definitely not a Passat- like ride...

In motorcycle terms, my comparison between those two vehicles is based on my preference for a motard over a Goldwing

Ko

[NikonsAndVStroms]

Originally Posted by Ko

Different strokes for different folks It's definitely not a Passat- like ride...

In motorcycle terms, my comparison between those two vehicles is based on my preference for a motard over a Goldwing

Ko

I had some fun with it the other day.....the thing has very, very little body roll for a car of that class and tracks great just it's on cheaper tires; that plus the cold weather made for an interesting few moments

[CA_Strom]

Originally Posted by azcycle

Looks like you've already written off the C30 but I have to give kudos to our 2010 that we've had about a year. It's the wife's fun, runabout and we both love it. The suspension is a bit soft but it still corners well, and the turbo gives it enough kick to make it very fun off-the-line.

Yes, it is small and has some blind-spot issues. And with my lead-foot mileage hovers about 19mpg. Now that we've had our baby boy, my wife has to take my Jeep with the baby seat (baby in daycare on-site at her job) and I SUFFER taking the C30. We did put the baby seat in the Volvo for one short trip and while it works, it's not fun.

I also like that it's still rather unique on the road. VW's are a dime-a-dozen.

Vroooom!

+1 on that. When I had my 2011 C30 R-design, it turned heads wherever I went. It was black/black and debadged, so most had a "WTF is that?" look on their faces. The best was going to a local high end restaurant with a buddy of mine. He was driving his Porsche Carrera 4s, and me in my lowly $28k C30... The valet parked my Volvo up front next to a Bentley, while his 911 went down the street into the garage.

[urbancowboy]

Originally Posted by Ko

We did, and it's anything BUT a small CUV/SUV/whatever.
As we sadly found out, a 'driver's' car doesn't mean manual transmission anymore. I prefer that over a tiptronic/etc.
The CX5 and its 2.0 150someHP is anemic in a car of this size, it's nothing to write home about the CX5 in the base level, GS I think.

Edit- a Kia Soul was much more fun to drive than a CX5.

Ko

that's disappointing. the car mags made it sound better:

"The steering is quick and crisp, body motions are held tightly in check, and the ride is purposely firm underfoot. This is the SUV for those who promised they’d never stoop to driving one."

quoted from here:
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...t-drive-review

seems like it's hard to find the "perfect" hatch/wagon/small suv that is fun to drive and decent on fuel in the $24k to $30k range.

bmw x1 looks cool, but only available with automatic transmission.

subaru offers stick shift in lots of models, but the WRX is the only one that's fun to drive. i test drove one and really liked it, but i drive too much (20k/year) to put up with that kind of fuel efficiency. especially with premium gas.

maybe they'll make a sportier version of the xv crosstrek. or maybe mazda will improve the cx-5 for next year.

[Ko]

Originally Posted by urbancowboy

that's disappointing. the car mags made it sound better:

"The steering is quick and crisp, body motions are held tightly in check, and the ride is purposely firm underfoot. This is the SUV for those who promised they’d never stoop to driving one."

quoted from here:
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...t-drive-review

Keep in mind that my butt-o-meter might have a different perspective I tested those cars as similar as I was able to my former Renault Alpine 5 turbo, rally prepped. That's not how a normal driver would drive those cars...

In all fairness, between those vehicles is quite a bit of a weight difference, I believe 2700lb vs 3300lb, power being the same- I think.

Originally Posted by urbancowboy

maybe they'll make a sportier version of the xv crosstrek. or maybe mazda will improve the cx-5 for next year.

Well, that's our hope as well. Actually, I plan on trying next few days the Mazda 6. I like its looks, and we might buy one with the diesel option.

Long story short, we're not buying any of our initial options, we're waiting one more year, and make due with a Passat 1.8t for now. My wife liked the B200, which you can't get in US, too bad cause it's a ncie car for those not willing to go the true MPV route, but the 2013 version beats the older one hands down in every department, so it's not worth buying the older version now.

Damn too many choices

Ko

[RocketJohn]

Being in Canada, I'd want AWD. Audi A3?

[cogitate]

Originally Posted by CA_Strom

+1 on that. When I had my 2011 C30 R-design, it turned heads wherever I went. It was black/black and debadged, so most had a "WTF is that?" look on their faces. The best was going to a local high end restaurant with a buddy of mine. He was driving his Porsche Carrera 4s, and me in my lowly $28k C30... The valet parked my Volvo up front next to a Bentley, while his 911 went down the street into the garage.

Nice, but you actually let someone park your car? Last time I did that, the guys who parked it must have beat the shit out of it, the transmission broke the next day. It was a little weird shifting on the way home, the valet had a shit eating grin on his face when he dropped it off to us after our meal.

I called the restaurant and they said they were not responsible. Never again!

[NSpooner]

Originally Posted by cogitate

Nice, but you actually let someone park your car? Last time I did that, the guys who parked it must have beat the shit out of it, the transmission broke the next day. It was a little weird shifting on the way home, the valet had a shit eating grin on his face when he dropped it off to us after our meal.

I called the restaurant and they said they were not responsible. Never again!

A few weeks ago I went out to dinner with my wife and I dropped her off at the door before parking since it was cold out. I told the valets I was parking myself and one goes "damn! I wanted to drive it!" I said that's exactly why I was parking it myself and they had a good laugh. I was driving our Mini Cooper S. Not the fastest thing in the world but it's a blast to drive.