ARGH. I am greatly despising car shopping.

I just hate it. Everything is either too expensive, too far away, too far into the rust belt, sucks for the MPG's I need, automatic transmission garbage, or simply overpriced. And the list continues on and on and on....

I have simple requirements:

Manual trans, at minimum 27-30+ freeway mpg, and a sliding scale on the price depending on how old and what it is, I believe I can get the new CU I joined to finance some of it. 2dr vert, 4dr sedan, doesn't really matter, except for I don't drive imports besides certain Mazda's.

Argh.

so you've narrowed your choices down to what?

less than 20% of all vehicles by your choice in manufacturers.

take rate on manuals is around 7%

so you've already got it down to 14 cars out of every 1000. No wonder it's hard.

Wait... you can get domestic cars with manual transmissions?

I recommend counseling!

after my first post, I tried to think of cars that met this criteria.

I came up with

v6 camaro hhr caliber escape fusion focus

That's it.

anyone think of something I missed?

Chevy Cruze with the 1.4 and 6-speed. Then again I don't know your price range.

Swank Force One wrote: Wait... you can get domestic cars with manual transmissions?

There are rare, but there are a few. The previous thread about Fusions, they have one available. Even though it is a Diamond Star product underneath, a Dodge Stratus Coupe can be had with a manual. If you can live the ticking timebomb 2.7L inbetween the fenders, Sebring convertibles have manual transmissions available. Of course the old standby's, Camaro/Firebird, GTO's, and Mustangs.

So basically.... hoopties that MIGHT get your MPG requirements and have a high chance of blowing up, or lots of money for a newer car that will either be fun and impractical, or a mind-numbing appliance?

Honestly, i'm watching this thread anyways, as i'm about to go through the same thing for a manual cheap appliance to get 30mpg + for 25k miles a year.

nokincy wrote: Chevy Cruze with the 1.4 and 6-speed. Then again I don't know your price range.

Too much $/mo. A buddy of mine has one. Even after nearly 6k off, he is still $340/mo on 18k financed with an extended warranty because it was a first year car.

I looked at a Fiesta too, I don't like it. So, it's out.

Ranger50 wrote:

nokincy wrote: Chevy Cruze with the 1.4 and 6-speed. Then again I don't know your price range.

Too much $/mo. A buddy of mine has one. Even after nearly 6k off, he is still $340/mo on 18k financed with an extended warranty because it was a first year car. I looked at a Fiesta too, I don't like it. So, it's out.

5 year loan with a really E36 M3ty interest rate?

Nvm, sorry.... my mental math has failed me. That's about $2400 in interest over 5 years.... i guess that's not outright terrible?

Anyways, i'm pretty sure the answer is 1st gen Neon.

We got a '12 Cruze Eco for a little over 13k out the door. Try to find a used one? The Sonic can come with the same powertrain which is quite nice.

Focus (hatch, wagon, sedan, and coupe), Fusion/Milan, Taurus SHO, Escort/EXP/Lynx/Tracer/Tempo, and Mustang...

Cruze, Spark, Sonic, Cobalt/SSSC/SSTC/G5, HHR/SS, Cavalier, Aveo/G3, Regal/GS, CTSV (sedan, coupe, and wagon), ATS, GTO, and Firebird/Camaro...

Viper, Dart, Nitro, Caliber/SRT4, Neon/SRT4, Avenger, Wrangler, and Challenger...

Javelin wrote: Focus (hatch, wagon, sedan, and coupe), Fusion/Milan, Taurus SHO, Escort/EXP/Lynx/Tracer/Tempo, and Mustang...

Again back to the original post, overpriced, mpg failure, or automatics. Or in the case of the Mustang, sticking with the bleh/meh V6. Don't forget the Fiesta.

Javelin wrote: Cruze, Spark, Sonic, Cobalt/SSSC/SSTC/G5, HHR/SS, Cavalier, Aveo/G3, Regal/GS, CTSV (sedan, coupe, and wagon), ATS, GTO, and Firebird/Camaro...

