Car and Bike Talk Discussions and comparisons of cars and motorcycles of all makes and models.

compact cars

Thread Tools
 
Old 11-09-2012, 11:15 AM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
dyhppy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Santa Monica-SoCal
Posts: 5,749
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default compact cars

friend wants to buy a very small car, ok power, good mpg, reliable. sounds like a honda fit or kia rio to me, but would like to hear your ideas.

wish the fit had better mpg though

thanks
Old 11-09-2012, 11:20 AM
  #2  
Registered User

 
ElTianti's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Rome, GA
Posts: 2,997
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I kinda like the chevy sonic turbo.
Old 11-09-2012, 11:35 AM
  #3  

 
vader1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: MAHT-O-MEDI
Posts: 11,814
Received 423 Likes on 298 Posts
Default

New? When you say VERY small car, I think VERY small car. I like the Fiat 500.


My wife just bought a new Focus sedan and it aint big and I really like it, but for some reason she pines for the Mazda 3 she traded in.
Old 11-09-2012, 12:17 PM
  #4  

 
JonBoy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 19,699
Received 225 Likes on 159 Posts
Default

The Fit will generally get better gas mileage than indicated, based on fuelly.com. Easily the best car in its class right now for reliability, interior room, practicality and general quality. There are better looking choices but nothing comes close as an all-around car (that is best in quite a few areas as well!).
Old 11-09-2012, 02:12 PM
  #5  
Registered User

 
sahtt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,409
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Fit is the best, use fuelly for your guide. Otherwise the Mazda2 is a decent car; my buddy just bought one and given the price it's a good value. I think he's averaging 40mpg mixed and it may improve as the engine breaks in.
Old 11-09-2012, 04:52 PM
  #6  
Registered User
 
SpudRacer's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

When I had the S2000 in for service I wandered into the showroom and started playing around with a fit. Front seats, rear seats, seats down for cargo. The damned thing is a marvel of packaging. It can hold 4 real adults or two people and a decent cargo. Combined with the fuel efficiency, Honda reliability, and price it's a helluva car.
Old 11-09-2012, 05:51 PM
  #7  

 
liquid_helix136's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,289
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
Default

Fiat 500 has a turbo model now, sonic turbo would be cool. Mini cooper S (turbo). Reason I mention turbos is because they have good low end torque and get great mileage when your not beating on it.

I'd even consider the Chevy Cruze, its a little bigger (4 doors) but it gets great gas mileage, has a 1.4 turbo, decent pick up, interior was awesome, sound system was great, satellite radio and even looked good. When the S was in the shop, a Cruze was my rental and I REALLY liked that car. I would seriously think about getting one if I were to need a 4 door daily driver.

Depending on how small he's looking. I would look at either a Fiat 500 Abarth or a Chevy Cruze



Old 11-10-2012, 12:42 AM
  #8  

 
whiteflash's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Benicia, CA
Posts: 23,911
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Default

Without any indication of price I vote for either a 92 Geo Metro or a brand new Aston Martin Cygnet.
Old 11-10-2012, 05:22 AM
  #9  
Syn
Registered User

 
Syn's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,167
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

We fit a 60" plasma TV (still in box) in the back of my brother's Fit with the seats folded down last winter, so it's got plenty of cargo room. Now he was right up against the steering wheel with the seat all the way forward, but it was a 5min trip back to his house from the store so it wasn't too bad.
Old 11-10-2012, 06:02 AM
  #10  
Registered User

 
suprmonky73's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: charlotte, nc
Posts: 4,252
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

wife has a mazda 3, very basic. handles well, gets good gas mileage, fits 4 people just fine, unless everyone is 6'+, pretty good trunk space, cheap to maintain, cheap to buy.


Quick Reply: compact cars



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 04:00 PM.