<p>I will be in the market for a small commuter car and would like some opinions- anyone have experience with the Honda Fit, Toyota Versa or Hyundai Accent? What do you think of them or any other small car.</p>
<p>I buy and hold my current vehicle was purchased 02/1994- I plan to keep it a few more years. This car will be for D but if the 1994 dies I will take the new car from her to use until we can afford to get her another car.</p>
<p>My d picked up an '05 Hyundai Accent, 2dr model from a retired gent with low mileage for an excellent price. Previous Hyundai owners we talked with had nothing but praise. She’s had it a few months, and I’m impressed.</p>
<p>We had a '77 Civic and '87 Civic wagon, both new, and drove the first for 10plus years, and the second for 17. No major issues other than standard maintenance. Very reliable and dependable, and great snow cars if that is an issue. </p>
<p>We replaced the '87 with an '05 Scion XB. It was the best out there at the point we looked, and the price was extremely reasonable for the vehicle. Found it a better value thanthe Honda Element the wife was also seriously considering. I find the Scion less effective in the snow than our previous Hondas, even with front mounted snows.</p>
<p>Son drives a number of cars for his day job and finds fault with many. He leans to the Toyota and Honda models and is seriously considering the Fit as his first new car purchase.</p>
<p>The Wall Street Journal reviewed the Honda Fit a month or so ago (I could be off on my timing) and regarded it as the best small car. It sounds really good.</p>
<p>I’d get the Fit.</p>
<p>It’s the most fun to drive, and it’s the best car of the three. The Yaris is garbage, the Accent/Rio aren’t spectacular either. The Versa is pretty decent, but the Fit does most things better. If you can wait a year or so, the Ford Fiesta will be out. That will be the class leader. Euro Fords are phenomenal.</p>
<p>How about the Scion xD- is Scion less expensive than Toyota?</p>
<p>My first post should be Toyota Yaris- the Versa is Nissan correct?</p>
<p>ro5- what do you mean by Euro Ford? We had bad luck with a previous Ford so it will take some convincing to try them again</p>
<p>The Fiesta is a European designed Ford. They’re MUCH, much, much better than what we get over here. Google the Ford Mondeo, and Euro Focus (try C1 Focus). </p>
<p>Basically, it’s sold in Europe, where Ford is flourishing, and it’s a terrific car. I’d say it’s probably better than the Fit, and infinitely better than the Yaris/Accent/Rio.</p>
<p>[YouTube</a> - Top Gear Ford Fiesta proper roadtest](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bln9LdnWsnc]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bln9LdnWsnc)
Check out this review of it. It’s coming here next year as a 2011 model. You won’t be sorry.</p>
<p>EDIT ^beat me to it</p>
<p>fords that are currently only available in europe, such as the fiesta. And I agree, if you can hold out for the fiesta, it is supposed to be a great car (is great in europe but they have to tweak a few things for american laws)</p>
<p>I looked at a bunch of small inexpensive efficient cars a few months ago before my old car was saved from the dead and the new car purchase was shelved.</p>
<p>Personally, I loved the Scion XB, but even the new one is a little clownish although more streamlined and better looking than its predecessor.</p>
<p>The Honda Fit is too small for me. My former neighbor has one and was thrilled with it, so I know they are popular. I am also a little disappointed that it doesn’t get even better mileage but apparently the weaker engine needs a lower gearset to make it go which sacrifices mileage. Can’t beat a Honda Civic, but the new ones have a very steep front windshield that bugs me.</p>
<p>Hyundai’s are scary good. (I rented one recently) I just can’t get past the Korean origin. At least the Japanese are manufacturing some of their cars here. </p>
<p>The car that really surprised me and is worth a look is the Chevy Cobalt. I expected a cheap feeling/looking/driving econobox but it just felt like a regular car and drove real nice.</p>
<p>Oh, and the quality on the Yaris is horrible.</p>
<p>Ignore Consumers’ Reports, Forbes and the WSJ. 99% of the time, their automotive journalists know nothing. </p>
<p>Check out Car and Driver, Road and Track, Motor Trend, Automobile Magazine, and in the case of the Fiesta/Fit, maybe even Evo magazine.</p>
<p>We considered the Yaris and the Fit when we bought at 2007 Civic. We test drove and liked the Fit but, on some gut level, couldn’t get past its size. In particular, the distance between the back bumper and the rear tires and seat in that car class leave me concerned for survival of back passengers in a rear end collision. Perhaps there’s data to refute this…as I said, it was just a gut feeling.</p>
<p>I don’t know how they compare in cost but I’d go for a Mazda 3 or a Subaru Impreza before the others mentioned in this thread.</p>
<p>They’re a class above what he’s looking for.</p>
<p>ro5- the Fiesta was a sharp looking car. It reminded me of the Mazda3.</p>
<p>As you can tell I am not a car guy- I want a dependable car that is good on gas. The only reason I have to consider style is my D- she likes the Mazda 3 or the Scion TC but if they are way more expensive she can wait untill she buys her first car. My goal is to get her through school with zero loans so price will be an issue when I make a car purchase. This will be my car which I will let her use (she needs a car next semester for her education class) since I will be using the car for work I do not mind using the old car. This will keep the miles down on the new one until the old car dies. I will also consider used cars but not being a car person I have some concerns with used cars. Since I keep a car so long I am not overly concerned with the immediate depreciation.</p>
<p>Well if you’re looking at style, you could check out a 2007 Saab 9-3.</p>
<p>They depreciate like used underwear, so you could score one THAT cheap. No joke.</p>
<p>My s looked at the Nissan Sentra and Versa and the small Toyota (I forget the model) but bought, and <em>loves</em>, the 2009 Mazda 3i Touring sedan. If you’re not in a hurry, the 2010 is coming out in the spring with some new features and a redesign (though some think the front grill on it looks like a giant smile). The deals on the Mazda were incredible. He got a great trade in on my old minivan and he got he car for like $2500 under INVOICE. They were practically giving the cars away.</p>
<p>** Read the edmunds forums on car buying deals/prices paid in your area. Also read the “real cost to own” section of each car-- it cosiders depreciation, maintenance, insurance, etc to determine these additional costs.
Good luck!</p>
<p>ro, I think tom is looking for a reliable car.</p>
<p>Tom, we considered the same car models and ended up with another Corolla hatchback. Are you looking for a new car or a gently used one?</p>
<p>Have you check the data with the insurance institute for front and side impact? If your daughter is an inexperienced driver, the crash test information may be important to you.</p>
<p>Ditto twomules’s advice. Not all of these small cars have side reinfocement or side airbags available as options.</p>
<p>Also agree about the side airbags, curtain airbags, etc. And also antilock brakes. Very important. The mazda had all these features as standard, whereas DS had to look at a model with more options to get these features on the Nissan. Do give the Mazda a serious look.
And LOL about the Saab, BB!</p>
<p>The only thing ds doesnt like about his car-- it seems to be target practice for birds. Constant bird poo on the blue car! So maybe don’t get blue?? I dunno</p>