Poll: Which car should I get?

[Dags90]

So as part graduation gift and part estate planning, I'm in the market for a new car. Not just a new-to-me car apparently, so 2012 model year. Specifically, a fuel efficient, five door subcompact. Not the most exciting class of cars out there, I know. I figure this forum has a reasonable number of drivers, and a popularity contest is about the only thing I haven't seen. All of them come in around $17-18k with the options I'd want.

Right now I've got it narrowed down to the cars listed in the poll (actually a bit less), and plan to test drive each of them (hopefully on the same day), then make a decision following that.

*This one is legally considered a compact car by a few cubic feet, but is still in the running.

 

[Loop Stricken]

I have a V-reg Fiesta, I don't like it; not compared to my old Ford Escort anyway.
Also that doesn't really help.

My advice is to get the one for which you can get the cheapest insurance, and is the most reliable (which automatically excludes anything French).

Honda then. Hondas are sturdy, and they make good TV ads.

 

[Savo]

I have a Honda fit. Its a great car. Comfortable, good gas mileage, fun to drive, there's a lot to love about the fit. I'm not a huge fan of the looks of the car, but its excellent in every other way.

 

[Dags90]

I have a Honda fit. Its a great car. Comfortable, good gas mileage, fun to drive, there's a lot to love about the fit. I'm not a huge fan of the looks of the car, but its excellent in every other way.

Yeah, the Fit looks a bit like a minivan with failure to thrive. My cousin has one and she seems to enjoy it.

 

[Mazza35]

Get something other than them. They are all horrible.

 

[Dags90]

Get something other than them. They are all horrible.

This isn't very constructive. Actually, it isn't constructive at all. Is there are reason they're all horrible? I find it hard to believe that they're all terrible, seeing as this is a large chunk of the five door subcompacts currently in the NA market.

 

[Mazza35]

Get something other than them. They are all horrible.

This isn't very constructive. Actually, it isn't constructive at all. Is there are reason they're all horrible? I find it hard to believe that they're all terrible, seeing as this is a large chunk of the five door subcompacts currently in the NA market.

Alright, I'll be constructive
If you want my opinion, get something with some damned style.
Ex-mil vehicles are always good IMO. Sturdy, reliable and you can get em cheap.
Don't go buying a brand new car, get a second hand in good nick. I'd consider getting a diesel, for the way things are going. Diesel WILL be cheaper in the future (Oil resources ect ect)
In all, I recommend any of these:

4WD: Land Rover Discovery (Diesel, and make sure you have the service history and it's good nick)
Sporty: MX-5
Sedan: Mazda 6?
Hatchback: Nissan Tida or Holden Astra
Fun/everything: An ol' Toyota LandCruiser, (1960-1970s model)

EDIT: All these you can get from $3,000 - 20,000

 

[Dags90]

Don't go buying a brand new car, get a second hand in good nick. I'd consider getting a diesel, for the way things are going. Diesel WILL be cheaper in the future (Oil resources ect ect)
In all, I recommend any of these:

4WD: Land Rover Discovery (Diesel, and make sure you have the service history and it's good nick)
Sporty: MX-5
Sedan: Mazda 6?
Hatchback: Nissan Tida or Holden Astra
Fun/everything: An ol' Toyota LandCruiser, (1960-1970s model)

Why would I buy a used car when I'm getting the car for free anyway? It's not like I have a set amount of cash and can put leftovers to other use.

Gasoline would have to be about three times more expensive than diesel for the Land Rover to break even. I don't see that happening within the presumed life of this car. Brief Wikipedia-ing reveals the Nissan Tida to be the Nissan Versa, a car I had considered and forgot to put on the list, and the Holden Astra to be a rough equivalent to the Chevy Sonic.

All of the cars in the poll can be had for under $20k, which is about my limit.

 

[cookingwithrage]

Other than the fact the cars represent everything I hate about the Automotive industry. You're best bet would be the Fiesta or Yaris WITH manual, the autos are garbage and will make you yell at your car. Those have the greatest support in the states. Don't buy a land rover, anyone telling you to buy a used land rover that isn't a Defender (which cost obscene amounts in the states.) is an idiot. They. Are. Garbage. You don't buy one unless you enjoy working on your car all the time.
A Jeep XJ is a good bet, the drive train is solid, the MPGs are somewhat decent, and it will go anywhere you can take it. Alternatively, try to find a used 2000ish Subaru, Toyota, or certain Nissans.

Do your self and look around for a newer used car (2005-2009), you can find some pretty sweet deals and you're not going to be driving a shitbox.

