I know this topic comes up every few years -- but now I need to know and I thought I'd solicit thoughts in 2021.
My child now requires something much newer than her 08 Golf. 2015+ is the target, and it must have a manual (my rule -- harder to hold a phone). She seems to be enamored with Elantras.
My top three: Mazda3, Corolla, Civic. I think a Rio/Accent/Elantra may be worth a look. She is not interested in a Micra (I don't think you guys get those in the States) or a Yaris. I'd also look at a Focus -- the manual cars are cheap because of the reputation of the "dsg" cars.
Am I missing anything?
Shopping for a recent, manual trans car will have you choosing from what little is available. I recommend that you sort you favorite used car classifieds to only show you manual trans cars in your year range. Maybe put in a price range too. The results wont be many. From there, choose the best of what it shows you.
I think you have it covered. The Elantra is pretty cool. Mazda3 is my favorite.
Any of the cars on your list are likely to server her well. I'd get the nicest one you can afford.
Elantras have been good to my family. Good less expensive options that all have lasted 5-10 years with minimum servicing.
If she likes it, I wouldn't steer her away from that option.
Kia Soul is another option.
Why isn't the VW adequate?
Having recently taken a 2018 Elantra through some mountain roads, they drive remarkably well. Also I REALLY like the 2015+ civic coupe. I'd imagine the Hyundai would save a few bucks.
pres589 (djronnebaum) said:
Kia Soul is another option.
And a great one at that. Not sure the budget, but the current one in white looks like a storm trooper. I want one.
The 2nd gen soul drives pretty well. Friend of mine has one and has been very happy with it.
From your list I'm partial to the Mazda 3 just from my mom owning one for 100k. It's been a great car.
I like the 08 Golf best though unless there's something wrong with it.
In reply to ZOO (Forum Supporter) :
Is cruise control (CC) important to you? I ask because many modern, non sporty cars with manual trans are the loss leader models and as such are discontented. It is very often that they do not have CC and CC was not even offered as an option at that trim level.
Just be sure to verify the presence of CC if that is important to you.
I wrote above to sort classified for manual trans only but I should also add to then be sure to verify via pictures that the car is actually a manual trans. I swear that some people think that any console mounted trans where you have to manually move the lever to choose D is a manual trans.
Appleseed said:
Why isn't the VW adequate?
Just wild speculation on my part...
Sure, every kid should be grateful but perception and peer pressure can be real.
Perception: Most kids don't want a first car that is pre-historic. Meaning, not a car from "before the beginning of time." The problem here is at age 16 the beginning of time (their own time) was not that long ago. Further, its not until about age 6 that you really become aware of the world. This can then give the 16 yr old a skewed perception that a 10 year old car is prehistoric.
In the scenario above we have an 18yr old who might be seeing a 13 year old car as being from another era...not her own era.
Even as we age, and myself now 50's, I have little interest in owning cars older than myself. The car collector world is largely a function of what 50-70 year olds wanted when they were 20.
In reply to John Welsh :
As a 23 year old I'll agree. I had a perfectly fine (other than going through 1 qt oil/1000 miles) 2002 RSX Type S that if I had taken the time to overhaul the bushings on would have kept going.
Instead I bought a 2020 WRX in late 2019 because I wanted something newer and "more reliable", and I sold the RSX Type S.
Now I'm looking at trading it in for a Veloster N, although that does little to support your hypothesis.
Regardless, that's a very real thing that I can attest to.
With a manual, definitely put the 2012+ Focus on the list.
Under the skin it shares a lot with the Mazda 3/5 but seems to be more durable. Especially in terms of rust resistance.
We have one of each in our driveway and I’ve spent a bit of time underneath both.
Every time I think "maybe I should see about trading in the SX4 and look at a Mazda3 hatch" I remember Mazda's goofball radio user interface and how getting something decent swapped in seems impossible. And the poor rearward visibility. And that's about where it ends for me. I should love that car instead it's just got a few glaring issues that turn me off.
The issue with the Golf is that it was a POS when she bought it. But she wouldn't listen to reason from her father. You know, a genuine car guy who loves her . . . If you have a 17 year old daughter you know what I mean.
She seems more interested in listening now.
Same vote of confidence in a Rio5 or Accent hatch?
lnlds
Reader
7/15/21 2:49 p.m.
Honda fit might also be worthwhile
Accent and especially Rio might be hard to find with a manual and equipment we usually consider standard lately. Honda Fit seems like a good car.
I am a huge advocate of AWD cars for youth and A to B drivers up here in NH. So much better in poor weather.
OK.....ZOO is in Ontario where the percentage of the market taken by small cars is higher than in 'Murica. The Honda Civic has been a perennial sales leader forever. Hyundais and Kias are slightly better equipped there vs here, too. I would think the percentage of manual transmission vehicles is also higher. While I have no personal experience with the Korean twins one of my sons does, and he's a repeat customer as the first one gave him no issues in his 9 years of ownership (from new). I have other friends who have had similar good service from a couple of Kia Souls, so I wouldn't hesitate to jump on the Kia/Hyundai band wagon. A Civic, Fit or Corolla would be even easier to recommend.
If she's interested in the Elantra, also consider it's brother, the Forte.
I was initially interested in an Elantra but ended up with a Forte because it had the 1.6T that I realized was the engine I really wanted. On the Koreans, do your homework. They had a number of years with engine problems, but it's well publicized and easy to find out which ones.
You will find a lot with manual trans used in Ontario. I was surprised at just how many there were.
Rons
HalfDork
7/15/21 8:06 p.m.
There’s also the possibility of a fly and drive to BC. A quick Craigslist search 2015+, $2000 - $20000, manual trans, 480 hits with approximately 75% reliability.
In reply to ZOO (Forum Supporter) :
I’ll throw a vote in on consideration of a manual Focus. We’ve currently got an 06 ZX3 (auto) and a ‘17 6 speed stick in the herd. The ‘17 replaced an ‘08 5 speed 2 door that was traded back in January with 150K at the time. The 2.0 cars (06 &08 ) were / are reliable appliances if nothing special. If you can find a fairly clean one with 100-120K you can expect another 80 to 100K easy with regular maintenance.
I have to say I really like driving my daughters ‘17. It has the 1.0 / 3 cylinder Ecoboost so not a speed demon off the line but it’s a hoot to drive on a windy road. Plenty fast once it’s rolling, no issue keeping up on the highway and 40 MPG is achievable. She really likes it and it does have all the hands free phone syncing stuff, back up camera and so on.
The 06 will always be the sentimental favorite though. That little E36 M3 box has been across the country and back twice now with my son and is living it’s best life in a 15 years old / 172K everything still works, haven’t rusted into oblivion like most of its relatives kind of way. Best $2,900 bucks we’ve ever spent!
