I've been thinking about geting rid of my silver cav, its a fully loaded 2004 LS Sport coupe with just shy of 30K miles on it. Trade in value vs. what I owe I can come out alittle bit ahead on this piece of @!#$.
I've been thinking about a Honda Fit or Pontiac Vibe, maybe even a Yaris or Matrix.
So who has any experience with cars like that or done any research on cars like that? Looking for thoughts and opinions (and don't even mention the HHR or PT Cruiser... I would rather walk then buy either)
Thanks
i like the new dodge caliber srt-4...its a nice ride...check it out.
nothing chrysler imo...the 09 pontiac vibes look pretty nice
* * BIG FOR SALE POST * *
My sister has a Honda Fit. Awesome little car. It's of course slow as crap with the automatic, but overall it's badass.
pointac vibe with a supercharger.
VW GTi you silly @!#$.
I mean your going to work on them everyday... might as well work on your own since its gonna need it!
i would personally LOVE a 3.6 passat with 4motion.. but thats me.
BeardLife /
Club Awesome Reject Blog
Figure you're looking for opinions, so why not.
Saw someone mentioned the Fit, while I too would love one, I'd be worried the toll of daily driving it would take on me. I don't know why, just seems I'd grow rather sick of it especially after reviews of the driver's side seat position.
SUV wise, two of my co-workers have Hyundai Santa Fe's.....I've driven them on numerous occasions, love the overall feel, AWD, and neither have had ANY issues with them. The smaller SUV Hyundai offers would be the Tucson, I don't see the quality being any less. Pricing here would come into play though, especially being you're seeking something you're absolutely going to love for the daily grind.
Granted very mainstream, probably not an ideal choice for you, but it hasn't been mentioned and would be my main runner for a hatch.....
the Scion xD? 27city/33hwy MPG, and enough pass. & cargo room/options to make you comfortable paying the pricetag. Pioneer MP3, iPod hookup, 6 speakers, reclining rear seat...oh and choice of 3 wheel cover designs. Add a couple warrantied TRD suspension upgrades, maybe the short throw, and it's a fun little @!#$.
Specific model? Make? year? Price tag? Motor size?2 wheel/4 wheel? all wheel?
Escalade bitches!! Seriously though, try a trailblazer, I enjoy my ex's
dan
equinox? small suv, GM if it mattered
Fit and Yaris need to be manual to be driveable to me (small engines + automatic trans = bad driving experience). Vibe and Matrix are both decent cars. Astra Maybe?
The new Matrix/Vibe is available with the 158 hp 2.4L 4-cyl. (2AZ-FE) that comes in the tC, new xB, Camry, RAV4, etc. it's a good engine, and has solid performance from the factory (though it's nothing terribly special in that respect), and is available with AWD, though I don't think you can get the 5-speed with AWD. I would be wary of the 1.8L (2TZ-FE) though, for the sole reason that the engine is completely new, so there may yet be some kinks to work out.
The Yaris is a good car too, and gets great gas mileage, but it's weak. 105hp 1.5L (1ZZ-FE) four-banger can last, but don't expect it to go anywhere fast. If you are looking at used cars, you may want to watch out for the earlier-production models; there are a few TSBs out on them, nothing major, but worth mentioning. The Yaris is also one of the cheapest options.
The xD falls right in between the Yaris and the 2.4L Matrix. However, it comes with the same all-new 1.8L that is the base engine on the Matrix/Vibe. There's not anything wrong with that engine that I know of, but the 1.5L and the 2.4L are tried-and-true engines that have been around for a while, while the 1.8L is... new.
a choice that hasn't been presented yet: the Subaru Impreza 2.5i or WRX. the base 2.5i is cheaper than the comperable Matrix (2.4L AWD), has more power and torque, and is available with a 5-speed manual (not just a 4-speed auto). the WRX is slightly more expensive than the Matrix, but is everything that the 2.5i is and more.
I have no experience with Hondas, though I've heard very little bad about them, and the Fit parallels the Yaris very closely.
I also have no personal experience with Mazda, but IMO, the Subarus and Toyotas are better choices (mostly based on reliability).
Jonathan wrote:Fit and Yaris need to be manual to be driveable to me (small engines + automatic trans = bad driving experience). Vibe and Matrix are both decent cars. Astra Maybe?
