Looking for a car, advice?

So I'm graduating soon and my sister turns 16 in June, and she's buying my current car. I'm on my second Jetta and would love to get a third, but they ruined my Jetta. I think it's absolutely hideous. I'm interested in the TDI, but I would like a car that I can take vacations in comfortably, and have a family in. The back seat of the Jetta sucks, and I'm assuming that's the same for the TDI. The Passat is a maybe, I still think it's, eh. I do love all the perks VW has, I've always thought they were ahead of the curve for an economic car.

As for other options, I would like a car that wouldn't cost a billion dollars to fix. I change the oil in my Jetta because it's a turbo and it's crazy what shops will charge just for synthetic oil.... anyhow, I drove a '10 Ford Fusion (that's my max price range), and I was not impressed. It has got its perks, it's synced, it's pretty (ish :) ) it's a good sized car, but the power, there was none.

So, any clue/advice about what I should drive next and what year I should look at? I don't have a thing that I have to be the first person to own the car. I would rather get a car that is a year or two old so it's quite a bit less expensive.

In a nut shell:
Good MPG
Not ugly
Comfortable
Manual
Some power!!!

Oh, and I want a car that I can have forever. I don't know much about other cars and how long they last, but I pack on the miles. My VW has 150k miles on it and I'm still driving it 1,500+ miles a month.

Check out consumer digest/reports and I think you'll find that either Honda or toyota is going to be the best rated..

Anything AMERICAN made:salute:

I just got a 2009 food Taurus and I love it!! Limited edition too so it has all the perks!! Insane comfy and fast too! Now the 2010 Taurus is a lot better looking and is plain sweet looking!! Oh yea, j get 30 mph city and like 43 highway... least that is what the sticker said :) I agree though, anything American!

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The Ford Escape is a really neat/nice car.

I am partial to Chrysler/Dodge stuff so I bought a 300c its a nice Big comfortable car, but the Magnums, and 4 door chargers are just as nice.. and with the Engine management it run's on 4 cylinders at highway speed so great gas maleage for long hauls..

Take a look at the Honda Fit. At first I didn't like them, but my uncle got one and raved about it. I got to drive it and its a fun car to drive and you get a lot of car for the money. And the looks have grown on me.

My other suggestion would be a Mazda 3. They're also super nice cars. I was going to get one of those instead of my current VW GTI, but I needed a car ASAP after my current one was totaled and I got fed up trying to work with the Mazda dealer and walked out and went to VW. But I loved the Mazda car.

It would be easy to find used versions of either car in a manual transmission as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2kdime

Anything AMERICAN made:salute:

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I "use to" say the same thing..But knowing of the bad attitudes of the general worker,Dreading Monday and waiting for friday I no longer feel that way..My $$ wants to be well spent..:O..They may be Japanese owned but factories employ american workers..GM has like 7 of the 10 worst made vehicles..LOL, I drive a ford P/U and have no complaints, Ford didn't take any bail out money either..
I like'em Ford product..:D, The Taurus SHO was and may still be equipped with a Yamaha engine..If Ford had offered it in other vehicles they would have likely seen increased sales..

I did look at the 10 Taurus and couldn't believe it was actually a Taurus. They are a BIG improvement from the 90s model!!!

Anything American made, lol, I figured I would hear that. You guys realize that not all "American made" cars are actually made in the US anymore right? :D

Ford Fusion: Hermosillo plant, in Mexico-because it says right on the car

And just for fun

"foreign cars" the percent is part assembly in the USA/Canada
Toyota Sienna USA 85% DOMESTIC
Toyota Camry USA 80% DOMESTIC
Toyota Tundra USA 80% DOMESTIC
Honda Ridgeline USA 75% DOMESTIC
Honda Pilot USA 75% DOMESTIC
Toyota Avalon USA 75% DOMESTIC
Toyota Corolla USA 75% DOMESTIC

"American made" cars....
Ford Focus USA 60% IMPORT
Ford Mustang USA 60% IMPORT
Jeep Liberty USA 74% IMPORT
Dodge Ram USA 74% IMPORT
Jeep Grand Cherokee USA 73% IMPORT
Lincoln Navigator USA 70% IMPORT
Dodge Caliber USA 70% IMPORT
Chevy Impala CANADA 92% IMPORT
Dodge Ram USA 74% IMPORT
Chevrolet Impala CANADA 92% IMPORT
Chevrolet Tahoe USA 67% IMPORT

http://www.automotiveaddicts.com/int.../07-10-06.html

Not trying to start an argument, just pointing this out to people who don't realize it. If you want an American made car don't assume that it's made here just because of the name.

You buy American made to support American companies..

Thanks everyone else for the advice. I'll have to check out some more cars! I do like the Mazda 3 and was thinking about driving one, but I don't know anything about Mazdas and reliability. I definitely need to do some reading on consumer reports!