Selling my '06 Boxster - need help finding replacement

[wt888usa]

Hey y'all, well it's time to sell my Boxster. I'm thinking of making a road trip to the West Coast, with no time limit or time frame. But I'm selling my car and getting a new one for a few reasons:

- i'm unemployed now so i need a car with less expensive upkeep
- i prefer to be able to haul most of my belongings on this trip (which isn't much, but won't fit a boxster)
- i want a less conspicuous car in fear or being targeted or more noticed while i'm travelling or even when i'm in Cali
- i want to take up more outdoor activities and need a car that's a little more versatile in terms of hauling equipment and also want a car that i am less anal about keeping clean all the time

i can always get a boxster later down the road anyway, when i'm older. i'm 25 now and sometimes i feel like i'm being judged by others, maybe they view me as spoiled, stuck up, or undeserving of my car. it's strange i know, but i feel uneasy sometimes. i bought this car more because it was fun and a thrill, and less because i wanted to show off or be prestigious.

anyway, i test drove a few cars recently looking at the under $25K range, and the top 4 i'm liking are, in order as of now:

1. Volkwagen GTI MKV w/ DSG
Pros: I hate automatics, and 'manumatics', but this DSG dual clutch gearbox was amazing and I fell in love w/ it, and I personally love the design and the 18" wheels. Hatchback configuration is convenient. great character, love the plaid cloth seats.
Cons: back looks slightly cut off, heard VW reliability was crap, and interior dash and console was slightly bland.

2. Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5
Pros: Girls seem to like the look of this car more (and not so much the hatchbacks), this is important for someone my age :-), has good reliability ratings, and the best gas mileage of all these, has great luxury features like the keyless start and entry. and i like the looks of this, especially in black with the stock spoiler.
Cons: didn't feel as agile, being that it's a bigger car, doesn't have the thrill factor, being that it's a 2.5, it's the slowest of the bunch.

3. Mazdaspeed 3
Pros: Great bang for the buck. Great power, great speed, fastest of all these cars, and practical. interior was the nicest too of all these cars.
Cons: boring looks exterior-wise, imo. worst gas mileage of all these cars. non-chick magnet.

4. Honda Civic Si
Pros: This was a lot of fun to drive, and has a digital speedometer which i've gotten so used to from the boxster. being OCD, it's nice knowing 'exact' speeds. gearbox was slick. cheapest of all.
Cons: Has a kind of rice rocket import tuner look, and I hate that crowd. and being that I'm Asian, being seen driving this car may give others the wrong impression. :P

Need help on y'all opinions on these cars, and maybe any others in the same range/category.

[Brucelee]

I kind of like the new Saturn Astra XR-3 door hatch model. Apparently the Europeons love the car, where it has been selling as an Open for some time now.

Buy American!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rick3000]

I would look at the Volvo C30, it has four captains chairs, and a lot of room. Plus, you can get AWD and a stick. It is just something else to consider. Good luck with the decision!

[peakpro]

subaru forester.....IMO a very good car for the $$$


manual, N/A is all you need...

[mchi5]

out of your 4 choices, i'd choose the mazdaspeed 3. it is a hatchback, so it is more useful in carrying stuff around than say the civic si. plus, it's turbocharged with like 260hp. major con...all that hp is put thru the front wheels

[wt888usa]

I like the look of those Saturn Astras too, but the car is just too slow. And the interior is really crummy. But the body and lights on that car sure are sleek. No votes for the GTI?