Buying new Daily Driver

[gorillamel]

So my 1999 Olds Alero is beginning to do the downward spiral of becoming a money pit with all the repairs and quirks of it piling up. Rather than continuously put money in to fixing it and not be fully satisfied with it nor trusting it to get me from Point A to Point B, I am planning to trade it in for a new daily driver.

I have narrowed down my search to the following vehicles:

• FIAT 500 POP
• Dodge Dart
• Scion iQ (used one)
• Chevy Sonic
• Chevy Spark (if I can find one)
• Ford Fiesta (used one)
• VW Golf (trying out a '06 GTI, too --> overpriced?)

My goal is to have a tiny gas efficient vehicle. I prefer 2 doors and could care less about passenger room. My shopping criteria:

1. Stay in budget (absolutely no more than $13k--> have to finance)
2. Gas mileage
3. Comfort for me/driver (do not give a **** about passenger comforts)
3. High safety ratings
4. Cool factor
5. Must be blue in color

I've researched the crap out of all the models listed above and will probably have to get a used model. I was wondering if anyone has had experience with any of those models and what the pros/cons of them were?

 

[AZhiAZiAM]

i've driven a ford fiesta from what they are it was fairly fun to drive. it was the two door hatch. inside was just like any other newer car what you needed inside with nothing super fancy, looked clean. im 5'11 and there was a decent amount of room for me driving it and it was a manual.

 

[gorillamel]

I am embarassed to admit- my manual driving skills are very sub-par. Almost to the point that I feel I should get an auto, haha.

The Fiesta and Sonic had the best crash safety ratings, but the FIAT comes with the most amenities for the price. Meh. Guess I'll find out when I test drive them all and see how they do on and off road (potholey dirt, tehehe).

 

[Jack Stilts]

I have driven quite a few Fiestas, and they're good and bad. Based on your criteria, it might be a decent choice.

1. Stay in budget - I found this 2012 model for $11.6K:

http://crest-ford.com/Vehicle.aspx?v=1&vin=3FADP4CJ6CM106064&p=3&k=&d=&r=&ph=10


2. Gas mileage - pretty good. Rated better than it actually is, but that's the case with every car. REAL numbers are about 29 city / 37 highway.

3. Comfort for me/driver - Depends on your physical attributes, to be blunt. For example, I'm a tall & skinny dude (think Jack Skellington). It's fine for me width-wise and all, but because my legs are ten feet long, I have to push the seat all the way back and low-ride a little. It's not uncomfortable, just takes getting used to. I'm sure a shorter, normal-sized human being would be fine. The backseat is near unusable unless your backseat passenger is a cat.

3. High safety ratings - Can't speak to this, but I know they're decent.

4. Cool factor - Depends on which kind you get. I like the 5-door (hatchback) a lot more.

5. Must be blue in color - Start looking now


*Note - Do NOT get a 2011 model, unless there has been extensive work done by a dealership. Being the first of its kind in 2011, it will be prone to issues that were fixed on the 2012 - 2013 models.

 

[Rammer'sX]

I would go for the fiesta or spark, Ive heard bad things about fiats... VW gti are very cool looking, and comfy, but the gas mileage isnt that great... I used to have a VW golf 2001

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

 

[gamecock257]

A GTI would definitely be the most fun. I've ridden in a 06 I think and I really liked it.

But if gas mileage is your main concern I probably would get one of your other choices. I vote Fiesta, they look cool and would probably be fun to drive for what they are.

 

[gorillamel]

So far I test drove the Sonic and Fiesta. Both are fun but the leg room is more narrow in the Fiesta. My knee was resting on the arm holder thing on the door, which was rather uncomfortable.

I agree on the GTI- definitely has cool factor and is in my price range but I also feel that $11,900 is a lot for a car w/ 91k mi on it (and worse gas mileage). Too bad I cannot afford a TDI.

I researched the bejesus out of the safety ratings on all the cars. Interestingly FIAT is the only one w/ disc brakes all around (vs. Drum rears).

I wish there was a bigger market for small 2-door cars out there.

Sent from my PantechP8000 using Tapatalk 2

 

[TheFauxFox]

[video=youtube;TdXzqwaUSho]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdXzqwaUSho[/video]
[video=youtube;7e7R3y-qwZ0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e7R3y-qwZ0[/video]
http://vimeo.com/2636777

 

[AZhiAZiAM]

i love those top gear guys.

 

[civicjoe]

buy this!!

 

[civicjoe]

Or this

 

[ThePlasticOne]

If you get a Golf, put X wheels on it!

 

[gamecock257]

I had no idea any of those would have drum rear. Actually I'm surprised that any new car had drums

 

[gorillamel]

My gobble Joe, those cars had 2C plates. That explains it all!

Agreed, most do have drum rears. Weird, huh?

Well, tried out a few vehicles today and here is my newly updated list:

1. Chevy Sonic: very comfortable to ride in, dash/console pleasing to look at and use
2. Hyundai Veloster: too expensive, but I got them to come WAY down in their price point for leasing options

No longer on list:
1. Scion iQ: felt and rode cheap, giant blind spots
2. Ford Fiesta: not meant for people with bulky legs, dash not pleasing to look at or easy to use
3. Chevy Spark: they simply do not sell them around here

Yet to drive:

• FIAT 500
• Dodge Dart
• Kia Rio
• Hyundai Accent
• VW GTI (used)

May also possibly look at a MINI. Only downside is that nearest certified dealer/mechanic is in Portland (7h away) or SLC (5h away). Gotta do some looking around here for someone that knows their MINI shiznits before jumping the gun on that one.

 

[NMTerras]

You might be surprised with the kia rio. Great warranty too


Sent from my brain using technology

 

[Rammer'sX]

I have a 2005 Mini (the non-SC model). Let me tell you, out of all of the options you listed, this is the best one. Extremely fun to drive, very good gas mileage, very cool looking. Differently to what most of the people have to say about it, for us it has been a very, very reliable car. Purchased used in November 2006 with 14k miles. Today is at 129k miles. So far the only things we have replaced/updated are
front hub bearings (both)
clutch at 80k miles
battery at 90k miles

My wife and I will replace this Mini once it dies with another Mini, we are looking into the ALL4 Mini Countryman.. before you take any decisions, make sure that you drive a Mini, YOU WILL LIKE IT!

 

[xterror04]

Most BMW dealers are certified to work on mini's and they are very fun to drive

 

[gorillamel]

Well, I ended up with this:

2013 FIAT 500 Sport (only 99mi on it when I got it and it's blue!!!)

Truthfully, it was the one vehicle I was most looking forward to driving and ended up being the one I enjoyed the most. I took it "off road" on a horribly wash-boarded road heading toward the mountains and it performed better than the X (gotta test out that suspension).

So far, I'm pretty happy with my purchase/lease decision.

 

[gorillamel]

Oh man, and now I found the FIAT 500 forum: 500madness *giggles*