Buying a small compact car, what would you choose?

I know its not a domestic but if your looking for mpg and excellent reliability go with a toyota echo and get 40mpg mixed driving and 45+ on the highway
 
I'd bet if Ford America would stop fiddling around with the U.S. model Focus and bring over the C1 in the Focus your opinion would change. Ford America just can't leave a good car alone.......



I have 2 2003 foci and love em. Ones for show and one's for daily driving.



The Focus has come a long way.



Check out Focaljet.com



dentless dave!! :xyxthumbs
 
The Chevrolet Optra and Aveo are versions of Daewoo, a Korean carbrand. The US Focus is made in the USA as far as I know. It's really hard to tell from which country a car really is these days. Here in Europe they make the Chryslers sold here; Neon, Sebring, 300C, Voyager, pT Cruiser. But the BMW X5 and MB ML are made in USA. :think:
 
From your list, I'd go with the Cobalt. One of the more refined small cars, and GM has come a long, long way on interiors compared to the old Cavalier. The Ecotec engine is the most reliable engine you'll find in a Ford or GM small car right now.



Otherwise, I'd go with a Mazda3. Hey, it's owned by Ford. Is that good enough?
 
Go with the Neon. If it's anything like my PT Cruiser, or the Dodge Stratus I had before that, or my sister's Ram pickup, you won't have a problem. Worst thing that happened to my Stratus in 55,000 miles was a burned out fog lamp and a rattle in the indash CD changer, both fixed under warranty. In the 20 months I've had the PT all I've had to do is change oil and fill the gas tank.
 
Mike-in-Orange said:
In the 20 months I've had the PT all I've had to do is change oil and fill the gas tank.
Click to expand...





Tell me about it. Reliability is great with the PT. It's the only Chrysler in CR that gets an 'above average' reliability rating. I've done some performance mods on mine, but other than that, it's just been oil changes, spark plugs, and a new set of tires. It's been as reliable as a Japanese car! (I hope it stays that way!)

:woohoo:
 
no tC for you then I guess.



You going for that discount for employee price huh. Get the Cobalt or updated Saturn Ion, it's almost the same thing anyways
 
Let's get a car that's 90% made in japan and when I loose my job, at least I'll still have a mazda3. Don't you people get the logic here?



Why does everyone have to argue with me when i said I want advice on a car manufactured by Chrysler, GM or Ford (well not really, ford really do suck).



I am not trying to disrespect anyone's advice here but I want to be respected too. I am not stupid and I know a Japanese car is better and light years ahead but that's not what I wanted to know. I appoligize if this offends any of you (I just can't stand it anymore).





On another note, we checked out the Chevy Cobalt. It is nice but it's a first year car. Is this on a totally new platform? Anyone know more info about this car? Where did the engine, transmission, chassis come from? Or did they build this car from the ground up?
 
The Cobalt, Ion, Pursuit are all on the same platform. The Cobalt, and I think the Pursuit (which isn't sold in the US) are built in Lordstown, Ohio. The 2.2L Ecotech L61 is built in Tonawanda, NY, Spring Hill, TN, and Kaiserslautern, Germany. It's reasonable to assume they wouldn't ship them from Germany to Ohio. The 4T45-E transmission is built in Windsor, Ontario.



I think the Ion looks pretty cool, but what do I know... It's built in Spring Hill, TN, and has the same engines and trannies as the Cobalt.



I take issue with you comment about Japan being light-years ahead, and also that Ford sucks. But whatever, there's little point in arguing about it.
 
IIRC, the last time I looked at a Civic window sticker it was 9x% domestic parts and built here. Doesn't seem to be taking too much away from this country to me. I *think* it's the same with a Corolla. Pick some cars, drive them and buy what you want. I'm sure you knew that if we can't agree on a polish having fillers that we wont agree on what car to buy.
 
Yes, Honda and Toyota are Japanese companies. By buying their vehicles, you are supporting them. But you are also supporting a lot of American jobs. Most of their cars are manufactured here now anyways. Americans work at those factories, too. And there's a lot of secondary American producers of alternators, radiators, etc. that also benefit by the Japanese companies building here.



When the columnist from the Detroit Free Press bought a Honda, his readers were outraged. In his reply, he said "what's more American, a Pontiac made in Australia, a Ford made in Canada, or a Honda made in Ohio?"



Heck, my PT is made in Mexico! From my point of view, just buy whatever vehicle fits your needs and price range and one that you like, regardless of manufacturer. If I'm spending my hard-earned dollars, I'm gonna get the best car I can find for my money! That's my logic, and sorry if that offends anyone. It's just one man's opinion.
 
I love this argueing about Japanese vs American vs German quality, especially when people make broad claims about one culture producing crap, or one brand being crap. Truth is, things have evened up so much with the globalization of all these companies, yet so many people stick to ideas that they formed years ago. Remember when "made in Japan" automatically meant it was junk? Ever see anyone have a bad experience with ONE sample of a manufacturer's product and proclaim that manufacturer to be garbage across the board? If that were true, then EVERYBODY builds crap! A friend of mine is going through the lemon law process on a 2005 BMW 540i - service from the dealership stinks and they claim they can't fix the problem, he'll just have to live with it. An old boss of mine had an E Class MB that was always in the shop. Does that make BMW and MB junk? Of course not. My last two Chrysler products were about as flawless as you can get, does that make Chrylser flawless? Of course not.



I appreciate people being passionate about cars, but what's with all the closed mindedness? I have three cars, a 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser Turbo, a 1999 Mazda Miata and a 1992 Chevrolet Camaro V6. I spend time at forums for all three, and you should see how the Miata and Camaro guys slam all kinds of makes - and they claim to be car guys, it's incredible!! Funny how the PT guys really don't do that, and I'm not quite sure why that is. My cars couldn't be more different from each other, and all are doing just fine thank you very much.



/rant
 
I would get a PONTIAC VIBE since it is a toyota. Here are the specs:



http://www.pontiac.com/specs/specs_content_files/specs_viewall.jsp?brand=vibe



I'm not a big fan of GM cars because I've owned two myself and they went to crap. Which is too bad cause I really loved them when I had them. Now that I own my Lexus I dont think i could go back to a GM, Chrysler or Ford. I can't diss other companies they make great cars that I want but sometimes its all a matter of looks vs reliablity. All in all these are just my thoughts. I'm open minded. I love some american cars out there, the vette is a gorgeous car. Hell yesterday I gave this guy in a tricked out Ford Focus with spinner hub cabs thumbs up just cause he had the courage to put flourcent spinners on his car. :LOLOL To each his own and whatever makes you happy. Just cause I like it doesnt mean you will and that's why everyone drives something different.
 
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