The Obsession
Cole's Car Journey
The cars that built it. From a $3,500 first car to a limited-edition manual — every one bought with intention.
2011 Ford Fusion SE
$3,500 · 130k miles
Market avg: $6,000–7,500
Where it started. A high-mileage daily that got me hooked on the hunt for a good deal.
2010 Audi A4 Prestige
$9,100 · 50k miles
Market avg: $12,000–14,000
First taste of German engineering. Low miles, loaded trim, bought right.
2005 Subaru Outback XT
$5,500 · College years
Market avg: $6,000–8,000
Chasing a hot hatch on a budget. The turbo wagon dream ended with a blown engine — and a lot of lessons.
2017 VW Golf R (MK7)
$27,000 · 28k miles
Market avg: $32,000–36,000
The hot hatch I'd been chasing, done properly. Low miles, AWD, and a deal I felt good about.
2023 Golf R 20th Anniversary
$47,000 · MSRP, no markup
Market avg: $50,000–60,000 w/ markups
Manual. One of just 500 in the US. Bought at sticker with zero markup while others paid thousands over.
2012 Audi Q5 3.2 Prestige
$9,900 · 70k miles
Market avg: $11,000–13,000
The smart daily. One owner, every preventative service done, bought well below market.