it is time...

[chhotii]

Apparently the exhaust system on the VW is on the verge of falling off. We've been given the estimate that it would take $2200 to fix this. Seems like throwing good money after bad, at this point, considering everything...

So, sooner than expected, I am very much in the market for a new car. Parameters: 4-door, preferably hatchback, reliable, good gas mileage (but NOT a Prius, uh-uh, no way).

Opinions (and test drives!) of cars fitting these parameters welcome.

Comments

[totient]

5-door hatches are getting popular again, which is lovely. My current favorites are the Toyota Yaris and the Ford Focus. For the Yaris I only like the hatchback (sold internationally as the Vitz) and not the sedan/coupe (aka Platz/Belta). For the Focus I only like the European models, which were imported into the US for the first and third (current) generations, but not the second (2008-2011). I have not driven a Mazda2 but it might be worth trying. I want to like the Honda Fit, but I just don't.

ETA: Oops, posted this in the wrong place; moving to top.

[feste-sylvain.livejournal.com]

I have the Yaris coupe, and I like it. It's as reliable as you expect from a Toyota, which is something that disappointed me greatly when I had a Volkswagen (VW/Audi really doesn't expect their vehicles to last much past 100,000 miles).

I get 40-44 mpg.

[tb]

Are there specific things you don't like about the Fit or is it more of an overall "meh"? I ask because I'm wondering if there's overlap with the things I don't like now that I have one. (It's still been a large net win for me over the aging Old Blue, though I still wish I could have just bought a new version of same.)

[totient]

I just didn't think it was comfortable.