 

[Estranged180]

I don't know much about cars, but I know that Corollas are one of the most dangerous cars on the market, for that reason alone, I would opt to never drive a Toyota. Corollas tend to have a massive number of blind spots, making it difficult for the average driver to be fully aware of his/her surroundings.

I have to disagree here, as a Jeep Renegade came up on us at 55 mph a couple weeks ago. Keep in mind, the Renegade was totaled when it hit our (insert drum roll here) FJ Cruiser, which suffered only (insert another drum roll here) $4109 in damage.

The FJ Cruiser drove away from the scene at the end of all the Q&A, while the Jeep was loaded onto a flatbed.

OP: If you really want a good, fuel efficient car that looks kinda decent, try a RAV4 (which once saved my life when I was broadsided during a left turn). It's got a 4-cyl engine in it, but also has 4WD. Granted, it doesn't fall into the subcompact genre of cars that you have listed, but it is a bit of a compact SUV (and by that, I mean what they would call an 'entry level SUV).

 

[Supertegwyn]

I don't know much about cars, but I know that Corollas are one of the most dangerous cars on the market, for that reason alone, I would opt to never drive a Toyota. Corollas tend to have a massive number of blind spots, making it difficult for the average driver to be fully aware of his/her surroundings.

I've been driving a Corrolla for seven years now, and that is complete horseshit.

Corrollas have excellent visibility, and have almost no blind spots.

I don't even know what you are on about.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

They all look equally ugly to me, so I guess go with the one that has the best features and is the most comfortable for you to drive.

 

[LongAndShort]

Fiesta. Because its name means party. And who doesn't like parties? Even guys like Hitler, Stalin and Mao went to at least one party they liked.

 

[loc978]

Looking at the specs of each, I'd say either the Hyundai, the Chevy or the Ford. For some reason Honda and Toyota seem incapable of making a fuel-efficient vehicle that isn't a hybrid nowadays... also, from past experiences with Hyundais, I'd lean a bit away from recommending one. Never been in a new one, so things might be different now... but an early 2000s Hyundai tends to have less rigidity in its frame than an early 90s Geo. That's bad. Very bad.

I generally tell people not to go with new cars, but that's with people who are spending their own money and live close enough to me that they have mechanically inclined people ready to help 'em properly fix up an older car at the drop of a hat... since this is over the internet, I'll just throw my vote in for the Fiesta... and only because I dislike the Sonic's little hype-heavy ad campaign.
...they're pretty much the same goddamn car.

 

[BarbaricGoose]

Why would I buy a used car when I'm getting the car for free anyway? It's not like I have a set amount of cash and can put leftovers to other use.

Because someone's paying for it, and you can help them pay less by getting a used car. Maybe they'd like to put the leftover money away? You know, unless you hate the person buying the car for you. In which case, you should get the most expensive car, and then flip them off as you drive away. Might I suggest a Ferrari?

 

[Vanitas likes Bubbles]

I fricken love hatchbacks. I'm not a car buff nor will I ever own a car (I'm gonna be efficient and walk around or use public transport) but I just love the idea of them.

Anyway, not a car buff so I'd take this with a pinch of salt but I'd get the Fiesta. My friends mum has one and it kicked ass apparently.

 

[Henkie36]

Yaris is pretty reliable and surprisingly big inside. But it really depends on what you want them for. However, the best one for all your demands is not on your list: a Volkswagen Golf diesel. That will run 20 kilometers to a liter, even if you drive quickly.

 

[Saregon]

4WD: Land Rover Discovery (Diesel, and make sure you have the service history and it's good nick)
Sporty: MX-5
Sedan: Mazda 6?
Hatchback: Nissan Tida or Holden Astra
Fun/everything: An ol' Toyota LandCruiser, (1960-1970s model)

All of the cars in the poll can be had for under $20k, which is about my limit.

Not sure of prices in NA, but I would agree with him about the MX-5, it's a damn good, and very fun car, and it's not untolerably expensive even in Norway, where they jack the prices like crazy if it's anything but a fully electric citycar (and even then they put on a bunch of extra fees). Also, in the hatchback department I can highly recommend a Mazda 3, it's a great looking thing, it's very safe, gets good mileage, and if you get the right setup, pretty sporty too. Also, this might be a bit expensive, it is here anyway, but a Volvo C30 T5 R-Design, now that's a great little car!

 

[Colour Scientist]

First of all, jealous.

Second of all, I want to say Fiesta just because it was the first car my Mom got when I was a kid and I fucking loved that car. I even got her to put a paint blob sticker on the side, it was awesomely 90s.

In all seriousness though, you should get one of these.

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