The search for a replacement for the MINI continues...I toyed with a Jeep because I like them and brilliant for winter driving but I fear that they might bore me a bit in the summer (ideal combo would be a Jeep for the winter and a Mustang/Challenger for the summer) but I need to cover the winter useability and summer fun thing with one vehicle. Nothing sub $20k really inspires me, so I've raised the budget to $20-$30k and keep coming back to these two.
I like European cars (had VW, BMW, Mercedes, Fiat but never an Audi) and the things that I love about my MINI are its distinctive looks and character, its relative rarity, it's a blast to drive and is great on gas. However, it does have a rather harsh ride, isn't that quick and is a bit lacking in terms of comfort and refinement. I'm also a bit bored with front-wheel drive, as brilliant as this one is, the front-wheel drive driving experience is a little one-dimensional.
Both of these choices offer more performance, more comfort/refinement, stylish looks and AWD. I think that the TT would probably be the more fun drive (after all the A5 is basically an A4 coupe) but then Haldex AWD on the TT vs. proper quattro AWD on the A5, so maybe that's not the case?
I prefer the look of a 2 door/coupe and to be honest, I can fit more in my MINI than in any of the sedans that I have owned thanks to the hatchback and besides, when you're other car is a van, you can put up with something a bit less practical. It would be nice to be able to fit my two kids in though and they might just fit in the TT (they're only 3 and 5) but the A5 would certainly manage it more easily!
Is this just a bit of a folly though? You can get some pretty nice and sporty new/nearly new cars for that money. Elantra Sport, Civic Si, Golf GTI maybe, Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ, even the odd Mustang/Challenger for that money compared to a 4-5 year old Audi with higher kms, no warranty and potentially higher running costs and worse reliability but none of those cars seem like they are as good all-rounders as the Audis.
I've found a few options already.
This TT is my perfect spec on the outside but not sure about the interior on this one but it is fairly local to me!
http://www.autotrader.ca/a/audi/tt/winnipeg/manitoba/5_34730022_20131106075031665/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ursrc=pl&urp=1&urm=1&pc=R0K%201X0&sprx=-2This one is a bit further afield but better price and spec overall. I'm not so keen on the white but I like the wheels and prefer the interior.
http://www.autotrader.ca/a/audi/tt/calgary/alberta/5_35801194_20090108102914109/?showcpo=ShowCpo&orup=16_9_24&pc=R0K%201X0&sprx=-1You seem to get a bit more A5 for your money. This one's quite nice.
http://www.autotrader.ca/a/audi/a5/winnipeg/manitoba/5_35665025_ct2005128104359706/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ursrc=pl&urp=1&urm=4&pc=R0K%201X0&sprx=-2...but I like the price better on this one. It's probably cheaper because of the manual transmission though. i like a manual transmission but I'm thinking that this car is probably better suited to an automatic?
http://www.autotrader.ca/a/audi/a5/winnipeg/manitoba/5_36311518_20131106075031665/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ursrc=pl&urp=3&urm=4&pc=R0K%201X0&sprx=-2So, would an Audi TT or A5 be a good option for my budget or is there better value and a better solution to be found elsewhere?