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Car shopping time...

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Sherlock

Sherlock

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Alas, my poor old '93 Subaru Legacy has given up the ghost on me, hit a repair bill that may not be worth it, that time...

Trying to think of older used cars (lets say five years old) I'd like, it must be a stick shift and a small 4-cylinder engine and decent performance and fun factor, and roughly compact size, either sedan or station wagon...

Cars I can think of immediately?

Subaru Impreza... After having one all-wheel-drive car I like the idea of it, I do live in a winter climate

Suzuki SX4... I know they are leaving North America, so parts could be tricky in the future, but I hear they are an excellent low priced all-wheel-drive car

Ford Focus... Seems to be a good car, any thoughts?

Hyundai Accent...

Can't think of anymore right now, haven't looked all that hard yet either, any thoughts?
 
Stay with Subies!
 
Can't go wrong with a Subie for sure.

Best small car I've ever owned was a Honda Fit Sport (2009) with the 5-speed. Only modern car I wish I could have back. Nimble, killer gas mileage, amazing amount of interior space. First gen cars would be in your age range and should be equally fun.
 
If you are serious about a Focus, do some reading here.
 
SWMBO drives a focus. Its been a great car so far (2008). Not so much on the fun factor, Impreza sounds like a lot more fun to me.
 
Best small car I've ever owned was a Honda Fit Sport (2009) with the 5-speed. Only modern car I wish I could have back. Nimble, killer gas mileage, amazing amount of interior space. First gen cars would be in your age range and should be equally fun.
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We bought an '09 Fit Sport new. Still have it. Dedicated snow tires on steel wheels in the winter and we've never had a problem climbing a long, steep snow covered, dirt driveway. The cargo capability is astonishing for a small car. Very easy on fuel. Also, very easy oil change, lots of room to work. There's a few nit-picky things that don't really detract much unless you take really long trips (IMO). If we did it over we'd get the Sport/Navi model to get the leather seats and radio controls on the steering wheel.
 
Duly noted... Just doing some scouting tonight, it appears that a Subaru Impreza might be out of my budget, seems any Subaru holds it's value rather well, maybe too well... Darn it! :blue:

Perhaps a Honda Fit, some of them seem to fit into my budget... Keep it coming... :hammer:
 
On the Hyundai/Kia front:

I had a 2003 Hyundai Accent hatchback and currently drive a 2012 Kia Forte5 hatchback. Both are excellent, solid cars, no trouble with either one. Sold the Accent to a friend in 2008 and as far as I know he's still driving it.

That said, these are not enthusiast cars. Cheap, reliable, economical, yes. Fun, not in the slightest. Bought them because I needed cheap transportation appliances, that's all. For fun to drive go elsewhere.

Never owned one, but I've heard good things about the Mazda3.
 
For what it's worth (probably not much), I bought a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe new and still have it. I can honestly say it is hands down the best car I've ever owned. Reliable, all-wheel drive, 5-speed auto, plenty of cargo space, decent gas milage (25MPG average), extremely comfortable on long trips.

santafe2.jpg
 
Hyundai is the new Honda. If I can't kill one racing....


Lots of guys mod Accents too.
 
Thanks for the thought Basil, I'm not an SUV kind of person...

I have thought of Hyundai as well, and I also think that adding a stick shift to a compact car at least adds some fun element, to a certain degree...
 
Sherlock said:
I have thought of Hyundai as well, and I also think that adding a stick shift to a compact car at least adds some fun element, to a certain degree...
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Of necessity my Kia and previous Hyundai have been automatics. With a stick they'd be more interesting for sure.
 
Tell me you wouldn't want to have fun messing with people with one of these.1009131116.jpg
 
Mehehehe.. I would rock an old police car. So much fun to be had there. As for Sherlock, I'd stick with the Subie. I love my rotten old 97 outback. Enough that I might break my rule of never getting the same car twice. Of course there is to be a thread soon about the newest arrival at Stray Cat Vintage and Custom, and it ain't a Subie
 
Time for an update I guess... Within my constraints (roughly six years old plus price point), I have come to the conclusion that the Hyundai Accent is pretty much the only car that truly fits... Have test driven two different examples and I do like the car as well... Talked to one dealer, he reckons that almost all of the Accents were sold with a stick shift, haven't seen one yet that is an automatic...
 
Hmmmm.... maybe you could barter with the dealer on the car you want for some photo shoots. Just a thought

edit... not entirely for the car, but maybe upgrade to a specific model for the shoot.
 
60s model IH pick-up with four wheel drive. Won't ever die won't ever get stuck, perfect for cold weather if it has a super duty heater.
 
If you can be flexible about age how about a Mini, you would have to go a little older, haven't met an owner yet who doesn't like theirs, but only two doors, Mazda Protégé 5 got good reviews n fun to drive if you can find one. Saabs from the 2000s seem like a real good deal to me right now, suffering from the stigma of being orphans prices are cheap, even for nice low mile examples, also a reasonable number of manuals out there.
 
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