Hey everyone,

Our 2005 X-trail, a car which has honestly proven itself to be everything I could ask for in a daily with the added bonus of the huge plastic floored trunk, is finally telling me that its about to get more expensive to maintain than its worth.

Naturally, I've started the search for a replacement and the good news is that in the ten years since we bought the Nissan our budget has improved; the bad news is that car prices didn't stop to wait around for me to save some cash!

So, I am looking to know more about what the rest of us are running around in the 90% of the time we're not in our favourite car: what are you driving for the daily? What kind of driving is it? How is it in the winter? Is it fun to drive?

Cheers!

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Also, if you want to weigh in with some advice for my search here are my needs/wants/nice to haves:

Needs: I fit (6'3", 215 with goalie thighs), higher crash test ratings, sips gas, four doors, available parts (that two year X-trail product life-cycle wasn't always good to us), can drive in an inch or two of fresh snow (winter tires obviously solve this but some cars are better than others regardless), be newer or new (2016+) to open up more room for financing options, and can actually pass a transport when I merge on to a 400 series.

Wants: manual trans, shorter rather than longer wheelbase (downtown parking), and something fun to drive - I'm staring out the window at a silver Versa sedan as I type this, and even though I know nothing about that car I know that I would rather take the bus than drive it everyday (no offense to Versa owners).

Nice to haves: moon roof, comfortable seats, relaxed styling - we turn heads in the seven I don't want attention in my daily. Storage, the wife is driving her own SUV these days so I don't really need more than space for hockey equipment.

Budget is 30K, taxes in. I live in Ottawa and drive about 50km a day, mixed city and highway, all year round.

Thanks again!

P.S. I went out to drive the Focus RS (just to see what the hype was about) and wound up falling in lust with the Fiesta ST - got down to about 27K while negotiating for the fun of it but they wouldn't move lower than that. Honestly, at 25 would have been tempted.

 

 

I use a 2016 Lexus IS350 F Sport AWD

For 30k.... look into the IS250 F Sport AWD they check all your boxes except manual, but i never wanted to have a manual car as a daily, thats why I have an RX7.

 

I bought a mazda 3 sport (hatch) new in 2014. 30k would get you the top trim and fully loaded, and it would definitely tick all the boxes you listed

 

You went the route I'm looking at. Even got the colour I want! How do you like the taco? Did you get the manual trans?

As for the OP, if I were you I would consider a subaru wrx hatch. That would check all of the wants/needs. Price wise for new would be a bit more than you are looking at, but you could get a very nice lightly used one for that money.

 

Take a look at Mazda's CX 5 - didnt end up getting one ultimately but was impressive vehicle and really like Mazda driving dynamics, build quality and warranty...often have good financing deals as well

 

Honestly, I drive a 335D... yes a diesel. 33mpg (heavy foot) with a stage 2 tune that gets 800km to a tank for $70. It will pull 90% of the cars on the road including my rx7. Super comfortable, cheap on fuel, leaves me smiling ripping by with 525lb/ft trq at the wheels. Couple issues come with these cars which comes down to maintenance: Clogged carbon in the intakes which required almond blast cleaning and keeping the DPF, DEF fluid and emissions pieces working properly. Yearly maintenance is moderate to high depending on your luck.
Might be able to buy one at 150k km for under 17,000. I'm at 230k and still going strong.

But if you're looking for new, the ST is a good option. Or CPO BMW 328d

 

i also have a Lexus IS350 awd Fsport. you can't go wrong with a toyota product. the only car i need in manual is the rx7

 

Don't have a 7 yet but my summer car is a MT GT RX-8 (daily it as much as I can), so the winter beater/real DD is a Bugeye Subaru WRX. It's absolutely awesome in the snow, can plough through just about anything.

With a 30k budget I'd seriously consider a newer Impreza or WRX imho; much more toned down than the older models; manual trans is fun to thrash on, come in boring non-attention-grabbing silvers and blacks with sedan styling, yayy for weird engines (boxer), and good amount of trunk space just in case.

Personal downer would be the pathetic interior styling but that's just me.

 

You've basically described my situation. I ended up getting a golf wagon. I'm averaging about 5.6l/100km with the TSI motor. It's decent to drive although not the quickest thing out there. A 2015 with the diesel should be better than that on fuel. I upgraded from an 03 diesel, and am still happy with that mileage. I'm 62km one way for work. It'll have just as much space as the xtrail but you'll enjoy being in it.

I found a used cayenne that would have fit the bill, or the still/WRX is a great fit as well. I also considered an is250, but lacked the manual.

Let us know what you do.

 

Update!

I couldn't shake the feeling of driving the Fiesta ST. After a bit of back and forth with a few different dealers I found a great a deal that left both sides feeling happy and picked one up. You can check out the pictures below.

I've put about 3500 kilometers on it so far and have been enjoying every minute of it. I'll reply with a short review if anyone is interested but I want to wait for the Ottawa winter to get going before I can honestly say if I'm truly happy with the car as a daily driver.

 

awesome, congrats on the purchase. i'd love to have a go in one of those, i've heard they are awesome to drive