Now that it looks like we will _finally_ get to fly...

[audette]

We need to start figuring out DH's car purchase. We have it narrowed down to four different cars he'll be testdriving shortly after we arrive, but I figured folks here might have some useful anecdotal information...

The cars we're looking at are:

Mazda3 Hatchback

Golf Hatchback

Honda Fit

Subaru Impreza

His priorities are a hatchback (probably not a surprise from that list), something functional for hauling stuff more than hauling people, and something "fun to drive".

I've testdriven each, and of them, I suspect the Mazda3, the Golf, and the Impreza are a bit of a wash, while the fit feels a bit more practical over fun.

Does anyone have any experience with these cars?

[soso]

I have a mazda3 and love it! It fits so much via the hatch and still transports 4 people around town reasonably well. It has a sports suspension, a super small turning radius, and it pretty responsive on the freeway. Mine is 8 years old and I've had about $400 of repairs outside of routine maintenance.

[MrsDarcy]

My H has a Fit. It's the sports edition or package or whatever, so it's slightly cooler looking. He has a tow hitch so he could haul if he wanted to. His is a manual. It's pretty zippy, so decently fun to drive. It gets 35-40mpg, so we're happy with that.

[babsbunny]

The Honda will probably get better gas mileage than the Mazda. Check the cost of replacement tires - a friend with a Mazda sport edition mentioned it required more expensive tires.

I've always had a Mazda since I was a kid but have been very happy with our 5 year old Civic.

[moolarkey]

I can only speak about the Fit. I was amazed at how much room there was in a Fit. It road very comfortably. Honda's hold their value. Great gas mileage, very reliable.

The Honda Fit would be my choice. Because I know several people with Honda Fit's, it was a car I considered. I ended up buying a Honda Accord though.

[blondemoment123]

H had a regular Mazda 3. He's 6'3 and it looked like he was driving a clown car lol. No mechanical issues etc though.

[Deleted]

Subaru, Subaru, Subaru

We love ours, it is a 2003 and at nearly 100k miles, works like a charm. We adore it!

[rubytue]

Speaking of tires, I just replaced the tires on my impreza and they were pricey! Something about speed rating blah blah blah. Had to be special ordered and took forever. (Eta: babsbunny mention tires on the Mazda. I meant to quote)

[blondemoment123]

Feb 1, 2015 14:46:15 GMT -5 Stan said:

Feb 1, 2015 11:57:46 GMT -5 blondemoment123 said:

H had a regular Mazda 3. He's 6'3 and it looked like he was driving a clown car lol. No mechanical issues etc though.

Really? My dad is 6'4 and he loved their 3. H is 6'0, so I never even considered it. My miata on the other hand, lololol. 

Yes! I wish I had a pic. I still giggle thinking about him in that little car.

[blondemoment123]

Stan I found a pic! It has his name in it though

[audette]

Feb 1, 2015 15:12:24 GMT -5 blondemoment123 said:

Feb 1, 2015 14:46:15 GMT -5 Stan said:

Really? My dad is 6'4 and he loved their 3. H is 6'0, so I never even considered it. My miata on the other hand, lololol. 

Yes! I wish I had a pic. I still giggle thinking about him in that little car.

No worries about DH.  He's 5'3.  We're both the same height...

[audette]

Feb 1, 2015 15:27:04 GMT -5 @domerjen said:

the prius is a hatchback it doesn't have any zip, though.

Yeah, I did a round testdriving small hatchbacks on one of my work trips to the US. The Fit is potentially not going to be zippy enough for what my husband wants. There was no way the Prius would work for him.  They are nifty cars, but he would be unhappy with it.

[audette]

Feb 1, 2015 11:42:18 GMT -5 Stan said:

Our mazda3 manual gets better gas mileage than my automatic civic. Could be the manual, but H, who is into that sort of thing, is impressed with their skyactive thing or whatever. We don't have the hatchback, I wish we did, but my parents did. It was sporty and practical. I have a friend with the fit. It works for her as a grad student but I'd laugh at anyone in my profession with one.

Hah! DH is at the point where a bit of teasing over his car isn't going to phase him. And, well, he'll have this car until well after he leaves this profession...

[audette]

Our current car has to have sport-rated tires, so I am accustomed to the tires being more expensive for it. Good for the heads up that we may have the same situation with DH's next vehicle. I don't think it will make us avoid one of them, though.

[LoveTrains]

Do you need all wheel drive? The subaru will have that.

[audette]

Feb 1, 2015 18:46:47 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Do you need all wheel drive? The subaru will have that.

Nah, don't need it.  It might come in handy once or twice over the life of the car.