Time for a new car. Suggestions?

December 19, 2015 2:06 PM

I'm overwhelmed with choices. Help me buy another car.

My wife and I have decided it's time to retire the 2003 Toyota Echo. So now we need another car.
These are our priorities, in order of importance: reliability, efficiency, price, safety. We would prefer a standard transmission, though wouldn't sacrifice the other criteria for it.
Looking to spend well under $20,000, and would like to get something with under 20,000 km on it. We're in Canada, so cars are more expensive than in the US. We would consider used or new, we're looking for long-term value for money.
Prefer foreign cars to American, small to large. We like Fiats but don't know much about them, and I'm afraid we may be getting seduced by their funky looks, which is something I want to avoid. This car needs to be a reliable way to get ourselves and things from point a to point b, not a stylin' unit to turn heads when we go clubbing. (We don't go clubbing).
I've been looking at too many cars for sale and now my brain is spinning. Somebody make up my mind for me.
Thanks!

posted by crazylegs to Travel & Transportation (27 answers total)

I love my Subaru Impreza for winter driving in Minnesota. Would buy another when the time comes.
posted by TheClonusHorror at 2:24 PM on December 19, 2015

Fiats are very cute, but have the worst reliabilty of any car sold in the US.

Maybe look at the Honda Fit.
posted by cecic at 2:43 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]

My husband had one of the original Nissan Versas, and I'm not sure how much it's changed in the new model, but based on my experience with his car, it really hits all your points on the head. Even new, it fits your price criteria, and it's available with a standard transmission. He totaled his Versa into a light pole and walked away bruised and battered but ultimately unharmed, so... yay? If he hadn't gotten all gung-ho for the Leaf, I think a new Versa was otherwise among is top choices for a replacement. It did pretty well at managing snowy roads, too.
posted by obfuscation at 2:47 PM on December 19, 2015

For the criteria you mention, I would suggest a certified pre-owned Toyota Prius C.

(I am a little bit confused, though, by your stated preference for a manual transmission combined with your not listing something like 'fun to drive' in your priorities. If the manual transmission is actually a requirement, and 'fun to drive' is, in fact, important to you, then I'd suggest certified pre-owned Mazda 3's, small Subarus, and Honda Civics.)
posted by box at 2:56 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]

You'll find a lot of love for the Mazda 3 in previous questions, so I'll suggest a Mazda 3 (nb: I am also a happy Mazda 3 owner).
posted by mogget at 2:57 PM on December 19, 2015 [2 favorites]

I have a 2002 Camry that I purchased used many years ago: now it's at almost 150K miles and it's still in great shape (knock on wood.) It's sturdy, reliable, and still gets surprisingly good gas mileage. I plan to drive it for many years to come: my next car will likely be a newer used Camry, perhaps a hybrid at that. There are a lot of good cars out there but literally every Camry owner I've met has had nothing but positive things to say about their car, new or old.
posted by smorgasbord at 3:00 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]

If you like the Fiat, get a used Mini Cooper instead. It hits all your criteria and it's super fun to drive, especially the six speed S models with a manual transmission. Mine handles Wisconsin winters with aplomb.
posted by carmicha at 3:05 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: box: I prefer a standard transmission because it gets better mileage, has fewer parts to break and cost money, and I feel it gives me more control over the car, especially when manuevering in snow. (how the hell do you spell that?)
posted by crazylegs at 3:08 PM on December 19, 2015

If you're looking for funky, the Mini is actually pretty good in the latest reliability ratings... pretty close to Honda. Nothing comes close to Toyota/Lexus, though. The Yaris might be something to look at, or the Scion iA, which is Car and Driver's first choice in the segment. Mazda came up 4th (after Audi...??), and the 3 is a really, really fun car to drive.
posted by Huck500 at 3:09 PM on December 19, 2015

Honda Fit or Civic might be the way to go. Hondas rock!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 3:49 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]

I like my Nissan Versa hatchback a lot as well. It was only $13k USD new in 2011. It's super flexible - the back seats fold down flat and we can fit a ton in it, and I can fit it in any parking space. They stopped making it and now have something called the Versa Note which is actually a totally different car, but might be one to look at if you want to go new.
posted by radioamy at 4:02 PM on December 19, 2015

We are also in the market for a new to us car, and while we are in Australia and our price point is a bit lower than you (and mileage we are willing to have on a used car a little higher) we first narrowed our options down to the Mazda 3, Mazda 2, Prius C, Honda City or Honda Fit, Barina Spark, or Hyundai Accent. We've since decided the Mazda 3 or Prius C are too pricy for us, but they are still within your range.

All of those get excellent consumer reviews, have high safety ratings, low depreciation, and are common enough that there are plenty of mechanics familiar with them and lots of replacement parts available, so they should be cheap to repair. We have friends with the Mazda 2 and 3 and they are all happy with them and have had no major repairs needed in about six or seven years of ownership.
posted by lollusc at 4:33 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]

You're getting excellent advise. I rank reliability as my highest priority as well and I like Honda, Toyota and Subaru.

