# Opinions on small cars sought **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 3, 2016, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-small-cars-sought/753757 "2016-05-03T04:21:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-small-cars-sought/753757/41 "2016-05-09T05:03:12Z")
And why a manual? (I’m a manual guy myself but that’s for the involvement factor.) It’s outmoded to think that manuals get better mileage than automatics. It’s either the same or the automatic now has the higher rating (and better acceleration to boot). Cost? On a lot of the different trims - it’s automatics that are standard equipment. Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-small-cars-sought/753757/42 "2016-05-09T05:40:00Z")
Before you buy a Fiat 500, do a little research about how Consumer Reports feels about that car. IIRC, it made the 10 worst list. Toyota always seems to make the 10 best list, look there. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-small-cars-sought/753757/43 "2016-05-09T13:48:56Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Toyota always seems to make the 10 best list, look there. Agreed. Toyota is the king of small cars. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-small-cars-sought/753757/44 "2016-05-09T14:03:11Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Agreed. Toyota is the king of small cars. I dunno. When I bought my latest car ('09) the Yaris was nowhere near as much car as the Fit, and it’s not like a person is giving up any reliability with the Fit. I certainly have no regrets buying mine. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-small-cars-sought/753757/45 "2016-05-09T14:08:04Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > I dunno. When I bought my latest car ('09) the Yaris was nowhere near as much car as the Fit, and it’s not like a person is giving up any reliability with the Fit. I certainly have no regrets buying mine. That’s an important point, you can’t choose the best car for your needs based on brand alone. Year after year, model by model, Toyota does better than the rest, but I can’t say every car they sell is the best in it’s class every year. But if you’re going to choose based on brand for small cars you’ll pick the winner most often with Toyota. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-small-cars-sought/753757/46 "2016-05-09T14:10:53Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > > [@DrDeth](#): > > > > When was the last time you had a flat? 😕 > > About eight months ago I ran over a nail. I plugged the tire, and it was fine. I had another one where I curbed it and broke the bead seal. I overinflated it to seal it, and no more problems. I was afraid it would need sealer, but it didn’t. It was a fairly new tire. I’m lucky I didn’t damage the sidewall. I’ve had flats also, but I think they are vastly less common than in decades past. And if you want, you can get run-flat tires using [various technologies](http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=56). (Because, as I said, the spare tire well in a Honda Fit doesn’t look like it will fit a full size spare tire. And I suspect this is true of many cars today.) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-small-cars-sought/753757/47 "2016-05-09T17:23:49Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Agreed. Toyota is the king of small cars. Great cars, but all their sales staff are crooks. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-small-cars-sought/753757/48 "2016-05-09T17:24:58Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > I dunno. When I bought my latest car ('09) the Yaris was nowhere near as much car as the Fit, and it’s not like a person is giving up any reliability with the Fit. I certainly have no regrets buying mine. Honda beats Toyota, agreed. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-small-cars-sought/753757/49 "2016-05-09T20:21:52Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > 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. I have a 2007 Fit and have had no repairs, except I replaced the battery last winter after it would not start following a three week vacation. I dont drive much; under 20,000 miles total. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-small-cars-sought/753757/50 "2016-05-10T01:07:26Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Honda beats Toyota, agreed. Unfortunately, Honda went with the CVT a few years ago. Since then Consumer Reports has reported a major increase in dissatisfied owners with Honda products. In fact, Honda (and Acura due to problems with the 8AT and 9AT) has continued working their way down the list while Toyota and Lexus remain steady at the top. Audi also did really well as did Mazda. Mercedes, Nissan many Chrysler/Jeep prodicts sucked really bad - including Fiat. These ratings aren’t the result of their “experts” rating cars, but from a survey of (IIRC) several hundred thousand owners rating their cars and how happy they are with the purchase. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-small-cars-sought/753757.md?page=2)