Car - ComparisonThe $30,000 Dilemma - All Cars

So you've finally made the semi-big time, and at long last, that near-luxury lifestyle is firmly within your grasp. Gone are the days of trolling for econocars and scoping out those $199-a-month bargain leases. One very serious question still remains, however: Exactly what should your next automotive purchase be? With a budget of roughly $30,000, the opportunities are fairly wide-ranging. To help you successfully complete this quest for vehicular nirvana, we've brought together eight possible candidates for consideration. While each has its own particular advantages, all can be relied upon to provide years of driving pleasure in the hands of the right owner.

Eight great vehicles but only one choice. Which is best for you?

{{{Audi A4}}} QuattroIf ever there existed the automotive equivalent of a Renaissance man, it would have to be the Audi A4 Quattro. In just a matter of months, this German sedan has become a huge favorite among U.S. buyers who demand style, handling, and a full range of comfort and convenience features in their personal transport modules. Stepping up to Audi's $1550 Quattro all-wheel-drive package transforms the A4 into an all-season go-almost-anywhere player with an exceptional accent on value.

The A4's $26,500 base price includes power windows/locks/mirrors, automatic climate control, power driver's seat, anti-lock brakes, AM/FM/cassette stereo, an anti-theft system, plus loads of real walnut interior accent trim. Even packed with options-including an automatic transmission, power moonroof, all-weather package, pearlescent paint, remote keyless entry, and a sport steering wheel as well as the aforementioned Quattro system-our vehicle stickered at just $31,945, destination included. This tantalizing new Audi drew more unsolicited compliments from a wider range of people than any sedan we've tested in a long, long time. And the most frequently voiced opinion about the A4 is that it has the look and feel of a car that costs thousands of dollars more.

If there is a weakish link in the A4 Quattro, it's the powertrain. Audi's 2.8-liter/172-horse SOHC V-6 can be mated with the standard five-speed manual gearbox or a new ZF five-speed automatic, as it was here. The engine seems willing and the transmission shifts smoothly, but the match-up yielded a leisurely 9.8-second 0-60-mph time. That number drops by 1.1 ticks if you opt for the do-it-yourself gearbox, but neither figure is particularly notable.

More than offsetting this dearth of accelerative ability, however, is a comfortable-albeit modestly proportioned-passenger compartment, exceptional cross-country cruising abilities, confidence-inspiring handling, and a three-year/50,000-mile total-coverage warranty (you pay only for windshield-wiper blades and oil) that includes 24-hour roadside assistance.

All things considered, I'd rather have the A4 Quattro as my sole daily driver than any other member of this august group. I doubt that I'm alone in that assessment. -Bob Nagy

BMW Z3Two-seat sports cars come in all flavors and price ranges, and this one's a steal at its $28,750 base sticker. But, don't make the mistake of only comparing the BMW {{{Z3}}} to a {{{Mazda Miata}}}-match it up with the head-turning appeal of a $135,000 {{{Ferrari F355}}} Spider, as well. It only takes one drive through Beverly Hills, Malibu, or along Hollywood Boulevard to be made keenly aware of this ragtop's phenomenal gawk factor.

On the scale where a Bruce and Demi sighting only rates a gawk factor of "2," and bags of money falling from the sky command a mere "7," a single pass by a bus stop in the Z3 pegs the needle with a solid "10." Even without its prerelease publicity as the latest James Bond getaway machine, this Bimmer could hardly be more conspicuous if it were filled with circus mimes, dipped in gelignite, and launched from atop Bob Stupak's Stratosphere hotel in Las Vegas.