When I was looking for a car I wanted a BMW 3 Series Coupe or Convertible but couldn't justify the cost with the amount of driving that I do.
Next on the list was the Celica or the RSX, but decided against them as I didn't want my insurance rates to be determined by 16 year old asian street racers. At the time that was big on the news.
I didn't even consider VWs because of their Beatle/Chick car image... or at least that's how I perceived them.
I ended up going domestic and getting a Mustang. A V6 Mustang... chick car all the way. :/