So my longtime chariot, the “manly teal” Taurus, is on its last legs and I’m keeping my eyes open for an alternative. So far I’ve seen a couple really cool options, which include:

• Mini Cooper S. This has been a fantasy of mine for a while. It’s utterly impractical for someone who may be moving in the next 6 months, but it tops out my list for style and perceived fun to drive, two elements that are huge after driving the Taurus. Big plus: it’s nowhere near as expensive as I’d expected for such a nifty set of wheels. Tricked-out cost: $23,800.


• Volkswagen Jetta. Also a longtime favorite option, my friend David has one of these and it’s a nice car. Upsides: practical, sporty and fun. Downsides: kind of small, fairly ubiquitous. If I’m going to concede to buying a small car, I might want to just get the Mini and do it in style. Tricked-out cost: unsure, due to a busted-ass website.


• Honda Civic Hybrid. My roommate just got one of these, and it’s impressive. Upsides: affordable, a smooth ride, it’s dead silent when it comes to a stop, and hybrid = good vibes and damn good gas mileage. Downsides: again, no chick magnet. Approximate cost: around $22,000.


• Saturn Vue. I saw one of these on the highway the other day and was really impressed. I don’t normally dig SUVs, but this one seemed like it might be fun. It’s also extremely affordable for an SUV. Upsides: neat styling, practical, good for hauling stuff but also seems fun. Downsides: sort of yawnworthy. Probably not a chick magnet. Tricked-out cost: $23,656.


• Volkswagen Tourareg. I spent some time poking around vw.com this morning, checking out the Tourareg. Wow. Nice car. It’s not available yet, and it’s probably way too posh for what I want my car for, but it’s a pretty impressive-looking ride. Downsides: not available yet, way too expensive. Estimated cost when it hits the streets: $45,000 – $55,000.

In other words, except for the one outlier, I’m basically looking at around $20,000 – $25,000 and debating between style and practicality. Right now style is winning – I’m 25 and am looking to have some fun. What do you guys think I should do?