COJ, help me choose a car

Maybe one of these?

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kia soul!  let me know if it comes with hip hop gerbils or if you have to breed them yourself.

Kia Rio, Kia Forte, VW Jetta, Hyundai Elantra...

Don't really know anything about them... just throwing them out there as similar in size and gas mileage to a Civic.

New VW Jetta or Passat?  They can be had for under $20k brand new and are solid cars.  Was looking at getting my wife the Passat TDI model....4 door sedan with over 42mpg as tested through C&D and Motortrend, plus the life of a disel is forever if properly maintained.

A loaded Passat TDI is around $27k...

We've driven the Soul numerous times as a rental - surprisingly spacious. Some nice details that seem to be standard - like a back up camera.  And the mood lights inside are fun.  We're considering it.

We're also shopping for cars right now and the Mazda 5 and Toyota Matrix are on our list right now but we're not quite in the same situation - we are looking for family friendly with a baby on the way. And we also have a crazy narrow driveway/parking situation so big cars are off our list

We also like the Volkswagen Golf Wagon which I don't think is availabe in the US. We just test drove it and it's quite nice.  Maybe not for the cheapskate though ...  

x2 on the Honda Fit.

I have one and my wife keeps stealing it from me.  35 mpg (real, not just advertised) and sometimes as much as 40, I can easily put my bike in the back with the seats folded down, and I actually got 2 bikes into it when my son and I did a tri.

We have 3 kids, but they are getting older and we don't have to cart them around with us wherever we go, so we're are giving serious thought to selling the wife's Odyssey so that she can have her own Fit.  For the once or twice per year that we pile everyone + stuff into the car for vacation we can either take both cars or just rent a larger vehicle for the week with the gas money that we will save.

what is spacious to YOU though?  you are practically a midget.  you probably had 18 clowns in there with you.

"cool" is VERY subjective here....

If you haven't already, check out the RAV4. My perfect triathlon vehicle, priced in the low-to-mid 20s, 25mpg, seats 5, Toyota quality.

The new Dodge Dart looks cool in the commercials, but it is American so that might rule it out for you.

A VW TDI would be nice, I'd prob go for one of those.

My only experience with a car like you described is my wife's 2003 Mazda 6. Car is pretty well amazing, she had it before we got married. Didn't do a lick of maintenance to it for the first 110k miles. Then I had to do front struts and brakes. Since then I changed the spark plugs and the air filter. Other than that it has never had any work done aside from oil changes. She drives it 500 miles a week and is not easy on it by any means, it gets over 30mpg and has never let her down. Has 141k miles on it now and shows no signs of slowing down.

I wouldn't have thought I would be a big fan of Mazda but this car does everything it sets out to extremely well. It is not a luxury car but for what it is, it is great!

Hyundai Elantra, mine has 300000 kms on it, never had an issue,  paid 18  in 2003. Never had to plug it in, started on a dime every time, even in minus 40. My son drives it now he is 6ft 1. fits a tri bike in the back, or 4 bags of golf clubs. 

Currently have a Jetta TDI, expensive parts, great mileage of course. Hates the winter, have to go outside and start it mid day even when its plugged in.  But that's a diesel for ya!

What is American these days?  Is it where the headquarters are?  Isn't Dodge/Chrysler owned by a European company now?

I've had a Chevy truck built in Mexico.  I've had a Chevy Camaro built in Canada.

Lots of VWs are built in Mexico. 

Toyotas, Hondas even Mercedes and BMWs are now built in the US.

My wife and I's only car right now is our Matrix with 180,000 miles on it. still doing well with regular maintenance and tune ups. They can be a bit crowded though once you cram in camping gear, to medium sized dogs, and a cooler full of beer.

To the OP there are a lot of options out there, good luck in finding what fits you. I would suggest a lot of test drives and see how much coffee, cookies, and deals you can work out of the salesperson before commiting

I love my mini convertible. Talk about a fun car! And I don't know what you mean about the back being cosmetic, I routinely put my 17 and 20 year old back there. You can carry a decent amount if you think it out well, too. I put a trailer hitch and bike carrier on the back and hauled two bikes and a weeks worth of camping gear to IMLP last year.

Disclaimer: I live in detroit, cars are what we breathe. 

- Kia Soul - Acceptable, an up-and-comer
- Mazda 5 - Nice, functional, a tich sportier. Might opt for the 7. 
- Hyundai Elantra - good car, just be comfy with internal quality
- Honda Fit - absolutely excellent, versatile car. Great mileage, too. 
- VW Passat. Get the diesel. But they aren't cheap

I'll also offer three insider tips: 1) Dodge Dart is a dog. Since introduction, there's been a full court press on to drive this car up to 'acceptable' in class. It's still not, 2) Fiat 500 is a pure marketing ploy. US Fiat HQ is 3 miles from my house, and no Fiat execs or employees drive one, and 3) try out the Ford Focus. A spectacular car with lots of high-mileage options.

That's where I'd go.  

2 things going for it, other than it looks nice to me.

1. Chrysler is part of Fiat
2. The Dart is a lengthened and widened Alfa Romeo Giulietta chassis (which will in turn be used in the Alfa Giulia, which will be sold here eventually)

Otherwise, I'd suggest a Fiat 500 or Mini

Or the Ford Fiesta.  Sure, North American ones are built in Mexico, but there is little to distinguish the hatchbacks from the ones you buy anywhere else in the world.  I think they were designed by the Germans (it was introduced in Frankfurt).  The sedans are unique to North America and China though.

I just bought a Focus ST.  The performance version that still is rated at 33 hwy and is very european in feel and fit/finish.  I have generally owned BMWs/Toyotas in the past and I am very impressed.  Wouldnt have bought it if I wasnt.  I have had a few (53) cars and I can fairly confidently say it is one of my favorites (given its purposed/function)

Yeah I actually had to look it up before I posted. The Dart is being manufactured in Illinois. However my Dodge truck was built in Mexico.