Wife's forester is broke...She never really liked it anyways, she got it cause we thought we had kids on the way well that didn't work out... I'll fix the forester at some point but she wants a new car. She works up the side of a steep hill that never gets sun and is last road to get plowed it's so steep it has a switch back in it. City has lost three plow trucks that i know of. She like the All Wheel Drive but will take 4 wheel drive selectable. Her wants are: 1) AWD or 4WD 2) Manual trans (NO AUTO NO paddle shift auto NO CCV) 3) No Brown or tan. (she looks dead in brown....) 4) Has to be able to get out of its own way. 5) under 24,000

She'd like new but would got 2011 or 2010 if dealer cert used

5 kills a WRX cause we still have 4 years on the truck.

Got any suggestions?

Suzuki Kisashi?

nope AWD in CCV only

AUDI A4...duh

How much is your broken forester worth to you?

Go to www.fueleconomy.gov
From there, "find a car"->"power search"
This will allow you to bring up all cars sold since 2010 that are awd/4wd and manual.
Pretty much leaves you:
Another Subaru
Jeep Compass/Patriot (I would not)
Kia/Hyundai Sportage/Tucson (I would)
Suzuki Grand Vitara or SX4 (maybe)
Honda Element (if you like the body)
Chevy Colorado PU (if you want a truck)

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/PowerSearch.do?action=PowerSearch&year1=2010&year2=2012&minmsrpsel=9000&maxmsrpsel=30000&cbttmanual=Manual&cbdt4wd=4WD&city=10&combined=0&highway=0&rowLimit=50&YearSel=2010-2012&MakeSel=&MarClassSel=&VehTypeSel=&TranySel=+Manual&DriveTypeSel=+4WD&CylindersSel=&MpgSel=City+%3E%3D+10&SortBy=City&Units=&url=SearchServlet&opt=new&minmsrp=9000&maxmsrp=30000&srchtyp=msrp

Seems to be some error in the data. When I go to Kia and Hyundai websites it will not let me build a M/T and awd combo.

Audi A4 or S4.

Does she want a car or CUV/SUV?

I hate to say it, but the only cars out there that can be had with a manual AND AWD is Subaru or Audi.

In your price range, you may need to look older than 2010 model year, maybe 2007-2008?

2010-11 Audi's and Subarus are going to be out of your price range, but a 4 year old one is in it.

Why not look for a Legacy GT Spec B?

+1 on the LGT

Why not a CPO WRX?

Ok, if you were to look at Audi's, you can find some 2008-2009 2.0L Quattro A4s with manual trans for at or under your price cap.

The only thing is that is a 200hp 2.0L 4-pot in a 3500 lb car. So it may not get out of it's own way.

She realy liked the Legacy but have to get Preium package to get all weather package for the heated seats. We're just worried that is lacks sack...come fun time. add to that the sedan has no roof rack So we looked at the Legacy's but havn't driven one yet it would have roof rack but price get up there quick.

Price is the killer.

Certified Used:

'08 BMW X3
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=c&car_id=307355005&dealer_id=64499773&car_year=2008&systime=&doors=&search_lang=en&start_year=2005&body_style=SUV&body_style=WAGON&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=certified&distance=100&min_price=&rdm=1327333055348&drive=4+wheel+drive&marketZipError=false&advanced=y&fuel=&keywords_display=&lastBeginningStartYear=2005&end_year=2013&showZipError=n&certified=y&engine=&dma=BOSTON_NO&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=144&isFlashPlugin=true&transmission=Manual&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&color=&address=02124&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=&make=&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=17&standard=false
Wrangler:
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=c&car_id=312743289&dealer_id=1328653&car_year=2009&pager.offset=25&search_lang=en&start_year=2005&body_style=SUV&body_style=WAGON&search_type=certified&distance=100&drive=4+wheel+drive&rdm=1327333055348&marketZipError=false&advanced=y&lastBeginningStartYear=2005&end_year=2013&showZipError=n&certified=y&dma=BOSTON_NO&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=144&first_record=26&transmission=Manual&isFlashPlugin=true&default_sort=priceDESC&address=02124&sort_type=priceDESC&num_records=25&seller_type=b&cardist=97&standard=false

CPO 2011 WRX, just over $24k, 13k miles. autotrader link

easy to find slightly-used WRXs uder $24k. Hell, my 09 was only $27k brand new, and it was a loaded SPT edition....

And no problem finding it in manual transmission, since that's the only way they come!

get a last model year speed 6

In reply to EvanB:

I love it but she say we can't have two blue cars in the yard....

corytate wrote: get a last model year speed 6

This.

Speed6 is a nice car but unless they changed from the first couple years, it has the wrong flavor of awd does it not? That awful part time haldex setup?

Honda Element

Yeah, that AWD AND a manual transmission is a fairly big stumbling block to choice. And as others have pointed out, new, at your price point is not really doable, except for maybe Subaru.

To think, in the 1980s-1990s your choices MIGHT have included nearly every car company (tho, even then, I think the manual transmission would have "killed" you).

Ya i think will end up with new Subaru and just be happy with what power it has for now. Most used WRX's around here don't have heated seats. I know i can add them but she'll not want that... She really deserves a NEW car. I've gotten the last two with the cobalt and truck although truck is really an ours but i picked it out and both were purchased cause we had little choice left to dump money or buy new.

Add me to the list of people echoing "CPO WRX".

Given how close my (admittedly base model) 2012 is to your cap, you should have no trouble buying a very-low-miles 2010 or 2011 for $24k...

EDIT: Posted a bit late, apparently.

2008 were the new body style but old turbo. Therefore they don't cost as much as the others, but still meet your criteria. A little older than your target, but still a decent car.

Yup we tried to look at the only 08 in 100mile radius and it was gone...still on there web site no gone.