Just sold our 03 and the father of the teen that was buying it was specifically looking for ones with no sign of modifications as that indicated to him that it was run hard. And just generally speaking always best to return to stock and then sell your parts.
Sold it.
$3800 for an 03 with 102,600 miles. Automatic. Some rust bubbles just starting to form on the driver's rear wheel arch. Otherwise in good condition.
Automatic? Check that it's actually registering as being in park(box around the P). Ours had that issue when we first picked it up. Dealer had it fixed, but it's starting to display that behavior again. Next time it happens check if the P is boxed in and if not start it in neutral instead...
I actually prefer a manual in traffic. It's always my right leg that starts bothering me in traffic and moreso in an automatic since you have to ride the brakes more. Sure you could switch the auto over to neutral too but it's just not intuitive when you're not changing gears.
A used manual...
Yep, seems manuals did hit rock bottom and are now rebounding.
"311,618 in the 2011 model year to 452,232 in 2013".
https://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/the-decline-of-manual-transmissions-in-two-graphs-—-and-proof-they-re-coming-back-194033483.html
I tried to enjoy an automatic with the best example there is...the dsg in a VW GTI. As a one car compromise with the wife. And it did keep me entertained and certainly shifted faster than I ever could...but 2 years later I sold it. Got her the automatic p5 and me into a 6 speed subaru.