It seems I have no luck with cars…once they’re paid off I find a way to total them. Anyways…I’m looking for a new car. I don’t think I’d like to spend more than 8-12k on something. So I’ll be looking in the slightly used market. I could be more flexible if the car really met my needs.
Here’s essentially what I’m looking for:
- Cheap to operate.
- Reliable
- Hatchback or wagon. Must have good cargo capacity.
- More of a city car than a highway car. I will be commuting for three months then I will be living in the city.
- Fun to drive would be nice…not a requirement.
- A car I could actually sleep in would be cool when I go travelling.
As a frame of reference…my last car was a 2009 Mazda 3. I really enjoyed it and would consider another one. I’ve thought about a Honda Fit, Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Matrix. If I’m in the used market perhaps something more upscale might be cool…maybe a Subaru Outback?
I have a VW Rabbit - my second one, actually. For most of the model’s lifetime, VW has called it the Golf, but, back in the '80s an again in the late Naughties, they badged it as the Rabbit.
It has good mileage, is very reliable, has way more space in it than you would think, is quite comfortable for this 6’5" guy, is great in cities, and is fun to drive. Not sure about the sleeping part.
The Subaru Impreza is closer in size and price to the other cars you’re considering, but still has the awesome Subaru AWD system, so much better snow handling than its front-wheel drive econobox competitors.
In the spirit of inexpensive to operate and roomy, how about the VW sport wagon TDI?
A Subaru wagon would be a good choice as well but I’m not sure the mileage figures are that great.
You can probably find a good used Honda Accord wagon as well. Or for that matter, a Toyota Camry wagon.
I have an 07 Rabbit that I ADORE (we’re at its well-baby check right now… 
). I’m consistently amazed at the amount of stuff that fits in it…gas mileage is great, handles beautifully, and the car-obsessed boyfriend thinks it’s awesome and loves driving it. I would definitely recommend it ( or the Golf ). I can sleep in anything, so I’m not a good judge there, but I’ve had no problems napping in it.
The Accord wagon disappeared from North America in '97 and the Camry wagon disappeared in '96. In what is surely a happy coincidence, the less efficient and more expensive CR-V and Rav-4 SUV’s came out right about then.
That long? Damn…
Well, there’s always the VW Passat wagon option.
I’m currently driving a 2005 Toyota Corolla that we bought with a handful of kms on it eight years ago - I have no complaints. Small, manoeuvrable, easy on gas, good on the highway, good in the city, surprisingly large hauling capacity, reliable, not terribly expensive to buy - I think it fits all your criteria.
My wife and I bought a used 2006 Mazda3 hatchback for her to commute with. It definitely qualifies as “fun to drive”, as much as anything short of a proper hot hatchback. It’s served us well for a number of road trips between New England and the Midwest.
I’d look at the Volvo C30. It’s not your father’s Volvo. Turbocharged straight-5? Yes please.
Mazda3 is definitely a good one to look at, I’d also check out the Honda Fit and Ford Focus, and maybe Subaru Forester.
I love my Subaru Outback. I’m thinking of getting a used Impreza for my son to drive in a couple of years (he’s only 14 now).
A lot of these cars don’t meet your first criterion. The Golf/Rabbit is a nice car (we have a '08 Rabbit) but it is NOT cheap to own. It has relatively crappy gas mileage, too.
A pair of cars that meet almost all your requirements are the Honda Element and Scion xB. These two boxes on wheels are both reliable, not too expensive, have AWESOME cargo space for their size, great for city driving and you can probably sleep in them (definitely the Element). Maybe not so fun to drive, but 5 out of 6 ain’t bad.
Consider the Honda Fit. Best car I have ever owned, ever ever. Great headroom says my six foot husband but you would have to be rather dwarfish to sleep in it. I could (5’2") though. Very frugal on the gas, fun to drive, inexpensive to buy, reliable, and a clown-car amount of cargo room. The Honda step up is the Element but you are looking at only average mileage and rather like driving a sawed off bus in feel.
Golf TDI’s have great fuel mileage (about 43 MPG, I’d estimate). They aren’t exactly cheap though; even 2001 models run for around $6000 - $7000 because they’re so rare, speaking from personal experience.
I second Ulfreida–I’ve heard great things about Honda Fits (although I don’t own one). If I could afford a more recent car, I would most likely go for that one myself.
A good NEW option would be a 2012 Nissan Versa Hatchback. There is no 2013 Hatchback, just the ugly redesigned Sedan, but they are still selling the Hatchback as a 2012 model.
For $15k (give or take a few hundred bucks) you can get a 1.8S Hatchback with the Special Edition Package. It has power everything, automatic transmission, alloy wheels, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity with voice activation, leather-wrapped steering wheel and even upgraded interior upholstery and headliner. It’s a lot of car for the money and it ‘feels’ like a more upscale car than the price suggests.
Being able to sleep in it might be your biggest limiting factor. Pretty much every hatchback I’ve seen has back seats that fold down not quite flat with a very uncomfortable looking ridge. A quick google search tells me that the Jetta Sportwagen and Honda Fit might have seats that fold flat.
Actually, the Honda Element which was made from 2003-2011 had seats that would fold into a bed formation! I forgot about it until just now, but it was one of numerous unique and very cool features!
If you like (or can live with) the boxy looks, the Element is based on Accord mechanicals and actually is quite nice to drive.
I think the sleeping in priority is the lowest.
The Fit’s back seats fold completely flat. I’ve hauled a 300’ roll of 4’ woven wire fencing, a bale of hay, a wheelbarrow, sacks of cement . . . right now it has an ironing board in it. It’s a good lil car.