Opinions on small cars sought

In My Humble Opinion
1

So, people who saw my thread on selling a old car already know I’m on the market for a new car.

We have a Subaru Impreza, and for the car I buy, we want something small. I had a Geo Metro once, and it was a fantastic car.

Right now, I’m looking very seriously at the Chevy Spark. It has the highest possible safety rating, and gets almost the same gas mileage as a Prius.

I have also heard good things about the Yaris, although I haven’t looked up anything about it, just heard things from owners.

I test drove a Mini Cooper, and it was great, but it’s safety rating is not quite as good.

The Fiat 500 is now manufactured here, even though it’s technically still a European car. It’s very common, and I’m not worried about getting parts for it, which is the big concern with European cars. It’s safety rating is not as good as the Spark, but I am having trouble finding a Spark with a manual transmission, and most of the 500s do.

I’ve eliminated the Smart car, because its rear mounted engine is very loud.

If you own a small or sub-compact car, please tell me about it. If you like it, what do you like; if you don’t why not? if you had any problems with it, what were they?

I know some of these do not come with spares, but I already buy full-sized spares for cars with donut spares buy getting a junkyard wheel and a cheap (or used) tire, so I’m already prepared for this. I own a small hydraulic jack, a plug kit, and an air compressor, so I’m set on tires.

Pretty soon, my son will legally be allowed to ride in the front, but he is still short enough to ride comfortably in the back of all of the cars I’ve looked at so far. When the whole family goes somewhere, we’ll take the Impreza.

2

Modern cars without spare tires don’t even have a well to stow one. If you want to carry one, you’ll have to bolt it to the roof, or on the back seat…

I don’t see any advantage to the “very small” cars, like the ones you listed. Unless you are completely anal about gas mileage, a car like a Corolla or Civic is small enough to give you all the advantages of small, but still give you a sense of space and a decent road experience. And also a measure of quality that is not found in many of the very-smalls.

3

Miata?

4

I’ve never owned one, but Honda Fit owners seem very happy with theirs.

Fiat the concern isn’t so much finding parts as that you will need parts sooner than other brands.

OP mentions a son, and even when he graduates to the front seat that will be a tight fit.

5

Look for a good used 1994 Acura Integra. They’re great cars.

:smiley:

6

Based on my own personal research, test driving and purchase of a Mazda3 last year, I think you should at least put it on your list to consider. It’s not Spark or Fiat 500 small, but the mileage is comparable (depending on your right foot) and it’s readily available with a 6MT that is a joy to drive.

The Spark is considerably less expensive while the Fiat 500 is a lot closer in price. All but the 500 Turbo model puts you in ~100HP vehicle. The Turbo 500 puts you above base price of the Mazda3 and is still only 135HP. The base 2L Mazda engine is 155HP before you add dollars to move up to the 185HP 2.5L. I chose to add those dollars, but even the 2L Mazda3 felt very capable with a 6MT when I test drove it. I did not test drive any automatics, but it doesn’t sound like you’re interested in them anyway.

I’m not a horsepower size queen, but 98HP (even in a 2300lb. Spark) sounds pretty anemic to me. The Fiat 500 base model is 101HP, also around 2300lbs. Also, the Mazda comes with a donut spare. Not sure about the Spark or 500. I haven’t had a single regret about my purchase decision.

7

The Yaris has gotten some fairly bad reviews; Consumer Reports gave it a score of 55 (the RAV4 got a 76 and the Camry an 83, for comparison) and said it was “slow, noisy, and tinny, with a choppy ride and an awkward driving position”.

The Spark is built by GM Korea, which used to be Daewoo. You know how, after a rocky start with crummy cars, the Korean company Hyundai started seriously trying to build better cars, and has managed to do that well enough to have generated quite a good reputation for themselves? Well, Daewoo isn’t that company. In fact, it’s difficult to argue that Daewoo has ever built a good car.

8

The Mini is as fun to drive as any other small car, but as you mention, the safety rating isn’t the best. If that’s important to you, the aforementioned Honda Fit is about as good as it gets for B segment or smaller car.

9

I’d add the Hyundai Accent to the list of cars to consider. Available with a manual transmission. I have a 2001, and I think it’s a great car for my commute. I imagine they have improved them in 15 years.

