Automotive Forums  Where Car Enthusiasts Go to Discuss Cars Online

Need some suggestions -- Looking to buy a compact with decent horsepower by
I am in the market for a new car, because the one I own now -- a Toyota Celica GT-S -- doesn't have the best visibility on earth, and I'm tired of having limited space and sitting on the ground. But I still want a car with good horsepower (preferrably 200+). I'm leaning towards a sedan, but I'm still willing to look at coupes, as long as it has good visibility. I am looking for any and all suggestions about which models I should be looking at.

So far, I've test-driven the Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V, the Subaru WRX, Volkswagen GTI, and the Mazda Speed3. Any others I should look at? Which of the ones I've looked at are good/bad choices? Any help is greatly appreciated! Oh, and one more catch: I'm looking to spend no more than $25K new, if possible.  

Seems like you're already looking in the right direction.  I can't think of anything better that doesn't cost significantly more, except, perhaps, the Audi A3, which adds a bit of length, a bit of richness, and different styling to the GTi's chassis and engine.  

As for the four you're already looking at, I suppose your choice will depend on what balance of performance/comfort/style/luxury you're looking for.  The last on my list would be the Sentra.  I've not driven one, but it's a pretty frumpy lookin car in person, and all of the automotive press has criticized it for being far too soft with no comfort benefit. And while the 2.5 Liter engine is certainly powerful, it doesn't have the torque-rich surge of thrust that the turbocharched engines of the Subaru, VW, and especially Mazda provide.  The new WRX is just hitting the showroom now, so I haven't driven that one either.  It seems as though the interior is much improved and finally competitive with the others, but again, the press hasn't had great things to say about its handling.  It's hard to tell, however, if this is because the old was so full of scrappy, tail-wagging character, or if it's because the new one is genuinely more boring than the VW or Mazda.  I also find the new WRX's styling to be, well, boring.  It's refined and, uh, round, but not particularly imaginative.  

SO that leaves, at least on my list, the VW and the Mazda as the two best options.  The VW's styling might not be imaginative, but it is crisp and well-proportioned.  And although the power difference between the Mazda and VW is rather huge, the GTi might be a better choice if you value a bit of refinement.  Which isn't to say that the Mazda is a bone-jarring econobox with a huge engine; far from it.  In fact, I find the Mazda's interior to be nearly as good as the VW's, and even a bit better if you like a bit of spunk.  But the Mazdaspeed's mission is evident: big speed and razor sharp handling above all else.  As a result, the clutch takeup and ride are less than smooth, and may get annoying if that extra 60-some HP isn't as important as all-around versatility.  Plus, if you avoid other options, the VW's 6-speed DSG transmission is available for right around $25K.  It's brilliant, with silky smooth shifts (unlike similar units in ferraris and lamborghinis), exhilarating engine blips on down shifts, and handy paddle-shifters, it's a big step up from a standard manual in sophistication if clutch-and-stick work isn't and important part of your driving experience.