Recommend a new compact car

[Pandaren]

Requirements:

Manual transmission, 4 door sedan, decent fuel economy (about mid-30s on highway), reliable & safe. Main use will be commuting 12-20 miles/day + weekly shopping trips. Would like to spend under 20k, preferably 18k or less incl. all costs.

Looking at Honda Civic, Mazda3, Toyota Corolla. The Corolla is kinda boring but it's good enough for a commuter car. The Civic seems like a safe & reliable choice. Mazda3 reviews make it out to be the most fun to drive.

What do you all think?

 

[fbrdphreak]

Mazda 3 or Civic Si

 

[sniperruff]

you should also check out the ford focus: it is dirt cheap, reliable, frugal and fun to drive as well.

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: sniperruff
you should also check out the ford focus: it is dirt cheap, reliable, frugal and fun to drive as well.

Also, it has a special warranty i believe(at least 2007s had it i think 2008s too) 5years, 100k miles powertrain as opposed to the 4 or 5 years you get with mazda/honda/toyota. In all truth I'm not sure how important that is to you though, you seem liek a very low mileage driver. I could cover your yearly commute(~3600 miles at 240days, 15miles) in around a month, but then on weekends to relax, i just get on the freeway and drive a few hundred miles to think.

 

[Running]

have you look at the new honda fit? it might be considered a hatchback but you should take a look regardless

 

[FDF12389]

Jeep compass, it has a very responsive CVT available too. Cheap 4x4. Lifetime powertrain, it has its pros and cons, but I just thought it ought to be mentioned.

 

[desy]

Nissan Versa Sedan ;-)

 

[Riverhound777]

I would say the Mazda 3i would fit your criteria for mileage, but the 3s is low 30s. You can also get the 3i for much cheaper than 18k. Make sure you get it with side curtain airbags though.

 

[Vetterin]

Originally posted by: mwmorph

Originally posted by: sniperruff
you should also check out the ford focus: it is dirt cheap, reliable, frugal and fun to drive as well.

Also, it has a special warranty i believe(at least 2007s had it i think 2008s too) 5years, 100k miles powertrain as opposed to the 4 or 5 years you get with mazda/honda/toyota. In all truth I'm not sure how important that is to you though, you seem liek a very low mileage driver. I could cover your yearly commute(~3600 miles at 240days, 15miles) in around a month, but then on weekends to relax, i just get on the freeway and drive a few hundred miles to think.

If warranty is important to you, the Hyundai Elantra might be worth looking into. 6 year 60000 mile BUMPER TO BUMPER.

 

[imported_Shivetya]

Civic, Versa, Sentra, Mazda, Corolla, and Focus.

In that order, but I am biased as I love my new Civic (coupe). I am getting 37mpg on my commute which includes no interstate... 26mi one way, 10 miles or so 55 zoned.

Guy at work bough a new Sentra and it doesn't look bad at all. Much more blocky than a Civic but he is coming from an Aztek so anything is an improvement.

 

[adlep]

It looks like a certified used Accord Sedan would fit your bill.
I would look for 05 Accord LX with low mileage and manual transmission. Moving to Accord from compact car equals to a totally better driving experience/confront.

 

[Nyati13]

Also consider a Subaru Impreza.

 

[Pandaren]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will probably go for some test drives and think it over.

The Fit is an interesting car, but I can't see myself driving one. I hate the styling of the Nissan Sentra and Versa (this is the same company that designed the Altima??? What were they thinking?).

Used Accord... hadn't considered that. Hmm...

 

[Arkaign]

Honda/Toyota > * in reliability. Fun/Style/Cost are other factors though. A 2000-2002 Maxima SE can be found pretty cheap, with 220HP + slick manual transmission. A real step up in luxury/performance over the other possibilities, and the Maxima is historically very dependable.

 

[Pandaren]

Originally posted by: Riverhound777
I would say the Mazda 3i would fit your criteria for mileage, but the 3s is low 30s. You can also get the 3i for much cheaper than 18k. Make sure you get it with side curtain airbags though.

Just on specs and reviews, I'm liking the Mazda3 a lot, with the Civic close behind. I'm getting the sense that the 3 is a blast to drive. Plus it's a great looking vehicle.

 

[alphasaur]

Originally posted by: Arkaign
Honda/Toyota > * in reliability. Fun/Style/Cost are other factors though. A 2000-2002 Maxima SE can be found pretty cheap, with 220HP + slick manual transmission. A real step up in luxury/performance over the other possibilities, and the Maxima is historically very dependable.

<3 my 3s

I got it for 17K with an auto tranny

I believe the invoice for the manual 3i is like 13,500. You should be able to get it within 500 of invoice, then add like $700 for the side airbag/ac package and you're under 15K.

By far the best handling car in it's class IMO. For me it was between this, a 4 cylinder 6 (nice, but sloooow), a civic, a sentra and a corolla. I picked the 3. Acceleration is peppy, though I wish I got the manual ='( If you're going with the 2.0 instead of the 2.5 I'd deffinately get it in manual, the 4 speed auto is sluggish.

And reliability wise, it's up there with honda/toyota

 

[llamajizz]

Don't, don't, don't get the corolla!! It may be reliable but it is an utter piece of crap! It's way too high off the ground, it's not fun to drive at all, and it is one of the most uncomfortable pieces of crap I've ever driven (spend more than 20 minutes with one and you'll know what I mean). I would get the mazda3, it has a nice blend of good looks, fun and reliability. If not the 3, then I'd probably get a civic.

 

[imported_Shivetya]

if you buy soon you could get an awesome deal on an 07

 

[alphasaur]

Originally posted by: Shivetya
if you buy soon you could get an awesome deal on an 07

Werd, I got my 3 for invoice, 0 down, and 0% interest for 3 years.

 

[gorobei]

mazda 3i or whatever the base level is.
mitsubishi basic lancer
subaru impreza (boxer engines are a bitch to work on, sparkplug change is a PITA. don't know if they changed it but the last generation had the oil filter mounted too low. any real offroading would rip the filter and part of the engine block off.)

most of the mini or sub sub compacts(yaris,fit,versa,etc) don't actually get better mileage than the basic civics,corollas,sentra

 

[HannibalX]

I also vote for the Mazda3... about the only compact car sold in America that I would buy.