10

We have a Sonata, which isn’t small by any means, but I’m very pleased with the company and the quality. My sister and my inlaws have Elantras, which fall between the Sonata and the Accent, and both seem quite happy.

I had a Scion xA that I loved, and altho they no longer make it, the Honda Fit was its equivalent, and if I was looking for a similar vehicle, I’d be checking that out. For as small as it was, it could haul a lot of stuff!

My daughter drives a Ford Fiesta, and she seems to like it well enough. I don’t know if they still make them. I don’t much keep track of little cars - in my old age, I’m way more interested in comfort. Give me a living room on wheels! :smiley:

11

I have the Hyundai Accent, and it’s been decent for the price, but if I was shopping for another small car, I’d be looking for more safety features. Not just good crash test ratings, but I’d want some of the new stuff like collision avoidance alert systems or auto braking and backup cameras. I think the new Prius would be my pick, for the Pre-Collision System and Lane Departure Alert.

12

I tired a Fiat 500 as a loaner car from the dealer a few years ago, and it seriously felt underpowered. I didn’t like the way it shifted (It was an automatic), and I didn’t like the interior ergonomics.

I did enjoy parking it since I could squeeze into spots that I never could with my regular car.

Do you need a back seat? If not, I agree with steronz. Get a Miata.

13

I drive a Yaris. It’s a good little commuter car. If there was more than just me and an occasional passenger, It would get cramped though. I’m with Rocketeer on the Spark. It’s just a Daewoo with a bow tie.

I test drove the Ford Fiesta and am seriously considering it as my next car.

One thing to check for any compact/subcompact that you buy if you go for an automatic transmission: don’t get one with a VTI transmission. They work well for snowmobiles but not so much for cars.

14

I love my 2007 VW Rabbit and wouldn’t trade it for the world, but as I was shopping around the Mazda 2 and 3 tied for a close second place. I’d look into both of those.

15

I’m curious as to why you’re not worried about parts availability, and why you think this model is common. I think you’ll find that parts and service availability is worse than it is for many other European cars, for which the availability is not great.

16

Availability of Fiat parts and service is a consideration, depending on location. My first car was a Fiat. Living in San Francisco and going to college in Santa Barbara CA, Fiat parts and service were readily available. But on a cross country road trip, SF to Albany NY, Cape Cod, Washington DC, Key West, Santa Barbara and back to SF, it was a serious consideration.

As for a small car, another vote for the Honda Fit here. My niece loves hers, and at 6’0" she is not short. My brother and me, I’m 6’0" and he’s 6’2" so we’re not small also, we comfortably had a fourth adult with us in her Fit. Great space utilization in that car. Good headroom, front and back.

17

My wife and I are very happy with our Honda Fit (2009 model). It’s been perfectly reliable - the only mechanical problem has been a finicky gas cover latch, which was replaced under warranty. It’s very roomy for a car that size, and I especially appreciate that the rear seats fold completely flat.

Our biggest complaint is that the sun visors are ineffective, especially when swung over to the side windows. Not a big deal for me though. Also, visibility isn’t great (thick A pillars, high “shoulders”) but I think it’s typical of modern cars in its class.

18

The only really small car I would consider would be the Honda Fit, which is pretty much universally hailed as the best mini car. I doubt I’d really consider any of the mini cars mentioned in the first post. In all likelihood, I would move up to the next size class and look at a Honda Civic, Subaru Imprezza or Mazda 3. As mentioned, you really don’t gain that much fuel efficiency in a mini car compared to much more functional cars a bit larger. Parking is certainly easier with small vehicles, so perhaps that’s a factor.

I just looked at the specs on the Chevy Spark. Wow, is that a tiny car. Quite a bit smaller than the Fit, and even moreso compared to the 500.

19

I love my Corolla and it’s dependability. My second choice was the Mazda3.

20

We have a 2015 Honda Fit and like it. It’s got a stiffer suspension than most small cars (not as stiff as a Mini Cooper or a Miata), but I think that makes it fun to drive. The versatility of the back seat folding up or down for different sized storage is awesome. The gas mileage is great. The infotainment system is mediocre (but, all cars kind of suck on this, in my opinion).

I’ve test-driven the Yaris and hated it. The visibility seemed bad and the layout of the console was awkward. I know other people who like it, so test drive.