Yet another help me pick a car thread...

[ganzhimself]

With a kid on the way and a roughly 60-mile daily round-trip to work/school I am looking for a new vehicle to replace my gas hungry WRX. I've looked into mostly new vehicles, but used, low mileage, vehicles aren't out of the question...

The criteria:
1. Safety
2. Gas mileage of 30+ MPG highway
3. Enough room for me, my wife, a baby seat, and of course, baby stuff
4. iPod, USB, and/or Aux input
5. No more than $23,500 out the door
6. Available with a manual transmission option (not absolutely necessary)


So far I have done some research into the following NEW cars, and my preferences thus far, are in this order:

New:
2012 Ford Focus SE hatchback
2012 Mazda 3 iTouring SkyActiv-G hatchback
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i PZEV hatchback
2012 Ford Fiesta hatchback (too small)
2012 Ford Fusion

Used:
2010 - 2011 Ford Fusion
2010 Ford Taurus (a little bit more car than I'm really looking for, and the gas mileage of the model I looked at is lower than what I'd really like)

I have had the opportunity to take the Focus the a Fiesta for test drives, and I liked them both... Wondering if it's really going to be worth the drive to a Mazda dealership to test drive the 3... Closest one with a 3 hatch is about an hour away, but the closest one with any real selection is about 90 miles away. Since I've been seeing that the '12 Imprezas haven't been returning the sort of gas mileage Subaru promised, I'm most likely going to file that one in the "Do Not Buy" segment.

There are obviously more cars in the same segment of the market, like the Kia Soul, which I haven't even consdered, just started searching locally a few days ago...

C/N: Looking for a safe, similar in size, and fuel efficient replacement for my 05 WRX. Strongly considering Ford Focus SE hatch or Mazda 3 hatch w/ SkyActiv-G... Any other cars I should look at?

Yeah, I know... while inhaling bees. I'll get right on that.

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[RacecaR]

Crv...

Or a used Freestyle / Flex

[Joe Boxer]

How is your WRX gas hungry? I mean... I know it isn't the most fuel efficient car, but is it materially different than, say, the 2.0i?

I ask because on the highway, I was averaging 33mpg on my '06 LGT... in the city ~19mpg. My typical driving style was a lot of stop-and-go (city) driving and I averaged 25-26mpg. Maybe driving style can be altered to fix the gas woes? Having a child in the car is going to alter your driving style, regardless.

From that list... I'd probably go with the Fusion.

[Davemeister]

Originally Posted by ganzhimself

With a kid on the way

Stopped reading right here... BOOORING!

[jpicheva]

Originally Posted by Joe Boxer

I was averaging 33mpg on my '06 LGT... .

Really?

We've got an '06 OBXT and I've never even been anywhere close to 30 MPG.

[jms]

The criteria:
1. Safety
2. Gas mileage of 30+ MPG highway
3. Enough room for me, my wife, a baby seat, and of course, baby stuff
4. iPod, USB, and/or Aux input
5. No more than $23,500 out the door
6. Available with a manual transmission option (not absolutely necessary)

Toyota Prius hits 5 of your 6. You should be able to get a new one for 23Kish OTD
Plus, since you are about to have a kid you werent going to get laid anyway.

[Joe Boxer]

Originally Posted by jpicheva

Really?

We've got an '06 OBXT and I've never even been anywhere close to 30 MPG.

Although I think it's explicit, I'll reiterate... 30-33 mpg is what I got with highway driving (65-75 mph). My everyday experience is why I got rid of the vehicle; routinely I saw 18-20 mpg, city / stop-and-go driving. I would think you would get a little less with the OBXT due to ride height, but if you are getting mid-20's on the highway... I think you may need some vehicle maintenance.

Now, compare that to my Jeep (lifted, 35" tires)... I get 15-16 mpg in city / stop-and-go driving and 18-19 on the highway.

[Compressed]

Funny how safety becomes such a concern with a kid on the way.

Not making fun, it happened to my wife and I as well with our now four month old.

