Small cars

[redkow97]

I parked my corolla next to the wife's 7-passenger mid-sized SUV yesterday, and they're about the same length. WTF?  Trunks add a lot of length!

I'm thinking my next car might be a hatchback instead.  This is mostly because I want the additional garage space associated with the smaller vehicle.

for reference the corolla is 178″ L x 67″ W x 58″ H

a Honda Fit is 162″ L x 67″ W x 60″ H

16" shorter is a LOT of space when you're looking to park a motorcycle in front of your car, or even just more standing space at the work bench. 

I do not NEED 4 doors.  I mean, I do, but I won't by the time I replace the corolla. (I figure I only need 4 doors while my kids need to be put in the car.  My 2.5 yr old can already climb into her seat on her own - i just buckle her in.  99% of the time, it's just me in my car.)  I would prefer a manual transmission, and I need something that can pull 1,000 lbs every so often.

 

Other than the aforementioned Honda Fit, what vehicles should be up for consideration? Mini Cooper? Chevy Sonic?

[TimTheAzn]

Have you owned a coupe before? I've never seen any of my friends go from a coupe, to a 4 door, and back to a coupe (as their only car). Those 2 extra doors are just that more convenient. I'm a sedan/ wagon guy myself.

A4 Avant (Wagon)

CTS-V Wagon 

EG Hatch (Hatchback, cheap and cheap to fix, but old.)

Beetle (Gay but its wheelbase is pretty short!)

GTI/ Golf (This is a serious suggestion, comes in 4 and 2 doors)

Veloster 

Focus ST

Fiesta

Mazda 3 5-door

Kia Forte

Fiat 500

 

[redkow97]

I have owned a coupe, but not with kids.

...but the kids are almost never in my car.  one of them has never been in my car.  Granted, she's not 7 weeks old yet, but we don't even have a carseat base for her in my car.  The idea would be that I wouldn't get this car until both kids are in booster seats. 

I should have mentioned the Volkswagen Golf/GTI/Rabbit.   Those seem to be good, well-priced options, with a lot of manual transmission examples on the used market.

[redkow97]

The fiesta is 160"

Rabbit is 166"

[TimTheAzn]

Ah sorry, didnt look into actual dimensions just rattled some off the top of my head.

Yea it's hard to beat the golf/gti/rabbits right now for bang for buck.

[Ghostryder1krr]

Came really close to buying a golf gti they are so much fun to drive around in and quite roomy in the four doors. I rented one on a trip and love every second driving it.


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[zx3vfr]

Fuck hybrids. 2015 focus se 1.0 ecoboost 6 speed manual with a real clutch. 

Edited October 17, 2016 by zx3vfr

[Bubba]

@redkow97 I would advise staying far away from the Mini.  They have an absolutely miserable reputation for quality.  A blast to drive, tho, when shit isn't going wrong...

[redkow97]

27 minutes ago, Ghostryder1krr said:

Came really close to buying a golf gti they are so much fun to drive around in and quite roomy in the four doors. I rented one on a trip and love every second driving it.


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My brother has a GTI.  I found a couple within budget.   The problem I have with it is that the turbo and bigger wheels/tires add more expense than I can rationalize.  I drive 25,000 miles a year just commuting.  "fun to drive" is on my radar, but far below fuel economy and cheap tires.  My last set for the corolla was $240 installed.  On a GTI, I would probably need snow tires, and i would be replacing stock rubber yearly, to the tune of $900 or more...  Not worth it.

If safety were not a concern, I would look at early 90's civics...

[redkow97]

58 minutes ago, zx3vfr said:

Fuck hybrids. 2015 focus se 1.0 ecoboost 6 speed manual with a real clutch.

Now we're talking.  I actually know an OMRL guy who has that engine/transmission combo in his Focus.  He is hoping it will tow a 4x8 trailer without being in the boost constantly.  If that works out for him, that will be a hard act to top.

Is yours 4-door or 5-door hatch? Do they even make a 3-door anymore?

[Wandering Soul]

1 hour ago, redkow97 said:

If safety were not a concern, I would look at early 90's civics...

Not everybody's first choice, but my youngest has a '98 Civic 2 door, standard shift with air.  Thing gets 30+ mpg, he does the maintenance and small repairs himself, and it's never left him sitting.  Based on his car I'd buy a newer one in a heartbeat if I wasn't a truck guy.  But with your space yeah, I can see where that might not work.

[TimTheAzn]

2 hours ago, redkow97 said:

If safety were not a concern, I would look at early 90's civics...

