I need a little car

[venomballistics]

Buy a Miata! Doesn't have 4 doors but then, you only get to cruise with your wife, don't have to make trips to the local mao mart for a weeks worth of cheap chinese crap and no one ever asks you to haul their junk for them! As a bonus, you're not making a statement about your inadequate manhood as those who drive hummers/4Xdualies, etc. do.

It's a win/win!

I'd include this in my list of recommendations if it didnt fall short in a few real world categories.
Sometimes a ride needs to be called upon for at least some hauling duty ... Im sure you could fit a rifle or shotgun into a Miata ... but you might need to rely upon a friend to bring the ammo.
We need to think of these things before we plunk down the payolah on these things since we have to live with the investment.
My recommendations will also favor an American car. Im kinda sick of seeing my neighbors in interviews whenever a plant closes, be it lumber mill or auto plant.
As much as I respect the offerings of Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Audi, Jaguar, and other fine mechanical specimens prowling the streets, it was a Ford under the foot of AJ Foyt that showed Ferrari its tail lights at the 24 hours of Le Mans three years running.
Can we compete?
History says yes.

 

[venomballistics]

I have to go with venomballistics on this one.'87 thru '93 Mustang 2.3 available with either auto.or 5 sp.[the 5 sp.is tougher and gets better milage.]Available in coupe[notchback],hatchback and ragtop.

yes ... and the vehicle cited is an auto tranny machine ... and STILL meets or beats a Smarts MPG even if its nearing the quarter century mark
People need to know that MPG does not have to come in a suck muffin

 

[JcMack]

Thanks to all for advise. I've got this '08 Colorado I'd have to get at least 12K out of on a trade, as I still owe 6.5 on it. The truck only has 4K miles on it and is basically ANIB. (I've got a company car that will probably go away soon). I'd try to sell the truck outright, but I doubt there's a market. Some day 2 car households may include one "SMARTCAR" type vehicle for around town. Remember Isettas ? I've seen a couple Smartcars on the throughway with terror stricken looking people inside.

 

[DustyJacket]

my BMW motorcycle is my primary transportation and gets 50 MPG... My wide' Buell gets 69 +/-.

 

[Bat Guano]

My son has an '05 Hundai Elantra, recently turned 200K with no real issues in all that time. It's served him as well as my '06 Corolla which is very good indeed. Reliability is tops, but resale value on them is minimal. Real sleepers.

 

[DeadAye]

Buy AMERICAN PLEASE

 

[LouisianaJoe]

This is a lot like the Mazda 2 (Probably the same car) and it is a Ford.

2011 Ford Fiesta | Official Site of the Ford Fiesta | FordVehicles.com

 

[blastfact]

My car is a 07 Mazda3 Sedan, 2.3L, 5MT. Can get very good mpg and handles like a dream. It fears no Civic Si when the twistys show up.

Our other car is a 09 Civic Hybrid. The wife and I ride into work together a lot. So through in the car pool and 69 mpg plus this time of year. And its a win win.

Then there is the 00 Ranger that sets in the back yard most of the time.

 

[andyL8]

My car is a 07 Mazda3 Sedan, 2.3L, 5MT. Can get very good mpg and handles like a dream. It fears no Civic Si when the twistys show up.

Our other car is a 09 Civic Hybrid. The wife and I ride into work together a lot. So through in the car pool and 69 mpg plus this time of year. And its a win win.

Then there is the 00 Ranger that sets in the back yard most of the time.

It amazes me so many people bought the Prius so everyone would know "I'm driving a Hybrid" when the Honda was a much better car.

My wife and I just bought a new Focus as our 3rd car, her SUV was burning way too much gas when it was just her and one or two kids in town. It handles well, and is comfortable, haven't owned it long enough to talk about reliability. It is slower than my '07 Mustang GT, though.

Andy

 

[Smokin' Iron]

Between Mazda and Mitsubishi, I would choose Mazda.

Since BHO became the CEO of both GM and Chrysler, they are not even worth consideration to me.

