The Kia Rio's looking like the cheapest at the moment, then Chevy Aveo, then Toyota Yaris. The Honda Fit's at the very high end of my range, but I'll take a look based on your recommendation (and my affection for Honda!).
No, it's shiny! I like to meet new people. They've all got stories...
Kaylee ,'Serenity'
Natter 63: Life after PuppyCam
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
Emily - Feb 18, 2009 6:28:37 am PST #6830 of 30000
"In the equation E = mc⬧, c⬧ is a pretty big honking number." - Scola
flea - Feb 18, 2009 6:29:07 am PST #6831 of 30000
information libertarian
Yeah, our Focus is an '00, we got it used, but barely used. mr. flea (who drives it) really likes the way it handles, but it is much heavier than a comparable Toyota and gets pretty crap gas mileage, compared. We had recall-o-rama the first few years, and generally have not been thrilled with its reliability. We're at about 120K miles right now and planning to replace it in a year or two, whereas I think a Toyota would have lasted us much longer.
We bought the Focus because it had a seat that adjusted up and down as well as front-back (seriously, mr. flea is 6 foot 6, this was a big deal). No cheap Toyota had that, or we probably would have gotten one.
Connie Neil - Feb 18, 2009 6:29:43 am PST #6832 of 30000
brillig
I didn't like the Yaris ads, with the car showing up and terrorizing those small components of whatever. I don't want a car that's a bully.
Calli - Feb 18, 2009 6:32:15 am PST #6833 of 30000
I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul—Calvin and Hobbs
I love my Fit. I got the base model, stick shift, no extras, and it's working out very well for me.
Steph L. - Feb 18, 2009 6:34:12 am PST #6834 of 30000
this mess was yours / now your mess is mine
We bought the Focus because it had a seat that adjusted up and down as well as front-back (seriously, mr. flea is 6 foot 6, this was a big deal).
Argh. My 6-foot-tall best friend has headroom in the Echo, but I don't think she has 6 inches of clearance. Mr. flea! Shrink a little!
Scrappy - Feb 18, 2009 6:40:49 am PST #6835 of 30000
Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
Emily, I suggest a slightly used "better" car. It will be the same price as a cheap new car and be of better quality. My DH and all the professional auto journalists we know always buy used for that very reason. You get more car for the money.
Tom Scola - Feb 18, 2009 6:43:58 am PST #6836 of 30000
Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward.
Toyota Yaris
...is the preferred vehicle of pirates everywhere!
tommyrot - Feb 18, 2009 6:44:57 am PST #6837 of 30000
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
...is the preferred vehicle of pirates everywhere!
...since they don't make the Oldsmobile Cutlass anymore.
SuziQ - Feb 18, 2009 6:46:58 am PST #6838 of 30000
Back tattoos of the mother is that you are absolutely right - Ame
...since they don't make the Oldsmobile Cutlass anymore.
My first car. An Oldsmobile Station Wagon Cutlass Supreme. Dang gas guzzling whale.
Matt the Bruins fan - Feb 18, 2009 6:47:31 am PST #6839 of 30000
"I remember when they eventually introduced that drug kingpin who murdered people and smuggled drugs inside snakes and I was like 'Finally. A normal person.'” —RahvinDragand
I've been very happy with Chevrolet's low-end sedans since the mid-90s. My '98 Cavalier ran about 170,000 miles before maintenance issues became problematic. And the current Cobalt is going strong at 106,000 miles, still getting about 32mpg on the highway. Don't know how the Aveo stacks up durability and maintenance-wise, but it's about 3/4 the price and probably gets better mileage.