Car Shopping - Small Crossovers

[tulip]

Koronin, I adore my VW Rabbit (2007). Made in Germany, except for the engine (Mexico) and the 5-speed manual transmission (Argentina) if that matters to you. I get a ton of stuff inside, it gets decent--but not great--gas mileage (low 30s), and is just a blast to drive. It also has all the extras that most other cars charge you extra for (standard on my mid-level Rabbit): heated seats, blinkers on the side mirrors, side airbags, CD changer, ipod plugin. I have 57k miles on mine and have had no problems. It's just a fantastic little car with alot of room inside. I regularly haul my border collie in his crate, one bike inside, one bike on the roof, lots of luggage, and I still have plenty of room.

And it's so much fun to drive!

My next one will be a TDI diesel because it gets well over 40mpg, but they were not selling those in the US in the 2007 model year.

[Blueberry]

I have a 2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDI and so far love it. I traded my Honda Element for it because 1)the dealer told me no more hauling kayaks on the roof (they caused leaks into the passenger compartment) and 2) if I couldn't haul toys, I was not going to put up with 18-21 mpg (without the boats). Haven't had any long trips with the Sportwagen yet - but in mixed driving I get 38-40 mpg average. Diesel and gas aren't that different in price right now. As Tulip said, it came nicely apportioned - heated seats, mirror blinkers, etc. We had a colder than average for my area winter (which means some mornings in the mid-teens) and there was never a problem starting it up.

I've hauled file boxes in the back - no toys yet.

[Koronin]

Thanks for the suggestion. I hadn't thought about VWs. I have no issues with European cars at all. (Other than I know they can be more expensive to fix when things go wrong.) I would need an automatic transmission though. I also really hadn't thought about diesel, but they do get better gas mileage. Hmmmm, more to consider. (My two dreams cars are a Ferrari, which will probably never happen, or a Mercedes, which is unlikely to happen. Both are just too expensive.)

[Irulan]

Koronin, I adore my VW Rabbit (2007). Made in Germany, except for the engine (Mexico) and the 5-speed manual transmission (Argentina) if that matters to you. I get a ton of stuff inside, it gets decent--but not great--gas mileage (low 30s), and is just a blast to drive. It also has all the extras that most other cars charge you extra for (standard on my mid-level Rabbit): heated seats, blinkers on the side mirrors, side airbags, CD changer, ipod plugin. I have 57k miles on mine and have had no problems. It's just a fantastic little car with alot of room inside. I regularly haul my border collie in his crate, one bike inside, one bike on the roof, lots of luggage, and I still have plenty of room.

And it's so much fun to drive!

My next one will be a TDI diesel because it gets well over 40mpg, but they were not selling those in the US in the 2007 model year.

Mazda has a lot of the nicer features too. This is where my Mazda 3 beat out a Toyota matrix. How's reliability and maintenance on VW's I had a jetta years ago that ate me alive in electrical issues.

[tulip]

Older Jettas had reliability issues, it's true. My brother had one that went bonkers.

Rabbits/Golfs are made in Germany, as are all diesel models. Gas Jettas are made in Mexico or Brazil, but they seem to have fixed their issues, as Jettas are apparently not unreliable anymore as they were 10 years ago.

I've had no problems with my Rabbit. I created an elaborate decision matrix when I was shopping, and the Toyota Matrix came out on top...but I found it such a drag to drive and the rear visibility bugged me. I ended up going with the car I wanted, not the car that the excel table told me I should buy! There's something to be said for fun-to-driveness.

The Mazdas are very nice. I also like the Subaru Impreza WRX. I like actual driving with manual transmission, so that kind of performance is important to me.

[Irulan]

Older Jettas had reliability issues, it's true. My brother had one that went bonkers.

Rabbits/Golfs are made in Germany, as are all diesel models. Gas Jettas are made in Mexico or Brazil, but they seem to have fixed their issues, as Jettas are apparently not unreliable anymore as they were 10 years ago.

I've had no problems with my Rabbit. I created an elaborate decision matrix when I was shopping, and the Toyota Matrix came out on top...but I found it such a drag to drive and the rear visibility bugged me. I ended up going with the car I wanted, not the car that the excel table told me I should buy! There's something to be said for fun-to-driveness.

The Mazdas are very nice. I also like the Subaru Impreza WRX. I like actual driving with manual transmission, so that kind of performance is important to me.

Mazda 3 5-speed GT = "zoom zoom".

[Chile Pepper]

OK, I'm convinced. The Mazda 3 hatchback is going on my shortlist. My DH is leaning toward a sedan, but I've really like my last two hatchbacks. I officially start shopping today.

ETA: I just checked the Highway Safety Institute, and the Mazda 3 hatchback is one of their top picks for 2011.

[zoom-zoom]

Mazda 3 5-speed GT = "zoom zoom".

That's what I have, only the touring package, not GT. No cool HID headlights or leather/heated seats.

[Irulan]

That's what I have, only the touring package, not GT. No cool HID headlights or leather/heated seats.

HAD to have heated seats.

[zoom-zoom]

HAD to have heated seats.

I wanted them...DH was all "HTFU!"

[ASammy1]

For what it's worth... I mentioned on the first page of this thread that my father loves his Dodge Journey... Anyway, my parents were in town this weekend to celebrate Easter with us (and 15 others), so we had to rent some tables and chairs in order for there to be appropriate dining accommodations. Well, we were able to fit 2 8' tables and 20 folding chairs in the back of his Journey without a problem.

Just thought I would share a real life scenario with this particular vehicle. I have no idea about gas mileage though as we are not in the market for a new car at this time.

[GLC1968]

I created an elaborate decision matrix when I was shopping, and the Toyota Matrix came out on top...but I found it such a drag to drive and the rear visibility bugged me. I ended up going with the car I wanted, not the car that the excel table told me I should buy! There's something to be said for fun-to-driveness.

I SO get this. Both that the Matrix has visiblity issues and it's not even a little fun to drive when it's an automatic and the concept of buying what you want and not necessarily what your analysis tells you. The "older" (pre 2007, I believe) Matrix had a different window config that was way better than the new ones for convenience (hatch glass!) and visiblity. And I'm pretty sure we would have traded ours in sooner had we not gotten the standard transmission. It's got a 'super charger' effect that really makes it zippy. I've had loaners in automatic and they absolutely did not have it at all. Unfortunately, the clutch on the standard sucks donkey balls, but we've gotten used to it after 5+ years.

The Matrix was the very first car I've ever purchased based solely on being 'practical'. I normally buy cars 1) for how they drive, 2) for how they fit my lifestyle and 3) for how they look. Hence...our next car (a 2011 MINI Clubman).