I'm looking for four doors and good gas mileage (>30mpg). I like the idea of a hatchback. Was curious what T-dub recommend. I've looked at: the matrix, vibe, focus, spectra.

4/15/2012 11:10:59 AM

02-05 Civic Si Hatch if you could deal with 2-doors instead of 4. Great mix of reliability, functionality, and performance for a car like that IMO. Low cost and they run on regular gas (later gen SIs require premium fuel.)



[Edited on April 15, 2012 at 12:08 PM. Reason : ls]

4/15/2012 12:07:27 PM

civic

4/15/2012 12:09:09 PM

$2500

Spend the rest on blow.

4/15/2012 12:35:57 PM

I'm selling my Accord Coupe because it's too small. I don't know if a civic is a good alternative. SHould of put in the first post it has to have 4 doors.

^Tempting, I do love blow.

4/15/2012 1:05:38 PM

ok then, kia soul

4/15/2012 1:38:13 PM

volvo 850 or c series wagon

4/15/2012 1:41:44 PM

http://brentroad.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=626238

4/15/2012 3:27:02 PM

Quote :

"02-05 Civic Si Hatch if you could deal with 2-doors instead of 4. Great mix of reliability, functionality, and performance for a car like that IMO. "

Ehh, I don't really get the appeal of the Civic Si. No way I would spend more money and get less fuel efficiency than a regular Civic, and still have...a Civic, with the lesser practicality of 2-fewer doors, on top of that.

I mean, I love automotive performance as much as anyone, but the Si just doesn't move the needle to a level that I would even give the slightest shit about. If I wasn't looking for a true performance car, I would just get the best transportation I could get for the least amount of money.

4/15/2012 5:09:59 PM

versa has best rear passenger space in its class (and probably the next class up as well). if you can deal with its looks, check it out

4/15/2012 5:32:29 PM

I remember Nissan getting some bad reviews in general. However, I don't think the Versa looks that bad.

4/15/2012 5:37:06 PM

Honda accord sedan

4/15/2012 5:44:59 PM

What about mazda 3 hatchbacks

4/15/2012 6:32:26 PM

04-06 golf or jetta tdi

4/15/2012 7:56:50 PM

^Aren't german cars expensive to repair

4/15/2012 9:08:51 PM

^ yep

If i was gonna spend $7k it's probably look something like this:



they don't break much, and when they do, they're cheap as hell to fix.

4/15/2012 10:38:54 PM

I own a Mazda 3 hatch. Love mine. Always thought it looked good compared to the sedan version. Has enough space to fit a lot of my crap. If you're hoping to fit four, the two in the back will be cramped unless they're kids. For $7K, you should be able to get a '04-'06 without too many miles on it.

Gas mileage is iffy. Can easily get 30+ in the city, but if you're speeding on the freeway, it'll drop considerably.

That said, the car is really fun to drive. Mine came with a 4 speed auto..maybe newer versions upgraded to a 5..not sure. I like to shift to manu-matic and have at it on a twisty road (Had a blast taking corners on the Blue Ridge Parkway). Suspension is on the stiff side, but it doesn't bother me any. If you're looking for a smooth, comfortable ride, the 3 isn't for you. At the time, the engine was bigger (more powerful) than most other cars in its class, so it has some pep in its step. Wind noise is kind of bothersome, but I'll just jack the music up and it's not a big deal.

4/15/2012 10:50:15 PM

I too vote for the Mazda 3 hatchback. They are all vastly superior to the 4 vehicles mentioned in the OP

4/16/2012 8:45:08 AM

^^^That's the exact car I'm trying to sell.

[Edited on April 16, 2012 at 3:17 PM. Reason : ^]

4/16/2012 3:17:41 PM

scion xA/xB

4/16/2012 4:14:39 PM

Quote :

"^Aren't german cars expensive to repair"

but the fuel savings compared to anything else on the market including hybrids are tremendous and would offset any repair costs.

[Edited on April 16, 2012 at 7:47 PM. Reason : -]

4/16/2012 7:47:04 PM

I have my eyes peeled for a TDI, but you aren't going to save fuel over a Prius. Some other hybrids, yeah.

4/16/2012 9:57:00 PM

http://knoxville.craigslist.org/cto/2955477534.html

No where near what you want, but hell, it's what I'd buy if I had $7k right now.

4/16/2012 10:06:37 PM

^^^ are we talking gas or diesel. You recommend the golf??

[Edited on April 16, 2012 at 10:23 PM. Reason : . ]

4/16/2012 10:22:18 PM

Quote :

"^Aren't german cars expensive to repair"

in 7 years and 100k of owning my '05 jetta TDI, there was exactly 1 repair.

got $7700 for it on a trade-in last week.

4/16/2012 10:31:23 PM

Ignoring the OP's post and just replying to the title, I'd get an old classic Morris or Austin Mini to tear around in on the weekends.

4/16/2012 10:48:42 PM

Turbo Subaru anything.

4/16/2012 11:16:41 PM

Quote :

"I have my eyes peeled for a TDI, but you aren't going to save fuel over a Prius. Some other hybrids, yeah."

But at least they're somewhat fun to drive, and won't suck the life out of you.

4/16/2012 11:22:02 PM

^^ if gas mileage is a concern at all i would not heed that.

Mine has nipped 30 on the very best of days with me hypermileing like a mother fucker.


Regular highway driving its 25-26 and avg is 21-23

4/17/2012 7:34:25 AM

Quote :

"I have my eyes peeled for a TDI, but you aren't going to save fuel over a Prius. Some other hybrids, yeah."

If you drive it sensibly I believe it will blow away a Prius. Prius owners that I've talked to said they average ~45 in the city and that the car never has achieved their goals of 50+. My previous captain had a '03 Golf that would get that all day long and if he hypermiled it he could get ~55 city and low 60's on the highway.

What about you, Bobby? What did you average with yours?

4/17/2012 8:07:55 PM

I got an '05 Mazda3 hatchback (5-speed manual) last May and it's great. I overpaid for it at Carmax, but it was worth it as I needed a good car right the hell then. It's got space for all sorts of stuff when the back seats are down, and they're always down. I was able to get a giant mountain bike in the back + luggage for two people + the other person comfortably in the front seat during a trip to Lexington, KY, and I got about 40mpg on ze highways. Right now, I'm getting about 30mpg overall.

I also looked at the Mazda5 Protege, the hatchback that preceded the Mazda3.

4/17/2012 9:09:04 PM

a subie

4/17/2012 9:31:21 PM

^^^

mixed driving around the triangle, around 44-45mpg. for highway only trips 50+ doing typically 9 over.

over on the tdiclub.com forums, there are some seriously OCD hypermilers, getting 7-800 miles per tank. I don't have the patience for that

EDIT: might be worth noting that I generally ran B20 biodiesel in it, which probably cut a mile or two per gallon anecdotally.

[Edited on April 17, 2012 at 11:05 PM. Reason : .]

4/17/2012 11:04:18 PM

^^^How much did you pay for it?

4/18/2012 7:35:43 AM