New car debate...

[JJJ]

Hello all,
Im an old TT-CC member who dissappeared off in University.

Anyhow, Im back in TO for a 16 month internship, so I can drive again!

However, my family is willing to trade in my 97 Camry for a new car (since the 4 cyl 135 hp is too slow for my liking).

Anyhow, as a second "family" car that I will be driving everyday, the only restrictions is that the car I choose has:
1) Hauling capability (a hatch back)
2) Automatic =(
3) Under (approx) 30K cdn
4) 4 door

Although Id prefer the manual shift, the parents wont budge, so heres my list of candidates:
1) Matrix XR or XRS (automatic)
2) Protege 5
3) Impreza hatch (no not WRX)
4) Golf

I went to try the Protege5 with tiptronic auto shift... it was fun, a good tie-over till I can grad and get my own car...
Im gonna try the XRS auto after my exams...

Anyone wanna give me their optinion?
I need a fun car, watched too much inital D over the winter!

Thanks,
Jeremy

[EKam]

Don't buy XRS auto... takes away too much power.

[JJJ]

I know the auto wastes the XRS.... but I gotta get auto... the rest of my family (stupid brothers) dont like manual.

Since i dont want to waste the money on a XRS auto, then I guess its the protege5 for me then =P

[mistamatrix]

I think better to go w/ the Matrix XR if you had to go auto.

[LordVagabond]

IMO, the Matrix XR AWD auto is a supremely good car. It's the one I'm looking at buying as both my personal car and one for my company. I test drove a P5 auto and, to say the least... it was underwhelming. The engine didn't want to rev, didn't want to accelerate. The Matrix engine loved to get into the 4000+ rpm range and stay there and keep growling along happily ^__^

I would avoid the Subie unless it's a WRX, due to some tranny troubles the RS series is having with their automatics. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Subies, but the Matrix seems to be the best out of all your options, honestly. The Golf, while a happy and good car, just doesn't seem to sing to me. It didn't connect to me as the Matrix did.