We just bought her a 2012 Venza V6 awd. Sweet car but more moola than your criteria.

I'll be looking for something soon for myself but find myself uninspired by the choices available so I continue to drive the wife's old 05 Rav4.

[bcblues]

Look at the Honda Fit. We have two of them in the family. Amazing room and flexibility, and really good gas mileage. Plus "legendary" Honda build quality.

Maybe the new Impreza with the CVT, if that isn't a deal breaker.

[markman]

Fiat Abarth

[NutBucket]

Originally Posted by bcblues

Look at the Honda Fit. We have two of them in the family. Amazing room and flexibility, and really good gas mileage. Plus "legendary" Honda build quality.

Maybe the new Impreza with the CVT, if that isn't a deal breaker.

The think that stinks about the Fit is that a Focus/Skyactiv 3 will get better fuel economy and be "more luxurious". Not to say I don't like the Fit but the interior is definitely a bit spartan compared to the Focus/3.

[NutBucket]

Originally Posted by Joe Boxer

I was averaging 33mpg on my '06 LGT... in the city ~19mpg.

That's nuts. I never saw anywhere close to that with mine and my typical driving style is conservative.

[esbee]

2013 Mazda CX-5. You can get manual transmission in the sport version and fits all of your other criteria.

[Grap]

You know, we were just over in the other thread, talking about threads like this and...well...

*lets pipe slide down out of long shirt sleeve, into right hand...*

[Joe Boxer]

Originally Posted by NutBucket

That's nuts. I never saw anywhere close to that with mine and my typical driving style is conservative.

I only saw it when driving between Colorado and Ohio, otherwise... I was rarely on the highway.

[ganzhimself]

Originally Posted by Joe Boxer

How is your WRX gas hungry? I mean... I know it isn't the most fuel efficient car, but is it materially different than, say, the 2.0i?

My WRX, on good gas gets a combined city/hwy gas mileage of 21. I've done just about everything I can to get that number up, it's just never got good mileage. I suppose Rotella T6 5w-40 is partly to blame, so is my lead foot.

Originally Posted by jms

Toyota Prius hits 5 of your 6. You should be able to get a new one for 23Kish OTD
Plus, since you are about to have a kid you werent going to get laid anyway.

Thought about it, but was concerned with maintenance costs of the batteries. I'll add it to the list to research though. I thought they ran way more than that. (The Prius C was on my radar, but it's too small)

Originally Posted by Compressed

Funny how safety becomes such a concern with a kid on the way.

Not making fun, it happened to my wife and I as well with our now four month old.

We just bought her a 2012 Venza V6 awd. Sweet car but more moola than your criteria.

My wife has hated my WRX from the day I bought it. The ride quality is too harsh... It's too loud... Yeah, I can understand that. Realistically, it's a pretty safe car, but IIRC, no rear curtain airbags. I'm sure that if I suggested a Venza my wife would sign-off, but since I do the finances, I know that getting one isn't in the books right now.

Originally Posted by bcblues

Look at the Honda Fit. We have two of them in the family. Amazing room and flexibility, and really good gas mileage. Plus "legendary" Honda build quality.

Maybe the new Impreza with the CVT, if that isn't a deal breaker.

Didn't even think about the Fit. It's now on the list to test drive. I'd have to look into the new Impreza with CVT. Again, the desire for a "performance" DD isn't there for me anymore, especially with gas prices being what they are.

Originally Posted by NutBucket

The think that stinks about the Fit is that a Focus/Skyactiv 3 will get better fuel economy and be "more luxurious". Not to say I don't like the Fit but the interior is definitely a bit spartan compared to the Focus/3.

It doesn't matter much to me, I drive a 7 year old WRX, which is very spartan interior wise. Just about anything above an entry-level Nissan Versa should be an upgrade.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by jpicheva

Really?

We've got an '06 OBXT and I've never even been anywhere close to 30 MPG.

This.

