[a2-16v-list] OT: New cars

[patrick austin]

I'm starting a 2 year graduate program next year, and will probably be 
going from a 5 mile commute every day to a 3-day a week 100 mile round 
trip commute.  My '95 GLX has 110K miles on it right now, on the 
original transmission, clutch, timing chain/tensioners, head gasket, and 
all major ancillary components.  I'm thinking it may be time to switch 
to something with repairs that'll be a bit more predictable over the 
next couple of years, so I've been looking at $18K-$25K cars.  (I _will_ 
keep the A2 GTI around as a weekend toy, don't worry) 

Over the weekend I test drove a 1.8T and VR6 GTI, a Civic SI, WRX, Acura 
RSX and RSX-S, Sentra SE-R Spec V, Focus SVT, etc.  Anyone else been 
looking at cars lately?  Any strong opinions about these cars and the 
rest of the cars in this price range?  As fun as one would be, I will 
NOT but an SRT Neon.  It'd probably be a pile of garbage by the time my 
lease/loan payments end.  It'd be hard to buy a VW, too, as they're not 
exactly the best handling cars on earth these days.  The car won't be 
out on a track with other cars, but it will see a fair amount of 
autocrossing...I'd give more points to nimble handling and fun-to-drive 
than to outright speed.

-Pat