good city car for approx 15k

[DarkManX]

I moved to the city a few months ago so its time to get something cheaper/more practical. I currently drive a 2015 C300 Sedan.

I am debating either buying a 15k car or leasing something if the payments can be around 250$ a month.

Something a little sporty/fun to drive.

A backup camera would be a plus.. but not required.

Cars I have in mind, 5 Door Mazda3, Civic, Focus.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I don't understand. Why can't you keep the car you have? Are you storing it somewhere? Or are you turning the lease in and looking for a lower monthly payment because, say, your housing costs increased?

Either of those three (the Mazda3, Civic, and Focus) are good all-around choices for a commuter vehicle.

My understanding of lease terms is not comprehensive, but I'm under the impression that you have to get even relatively minor body damage fixed. If you have on-street parking, assume other people will be parallel parking "by touch" and adjust your expectations and behaviours accordingly.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Since your coming from a Euro - go drive a Focus Titanium. Parking sensors, backup camera, 8" touch screen, 8" sub-woofer 9-speaker Sony audio, heated leather seats, climate control, 17" wheels, push button start, proximity door unlock, 4-whel disc brakes.

Handles great, no slouch with 160HP, Interior got a big redesign for 2015. Only issue is the 6spd DCT which has its issues but were mostly worked out in 2014+ models. Ford extended the warranty on it to 100K miles.

 

[Yuriman]

Focus is a great recommendation IMO. I'd definitely be looking at smaller hatches for practical city use. The Fit and Prius C are toward the uninspired but highly practical end, while the Focus would be a lot more fun but also deliver 1/2 to 1/3 the fuel economy, be a bit tougher to fit into tight parking spots and have less usable cargo room.

Would you consider an electric? Plenty of cheap Leafs out there right now, and they really excel in city driving.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Or just get a focus with a 5 speed manual. If you want sporty and fun that is the way to go anyway and as an added bonus they are also way cheaper used. I saved about $3k over an automatic version on my 2013 focus.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Mercedes E550 Coupe!

J/K

Isn't Honda S2000 or BMW M3 the correct answer to any AT garage car buying question? Or, if you're JLee, the Lexus GX?

 

[Pantoot]

Can you charge a leaf easily?
When I think city car, I think small and short distance. 2 year old leaf would fit that bill, assuming you can charge it somewhere every night.

Edit, and i read the thread, Yuriman is right, electrics can be more fun than you think to drive.

 

[NutBucket]

Mercury Marauder or a Honda Civic Automatic. Those are the two best choices.

 

[herm0016]

if you can charge, a gen 1 volt can be had under 15k. and is actually a bit fun to drive. It's not like you need top speed in the city, and i can pass just about anything with ours going up a 10% grade.

 

[SearchMaster]

I can definitely NOT recommend a Hyundai Elantra. I drive a Focus ST, and while the powertrain is excellent, it's not considered a class leader in interior (though I personally like it just fine), but the Elantra we rented last week was just awful. I assume the 160hp normal Focus would have significantly more pep than the 128hp in the Elantra because the Elantra really struggled at highway speeds, often downshifting to 3rd gear just to stay at 65mph.

While I love driving a manual transmission I find it strange that a manual Focus was recommended for city driving. The DCT automatic on the Focus has been quite problematic as Dr. Detroit indicated.

 

[BurnItDwn]

My little bro picked up a Chevy Spark last year for like 10K brand new with a stick shift. Its much lighter/smaller than the Mazda 3, and doesnt understeer too bad even though it is FWD. He drove an MR2 for like 10 years, but needed a cheap/low maintenance DD.

He drove Fit, Fiesta ST, regular Fiesta, Yaris, Mazda 2, and several others before settling on the Spark.

The Mazda 3 is a better car, but, he has fun with the little spark for sure.

 

[pauldun170]

What city?
What are the road conditions of your target area?
Is it just you or do you have to haul around a significant other?

If parking on the street NYC in lot of areas, you sign a contract that your car will be scratched beyond recognition. Also Sanitation department is allowed to play billiards with your car and leave the scene.
That and forget anything without serious sidewall and anything with stiff suspension.

If I needed a city car for NYC I'd go hunt far and wide for late 80's Ford Bronco II with the 2.9 and 5spd.
Only a couple of inches longer than a Mini Cooper.
Can do a three point turn without leaving the damn parking spot.
You get to troll everybody who are shoveling their cars out of the wall of concrete snow lovingly deposited by the plows. toss in 4wd and just crawl right out of it the spot.
No risk of theft.
Your own personal U-HAUL truck once you fold the seats down.
Hipsters will appreciate your style. you can tell them you converted it to electric and the engine noise is from speakers.
You will be getting laid constantly. Especially if you get the Eddie Bauer edition.

Or you can go boring and get a Focus. Or a Fiat 500. They give those things away nowadays.

Sorry got distracted

 

[PricklyPete]

Chevy Cruze. Co-worker with a really long commute recently bought one for a song. Consumer Reports recently cited the Cruze for propping up Chevy reliability if I remember correctly. Nothing special dynamically, but a great value.

 

[pauldun170]

Chevy Cruze. Co-worker with a really long commute recently bought one for a song. Consumer Reports recently cited the Cruze for propping up Chevy reliability if I remember correctly. Nothing special dynamically, but a great value.

Actually not a bad choice. New ones offer a pretty good value. Seem fairly solid.
Side note: If you are buying used, 1.4t has a timing chain. 1.8 has a timing belt.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Chevy Cruse has some issues with engines blowing around 100K miles, no? Or did they fix that?

 

[HitAnyKey]

Going from a C300 to a Mazda3/Civic ? That is quite the step down. Mazda3 is cheaper but Civic is probably the better car. I would never lease unless you can write off some or all of it for work. Used makes more sense if it still has some warranty and you inspect first.

Are you really sure you want to go this route? Seems pretty strange downgrade unless its for a serious financial setback/divorce/retirement thing.

 

[Fenixgoon]

what about a fiesta or similar compact car, or would those be too small?

 

[RLGL]

I have a 2013 Civic , love it . Even good for 3-4 hour runs