Accord is dead. Price range is up to 20k but I would prefer to pay around 10-15.

I'm looking for Good MPG, hatch, wagon or small suv and it has to be reliable.

What you guys think? I have a GTO in the garage, so performance isn't a crazy requirement. I like some luxury, but would rather have features and comfort at this point.

Right now i'm thinking a Toyota Matrix AWD... Possibly I could find a CX5 or something. Jetta TDI wagon could be a possibility, but i dont know about reliability.

What else is out there?

12/13/2013 7:12:36 PM

I paid $10,300 for a 2010 Honda Insight with about 66k miles. I probably average 45+ around town, and 40 or so on the highway. It has almost 90k on it now, and I've had exactly zero things go wrong with it so far.

It's a 4 door with room for normal adults in the back, a hatchback, fold down rear seats, etc. You can fit a shitload of stuff in it, for it being a fairly small car.

A set of tires with 65k warranty and lifetime balance/rotation was a little over 400 bucks, I think. All scheduled maintenance (to include trans fluid drain and fills) are easy and inexpensive. I'm pretty happy with it so far.


TDIs are cool, but the cost of diesel should enter the calculus if you go that route. TDIs of late return poorer economy than some of their predecessors did, and there are plenty of gassers that are achieving pretty good economy, probably within striking distance if you account for the difference in fuel cost between 87 oct and diesel fuel. If you start considering hybrids, I don't think diesels can really compete on a cost/mile basis. Whether a hybrid is worth it over a fairly efficient conventional gasser depends upon how much you drive.

[Edited on December 13, 2013 at 7:55 PM. Reason : ]

12/13/2013 7:36:43 PM

i'm skeptical that a Matrix AWD or CX5 get good mileage

12/13/2013 7:39:03 PM

no offense but the 2nd gen insight is one of the worst cars i have ever had the displeasure of driving and riding in. The seats are god awful, the NVH is terrible, and it just plain drives like shit. My DD is a 96 civic and I can say this. Going from a accord to a insight would be terrible. Honda really missed the target with the insight.

get another accord? oh, wagon/hatch/suv.

Cr-v?

I drove a '11 MS3 the other day and was very impressed, but i dont know what they sell for. Maybe a optioned base mazda3 would be in your price range and exhibit similar qualities?

12/13/2013 8:11:10 PM

crv, rav4, tucson, etc.

You can't really get more reliable than that. Mileage won't be as great as that of hatchbacks, but decent as they are small SUVs.

Maybe Kia soul, Suzuki sx4? Mazda 3 wagon is good. And mazdaspeed 3 even better as Air said, but don't know about price. Although if you are willing to go up to 20, I am sure you can find it.

How about Mini Cooper? Not that reliable, perhaps.

12/13/2013 8:19:41 PM

Here's a 2012 Acura TSX Sport Wagon, little over your range though: http://www.carmax.com/enus/view-car/default.html?id=9681389&AVi=0&No=0&Rp=R&D=50&zip=28115&N=4294963164+4294962916+4294961432&Q=1014921b-fa59-444e-b767-d99108505815&Ep=search:results:results%20page

12/13/2013 8:53:19 PM

I was just about to make almost the same thread. My Saturn shit the bed yesterday.

Also looking for something around or below the 20k mark. I came REALLY fucking close to buying a brand new 2013 Chevy Volt tonight, but walked away. After rebates and tax credit it would have come to $21,650.

Main thing is fucking great mileage (and all the new plugin hybrids appeal to me, because my daily total commute it ~10 miles round trip). And something either super reliable or drop dead cheap to work on (like my Saturn used to be).

I was looking at the Volt and Fusion Energi, Prius plugin, but I think tomorrow we are going to go look at Audi A4's, VWs (Gold, TDI, etc), Subarus (I like the forester, outback and WRX). Even entertained looking at some '04 Phaetons, but the upkeep is a killer.

Basically I don't want/need another sports car or GT car, no kids or dogs so I don't need a ton of room but I don't want a clown car (aka Kia Rio) because I'm too damn tall.

Hatches are fine, crossovers are fine, sedans and coupes are fine. I really want a Tesla Model-S, but my wife would have a fucking conniption fit.

12/13/2013 11:45:55 PM

Check out a Kia Soul

12/14/2013 1:29:25 AM

Where does one go to buy souls?

12/14/2013 4:46:41 AM

I've had several KIA Souls as rentals, but they are way too fucking uncomfortable for me to own one. Maybe if I bought my own seats

12/14/2013 7:29:39 AM

mazda3

maybe the new skyactiv ones are in that price range nowadays. they're rated for 40mpg highway (manual)

12/14/2013 7:54:44 AM

I had a ms3 before and loved it. Perhaps another is an option.