I get like 16 mpg around town in my '09 OBXT. 22-23 on the highway on the few times a year I'm driving over Donner pass into CA. Granted, driving 100 miles over a 7200' mountain pass isn't exactly normal "freeway driving", but I can't see how you get into the 30's just from the road being flatter.

Originally Posted by Joe Boxer

Although I think it's explicit, I'll reiterate... 30-33 mpg is what I got with highway driving (65-75 mph). My everyday experience is why I got rid of the vehicle; routinely I saw 18-20 mpg, city / stop-and-go driving. I would think you would get a little less with the OBXT due to ride height, but if you are getting mid-20's on the highway... I think you may need some vehicle maintenance.

Now, compare that to my Jeep (lifted, 35" tires)... I get 15-16 mpg in city / stop-and-go driving and 18-19 on the highway.

My OBXT is lowered down to LGT height. Did all your freeway driving involve a perpetual 30 mph tail wind?

[Grap]

Originally Posted by Joe Boxer

I ask because on the highway, I was averaging 33mpg on my '06 LGT... in the city ~19mpg. My typical driving style was a lot of stop-and-go (city) driving and I averaged 25-26mpg.

My average is close to 27mpg in the '08 LGT which is mixed driving (400-410 miles out of a tank)

On a long highway cruise from MD to NC, I can get close to 510 miles from a tank.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by Grap

My average is close to 27mpg in the '08 LGT which is mixed driving (400-410 miles out of a tank)

On a long highway cruise from MD to NC, I can get close to 510 miles from a tank.

I'm doing it wrong, apparently.

[Joe Boxer]

Originally Posted by sperry

I'm doing it wrong, apparently.

Keep in mind that mine is observed on the perpetual straight of I-70 from Denver to Columbus (and back).

[jms]

Originally Posted by ganzhimself

Thought about it, but was concerned with maintenance costs of the batteries. I'll add it to the list to research though. I thought they ran way more than that. (The Prius C was on my radar, but it's too small)

8 year/100K warranty from Toyota on the battery.

http://www.toyota.com/prius-hybrid/warranty.html

[jpicheva]

Originally Posted by Joe Boxer

Although I think it's explicit, I'll reiterate... 30-33 mpg is what I got with highway driving (65-75 mph). ... if you are getting mid-20's on the highway... I think you may need some vehicle maintenance.

We bought the thing brand new and never once touched 30 MPG (except maybe on some downhill stretches coming out of the mountains). I am a stickler for maintenance. We got 25-26 MPG (driving 75-80) over long stretches of highway through west TX and into NM.

[esbee]

Originally Posted by jpicheva

We bought the thing brand new and never once touched 30 MPG (except maybe on some downhill stretches coming out of the mountains). I am a stickler for maintenance. We got 25-26 MPG (driving 75-80) over long stretches of highway through west TX and into NM.

I get about 20-22mpg average on mine with mostly stop & go driving. Average is just under 300 miles before the gas light comes on. I usually get between 24-26 on the highway from here to Wilmington (mostly straight, flat road) going 75-80mph. The best I've ever seen is 31mpg once, which was a lot of coasting coming down a mountain.

[Grap]

Originally Posted by sperry

I'm doing it wrong, apparently.

The 27mpg rating is with Sport mode on...'i' mode sucks gas like a fiend.

[Joe Boxer]

Originally Posted by jpicheva

We bought the thing brand new and never once touched 30 MPG (except maybe on some downhill stretches coming out of the mountains). I am a stickler for maintenance. We got 25-26 MPG (driving 75-80) over long stretches of highway through west TX and into NM.

No idea, but my experience is very similar to Grap's. On a drive from northern Phoenix to Denver, I filled up in Albuquerque (450ish miles) and Castle Rock (425ish miles). Driving from Denver to Columbus I routinely filled up 420-450 miles into a tank (without the fuel light being on).

Point being... if you're experiencing mid-to-upper 20's on miles per gallon and that isn't enough, you're looking at a NA 4-cylinder or a hybrid.