What to do next?

[lukasprague]

Hi,

I currently drive daily a 2004 mk1 3 door focus 1.8 petrol. I'm 24 year old, live in Prague and this has been my first car. I've had it now for nearly 3 years and it's been absolutely faultless. And it drives very nicely for what it is, much nicer than most of other (much more expensive) cars that we have home.
However, front arches started rusting badly and there are other few rust spots on the car as well. And I think that the brakes will need doing in spring (discs and pads all around). And a set of new summer tyres will be needed in spring. It has around 220.000 kms (140.000 miles).

So, I started playing with an idea of selling it now (sort out just the important bits) before it gets worse and getting something else. I would love to try something rwd this time. My criteria are:
- reliable
- petrol
- rwd
- manual
- same size or bigger than the focus
- price range around 3K (regarding prices on the continent)
- doesn't have to be that fast, nice steer is more important

At the end, there is not actually much choice left. I thought about e46/e39s bmws (six cyl. petrols). But they are getting on a bit and can probably throw large bills. And then, I started thinking about Lexus IS 200 Sport. I know that they are not that fast and quite thirsty but I'm fine with that and they seem to be more durable than the beemers.

So what do you think? Keep the Focus (do the jobs etc.) or get something else more entertaining?

Many thanks for any opinion!