Hatchback shopping wisdom
 

Not sure, but we may be in the market for a car. Looking for wisdom.

Trying to keep costs in check. Strongly prefer a manual. A three door would be ideal. New or used are both fine. Need functional, not fancy. Prefer smaller than larger. Prefer something more spiritually similar to the Honda CRX than to a four door sedan with a bigger trunk.

Just for giggles, think about an $7k budget or a $20k budget. Yes, those are very different price points and the higher price point rules out some options to buy new. I've done online shopping and have some of my own ideas, but don't want to influence the Pelican brain trust other than offering the list below as lead candidates:

VW Golf?
Hyundai Veloster?
Mini Cooper?
Mazda 3?
Ford Focus?
Toyota 86?

Recommendations welcome. Mostly looking to make sure I'm not excluding an obvious silver bullet solution.

Thanks all!

Honda Fit. Lightweight and finiky.
Lexus CT 200h. Short and wide.
Prius C. Discontinued 2019.

Second the Fit....find a manual.
With the vtech....lots of pep out of a small engine...plus 40mpg

I have a 2008 Toyota Yaris in manual. Been about as trouble free as you could hope; gets 40mpg and hauls stuff fairly well.

Couple drawbacks: the seat is uncomfortable for any real distance- I think it is due to it not going back far enough for my almost 6ft height, so my leg is always slightly elevated off the seat; gauges in the middle of the dash- stupidest design ever; you drive looking forward; lastly, the dash is lit during the day and with daytime running lights, it is pretty easy to drive off at night without turning your lights on.

Otherwise a decent car. I have almost 150,000 miles on mine.

I have a focus st it has been completely without issue for the 30k miles and 3 years I have had it. Transmission shifts great power is pretty good and get 28 mpg mixed. Suspension tuning is firm and sophisticated. Interior is a bit cheap but seems durable. The smaller fiesta st is probably closer to the crx in ethos and really a riot to drive.

Mazda 3

Focus in a manual would also be a good pick. The auto had some issues. If the thought "Hyundai Veloster" crosses your mind get that thought out of your head QUICKLY.

We have a Focus ST with close to 200,000 miles on it. No issues at all. It started life as my husband's daily driver and was given to my son as his first car. He learned how to drive a manual on that car and now drives it to college classes across town. We have never needed a new clutch or tranny rebuild even with the new driver. As far as interior: there hasn't been any deterioration of seats or trim, even with a teen driver for the last 5 years.

We also have a Focus RS, which is way out of your budget, but it, even with a tune, has been problem free for 200,000 miles also.

I think a Fiesta ST sounds more your desired size (3 door). I would think you could have a similar result as far as longevity.

I have a hankerin' for a hot hatch myself, RS flavored Ford probably be just the thing to scratch that itch. Can be had in obnoxious color schemes, fast, makes the right noises. Bright colors are more important than ever, in the days of smart phones and touchscreen climate control and GPS

Abarth 500?

Subaru Impreza. You can probably get a new base model with a 5 speed for around $20k. The Sport model also is available with a 5 speed. Probably have to get pre-owned in your price range.

I successfully completed my search for a 2015+ (mk7) gti stick with under 80k miles and I ballparked under $11k. Found one that needs some cosmetic love but mechanically it’s all there with a good service history.

The car is a blast to drive

If you go mk6 or go golf instead of gti I think you’d be able to hit the 7k price point.

Yes. And yes again. My '16 has been "more than adequate".

Up here at 7200' it could use more oomph but at sea level it's zippy enough - though you can tell the suspension and handling could manage another hundred HP.

(why did mazdaspeed have to die?)

My 2006 Acura RSX Type-S was the best car I have ever owned.

Three years ago we bought a Golf which had just come off lease. We have put about 60,000 kilometers on it since then and we love it.
Of course it is our 7th VW in almost 40 years. We tend to keep them 10 years or so.

Best
Les

Yaris or Fit

I picked up a 2012 Golf TDI with DSG two years ago as a DD, third TDI.
Love it , 550 mile range is great too.
Seats are the same ones used in the GTI, just a different fabric and the suspension is a little more firmer compared to the gasser but not as firm as the GTI.

Also has 4 years/48,000 mile warranty since the date of the fix for all of the fuel components, turbo, emissions and exhaust.

Newer Mazda3 for simplicity and toss-able fun. Focus ST or MazdaSpeed3 for power. Fiesta ST for fun if small size isn’t a concern.

Some good suggestions here! Big spread in terms of sportiness, if you want fun the Focus ST and GTI are the best bets named thus far. Mazda3 is probably a good middle ground. I would add the Fiesta ST as a contender, much of the same goodness as the Focus ST but smaller and more tossable (and less money). I compared the GTI, Focus ST, and Fiesta ST back in 2014-ish and ended up buying the Focus ST from Sid’s (Porsche4Life) parents. One other suggestion, the current body style Civic Si isn’t a hatch back but it is VERY good. If I needed a fun and economical daily driver it would be my first choice, I actually prefer it over the Type R.

my brother has an 01 gti with the 1.8t its a great car he did a few small mods that really woke it up.

Thanks all. Really appreciate the feedback. Keep it coming if you haven't already weighed in.

I have a 1997 VW GTI that has been a real workhorse (hauled a hundred bricks yesterday). It has been fun. My bias is towards a VW world but we've had good success with Hondas in the past. Never would have thought about a Fit, so that's interesting. The current Civic styling is heavy with angles and sharp edges, so that might take some getting used to.

Reading now that the Ford Focus and Fiesta are apparently no longer in production? News to me. The Fiesta might have been too small but the Focus looked interesting. (The RS looks really interesting but too pricey. A used ST would be right in the range.)

Really like the look of the Mazda 3, so glad to hear it gets some good reviews. Haven't driven a recent model but sounds like it should get consideration.

Cheers to the person that mentioned the Acura RSX. That would be perfect. I still have a very soft spot for the old school Integra.

Thanks to all even if I haven't mentioned your car or suggestion. More work to do...