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I have a '98 Jetta TDI with 180,000 miles on it.  Despite my best efforts to utterly destroy the poor car, it still runs great and I still get 43mpg from it.  Unfortunately, it's showing its age and I will definitely be moving on in the next year.  My problem is that I can't seem to find a car that works for me.  So here's some of my favorites, why they're my favorites, and what problems I have with them.  Any help?

Volkswagen Jetta - Gotta admit, it's been good to me.  But you can't get a diesel this year, and that takes away about 9/10 of what I like about the car.  Besides, I can't get three booster seats across the back.

Volkswagen Passat - Ok, now I should be able to get those three boosters in there.  But guess what?  They dropped the TDI for this year for the Passat, too!  Losers!

Volkswagen Golf - Hmm... just like a Jetta, but with better weight distribution.  Oh, but wait, there's that nagging 'back seat' issue again.

Mazda 3 - Lovely looks, nice feel.  Oh, but wait, same problem with the Jetta; not enough room in the back.

Mazda 5 - If I'm going to get a sedan, this just might be it.  I guess my only problem is that I feel like I'm just settling for it.

GMC Canyon - Ok, I'd really like a truck, and I'm pretty sure I can get all the kids in the back of the crew cab.  Wait, they don't make a crew cab with a stick shift?  Losers!

Toyota Tacoma - Not quite as nifty looking as the Canyon, but not bad, either.  Fortunately, I could get this one with an MT, a crew cab, 4WD, and a V6.  Cool, sign me up!  Wait, it's how much?  Hmm...

Dodge Charger - I'm not at all into bigger vehicles, but this is just the meanest looking sedan (if those words even go together) I've ever seen.  Wait, it doesn't come in a manual at all?  Stoopid losers!

Dodge Challenger - Ok, it's not out yet, and I already said I don't like bigger cars, but I just love those old muscle cars and this thing looks like 1969 reincarnated.  I have a hemi orange Hot Wheels one at my desk.  I *love* this car.  I'm just afraid of how much it's going to cost.  Well, that and my 60-miles-per-day work commute...

Dodge Caliber - Ok, I hear they're coming out with an SRT with 300hp.  Makes me drool.  Prolly too small anyway, but just in case you weren't sure where my priorities were...

In all seriousness, this is the wide range of cars I've been considering.  I'd like a truck, but it's not a must-have.  I'd like a smaller vehicle, but I gotta cram three kids in the back.  I have to have an MT because that's how I'm wired and if I'm going to spend over an hour each day going to and from work, I'm at least going to row my own gears.  I love my diesel, but they're just not making them anymore.

I guess when it comes down to it, I'd like something that either a) drives like a go-kart, b) looks like it was made by Detroit in 1969, or c) has 4WD, a crew cab, and a bed.  Mileage and an ability to put up with my abuse are bonuses.  So... any suggestions?  

Have you considered the Mazdaspeed3?  It is an insane deal at A. $23k B. 260 hp C. 280 Tq D. 6MT E. LSD  

I hadn't.  Despite mentioning both the Golf and the Caliber, I'm not a huge fan of the body style.  It's got the same backseat dimensions as the Mazda 3, though, which means I can't cram the kids in there.  In contrast, the Mazda 6 is 2-3 inches wider, which makes a surprising amount of difference.

I'm also not on LSD.  

Thanks, though.

After more research, I'm leaning more toward the Tacoma, with the Mazda 6 as a backup.  But that Challenger still seems awfully nice...

J  

What  about Subaru impreza a really  cool and  fast  car  

wow, you have an incredible range of preferences.  Since you've had such a great experience with your diesel jetta, I'm inclined to think that you value engineering and efficiency novely over raw power or sheer size.  

To be frank, I can't see you being happy with a quad cab truck when there are plenty of cars out there that deliver better fuel economy, greater engineering novelty, and adequate space for your three backseat munchkins.  

Consider this: you reject the VW passat because it's not available with a diesel, yet validate a pickup truck which has far poorer gas mileage.  Ultimately, you must decide whether or not a pickup bed is an important part of your next car, but is the spacious trunk of a stylish wagon enough?

If so, I highly recommend avoiding the truck-based cars that are on your list of pentential buys because you will sacrifice drivability, economy, and (subjectively) style/design for an open pickup bed.  If you need the bed, then so be it, but since you're first choice seems to be a diesel Jetta, I assume that the bed is a bonus, not a requirement.  Thus, here are some suggestions:

--The VW jetta will be available with an all-new, MUCH more powerful 2 liter diesel in the very near future.  It usues the same proprietary "bluetec" technology as Mercedes' 3 liter E class.  It will, FINALLY, be a proper diesel--the kind the Europeans have had for years and years, with big torque, and believe it or not, respectable horsepower.  

--Modern jettas are great, but finicky as far as electronics.  If this hasn't been your experience, then be warned

--If the Diesel Jetta thing is nixed, then consider the VW passat wagon before the Mazda6 or Mazda5.  You seem to appreciate engineering superiority and quality.  The latest generation of Passats are a tactile and aesthetic pleasure to sit in and look at, in my opinion.  And they're BIG.  Back seat space won't be a problem for your kids, far less so than a quad cab pickup, and the trunk is huge.  Also, the new 2 liter turbo engine is astonishingly powerful for its size, and not just becuase it produces 200 HP, but because it's got direct injection (fuel is sprayed directly into the combustion chamber instead of into the intake port), and a sophisticated turbo, and thus has little to no turbo lag (unlike the older 1.8T engine).  

-The mazda five is VERY cool, despite my previous luke-warm impression of it.  But despite it's packaging innovations, it's slow, heavy (for its chassis), and not as sweetly designed as the VW.  

--Avoid anything American.  NO, I don't hate American cars.  But the simple fact is that cars in your list of options, such as the charger or Caliber, are nich cars that sacrafice much for the sake of style.  

--I can't see why you'd cross-shop a hemi charger with a VW diesel.  But if speed is on your mind, then just get a VW passat VR6 with 280 HP and roughly similar 0-60 times as the hemi charger.  It's not as boy-racer as the charger, but who want's an interior full of nasty plastic anyway? --especially when you have to live with it every day.   That doesn't seem like you're bag...so I can't see why you'd want a slow, cheaply built, poorly engineered caliber either.

I hope this is at least somewhat useful to you.  If you have more questions, or with to refine your perameters, please post again.  Despite the long post, I've tried to keep things to the basics.  If you want to get into more specific discussions of possible alternatives, please let me know.  

O