Ford has some interesting models, but I'm not real wild about supporting the socialist UAW.

 

[nicky4968]

Something with wire wheels, no top, and goes zoom?

(Sigh)

 

[Rule3]

Whatever small car you get, be sure to get the Randy Newman CD Short People. Little cars that go beep, beep, beep.

MySpace Player

 

[vytoland]

NSU Prinz...........compact, reliable, super gas milage..........

1960 NSU Prinz III

 

[bk43]

My wife and I just bought a new Focus as our 3rd car.

Another vote for the Ford Focus. One of my kids has had one for around 5 years. Great mileage, great features, comfortable and trouble free. I was told(don't know for sure if it's true) that it was available in Europe before being brought to the States and all the kinks were worked out there.

Bob

 

[Mod10]

Someone already mentioned the Scion Xb, but I'll chime in. I own a 2005 model that was 17k after dealer installed accessories (fog lights, alloy wheels, XM receiver.)

I currently have 133k miles on mine, and it has NEVER had any problems. It has a small gas tank that gives you about a 250 mile range, but it only cost me about $25 with regular to fill it up.

If you don't mind used, get a 2004-07 model. The '08 and newer use the Camry engine that only get about 25 mpg with mixed driving.

People either love or hate the looks of the Xb, but the square shape gives you a huge interior, and the drivetrain will outlast anything Detroit spews out.

 

[Mod10]

I was told(don't know for sure if it's true) that it was available in Europe before being brought to the States and all the kinks were worked out there.

Bob

When I was stationed in Wiesbaden, I drove an American market Ford Focus which I took to a German dealer to get looked at after some problems came about.

The U.S. versions have different engines, transmissions, and brakes. If anything, they are less reliable than the ones made for the European market.

Ford pulled the same thing with the Ford Contour, which was originally a Ford Mondeo in Europe. They take a solid design, and use a cheaper drivetrain for the U.S. versions.

 

[venomballistics]

it was a great day to roll out in some vintage road iron today ... seems all us classic American pony car guys have it in for the new import crowd. Ive seen many of the above suggestions getting picked on at the stop lights by USA built machinery.
It was kinda fun to park my Mustang LX next to a Smart car and leave a sign saying "I get 40 MPG too" in the window facing the aberration then sit in the sunshine awaiting the looks on their bunny huggin faces.

careful what you buy out there ... you have to live with that scion and everything it brings you

 

[Old 44 Guy]

My kids just bought a Ford Focus & love it. Traded their 2004 Chrysler Town & Country. I sold my 1991 Explorer with 205,500 miles & bought a 2007 4x4 Ranger P.U. Dealers will really make a effort to move cars now. Their inventory is huge. Mine knocked off 4500 bucks on the Ranger. Checked the mileage last tank, doing a bit better than 21 around here in town. I'm heading for Calif. next Wednesday for grandsons graduation. I'll check mileage on the trip.

 

[jeffsmith]

Ford had a habit of taking Great European Cars
and making Good American ones

The Contour & Focus being examples

With the Introduction of the Fiesta
they are now bringing the European Spec cars to the US

The next generation Focus will be the same as the European one
and even better than the already pretty good Focus we have now

 

[goldenlight]

Between Mazda and Mitsubishi, I would choose Mazda.

Since BHO became the CEO of both GM and Chrysler, they are not even worth consideration to me.

Ford has some interesting models, but I'm not real wild about supporting the socialist UAW.

Mitsubishi has always been a bit lower in build quality behind Toyota, Honda, Mazda, and Nissan.

Also, they don't sell many cars, especially since the Dodge Colts went away, so service and resale value is going to be worse than more common cars.

I owned 2 Dodge Colts, and they were only 'okay' in terms of reliability. Later I got a Toyota and a Honda, and they were so much better than Mitsubishi, they are in another class.

Whatever car you buy, and there are many good choices, buy one that you see on the road a lot.

That will mean parts and service will be readily available, and resale should be better than less common cars.

Also, look up cars you are interested in in the past few annual Auto Issues of Consumer Reports. Your local library should have them.