Save the stick

92dxman wrote: You guys forgot the Jeep Patriot, Compass and Renegade. They are all available with awd and stick shift.

I did forget the Patriot and Compass, it's true. That's because they are so forgettable! LOL

The Renegade doesn't seem to exist yet. I haven't seen a single one on the lots.

In reply to EvanR: They had one Renegade at the Philly car show last week. It was up on a platform, so no one could go inside of it, but all the doors were open. They said it shares a platform with one of the new FIATs. It looked just slightly bigger than a 500l. The Jeep rep said it should be out in late spring. They had no information about pricing , specs or options.

I got fired up when I realized that you can get a 6 with a stick. Seeing as how I live out in the boondocks good headlights are a must for me, you can only get the top kick headlights in the grand touring. I'm good with that, but you can't get a stick in the grand touring trim... Not so good with that. Oh well.. Didn't need to spend the money anyway.

Sometimes I think this forum will find a reason not to buy a new car no matter what the OEMs do. If Mazda only offered a stick in a high line trim everybody would complain because they wanted a simple car without heated radio knobs.

In reply to logdog:

Not it really. I'm getting older, and actually enjoy driving my mom's Ford 500, other than the auto so I expanded what I was looking at. I like the Fiesta ST, no projector or xenon lights though, looked at the Focus ST, like it. To get the TWO options I want, (Recaros and HIDs) it stickers out to 29k or so. so I looked around. The Mazda 3 and 6 both are set up the same and within 2-3k of each other. Ok.. I really would rather have a stick, the theory behind the focus is that it would be a quieter/smoother ride over the fiesta. Same with the 6 over the 3. VW and GM are the same way with their cars, you're in the top tier trim before you get the projector beam lights available to you.

So my options are to buy used so I can swap things around to get what I want without worrying about voiding the warranty, or find a vehicle that gives me what I want new. So after my wife finds a new job and we move I am very likely picking up a new extended cab Colorado/canyon, 4cyl 6spd, WITH HIDs. Just because when I come home to visit mom and dad, we've still got to deal with these backwoods roads.

Btw I keep our headlight lenses polished/cleaned and we run Silverstar Ultra bulbs in her S10. When the guy behind me lit up so much of the road I could shut MY headlights off, and not worry about seeing down the road, I realized that I wanted better headlights. Too many horror stories about "HID conversions" to go that route.

HappyAndy wrote: In reply to EvanR: They had one Renegade at the Philly car show last week. It was up on a platform, so no one could go inside of it, but all the doors were open. They said it shares a platform with one of the new FIATs. It looked just slightly bigger than a 500l. The Jeep rep said it should be out in late spring. They had no information about pricing , specs or options.

I sat in the Renegade at the Detroit show. I'm waiting to see and drive one once they hit the dealers. I liked the interior and the overall size of it. 4wd versions start at $21K

In reply to Spinout:

Ive driven the loaded 6 and I have to say that the auto is one of the better ones. Its not really quick to respond to manual shifts but in full auto its quite good. Im a huge fan of the stick but I would seriously consider getting the auto in that car so that I could have the goodies (HIDs that follow the road, sunroof, leather, etc...)