I had my list of three cars to consider after looking at Consumer Reports etc. (Subaru Impreza, Toyota Matrix and Suzuki SX4) and went out today to do some test driving. Only got to drive the first two as there is not a Suzuki dealer close by. Both were very good but I liked the Subaru a little better--visibility to the sides and rear was a lot better and I like the fact that it is designed for all-wheel drive from the ground up as opposed to having it as an add-on feature. The Subaru salesman (who happens to be my roommate's cousin) also took me to a parking lot with some big areas of unplowed snow about 6-8 inches deep, so I could really see how well the car does. It went through that snow (as well as one place where it was piled up higher) with no problem--this is a car that seems like it would make driving after a snowstorm fun instead of scary! Unfortunately I didn't get to do that with the Toyota to compare, mostly just drove that one on the highway (it felt a lot like driving the Corolla except sitting up a little higher and having bigger blind spots). I might end up not testing the Suzuki...although all indications are that it's a good car, it just doesn't have the track record that the others do and I want to make sure I get a car that will be reliable for a long time. Now I just have to see what happens with these interviews I have coming up in the next couple of weeks...hopefully there will be an offer and I can then go ahead with picking out a car (makes more sense to wait since I have a car to use for right now).