Need to replace my wife's Honda Civic - Page 2

Thats what leases are for. BMW Ultimate Service - pay no maintenance costs for 4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first.

http://www.bmwusa.com/standard/content/owner/bmwultimateservice/default.aspx

+1 on Honda Fit, if your wife isn't looking for something with a little more comfort or cachet. My wife thinks the Fit is adorable. Plus it is extremely practical in ways that aren't obvious - for example it has fold-flat rear seats that give it tremendous cargo space when you don't need to haul people around. Very well thought-out car, and very affordable to boot. If we had a second car, it would definitely be a Fit.

we stuck a whole sofa in the back of the fit once

if you want something in the same class as a civic but a little sportier, Mazda3 is the ticket