Car Shopping - Small Crossovers

[Irulan]

(Tulip)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.

Interesting. I had a spread sheet going too, but for me the Mazda came out on top. I was comparing the 3, the matrix. I wanted a small wagon, no Subaru, and that was what it narrowed down to.

[zoom-zoom]

When we were looking it was pretty much between the 3 and the Civic...I never even test drove the Civic, but DH tested both and said that there's no way I would have been as comfortable with the Civic, since the driver's seating wasn't nearly as flexible. It was more like the seating in my Escort, which wasn't short-person friendly...I practically ate the steering wheel in that car. In my 3 my arms are like they are on my bike...just crooked a bit at the elbow...nice and stretched-out. Much safer with an airbag, anyhow.

After test driving a 3 sedan (that was what the dealership had in manual) I was hooked and I think we ordered our hatchback that day. We will never again own a sedan. Hatchback/wagons are so much more practical and roomy. Hubby had an '89 Civic hatchback that he hauled windows in when we replaced a bunch. He'd put the back seat down and remove the passenger seat...amazing how much room that little car offered. He hauled 12' planks on top of it when we redid our floors, too. The only reason we will need a larger vehicle (though this is relative...we'd be looking at something like the Mazda 5 or Ford C-Max) for our next car is that DS is 10 and growing. He's not going to fit well in the back seat of my 3 for all that much longer.

[Chile Pepper]

DS is 10 and growing. He's not going to fit well in the back seat of my 3 for all that much longer.

Uh oh. This could be a problem. My two sons are 12 and 9.5. The 12 y-o has recently moved up front (he's a tall kid), but there are times when all of us are in the car or we're driving his friends, too, so some kids are usually in the back. And of course, the 9.5 y-o will not be 9.5 forever.

[BikeDutchess]

My DH loves his Mazda 3, but for me it has too many blind spots.