Consider subscribing to Consumer Reports for just one month ($7). Fantastic investment. Allows you to see how reliable each car you're considering actually is.
posted by Murray M at 5:26 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]

My boss had a Mini Cooper and traded it in because it was terrible in the snow. Same with my sister-in-law with her Honda Fit. My Toyota Corolla is great in the snow (especially with snow tires). It's less fun to drive than my previous car, a Civic, but enough better for winter driving that I forgive it. My husband has s Corolla Sport model that's nicer to drive.
posted by Kriesa at 7:44 PM on December 19, 2015

Mazda 3. We now have two and love them. One's a hatchback and one's a sedan, both of which have their pros and cons but would both work for you. You can get them with standard transmissions but at least in the US, it's hard to find a good used car with a standard because most people drive their standards into the ground.
posted by notjustthefish at 7:44 PM on December 19, 2015

Snow? Subaru.

Otherwise, you have some good suggestions for alternatives above. I would lean to the Mazdas myself.
posted by GeeEmm at 9:26 PM on December 19, 2015 [1 favorite]

Seconding the Subaru Impreza for safety, stability, and snow-driving. The "Infotainment" system is also hilariously obsolete. It's also not very zippy, and clunky in terms of efficiency. I think even a Mazda 3 or a Civic would be more fun to drive. But I think it satisfies all four of your criteria (with emphasis on the safety).
posted by ageispolis at 5:30 AM on December 20, 2015

Seconding consumer reports for comparing cars. I've driven an Echo and would recommend a Corolla for efficiency, reliability and price.
posted by geekBird at 6:41 AM on December 20, 2015

I didn't click the FIAT link, but came in to say I loooooove my FIAT Panda - and it has never let me down - it's a simple car, which means maintenance (and eventual repairs) are cheap. There is a 4WD version for those who deal with mountain roads and snow. I bought mine lightly used, and I have nothing to complain about.

Unfortunately, I need a bigger car, for different reasons. So Panda has to go. But I'll remember it with greater fondness than any of my other cars.
posted by mumimor at 7:43 AM on December 20, 2015

I bought an Infiniti G25x recently. It was a bit more than $20,000. It has four wheel drive. I'm very happy with the quality. I've always had Infinitis. They are relatively inexpensive for the quality. They one I traded in for the "new" one was 14.
posted by parakeetdog at 8:26 AM on December 20, 2015

Newer 6-, 8- and 9- speed automatics will sometimes get you a better mileage than their manual counterparts, though personally I would shy away from the new Fiat-Chrysler 9-speed; that thing's just too complex, and I'm not sure FC has what it takes to make it really reliable. Also, the 500s they sell in the US and Canada are pretty complex little machines, not simple cars like the Panda.

So Mazda 3 it would be; they are available with a manual.
posted by Monday, stony Monday at 9:14 AM on December 20, 2015

Yup, Subaru for snow. Traded my great Honda for one and never looked back.
posted by fivesavagepalms at 10:43 AM on December 20, 2015

I absolutely love my honda fit! It is small, but when you put the seats down in the back you can fit soooo much in it.
posted by vintagequeen at 11:08 AM on December 20, 2015

You'll find a lot of love for the Mazda 3 in previous questions, so I'll suggest a Mazda 3 (nb: I am also a happy Mazda 3 owner).

Ditto on all counts here.



I prefer a standard transmission because it gets better mileage, has fewer parts to break and cost money, and I feel it gives me more control over the car, especially when manuevering in snow. (how the hell do you spell that?)

This isn't nearly as true as it used to be and in my opinion is downright false with Audi's DSG transmission is an S4 that I drove years ago. The auto in the Mazda is pretty snappy and gives you pretty good control in it's manumatic mode. The up-shift/down-shift on the stick is even oriented the same way as sequential gearboxes on race cars. They can be had with a tradition manual but the auto is worth a drive. If it's in your budget, make sure you look at Mazda 3's with Mazda's "SkyActiv" technology. It's basically a series of tweaks to the engine, especially the headers that allow a much higher compression ratio that results in MUCH better gas mileage with a more power. If memory serves, it was introduced around 2011.

With good tires, I've found the thing to be great in the snow (a 2007 2.3S) here is Minnesota.


(how the hell do you spell that?)

maneuvering, according to chrome's spellcheck.
posted by VTX at 5:10 PM on December 20, 2015

Subaru for sure. Impreza for compact, wagon if you want the cargo. They are reliable and proven in all weather. That said, a friend went with a Honda Fit with great winter tires and loves it. Had a couple days in one heavy winter where she got stuck in the driveway, but otherwise loves it for the mileage.
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 9:59 PM on December 21, 2015

Came to suggest a Honda Fit. They are like a tardis is side, so much more room than there should be. Handle beautifully, though I've only driven one in torrential rain, not in snow, & have that Honda reliability.
posted by wwax at 8:50 AM on December 24, 2015

Here's a (somewhat late) thought: If you have a trusted mechanic for your Toyota, get another Toyota or something he/she knows as well or better. Good (and trustworthy) mechanics can be hard to find.
posted by wierdo at 10:21 PM on December 25, 2015