[ulrichd]

Since my non car enthusiast friends are calling me a euro snob for not buying American, let's take a look at the V6 Challenger. For the record, I am german, the snob thing is debatable (maybe a badge whore, is that the same thing?). Oh, and I like movies with subtitles.

Good: RWD, cheap ($22K base), 250 hp, 21mpg combined (same as the 1er)
Bad: 3700 lbs, no manual, interior is awful, it needs the 20inch wheels

I am not a muscle car guy and at almost 49 years of age the Challenger is not really the image I want. It's a good value but the lack of manual trans and the rental car interior are deal brakers from the start.

Basically after almost 6 years with a Cooper S, the 1er is pretty much the only car I considered. I was hoping for the Alfa Mito or maybe the Audi A1 Quattro but those look like no-shows as of right now.

There it is. I feel so much better.