Too much to ask for?

I am in the process of searching for a new car. I have expensive taste. I'm working with a limited budget and have a difficult time getting approved for loans on cars older than 2006. I am currently driving a 2006 VW GTI with 75k and I can't stand it. I don't like hatchback, I don't like "arrest me red" paint, and I really don't like replacing the wheel bearings and CV joints every 10,000 miles. I have had it for two years and I have taken good care of it, but still spent around $5,000 in repairs. I really like BMW's, Volvo's, Audi's, and Saab's. I have been on the search for one with high mileage, since its what I can afford. I have literally driven close to 100 vehicles in the past two months, including American and Japanese. Neither of those impressed me. BMW gave me the best driving experience, but it was tough to find a decent one, close to 2006 in my price range. What changed my mind, was finding out that I would be spending just at much or more than my GTI on repairs each year, and some of the issues could strand me on the road. Next, I shifted my attention to Volvo. A friend of mine has one with almost 200k, and he spends very little on repairs each year. I decided to post this thread instead of jumping into a car that will be a money pit.

I had a couple Japanese cars when I was a teenager. I didn't take care of them, they were always way over-due for oil changes, and I pushed the pedal so hard to the floor every time I drove, that it would have pushed any other car into an early grave. I spent very little on repairs, even up to 150,000 miles.

I take much better care of my vehicles now, and I don't drive them like I'm running from a tornado. I am a driver. Its what I love. I don't need to be at a track, I don't need to speed, tailgate, and drift corners like the majority of driving enthusiasts in my age group. I delivered food for four years in my own vehicles, and put roughly 60,000 miles on a car per year, and loved it. Now, I take small road trips at least every other weekend, averaging about 300 miles round trip. I am a traveling salesman, and drive about 200-400 miles per week in my own vehicle.

I need something that you don't see 10 of, on your way to the store, something that is FUN to drive(doesn't have to be all that fast) something that will be somewhat reliable if I buy it at 100k(of course I know it depends on how it was treated by PO's). I don't care about high repair costs, as long as the issues aren't too frequent, and don't immobilize the car.

I'm starting to think that this request isn't possible right now. Just figured I'd get some opinions.

Thanks

First off, I must say that if you are replacing C.V. axles and wheel bearings every 10,000 miles, there is something wrong. Not just the car however but the technician who is doing the work. No disrespect to him but is he using a torque wrench and proper procedures? Are your brakes sticking causing your rotors to superheat and cook your wheel bearings? Maybe the repairs could be avoided. But anyway, if you are looking for the "experience of driving", then you are pretty much restricted to euro cars. But that is a good thing! Just think of what your customers think when they see you pull up in a benz, b'mer or an audi? Also I recently drove a new subaru WRX and it felt like a car that gave a great "experience" as well. Maybe a slightly used one of those would do? Anyhow, I would definitely shoot for a 3 series bmw, A4 audi or so. If the car was well looked after, you should theoretically not be putting those kind of repairs on so frequently.

Thanks for the response.

There has been talk on some VW forums of possible un-recalled issues with the front ends. I have also heard that on VW's and Audi's alike, the wheel bearings are a common point of failure. My VW is an 06, but its the "New GTI" model (MKV/Mark5). It is the first of its kind, so there are likely some bugs that were worked out by the 06.5 and 07+ models. A friend of mine has the same car, same year, and has almost as many problems with the front end...however, he DOES take it to the same repair shop.:eek:

Apparently the CV's on the manual cars, cant handle minor clutch drop. I have also heard that you shouldn't turn the wheel even close to its stopping point, but what is the point of a compact hatchback without the great turning radius? Whether any of this is factual or not, its time for a new car.

Its pretty hard to come by a manual car that has been driven lightly. Most people that I know with a stick, drive it for sport, and are not very careful about the bumps and potholes in upstate NY, at high speeds. The cars have been revved high, in most cases. I live in a rural area, and the surrounding cities are poor. Its quite hard to come by a decent, sporty, manual that was NOT owned by a teenager that modifies and races the car.

I have driven some WRX's, and they are fantastic. I owned a Subaru, and it was the most reliable car I have ever owned. I had it until 150k and sold it in perfect running condition. I beat the snot out of it, as I was a teenager at the time, and I was always late on oil changes, as I already stated. It was my first manual car, and I slammed the clutch and gears, and revved it to the moon. I only like the STI's and the new style of WRX, both of which are a little pricey for me at this point in time.

BMW 330's are my favorite vehicle, period. Even if money wasn't an issue, I would choose an E46 BMW over any other car. The problem is that they are incredibly hard to find in my price range, made in a year that a bank would approve a loan for.