I'm looking for a used car to replace my very unreliable 2000 beetle. I'm looking for something that's fairly reliable, decent gas mileage, relatively low maintenance costs, goes ok in the snow and not too boring. Decent performance is a plus too because once in awhile I like to wind out the gears or have some fun on country roads. I'd want this car too last me maybe 3-4 years so I can just get through school without having to worry too much.
I have a few cars in mind but I'd like to get other opinions also. So far I've looked at a 2002 nissan maxima, 2000-2002 Subaru forester, 2000ish Subaru legacy and that's about it. I like the maxima out of those 3 but I worry just a little bit about operating costs and maintenance. My budget is 4-6k but I could maybe stretch that a little bit for the right car.