Speaking of cars - small/fuel efficient recs

[pixy0stix]

My beloved Mazda 626 has reached the 100k mile mark (and then some). I'm really itching for a new car and have started to look around.

I'm looking to downsize, go more fuel efficient, but still be able to place a car seat into the back (so 4 doors). My DH has a Toyota Yaris that is excellent, but I really don't want 2 of the same type of car in the family (for no reason at all really).

Right now I have my sights set on a Nissan Leaf, but I'm willing to look at other options.

[copzgirl1171]

I so want a chevy volt

www.chevrolet.com/volt-electric-car.html

We also LOVE our chevy cruze

www.chevrolet.com/cruze-compact-car.html

[aw]

I've loved my Civic. I have a four door and the gas mileage is amazing. I fit three carseats in the backseat, so how for how tiny the car looks, there really is a lot of room.

[eclaires]

We have a 2 door Honda Civic that now has 150k miles on it and it's still in great shape. It gets ~45mpg (admittedly my husband is kind of OCD about how he drives to optimize his gas mileage - feel sorry for me - and it's a manual).

We don't use it much with the kids because of the 2 doors. We plan to drive it until it dies, but when it does, we'll look at a similar car. We'd even buy a new Civic, if it was the best option. Other cars on our radar: Nissan LEAF, Chevy Volt (MH's work has charging stations), Toyota Corolla, Honda Insight

[yourmom]

My sister just bought a Hyundai Elantra. She bought a brand new one, leather/heated seats, full warranty (she got the extended one as well) and walked out of the dealership with it costing $23,000. Gets good gas mileage as well. Suprisingly roomy too (I'm 5'11, H is 6' and we fit in the back seat very comfortably).

[copzgirl1171]

I currently drive a 96 civic with over 100k in mileage and that sucker shows no signs of dying

I drive it every where.

[eclaires]

Aug 10, 2012 13:02:28 GMT -5 @copzgirl1171 said:

I currently drive a 96 civic with over 100k in mileage and that sucker shows no signs of dying

I drive it every where.

Seriously. I think our 2006 vehicle will die before the 2001 Civic we have. Our Equinox has ~80k on it and, like I said, a 2006.

We'll drive both until they die, but I think the 'nox will die first.

[aw]

Yeah, we're hoping to find a good enough deal on a van that we won't have to trade in my Civic at all. It's a 2006 and I can see that thing lasting forever.

[NitaX]

I've got a Honda Insight. LURVE it. It's my baby. My H also bought one. Gas mileage is excellent and the cost is less than a Prius. I'd highly recommend it.

[copzgirl1171]

It is automatic with me, our cruze is a little over a year old with about 9k in mileage but I never think to take it. I always go to my beater.

Lori, Katie, brookles, marquis have witnessed its beauty

[penguingrrl]

My friend's '94 civic finally died last year with well over 200K miles on it. For longevity you can't beat a civic. And the backseat is surprisingly roomy. We've often gotten 3 seats (for various combinations of my 2 and my 2 nieces) across the backseat without a problem. And MIL sat between my two in the back and was comfy.

[copzgirl1171]

Sorry I am a lying liar who lies.

201k miles, just went and checked

[pixy0stix]

My mazda is still kicking along beautifully. I just want a new car. . Dh has been through three cars since I've bought mine. It's my turn to choose a car.

Work has charging stations but I'm close enough that I wouldn't need to use them. Are the Chevys really that good?

[copzgirl1171]

Owners rave about the Volt

www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/volt/2012/consumer-reviews.html

usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/Chevrolet_Volt/

[ringstrue]

I love my Nissan Versa. If you are looking at something like the Yaris you should def. check it out. The truck space is as big as the Sentra's. It really does feel pretty roomy inside. DH has the new Corolla and it feels so much smaller than the Versa inside.

[texassmith]

Just an FYI, the newest Civics have gotten poor reviews. I mean, it's still a Honda, so it will serve you reasonably well, but a 2012 is definitely not the same creature as a trusty 1996.

When DH's 1999 Camry dies we plan to look at the Mazda 3, VW Golf and VW GTI. He also loves the look of the Kia Optima but he really doesn't need a full-size sedan like that.

[darnkatz]

One of my friends just bought a Prius liftback. It is amazing. I am not a car person at all, but if we were to ever buy a car, that would be it. The back is nice and roomy and it gets 71mpg, I think. She has two kids and fits two seats just fine. It's a plug-in.

[msmerymac]

A friend of mine has a Kia Optima, which is full-sized, but they make smaller cars, too. I drove a Forte once, I think, and really liked it.

Ford is making a resurgence. My dad has had 2 Fusions (work cars, so they're replaced every 3 years) and he loves them. My brother just got a 2012 Focus.

My SIL and my coworker have Volkswagen TDIs. One has the Jetta, one has the Passat. Coworker with the Passat was doing over 60mpg to Vegas and back a few weeks ago and LOVES it more than she loved her BMW 3 series (new Passat was 10k cheaper and gets much better mileage).

[NitaX]

Aug 10, 2012 14:18:58 GMT -5 @mx said:

We have an Insight too and love it. We hardly drive, but the gas mileage is awesome. And it has a lot of room for when we need to haul stuff for landscaping and home improvement projects that have taken over our lives. I wanted a Yaris, but I will admit the slightly bigger car is useful.

This was one of the reasons I got this car. The cargo room. My co-workers teased me because I was all excited about how many bags of mulch I could get in my car.

[seventeen]

Prius or Prius C, though I've heard the Prius C's doing have a ton of back seat space for legs as kids grow.

[batsteph]

DH just got a brand new Hyundai Accent four-door hatchback and we love that thing. He routinely gets close to 40 mpg on his commute to DC and back, and we've had our almost-five-year old in the backseat (still in a full-size carseat) with no problem.

[lys]

I LOVE my Toyota Corolla. Honda Civic would be another choice to consider.

[sonrisa]

We love our Prius and have had a number of adults mention how roomy the backseat is.

[dutchgirl678]

I love my Prius, not as small as the Yaris but great fuel economy. I've had it since 2004 and it's almost at 100k and still going strong. Avg mileage is 45mpg. I looked into getting a Prius C but I think the leg room in the back is not enough for car seats and kids.

If you don't want to go hybrid, and you don't want a Yaris, I'd look into the Honda Fit.

I would not get a Chevy Volt. They're expensive and while they are electric for the first 30 miles, once you're out of electricity they use the regular engine which is much less efficient than the hybrid engine technology that Toyota has. I've seen real usage results that suggest you get an average 38mpg. For a $40.000 car that is just not enough IMHO.

[2vermont]

Another vote for the Honda Civic. I have the 2006 model (first year of the new design) with 90,000 miles on it. I think it still gets about 40 mpg (highway). Before that, I had a 1992 Accord until it had about 230,000 miles on it. Another car that has proven itself in my family is the Corolla.