I want a sporty car as daily driver (~1h highway each day) and don’t drive at track (yet), so I don’t want manual transmission. I don’t have kids and there is no snow, so space isn’t a concern.
I’m considering S3, CT4, G70, Stinger, TLX type s. I heard that Miata/brz/Nissan z doesn’t have a good automatic transmission.
Should I lease one or finance a used one?
although i highly suggest a manual over a autotragic
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You should drive them all and choose one before you focus on finance/lease
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But man oh man those reviews on the WRX CVT are definitely pretty strong.
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Ive posted this before, but his endorsement of the CVT is so strong (and the source reputable) I feel like the information needs to be preached 
Caveat, he says he would still buy a manual!
The SPT is a TR690, same CVT in my Outback. It’s…fine.
Does it shift the way it’s demonstrated in the above video? The “gearchanges” are lightning quick.
I’m not allowed to click on such obvious veneers. 
It has many, many shifting moods.
Last gen S3’s provide a compelling value proposition.
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Agreed if you can price it right. Might not lease so great at this time though.
I currently drive a truck and am seeking some changes. I couldn’t easily tell the handling difference between, say, S3 and g70 and GTI
There definitely are. You have a short list: nobody here is going to daily-drive your car. You need to find something you enjoy driving, by driving them.
WRX CVT is probably worse than the AT in brz/Miata/Nissan z? And they have similar prices?
I have not driven one to say whether it is good or bad, but I have not yet seen a negative review of it in the WRX from a technical perspective and objectively the car is faster with CVT vs manual. It just depends on whether or not you like the experience of shifting the gears yourself or not.
None of these lease well.
So if you were to finance what’s within your budget?
The BRZ is a single clutch 6-speed A690E. The SPT in the WRX, the DCT in the GTI are “sportier” imho.
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Agreed. The new GTI haptics mess might be a dealbreaker for some though.
Get one of those Model 3 leases?
Edit: manual
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This is going to be an unpopular opinion, but if you specifically want an automatic and want to lease, just go for an Altima SR 2.0 VC-Turbo. 18-mo, effective payment is probably even lower than a WRX. Yes, it’s CVT, but if you want automatic, it’s automatic.
The Camaro LT1 party is long gone, otherwise that would be an automatic option, even though it still seems like a car one should only be getting in manual.
Otherwise, I’d just go something EV. Model 3 SR like others have said. Not sure there’s anything else ‘sporty’ that leases well.
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