I mean 90's honda's werent like the escorts that would light like a match if they got hit in the rear.

90's Honda's are probably some of the most reliable/ cheap to maintain out of anything out there.

[zx3vfr]

2 hours ago, redkow97 said:

Now we're talking.  I actually know an OMRL guy who has that engine/transmission combo in his Focus.  He is hoping it will tow a 4x8 trailer without being in the boost constantly.  If that works out for him, that will be a hard act to top.

Is yours 4-door or 5-door hatch? Do they even make a 3-door anymore?

5 door. Trunks on sedans are jokes. 

Rated for 1000# but towing not recommends. 

 

Theres Ed a guy on FF from Sweden that has a 1.0 station wagon and tows a BMW couch with it. 

[jschaf]

At 25k a year I'd go the cheap route with a Fit or similar.  At 10k a year in the car I'm replacing my 05 Altima with a new GTI or WRX next year. I can relate to the garage space issue there though.

[redkow97]

19 hours ago, zx3vfr said:

5 door. Trunks on sedans are jokes. 

Rated for 1000# but towing not recommends. 

 

Theres Ed a guy on FF from Sweden that has a 1.0 station wagon and tows a BMW couch with it. 

Realistically, the 1,000 lbs. is plenty, and the ratings are usually brake limited.  Especially with a manual transmission, I'm not too worried about a failure.  If i burn up a clutch, I can fix that.  I think.  YouTube can teach me to fix that.

My towing is typically a 260 lbs. trailer, plus 80 lbs of treated wooden decking, plus a dirt bike and some "stuff," or plus 2 dirt bikes.  I figure the bikes weigh 150/each, but I could round to 200 to be super conservative on my total trailer weight.  I think it's doubtful that my cooler and canopy weigh as much as one bike.  So that's 400 in cargo, plus 350 in trailer weight.  750 lbs. or less when absolutely fully loaded.  If i were to add a third bike on the trailer, I'd also have one or both kids with me, and then just take the SUV rated for 5,000 lbs. towing.  (I don't take that regularly, because it's my wife's car, and she prefers to have the additional space with both kids and both dogs.  That concern goes away when I take the kids.)

Honestly, a fiesta might be a better size for the garage, but if the focus will get that kind of gas mileage, I will have to consider it.

[redkow97]

19 hours ago, TimTheAzn said:

I mean 90's honda's werent like the escorts that would light like a match if they got hit in the rear.

90's Honda's are probably some of the most reliable/ cheap to maintain out of anything out there.

I'll look at them, but the wife doesn't like my 2003 corolla.  She wants remote door ocks. I want power windows (in a 4-door anyway) and cruise control.  Anything I own must also have AC.  Beyond that, I want a comfortable seat and a radio...  Maybe late 90's civic 4-door fits the bill better.

If the Elio (or something similar) ever pans out, I would honestly be all over something like that, and then buy a beater S10 or Ranger in addition.  I really think Elio has done a good job of introducing Americans to the IDEA of 2-seat 3-wheeled vehicles, and paving the way for some models already in production in India, and other parts of the world.  That, and I think they're really on to something with the iPad interface.  The notion of having a built-in docking point for your tablet, and then having an app that acts as a gauge cluster, navigation, etc. is a great way for them to cut costs, while still "providing" technology.

[RidersDiscount]

22 hours ago, Bubba said:

@redkow97 I would advise staying far away from the Mini.  They have an absolutely miserable reputation for quality.  A blast to drive, tho, when shit isn't going wrong...

Yep, TJ had one here a while back and literately wanted to drive the thing off a cliff.  I got the wife a 2016 Civic, not sure about the dimensions but it has been a great car and amazing mileage with the CVT transmission.

Edited October 18, 2016 by RidersDiscount

[redkow97]

CVT transmission won't like towing.  I think I'm better off with older civics.  Like mid 2000's.  buy one with 100k on it, and just plan to put 300k on it.

[TimTheAzn]

I've got 270k on my 98 accord and she still gets me from a to b every day.

[redkow97]

1 hour ago, TimTheAzn said:

I've got 270k on my 98 accord and she still gets me from a to b every day.

Exactly.  I'm counting on my car (146k) to last me another 100,000 miles, and would like to push it to 300k if it's economically intelligent to do so.

At that point, i have to buy something that is low mileage/reliable enough I can drive it for a minimum of 4 years, and hopefully nice enough that I'm more inclined to keep it for 6 or 8 years.