I agree, I want another manual trans. I've drivin the Yaris, I liked it but I'm not crazzy about the styling inside or out. My mom has a Matrix and I liek it, that the main reason I'm considering the vibe/matrix but also the main reason I'd prefer the vibe.
Vincent Morris wrote:equinox? small suv, GM if it mattered
When my mom was looking into a car we looked at the Equinox, I'm not a fan.
Jason wrote:Mazdaspeed 3?
I'm starting to wonder how many more people are going to continue suggesting top of the line super tuner versions of cars... in the original post I mentioned I was looking for somethign like a fit (small, slow, good on gas, cheap, practical) I'm not looking for anything 200+ hp with boost. (no offense to you specifically but damn people)
dubduce18s wrote:Escalade bitches!! Seriously though, try a trailblazer, I enjoy my ex's
dan
trailblazer is WAY bigger then what I'm looking for
Vincent Morris wrote:Specific model? Make? year? Price tag? Motor size?2 wheel/4 wheel? all wheel?
thats what I'm trying to figure out - nope - couple years old to brand new - under 20 - small - don't car but AWD is good
Joe Schulte wrote:Figure you're looking for opinions, so why not.
Saw someone mentioned the Fit, while I too would love one, I'd be worried the toll of daily driving it would take on me. I don't know why, just seems I'd grow rather sick of it especially after reviews of the driver's side seat position.
SUV wise, two of my co-workers have Hyundai Santa Fe's.....I've driven them on numerous occasions, love the overall feel, AWD, and neither have had ANY issues with them. The smaller SUV Hyundai offers would be the Tucson, I don't see the quality being any less. Pricing here would come into play though, especially being you're seeking something you're absolutely going to love for the daily grind.
Granted very mainstream, probably not an ideal choice for you, but it hasn't been mentioned and would be my main runner for a hatch.....the Scion xD? 27city/33hwy MPG, and enough pass. & cargo room/options to make you comfortable paying the pricetag. Pioneer MP3, iPod hookup, 6 speakers, reclining rear seat...oh and choice of 3 wheel cover designs. Add a couple warrantied TRD suspension upgrades, maybe the short throw, and it's a fun little @!#$.
I have not heard anything like that about the Fit (but then again I haven't heard much of anything other then they are very hard to come by)
Santa Fe is way bigger then what I'm looking for, not really familiar with the Tuscan, I will look into it. If its small enough I look into it seriously but driving in big tall vehicles makes me sick.
XD I didn't even think of, I was just at the Chicago Auto Show and all the concept cars and stuff complete distracted me form paying attention to everythign else. I didn't even think to go and sit and play around with all the cars that have crossed my mind... what a dumbass
Qwik2k2z24 wrote:VW GTi you silly @!#$.
I mean your going to work on them everyday... might as well work on your own since its gonna need it!
i would personally LOVE a 3.6 passat with 4motion.. but thats me.
I would NEVER buy a GTI, if anything a Rabbit but even that is very unlikely, overpriced and suprisingly bad on gas. And a Passat is not even close to what I'm looking for.
NightmaresCavy wrote:pointac vibe with a supercharger.
that doesn't help at all with what I asked. And i have no need to spend money for boost.
SlowWhiteFire (J-DUB) wrote:My sister has a Honda Fit. Awesome little car. It's of course slow as crap with the automatic, but overall it's badass.
Th Fit is definetly towards the top of the list.
tha_prowler wrote:nothing chrysler imo...the 09 pontiac vibes look pretty nice
I wont buy a car with thats a new generation for at least a year, I don't about being the first to have something, I'd much rather wait till all the kinks are worked out. It does look sweet though.
97&04cfcavy(now just 04) wrote:i like the new dodge caliber srt-4...its a nice ride...check it out.
I started looking at the caliber today but there isn't any chance I'm gonna spend extra money for an SRT, I have no need or want for one. I liek that you can get one in AWD.
Suzuki SX4... AWD, 140hp, and they're advertising them on the radio here for $12,600 brand fricken new
toyota prius
good on gas.... good on gas..... and good on gas
i thought you said a mini SUV or something, and people are bringing up cars like the toyota prius or the honda fit. Unless i misunderstood the post, people were suggesting cars?
