non-SE-R car replacement

[David Pertuz]

My primary car is the Beige Transportation Appliance, a 2004 Honda Accord.
As if that's not beige enough, it's beige-on-beige with a four-cylinder and
an automatic. Not quite my thing (though it would be fine if it were a
manual) but it was a deal way too good to pass up when I got it. I've had
it three-and-something years and since it works well enough for the
out-of-town trips that constitute most of its driving, I've been happy
enough. But after a three-week vacation in the west that involved a lot of
mountain and otherwise twisty roads, and a headliner that began falling
down (WTF?) I've quickly become pretty over the car and am dreaming of its
replacement. It's OK cosmetically (Florida car, so it's squeaky clean, but
scrapes on the fascias, etc.), interior is pretty immaculate except for the
damn headliner, and mechanically its excellent and has super-low mileage
(45k) So my budget will be whatever I can sell it for, maybe another grand
or so, or something around $9k. Cash (I don't buy cars on credit.)

I want ideas from y'all. What I want includes the following:

-D-sized preferably (Camcord size), but C-sized is OK
-Hatchback or wagon
-Manual transmission (I hate automatics)
-Fun to drive
-30mpg on the highway (my damn Accord will barely even do that)
-Reliable and easy to work on (I keep shit for a long time)
-I don't care if it's fast, though I certainly don't mind
-Hatchback or wagon - I might get another sedan if it hit all the other
buttons, but  why compromise? I love the utility of 5-doors. If it's a
sedan, it absolutely must have a folding seatback. The ability to fit a
bike inside is mandatory. I would love to have a cargo area long enough to
sleep in, too.

I had plenty of time to think on this, and I came up with only two cars
that hit everything: the Mazda 6 (wagons and hatches aren't really common,
but they're there) and the Subaru Legacy GT. Two local examples:

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/4628641820.html
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/4668168837.html

What am I missing that's fun? Anything? I've thought of things like a BMW
E46 Touring, or an E39 Touring, Jetta diesel wagons at the right price
point, etc. but those are going to be high mileage and do I really want the
electronics of a high-mileage German car? I love driving cars like that,
but owning....

David
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