NEED HELP. Have to get rid of Mustang :(
 

I need some help. It, unfortunately, is time to get rid of my Mustang. I got a summer internship in Fort Collins, Colorado. I live in Michigan. I have to drive 1300 miles there in May and 1300 back in August, and about 40 per day going to work 5 days a week plus whatever driving I decide to do on the weekends.

I have a 95 Mustang GT Convertible. I don't believe it is very economical to pound my car with that many miles over a 3-4 month period, plus the price of gas.

The help I need is what kind of car can I get below 12k that is reliable, decent on gas, and nice.

I'd like to stay out of the bottom end imports like Honda, Kia, and such but am willing to look at anything. (Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Lexus, BMW, Mercedes, Land Rover, Jeep and so on.)

Subaru!!! Nothing wrong with either a Legacy GT or WRX. Then there is the Acura TL, very nice for the money. I like the 2005+ models. Also, the lexus is250's and 350's are more for chicks, too feminime in my view.

Or you can look at the Mazdaspeed 3's. Kind of roomy kind of fast, ample trunk space and decent fuel economy. 2007 models should be poking around 12-14k by now.

Thats about all I can think of. These are the cars I was looking at when I was trying to find a smaller 4 door car in summer of 2009. I settled on a 2009 Mazdaspeed 3. Cheap insurance because WRX STi insurance was close to 230 a month for me.

I don't know much about the other cars, but CONGRATS on the job!