Mostly out of my price range or they are automatics. The Cruze is as small as I can go. The Sonic/Spark/Aveo(Daweoo) are too small like the Fiesta.

Javelin wrote: Viper, Dart, Nitro, Caliber/SRT4, Neon/SRT4, Avenger, Wrangler, and Challenger...

Chrysler fails on MPG's on 90% of anything they produce. Caliber's were/are a stopgap piece of garbage after working on them. Dart's are nice, but that is what should have replaced the outgoing Neon instead of the Caliber.

My goal is something decent and cheap to get through one more year of nursing school and job travel, 180 miles round trip. My Dakota will probably get the ax, so I don't have to pay the stupid every year property tax due on it.

Others I was looking at is the Miata (Duh.) and 3-series Bimmers. I am not afraid to wrench.

In reply to Ranger50:

Since you seem to have failed to realize it, I was showing the domestic cars with available manual transmissions. Nothing on my list is slushbox.

I find it amazing that people consider the Mustang V6 a "meh" car. It already outperforms the old Foxbody 5.0

Javelin wrote: In reply to Ranger50: Since you seem to have failed to realize it, I was showing the domestic cars with available manual transmissions. Nothing on my list is slushbox.

Except for what is sitting for sale in the lots. They are all auto's. I was just bringing the reality back into it from my searching.

You did forget the Fiesta.

In reply to mad_machine:

The 2011+ 3.7L V6 outperforms the 05-09 4.6L V8 GT Mustangs. The old 5.0 got passed a long, long time ago.

mad_machine wrote: I find it amazing that people consider the Mustang V6 a "meh" car. It already outperforms the old Foxbody 5.0

I can run faster than this. Because evolution:

mad_machine wrote: I find it amazing that people consider the Mustang V6 a "meh" car. It already outperforms the old Foxbody 5.0

I have driven a Fox in 2.3 and 5.0 form, SN's in 5.0 version, and the Fox4's with a 3.8 and 4.6 2v. The newer you go the more refined it is and the experience is "meh", even while the stopwatch says something different. The reason the 5.0 Fox was so popular and is the benchmark is that it was loud, raw, and powerful. It's called torque, everything after the 5.0 got axed, lacks that fun part of driving a Mustang.

mad_machine wrote: I find it amazing that people consider the Mustang V6 a "meh" car. It already outperforms the old Foxbody 5.0

Mainly because of how amazing the current gen 5.0 is.

Decent and cheap? I'd say a used Chevy Prizm is just what you are looking for. Good MPG, domestic branding with Toyota parts.

Pontiac Vibe or Sonic, maybe?

In reply to Ranger50:

18 miles away there's a 05 Vibe GT for $8K

Not afraid to wrench? 100K mile Audi TT for $10K

Or how about a 08 Focus Coupe for $9500?

Small 2-door convertible you say? $12K for a nice Solstice

Too much $$$? How about an NB for $7K?

Here's another one for $8K

Need the roof? RX-8 for $8888

El Es Juan for under $5K

That other small 'vert for $9K

ZX# for $4777

You say you aren't afraid of Beamers? Man up to this 300K mile 323i for $3887

V6 Fusion for $7250

Ooooh! An 06 Miata in Green for $10,500

Very interesting choice, a Mazdaspeed Protege for $8K

Want RWD? Tree-Fiddy Zee for $12five

Mazdaspeed Miotter for $11K

Cobalt SS Coupe for $15K

Ranger50 wrote: I don't drive imports besides certain Mazda's.

Por que? Ruling out a lot of options there.

Javelin wrote: In reply to Ranger50: Too much $$$? How about an NB for $7K? Mazdaspeed Miotter for $11K

Same MS Meotter here: http://swv.craigslist.org/cto/3779786678.html Rather have an unmodified car, but not always possible.

The one for 7k, shows an accident on Carfax, but it was 90k ago. I'd say it is about a 5.5-6k car to me.