If you were thinking car size or hatchback size, the dodge caliber would be up on my list. Why not a chevy Aveo? they're like... kinda hatchbackwagonish and good on gas and cheap. Or maybe a Scion XB? (freakin shoebox)
If you were thinking smaller SUV size, think Jeep Compass or hyundai tucson, maybe even a Honda CRV. I know you can get a 5speed 4cyl CRV and they have decent room in the back.
theres always a subaru hatch for AWD 4cyl hatchback style.
BYE AN HHR
I would recommend a vibe / matrix or XB.
PRND321 Till I DIE
Old Motor: 160whp & 152ft/lbs, 1/4 Mile 15.4 @88.2
M45 + LD9 + 4T40-E, GO GO GO
Spitcan wrote:i thought you said a mini SUV or something, and people are bringing up cars like the toyota prius or the honda fit. Unless i misunderstood the post, people were suggesting cars?
If you were thinking car size or hatchback size, the dodge caliber would be up on my list. Why not a chevy Aveo? they're like... kinda hatchbackwagonish and good on gas and cheap. Or maybe a Scion XB? (freakin shoebox)
If you were thinking smaller SUV size, think Jeep Compass or hyundai tucson, maybe even a Honda CRV. I know you can get a 5speed 4cyl CRV and they have decent room in the back.
theres always a subaru hatch for AWD 4cyl hatchback style.
Apparently you can't read
Darkstars wrote:I've been thinking about geting rid of my silver cav, its a fully loaded 2004 LS Sport coupe with just shy of 30K miles on it. Trade in value vs. what I owe I can come out alittle bit ahead on this piece of @!#$.
I've been thinking about a Honda Fit or Pontiac Vibe, maybe even a Yaris or Matrix.
So who has any experience with cars like that or done any research on cars like that? Looking for thoughts and opinions (and don't even mention the HHR or PT Cruiser... I would rather walk then buy either)
Thanks
no, i read those ideas, thats why i threw out new fresh ideas. Nobody's mentioned a CRV or a Compass yet, have they??
thanks.
Darkstars wrote:
I have not heard anything like that about the Fit (but then again I haven't heard much of anything other then they are very hard to come by)
Santa Fe is way bigger then what I'm looking for, not really familiar with the Tuscan, I will look into it. If its small enough I look into it seriously but driving in big tall vehicles makes me sick.
XD I didn't even think of, I was just at the Chicago Auto Show and all the concept cars and stuff complete distracted me form paying attention to everythign else. I didn't even think to go and sit and play around with all the cars that have crossed my mind... what a dumbass
When the Fit first came out I recall reading a few reviews in which they complained about the seat position being above the fuel tank, giving it a minivan feel when driving it. Crazy design, but it's just from what I recall. Best bet would be to sit in one, but the review alone left me feeling uncomfortable, I'd need to stretch my legs.
No doubt the Santa Fe is bigger, we do have a family friend though whom has a Tucson and while I never looked at it up close, I'd say it's more so in the "mini SUV" category you speak of. I've become a big fan of Hyundais as they seem to be very reliable.
I ask that you do go check out the xD, I know you mentioned not wanting to do upgrades, but eventually after driving it for so long you'll want to do a few small things and it's a budget car in which it's easy to do such. When I threw it out there I went over to scion.com to educate myself, and found myself peeking at the upgrades available.
I'd check out the Suzuki SX4 hatch as someone mentioned above. A few weeks ago I sat in one and thought it wasn't too bad, not the worst I was in that day at the auto show. It looks descent for a tiny & cheap car, gets 21/28 gas mileage & best of all IMO, is AWD standard. It seems to have a good number of ponies too for it's size @ 143hp, I'm curious how they can get up and go. It starts under $15,000 and Suzuki is offering 0% APR right now.
Otherwise, at the show the Xd really impressed me. Ugly as hell on the outside, but it was by far one of the coolest interiors for the price range. It was really comfortable to sit in and my husband & I looked at each other in shock when we got in at how unugly the inside is compared to the outside.
And for a few more bucks, my latest love is the new Impreza hatch. You don't have to go to a WRX and pay for premium gas, the base Impreza has 170hp & both manual & auto rank 20/27 for gas mileage. The interior is beautiful & super comfortable. IMO it's a real looker! Plus, you know it's good for 200,000 miles plus! Subaru is offering 2.9% APR.
