Well, check out the Mazda 3. The latest version is a lot sportier than the previous ones. It's a nice car. (We got a moon roof on ours, and a ski rack of course!)

I drive a 2012 Mazda 3 (birthday present 5 years ago). It's great for around town, and I could have a top bike rack if I were strong enough to lift my bikes (but am not, so use a rear one). I like the hatchback. But, it's a hard ride - my butt and hamstrings hurt on a several hour drive. I'm leaning more toward an SUV for my next car.

It's the only non-Toyota that I've owned! Very loyal to the brand - many Corollas, Camrys and my husband has a Tacoma. Thanks for the info on the latest RAV4.

If you want to feel at one with the road, try a Golf is all I'm saying.

Drove a Porsche Macan today and *really* like it. Sporty, solid goodness, and I can fit my bike in the back. The only downside (other than price which hubs has assured me is not a problem) is gas mileage is crappy compared to what I've been driving. But after 15 years of gas-sipping (actually more like 25 because I've never really driven a guzzler), maybe I can justify a few more indulgent ones? To be determined... and if I go for it, I'm drawn to either the red or the blue.

Runcarla, thanks for putting it on my radar.

I vote red!

Love the Macan,my husband has been looking at it. Either of those colors are fabulous and sporty.

Hey! Yes.This is what I'm talking about. I'm here back to push the Porsche, hehe. Blue is your colour, but red is always the pinnacle...

Which one matches your bike?

Haha! My bike is orange. Orange and blue are pretty sweet together.

Hubs and I went together to look again yesterday. He is enthusiastically encouraging this purchase! The dealer is now searching for the blue one with the grey interior I like. The blue is just calling me.

Gorgeous car, Janet. I hope you stay with the blue.

Wow, a porsche! I didn't realize you were in the market for that kind of swanky car. It's a great-looking vehicle. I'd go for red, personally, but neither colour is technically "better" and you have to go with what your heart wants xo

Elisabeth, I wasn't sure about going that swanky myself! Like I said, I'm a practical car person, but my husband urged me to check out some more luxury vehicles (he's driven a Range Rover and a Tesla while I've driven a Prius for 15 years). I wasn't going high end unless something wowed me and felt really good. Plus this vehicle has gotten very good reviews and a Consumer Reports recommendation, which is important to me.

I like that the blue and the exterior styling don't scream "sports car" but the car feels and drives like one. I was open to red or blue, but the blue is a really pretty color that feels more like me.

I think if I was ever going to have a car like this, it would be now or never, if you know what I mean. I keep my cars a long time. I'm not so sure I would be entertaining this kind of car when I'm pushing 60, but now it feels ok to have a splurge this time, since we can afford it and my husband insists I deserve it!

Janet, the Toyota Celica was MY car--the car I bought to celebrate my new status as a tenure-track professor! Mine was blue, standard-shift, with a sun roof, and, oh, how I loved to zoom around that vehicle! The really funny part is my love was so apparent, both my sister AND my mother bought Celica hatchbacks as well--red for my sis and brown for my slightly more conservative mum. My teenage son's friends couldn't believe his grannie drove such a sporty car. The sight of three Celicas parked in front of the house when we were all together definitely caused heads to turn.

I can see why the Macon has such an appeal, though, because it reminds me of those Celicas. I'd adore getting one for myself, but I'm trying to be more practical these days by looking at a Prius. Besides getting in and out of a low slung car these days isn't quite as easy as it used to be. Go for the Macon--I vote blue--and have fun zooming around in it.

Gaylene, we had the same car! Mine was a 1983. I adored that car. When it reached 200k miles and I was ready for a new car, I financed a Mazda Protege, which was also a great car, and sold the Celica to my best friend (who was a starving medical student at the time, stepping up from a 1978 Toyota Corolla wagon that rusted beyond repair). She drove it for years until she started making enough money during residency to buy a newer car.

The Macan is not low-slung at all. It has much better ground clearance than the Prius, which is good because I do sometimes drive on rough roads and appreciate a bit more clearance. It's much harder getting in and out of my husband's Tesla! One of the things that appeals to me so much about the Macan is that it combines the solid, quality build of luxury cars that I've been in, with the performance of a sports car. It's really fun to drive but feels solid and tight.

Oh, you are seriously tempting me to take a look at the Macan before making a decision. One thing I've learned is to never discount the importance of my feelings when buying a car. Every time I've tried to put practicality first and ignore a ho-hum feeling towards a vehicle, I've ended up regretting it.

Those Celicas, though, lasted forever. I just sold my mother's '87 Celica (perfect running condition and paint, immaculate interior, with less than 50,000 miles on it because, after all, it HAD been driven by a "little old lady" ) three years ago to a 16-year-old kid who offered me $900 for it. I couldn't, in good conscience take all of the money he'd saved up, so we settled on $500. First time I've ever haggled DOWN on something I was selling, but seeing him carefully count out his twenties and tens was so reminiscent of bygone times. My mum, I know, was looking down in full approval as she saw her car being driven away a huge smile smile on his face.

Gaylene, I love that story about selling your car.

I have some internal conflict about buying a "luxury" car. My parents' practical nature runs strong in me, particularly when it comes to decisions about what to drive. I'll miss the 45mpg gas mileage, for sure. I'm also not a fan of conspicuous consumption -- I don't want to drive anything overtly flashy. But I very much relate to what you wrote about "feelings" when it comes to that choice. I test drove a bunch of cars and felt like any of them would have been fine, but it wasn't until the Macan that I felt a thrill. I haven't had that feeling since I bought the Celica in 1985. Funny that we both have that association with our Celicas.

I figured it couldn't hurt to check out some vehicles that were a bit out of my comfort zone. Much like fashion, sometimes stepping out of what is strictly "practical" can be exciting and enlightening. I am a person who really enjoys driving -- heck, I drive 1000 miles to TX and back home at least twice a year -- so why not drive a vehicle I really enjoy, which will make all that time behind the wheel even more enjoyable?

Janet, I hope you're now driving the Macan! I've admired that one since I was car shopping several months ago. I had a small Acura sedan for 10 years and decided it was time for a new one. And when I drove the Mazda CX3, it felt right- both the physical fit and how sporty and fun it is to drive. Zoom zoom