[epbrown]

In a truly urban area like NYC, Chicago, Boston, etc, where you're dicing for spaces on crowded streets and dodging cabs and big trucks are double-parked everywhere unloading, the city cars make the most sense: MINI Cooper, FIAT 500, or Smart Fortwo. I've owned each, and I'd have to say the 500 hits the sweet spot in terms of price, performance, and useability. The MINI is a bit pricey for what it does, and as much as I liked the Fortwo that transmission holds it back too much.

For less crowded areas, I still feel the 3-series rules the roost.