In reply to AWSX1686 :
Cool car. Again, I just get a bad feeling about a BMW for this particular application.
In reply to AWSX1686 :
Cool car. Again, I just get a bad feeling about a BMW for this particular application.
Does anyone know anything about Nissan Leafs? There are a lot of them with super low miles going for less than 7k around here. Do they need a new hybrid battery or something?
If we're edging closer to pure reliability over fun factor, I'll change my BMW idea to a Toyota Matrix XRS/Pontiac Vibe GT.
Extremely good MPG, Toyota reliability (think Corolla hatch), can find a Matrix/Vibe everywhere for cheap, cheap insurance, and has a 6 speed option.
If you get a base auto, just stay away from the Rockies. They hate steep inclines.
The SVT Focus is a sweet little hot hatch and they are roomy inside too but they’re getting old. I think it would be hard to find one that didn’t need some work.
I also never liked the gearing and seating position but that’s just my opinion.
I would love our 2012 Focus if it had the six speed manual instead of the dual clutch auto. That’s in your budget but manual trans. 3rd gen. Foci seem hard to find.
Yeah, it's hard to find a Focus with a manual trans. Heck, it's hard to find most of these with a Manual Trans.
Has anyone drove the XRS, Mz3, Mz2, Mz6, and (any) Focus and comment about each driving experience? I know the 3 and 6 win on interior looks/quality, but I'm wondering about the driver controls/feedback of each.
CyberEric said:Does anyone know anything about Nissan Leafs? There are a lot of them with super low miles going for less than 7k around here. Do they need a new hybrid battery or something?
A few of us have owned them. They're fantastic cars if you can live with the range, and there is certainly not a better deal on the used market for a daily driver than a low-miles electric car. I recommend getting a 2013 or newer, unless you can find an '11 or '12 with a replaced battery. Battery chemistry was vastly improved in 2013, mine didn't even lose 5% capacity in 4 years and 36k miles.
I drove mine for 4 years and just sold it. Selling it was a mistake.
In the past 7 years I dailied a miata, a 2.7i e30, then a 3.5 m30 swapped e30, before my wife and I had our first child this year. I sold 1 e30 and bought a '12 focus see manual for my wife, and then started looking through the same list of reliable, reasonably priced daily drivers for myself. I stumbled across a matrix xrs with a completely worn out clutch that I picked up for $1200. A clutch kit and some needed maintenance parts (ball joints, wheel bearings, brakes, etc) cost me another five or six hundred and a few weekends of my time. After that it is a nice, comfortable, efficient car, and the 8250 redline makes it a blast to hammer on.
I added Koni's and tein lowering springs to make it handle a bit better while still being comfortable enough to daily. I autocrossed it a few times, and while it has some flaws that keep it from being truly competitive, it's competent enough to beat some of the competition in stf.
The hatch swallows cargo, and the seats fold flat. Parts are cheap and readily available, and it's comfortable and safe enough to drive my family around in, which I can't say for the e30 it replaced.
An 03 is the best year in terms of stock engine tune. The rpm where lift engages gets higher each year, meaning you spend more time out of the peak range with every shift. 05 and layer can be flashes with custom tunes, however, of you choose to go that route.
The aftermarket is nearly non-existent for the car. Koni's aren't even listed for it, but they are the same struts as the corla counterpoint, so the Corolla part number is compatible. Basically, the only aftermarket that exists is parts that are cross compatible with other models (Celica/Corolla/TC).
In reply to AWSX1686 :
Nice, is that a ZHP? I think I was checking out that very car on Craigslist this morning.
I own a MS3 and an 08 focus (auto) and have driven a Mazda 6 (first gen and the latest)
Ill start with the focus. It's an SE with an auto so it's pretty boring. The SE has a soft suspension so the car rolls a lot and there isn't that much power. The interior has held up well and the car has been hilariously reliable. It's needed only tires brakes oil, struts and strut mounts, and an axle in 130k miles of neglect. It needs motor mounts too. One day. It's reliable and will eat up the potholes in SF no problem. Mileage is good too. But it's boring.
The Mazda 6 was my friends and it's been a few years but I remember liking it quite a bit. His was an auto but it wasn't soul sucking with the V6. It was lowered on Eibachs and I thought it rode really nicely. The interior is probably the best of the 3 I'm talking about. He had some weird issues that were never resolved and ended up selling the car.
My speed is not close enough to a 3 to comment on most things. The interior is pretty decent but not luxurious. It's holding up well and doesn't have too many rattles. The shifter is meh. Coming from BMW land you might be disappointed. The hatch is endlessly useful. Mileage isn't great for what the car is but it makes up for it by being reliable.
Furious_E said:In reply to AWSX1686 :
Nice, is that a ZHP? I think I was checking out that very car on Craigslist this morning.
It is! :) I test drove it Tuesday evening. It has some cosmetic body damage on the rear fender wells, but not too too bad. It drives beautifully, and also has the M3 LSD rear end swapped in.
Thanks for the insight guys!
The more I look, it's so hard to find a manual in most of these cars, it's probably going to come down to whatever I can get first.
I was looking for the last year with a similar "wish list". I ended up having an 09 Yaris dropped in my lap for a price I couldn't turn down. Mine isn't a hatch, but overall hatches seem to outnumber sedans. More complete info here: Yaris thread . . .
You know, as of today I've been eyeing your Yaris thread actually, thank you. I want to test drive one too, but they didn't make the hatches in a four door, so it's not a great bet for me.
Did you drive any of these cars I'm considering? How does the Yaris compare?
In the US the Yaris was offered in a 4 door hatch. Not in the first years but certainly in the later (newer) years.