Fuel economy is important, but with teh cost of the vehicle being so low, I won't have a payment, and economy is more of a bonus...  Towing the trailer 10 times a year for a few hundred miles at a time is pretty necessary though.  In that respect, the economy is important.  When I went to Herrin's in February, I was getting 17-18 mpg towing.  The Corolla (granted, I've never subjected it to anything like the hills associated with the GA trip) pretty much stays at 34 mpg while towing.  I drive slower because I'm towing, and the next loss in economy is almost negligible. I think it would push or exceed 30 mpg on the same trip.  It's the automatic transmission I worry about.  I'll install a trans cooler before I make that trip again... The trick is finding a place to put the damn thing. 

[TimTheAzn]

Just now, redkow97 said:

Exactly.  I'm counting on my car (146k) to last me another 100,000 miles, and would like to push it to 300k if it's economically intelligent to do so.

At that point, i have to buy something that is low mileage/reliable enough I can drive it for a minimum of 4 years, and hopefully nice enough that I'm more inclined to keep it for 6 or 8 years.

Fuel economy is important, but with teh cost of the vehicle being so low, I won't have a payment, and economy is more of a bonus...  Towing the trailer 10 times a year for a few hundred miles at a time is pretty necessary though.  In that respect, the economy is important.  When I went to Herrin's in February, I was getting 17-18 mpg towing.  The Corolla (granted, I've never subjected it to anything like the hills associated with the GA trip) pretty much stays at 34 mpg while towing.  I drive slower because I'm towing, and the next loss in economy is almost negligible. I think it would push or exceed 30 mpg on the same trip.  It's the automatic transmission I worry about.  I'll install a trans cooler before I make that trip again... The trick is finding a place to put the damn thing. 

Yea, I was almost at that point about a year ago when I replaced all the brakes and front suspension on it. The $1200 or so I spent on it was less than a car payment over the next year or even few years so I decided to put that money into it. Other than that I replaced an axel at the beginning of this summer as it took a dump on me right before it snowed last year (had to drive the m5 all winter ).  I really only drive it to work and back and my commute isnt that long, but I feel it really isnt worth the hassle of selling it.

As for towing, I bought a ford explorer (was about to sign the dotted line on a new tacoma). Throw gas mileage out the window with that thing, but it is comfy to drive and tows my trailer well. It also kept me out of vehicle payments so that = more track time.

[redkow97]

I just put about $1,000 into a complete brake overhaul, but that's the kind of shit I expect at 140,000 miles.  I would have been a little upset, and the timing kind of sucked with my wife going on (unpaid) maternity leave the month after we had the work done, but 1) the brakes definitely needed it, and work a TON better now, 2) that $1k is only 2-3 months of what a payment would cost, and 3) I'm definitely keeping the car long enough to get my money's worth out of the new brakes.

I don't have an M5 in the garage for non-commuting duties, but I also don't think I'd drive one if I did.  More money for bikes and guns (in theory...)

[mello dude]

I'm def a cheap car addict. I am on my 3rd older Honda Accord that I bought with 91K miles($2000) , and now it has 160k, & will run it to 230 ish.... Its kinda formula now, buy at 90,000ish miles, sell at over 200k.  - Agreed more money for bikes.... Only have 2 bikes now, but for a while I had $30k worth of bikes and a $3000 car..... 

[Wandering Soul]

Wait.  Somebody tossed up a Ford Focus.  With all due respect (and sympathy) to whoever owns one, those things are trash.  My daughter brought one for her and the kids.  So far it's ate the brakes (including calipers and rotors) in less than 50,000 miles.  Twice.  Cost her a small fortune in A/C repairs, power window repairs, and lord knows what else she's embarrassed to tell me about.  She is hard on a car, but her junk-assed 80 something Honda looked gold compared to Ford's Fucus.  (not a typo, my term for it).

I help out with oil changes, belt replacement and other small items, but I'd rather own a Yugo.

[zx3vfr]

22 hours ago, Wandering Soul said:

Wait.  Somebody tossed up a Ford Focus.  With all due respect (and sympathy) to whoever owns one, those things are trash.  My daughter brought one for her and the kids.  So far it's ate the brakes (including calipers and rotors) in less than 50,000 miles.  Twice.  Cost her a small fortune in A/C repairs, power window repairs, and lord knows what else she's embarrassed to tell me about.  She is hard on a car, but her junk-assed 80 something Honda looked gold compared to Ford's Fucus.  (not a typo, my term for it).

I help out with oil changes, belt replacement and other small items, but I'd rather own a Yugo.

What year? And why do only women have problems with cars. My last one finally met its death in a flood with 180k on the ticket. Only 2 brake jobs 3 sets of tires and 1 clutch.