I think I want mpg more

12/14/2013 8:05:16 AM

don't get the speed then dummy...

if that's what you like get the little ecoboost fuckus and profit.
(same chassis with emphasis on mpg rather than mph)

12/14/2013 8:30:11 AM

a3 wagon gets like 37mpg with the creature comforts and luxury you want and can be had under 15k easy

12/14/2013 1:50:35 PM

I was going to say Mazda 3. Decent looks, lots of space in the hatch, and the Skyactiv gets killer mileage while still offering acceptable power. You could also check out a Kia Forte hatch, though I don't know if you're going to get a current-gen for 15K (take it from someone who owns a previous-gen Forte...the interior sucks...new one is *much* nicer.)

Noen, if you're open to sedans, you could check out an Elantra also. The Limited trim level is pretty nice, the MPG is good, interior is pretty nice. If you don't buy new you lose out on the 100K warranty, but if you're open to spending a little above 20k, you could get one new and then you do have the warranty.

[Edited on December 14, 2013 at 6:32 PM. Reason : Skyactiv debuted for 2012 MY, so he could go a year or two old and still get the Skyactiv engine]

12/14/2013 6:31:19 PM

Elantra S is out now, with 170 hp, but I not know how much it is.

And there is the Elantra Coupe as well.

New Kia Forte lookin pretty sharp as well.

12/14/2013 6:35:18 PM

Guys thanks so much! I'm going to go check out some Mazda 3's tomorrow. I owned a Mazda 626 for years and loved it. Always liked the 3 series from a distance.

And good to know there's a chance of finding one used. The Volt is the first car I've ever considered buying new, I have always gone with a few years used vehicles.

I'd consider pretty much anything 05 and up, but the skyactiv 2012 sounds like the current winner.

12/14/2013 8:43:48 PM

I'm still considering an older WRX, but the gas milage isn't as great.

The Skyactive Mazda 3 is up high on the list.

4wd is a consideration because that would be kinda nice.

12/15/2013 11:06:47 AM

I have a Honda Fit. Around 35mpg and fun to drive, easy to park

12/16/2013 10:59:44 AM

Quote :

"a3 wagon gets like 37mpg with the creature comforts and luxury you want and can be had under 15k easy"

The gassers get roughly ~25MPG combined and that's on premium gas.
You're not finding a TDI for under $15k so I'm pretty sure that's not what you meant.

12/16/2013 11:13:37 AM

well, riding in ahmet's, 34-37 hwy was what I saw with the fwd dsg. take it as you will

12/16/2013 11:32:13 AM

I often beat advertised MPG numbers. I've gotten 27mpg in the 911 turbo even though it's rated for 14 city 20 highway. Actually, I haven't gotten 14 out of it under any circumstances.

Similarly I get around 27mpg from my Volvo V70 and if I remember correctly it's rated for ~24. I think the trick is to look ahead and not constantly brake/accelerate on the highway... something people should be doing anyway?

12/16/2013 3:14:23 PM

I find that people often base their fuel economy off of a 'very good tank' and not of a true average.

I followed my 91 civic for 2-3yrs (~20k miles), and my 99 Dakota for about 1.5yrs (~9k miles):

the civic went from 25-38mpg per tank, 32 avg
Dakota went from 13-18mpg per tank, 15.5avg

12/16/2013 3:48:12 PM

Thanks again guys, after spending the afternoon at the Mazda dealer, I walked out with this:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?showcaseListingId=344438129&listingId=360767374

I fucking love it. Everything about it. Comfortable, roomy, loaded with every option, crazy ass warranty, gorgeous car and it rides very smooth.

Great, great recommendation.

12/17/2013 12:52:25 AM

Have you still got the lotus?

12/17/2013 7:54:52 AM

^^ I will take that exige off your hands

12/17/2013 10:47:13 AM

Actually, I'm picking the Lotus back up from the shop today . The Mazda is good, but its not *that* good.

12/17/2013 11:33:23 AM

I use a bicycle to move myself around.

I use the mail to buy and send stuff.

and I take public trans or rent a car when i need to go far.

u really should try it, there's no excuse.

you're being a dinosaur like those people in the 80's who didn't know how to disco or use a computer.

12/17/2013 8:28:45 PM

I don't need a car. I love cars, I love driving. I drive a lot for fun, for yard sales and swap meets, for race tracks, and to go places on my own schedule.

I used to bike a lot, but fuck that in the pacific northwest. There's nothing more miserable than biking in constant 45F temp with spitting rain.

12/17/2013 9:17:28 PM

^don't worry he's (^^) just a troll.

12/18/2013 8:07:27 AM

obviously

everyone knows disco became unfashionable in the 80s

12/18/2013 9:01:34 AM

i love to drive too. everybody does. its immediately gratifying and convenient. like junkfood.

you're supposed to get past that shit at some point not wallow in it.

disco was a lot moar popular in the 80's and made FAR more money. same thing with Star Trek.

12/19/2013 3:45:19 AM