# What kind of car should I get? (Need answer sort of fast) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 14, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-should-i-get-need-answer-sort-of-fast/782192 "2017-03-14T20:52:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ssgenius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@ssgenius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ssgenius)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-should-i-get-need-answer-sort-of-fast/782192/21 "2017-03-15T00:21:08Z")
In regards to cars Most places even in rural areas will have a Toyota dealership Less common is Honda, Subaru, Kia, Nissan, Hyundai although there are a surprising number of them around but you will have to check. Generally, new cars are fairly good but any major problems will have to get them to the dealer. Parts are still available, but they may have to be ordered as only the common parts will be in stock. One thing that surprised me is that Volkswagen is the world’s highest seller of cars (More than GM or Toyota) although in the USA, Volkswagen is suffering from the Dieselgate ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-should-i-get-need-answer-sort-of-fast/782192/22 "2017-03-15T04:21:04Z")
1989 BMW 325 is. Best car you’ll ever drive. (Wish I had one) ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-should-i-get-need-answer-sort-of-fast/782192/23 "2017-03-15T08:34:48Z")
Thundercougarfalconbird! j/k, I’d say a used Civic SI if you can find one previously owned by a sane adult. More pep, larger than your Fit by quite a bit, but if you rev it, it has a lot more pep. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-should-i-get-need-answer-sort-of-fast/782192/24 "2017-03-15T08:50:49Z")
FWIW, I am leaning towards the CX-5 right now, but the OP sounds like he wants something smaller and I need bigger right now. I live in the mountainish west - Subarus sprout up like cockroaches around here. Impreza and Legacy are their smaller sedan/hatchback models (also BRZ is small, but that’s not AWD). VX Crosstrek is sort of the same niche as HR-V. > [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > **RivkahChaya** , that’s also good advice which I hadn’t considered. I’m thinking Arizona or Nevada. Or New Mexico - what are emissions standards like there? Smog in NV and AZ are only in bigger city metros - Las Vegas, Reno, Phoenix, Tucson. Looks like NM is only around Albuquerque? AZ also has the crazy long driver’s license terms that last until 65, but sounds like that might not apply unless you’re retiring young. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-should-i-get-need-answer-sort-of-fast/782192/25 "2017-03-15T16:19:50Z")
> [@ssgenius](#): > > One thing to remember is any servicing or parts. > > Try to stick to a car or a brand that has lots of parts available (ie something fairly common) > > I would be a little reluctant to get a KIA unless there is a dealership fairly close. > Thanks Huh? Where have you been living? Kias are common as dirt, & so are the dealers, parts aplenty. ---
**Author:** ![ssgenius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@ssgenius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ssgenius)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-should-i-get-need-answer-sort-of-fast/782192/26 "2017-03-15T18:22:19Z")
I stand corrected on KIA More Kia’s around than I thought and since they are owned by Hyundai, parts should be more common. [List of manufacturers by motor vehicle production - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_manufacturers_by_motor_vehicle_production) Still, check on dealership availability in the area, no matter who makes it Thanks ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-should-i-get-need-answer-sort-of-fast/782192/27 "2017-03-15T19:11:12Z")
> [@ssgenius](#): > > I stand corrected on KIA > > More Kia’s around than I thought and since they are owned by Hyundai, parts should be more common. > > [List of manufacturers by motor vehicle production - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_manufacturers_by_motor_vehicle_production) > > Still, check on dealership availability in the area, no matter who makes it > > Thanks Well yes, but those numbers are worldwide production. Nevertheless, it looks like Kia is[#8 in sales](http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2016/12/usa-auto-sales-brand-results-november-2016-ytd.html) in the US, right behind Hyundai. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-should-i-get-need-answer-sort-of-fast/782192/28 "2017-03-16T17:37:18Z")
Consider a 2016 or 2017 VW Jetta with the 1.4 liter engine. I have one of these, and that engine must be running on voodoo. The torque is such that it accelerates like a sports car, yet I can routinely break 40mpg. It’s a turbo, yet it runs on regular gas instead of premium. If more people knew about this engine, this car would be selling a lot better. But because it’s poorly advertised, and because of VW’s other issues, it’s ignored, and available cheaply. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-should-i-get-need-answer-sort-of-fast/782192/29 "2017-03-16T18:36:46Z")
I wouldn’t normally suggest a lease but it might make sense if your vehicle needs are likely to change in a few years. leasehackr would be a site to check strategies to get the best deals. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-should-i-get-need-answer-sort-of-fast/782192/30 "2017-03-16T18:53:00Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > Thundercougarfalconbird! Those have a tendency to claw up your driveway. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-should-i-get-need-answer-sort-of-fast/782192/31 "2017-03-16T19:10:54Z")
Instead of looking for a 6-cylander with a good amount of horsepower, look for a 4-banger with a turbo. That way, you have the gas mileage of a 4, but the pep of a turbo. My old Saab had that and I loved being able to zip around when I needed to without paying the penalty in gas milage. I was in the same situation (kinda) as you a couple weeks ago, I ended up getting a Chevy Cruze Hatchback. It has the smaller/engine turbo combo I mentioned, but the turbo is a bit lacking compared to my Saab. That being said, it still has some good getupandgo and the options I got fit me perfectly! ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-should-i-get-need-answer-sort-of-fast/782192/32 "2017-03-16T22:31:39Z")
A Subaru [Crosstrek](http://www.subaru.com/vehicles/crosstrek/index.html) might fit the bill. A little larger than a Civic but decent on gas, reliable and roomy. Plus, it has AWD if you do get tempted to drive up in the snowy bits like Flagstaff in the winter. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-should-i-get-need-answer-sort-of-fast/782192/33 "2017-03-16T23:01:08Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > A Subaru [Crosstrek](http://www.subaru.com/vehicles/crosstrek/index.html) might fit the bill. A little larger than a Civic but decent on gas, reliable and roomy. Plus, it has AWD if you do get tempted to drive up in the snowy bits like Flagstaff in the winter. Yes! My Impreza hatchback has been doing well in the snow but the extra clearance Clarence would come in handy for out there. Plus, Hyper Blue! ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-should-i-get-need-answer-sort-of-fast/782192/34 "2017-03-17T00:26:28Z")
Subaru ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-should-i-get-need-answer-sort-of-fast/782192/35 "2017-03-17T15:46:50Z")
+1 on the Hyper Blue. The orange looks good IRL as well. Now if only they’d drop the WRX drivetrain into one… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-should-i-get-need-answer-sort-of-fast/782192/36 "2017-03-18T01:31:45Z")
> [@](#): > > I just need a little more juice for climbing steep grades Why? Any modern car should climb a hill easily. I drove a base Fiesta all over the mountains surrounding Mexico City, and it was fine, and that was thin air (my 1999 Expedition seemed a lot slower in Arizona). If you really want juice, consider a Mustang! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-car-should-i-get-need-answer-sort-of-fast/782192.md?page=1)