In reply to clutchsmoke :
The Fiesta is the same only with more power. Some say nicer too. Available in manual.
In reply to John Welsh :
I thought those would be too new, and thus too expensive, but they are getting close. I'll keep an eye out for them. Thanks!
CyberEric said:You know, as of today I've been eyeing your Yaris thread actually, thank you. I want to test drive one too, but they didn't make the hatches in a four door, so it's not a great bet for me.
Did you drive any of these cars I'm considering? How does the Yaris compare?
Quite a few of them, actually. Let's see . . . I own a Protege5. They are great cars. I handed mine down to my son. Very practical cars, but still drives like a Mazda. Two primary hitches are rust and the fact that Mazda3's are creeping down into the same price range and are a better car all around. I drove quite a few Fits, as that's what I was actually looking for when I stumbled on the Yaris. Love the first gen Fit, didn't care for the second gen. The major con on Fits are, locally at least, they are significantly overpriced for what they are. They also aren't a great highway cruiser. Great mileage, but they are working way too hard at highway speeds. They are a total hoot in traffic though and surprisingly roomy inside. I've looked for Focus ST's, but most around here have been poorly modified and have significant rust issues, so much so that I never found one worth going to look at. I've only done a short test drive in a Mazda2.
So, how do they compare to the Yaris? The Protege5 is a better highway cruiser (although slightly loud inside), Mazda3 is slightly better yet in every way. Unfortunately, most budget 3's in my locality are missing significant portions of the wheel arches (BTW - not sure if it was on your list, but we also own a Mazda5, which is 90% of the handling of a 3 with the utility of a small van.) The Fit is a better "around town" car. Just a lot of fun to drive. Reminds me a lot of my 93 Civic Hatch, which is a good thing. On the highway . . . not so much. The Yaris is kind of plopped squarely in the middle of all of them. It's not quite as fun and lively as the Fit around town, but is better on the highway. Yaris's (Yari?) also seem to be available at a lower price point. (I paid $3600 for mine, which is a 09 with 60K on the clock) This would be my matrix: If rust is a non-issue near you, I'd go with a Protege5 or Mazda3 (2.3 or 2.5 liter if you can get it). If you don't do much highway driving and don't mind spending a bit more money, I'd buy a Fit. If you need a "do it all" car, a Yaris is a great choice. Also, can't really advise on the Mazda2 because I didn't fit in it. The one I drove seemed fun and lively, perhaps even more so than the Fit, but I'm 6'2" and just couldn't get comfortable in it. Also can't really compare to a Focus ST since I never found a non "clapped out" example. Don't think I've ever seen a Craigslist add for one that doesn't end with "Just needs XXXXX to be a great car". That may say more about the typical owner than the vehicle.
EDIT: Fiesta might also be an interesting choice. The only one I've ever driven was an ST, which was a FANTASTIC car, but obviously not currently in your target price range. I'm hoping they depreciate quickly.
In reply to kazoospec :
Thanks a bunch for the detailed rundown. I can find 3s without rust here (N. Calif) so it seems like they are the way to go. I want something that is comfy on the highway, as I make a 100 mile round trip a few times per week. That, along with the high prices, seems to negate the Fit. I also don't like the a-pillars in the Fit, seemed to really obstruct my view.
I haven't seen a good Focus ST either.
The mazda5 sounds great, but I don't really need the space right now, so I might as well go for a 3.
I am looking for Fiestas too... I just don't know why I'd buy one over a 2 if it's basically the same chassis and power output with 200 extra pounds and a Ford interior. Also, I just remembered the Fiesta was banned from autocross due to rollover risks. I think it would be nice to have the option of autocrossing whatever I end up with.
I need to drive one, a Yaris, and a 2 though before I decide though. I'm tall, same height as you so that may be a factor.
Thanks again.
Not sure if this has been mentioned or not but the 2012+ focus non-ST is an option too. Fuel efficient, "new", reasonably light, relatively powerful & respond nicely to intake/tune. I haven't driven one so can't comment about the ergos but many reviewers raved about the steering. It'll get better fuel econ than the 2.3 mazda and is 1.5 generations newer.
100 mile round trip a few times a week. Been there, done that, 5 days a week for 5 years. With a Hyundai Accent.
Skip the subcompacts (yaris, fit, etc) unless for some reason you want to drive something bare bones turning 3500 rpm on the highway. Get something the next class up and it will be a lot more comfortable at speed.
I went to a 2008 Mazda5 myself. Mine has its quirks but I honestly like driving it a lot more than my wifes 2014 Outback.
Do not under any circumstances buy a 2012+ ford DCT trans equipped compact car. Also been there, done that.... They are really great cars otherwise though, so get a manual.
In reply to JamesMcD :
You and your rare ass Mazdas lol.
In reply to boaty mcfailface :
Good to know, thank you! I'll check out those newer Focuses. Didn't know they were affordable.
Edit: I'm not seeing any in my area under $7k, but I'll keep looking.
Thanks for the suggestion Bobcourgarz, but I just can't buy a Kia... wish I could get over the name/image, but I can't.
Volvo V50 Wagons were available with manuals - rare but available.
The unicorn is a Volvo V50 T5 AWD with a stick. They are out there.
WRX hatches are nice. The downside to them are quite often the PO's. They are the current-day version of DSM's. Most of them are thrashed by people who don't understand that you can't mod them without tuning them.
Find one that has been owned by a responsible owner and maintain it well and you will do well. Also Saab 9-2X as pointed out by others. WRX inside.
In reply to CyberEric :
That's OK, I can't buy a Honda or Toyota. Mostly because I'm not going to overpay for crap.... but same idea. All about the name.
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