Looking for decent mix of sporty and efficient compact

[Phantomaniac]

First let me state that I'm not much of a car person. I own an 03 Toyota Camry and thought that was more or less fine...until I turned 25 and rented a VW Jetta SE on a trip. I came to love the firm precise handling and didn't want to go back. Now its coming to a point where I'd need to dump more money into the Camry to keep it running, but I'd rather spend it on a new car. Well, a "new to me" car. So here's what I'm looking for:

- Used under 15k. May be willing to stretch my budget if its an awesome deal.
- Compact. My Camry can be a really tight fit driving in the city, don't have much need for back seat/trunk space.
- Sporty handling. This is what I came to love, I now hate the floaty feeling of my Camry.
- Decent passing/merging power. Lots of aggressive drivers in the DC/metro area.
- Decent MPG. At least close to 30MPG highway if not more.

Possibilities:
- VW Jetta SE: The only one I've actually driven (and love). Just worried about potential high costs of euro-car ownership.
- Mazda 3: Great reviews and better reliability than the Jetta. New models with Skyactive engine are a bit out of my price range. Is the base engine any good?
- Ford Focus: Great reviews since 2012 redesign. Looks worth a test drive at least.

Anything else I should add to my list?

 

[tweakmonkey]

Since you liked the Jetta, maybe that or test drive the VW GTI with 2.0 turbo, you can buy with a 2 door or 4 door, and the DSG is fast and sporty. Not sure about reliability, but you can buy a nice one here for $10-12k with 60-80k miles. I haven't driven the Jetta but guessing it's pretty similar... I think the GTI would be more fun. It'll use premium gas and guessing the mileage wouldn't be as good as some of the other cars you're thinking of..
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/3799980192.html

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Honda Fit- it gets rave reviews for its handling and steering feel.

Personally, I'd look for a 2012/2013 Focus SE with the Sport package (rear disc brakes & firmer suspension)

 

[jlee]

Mazdaspeed3.

 

[JCH13]

Jetta with "firm and precise steering"

I'm just kidding.

Sort of...

Add to your list: Civic/Civic SI, Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3, Golf/GTI, Mini/MiniS, I'm sure there are a few other options out there.

 

[Phantomaniac]

Since you liked the Jetta, maybe that or test drive the VW GTI with 2.0 turbo, you can buy with a 2 door or 4 door, and the DSG is fast and sporty. Not sure about reliability, but you can buy a nice one here for $10-12k with 60-80k miles. I haven't driven the Jetta but guessing it's pretty similar... I think the GTI would be more fun. It'll use premium gas and guessing the mileage wouldn't be as good as some of the other cars you're thinking of..
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/3799980192.html

Yeah I have already been eying the GTI quite a bit. While I'm not exactly poor, I'm not sure I'm ready to buy a car that uses premium though.

 

[JCH13]

Yeah I have already been eying the GTI quite a bit. While I'm not exactly poor, I'm not sure I'm ready to buy a car that uses premium though.

at $0.30 difference per gallon right now, that's what... $3 a fillup? Maybe $4 per fillup? For the cars mentioned in this thread anyway.

Filling up once every week makes the fuel cost difference $200/year or less. Trivial in comparison to insurance, maintenance, payments, depreciation, etc. Consider the costs rationally. The bump in fun and performance is well worth the slight increase in cost IMO.

 

[Viper GTS]

at $0.30 difference per gallon right now, that's what... $3 a fillup? Maybe $4 per fillup? For the cars mentioned in this thread anyway.

Filling up once every week makes the fuel cost difference $200/year or less. Trivial in comparison to insurance, maintenance, payments, depreciation, etc. Consider the costs rationally. The bump in fun and performance is well worth the slight increase in cost IMO.

This.

But if you're really concerned with fuel cost/economy how about a TDI instead of the GTI?

If you're going as big as a MS3/Focus you should probably include the WRX in your list as well.

Viper GTS

 

[CraigRT]

Could get a nice clean lightly used 8th generation Civic SI..
I am a huge fan of the 6 speed/K20 combo... Currently in the process of trying to find a good sedan for myself. They are fun to drive, reliable, and spacious for its class.

 

[mmntech]

Driven all of those and I would probably go with the Mazda 3 myself.

Jetta is alright car to drive, They've got nice pickup. However, VWs have reliability issues, and I find they have really cheap interiors too.

I would also look at the Hyundai Elantra (2010 to present) and Kia Rio 5 (same model years). Honda Fit and Fiat 500 also look like good bets if you don't mind a city car. The Honda Civic is also a perennial favourite.

 

[SpongeBob]

Since you don't list "nice interior" as something you're looking for, and all the cars you listed have four or more doors, I'd say 2009 Cobalt SS sedan. For $15k it'll have far better performance than anything else...

 

[MagickMan]

I drove a Golf R this weekend, that was a fun little car, and the GTI is always good.

 

[JCH13]

Since you don't list "nice interior" as something you're looking for, and all the cars you listed have four or more doors, I'd say 2009 Cobalt SS sedan. For $15k it'll have far better performance than anything else...

True if you only consider OPs original few cars. False if you consider the other cars mentioned in this thread.

 

[SpongeBob]

True if you only consider OPs original few cars. False if you consider the other cars mentioned in this thread.

If you ignore age and mileage differences maybe. What $15k car can you get with similar or better performance?

 

[Sidekicknichola]

Mazdaspeed3 - http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/cto/3794953589.html
350z - http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/cto/3776430274.html
IS350 - http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/3758835252.html
S2000 - http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/3743807203.html
Audi TT - http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/ctd/3799239097.html
Audi S4 - http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ctd/3761694142.html

 

[JCH13]

If you ignore age and mileage differences maybe. What $15k car can you get with similar or better performance?

One like this.

Or this.

Sure, you can get a Cobalt SS with fewer miles for the same price, but not THAT many fewer miles.

Here is a comparison of these vehicles from back in the day. It's basically the list of cars the OP should be looking at.

The Cobalt SS was slightly faster than an MS3 in C&D's lightning lap comparison by about 3s, I'll give it that, and I'm not saying it's a bad car. But that is not much difference on a 3 minute course, 3s is well within the realm of driver skill variation. The Cobalt SS is most certainly not "far better than anything else" of the cars mentioned in this thread.

 

[Kaido]

Honda Fit- it gets rave reviews for its handling and steering feel.

Personally, I'd look for a 2012/2013 Focus SE with the Sport package (rear disc brakes & firmer suspension)

My 2010 auto Fit was a blast to drive and the stick I test-drove was even more fun! And the new models have both traction control & ABS, which are huge. Had a really zippy feel to it. My wife said she liked it more than her New Beetle, which I thought was one of the most fun-to-drive cars ever. Not to mention the awesome versatility with the seats & space layout.

I took out a Jetta TDI and I'd have to say that it was the fastest car I've ever driven (no sports car history from me). That turbo diesel was nuts, and the electronic steering was like driving on rails, super tight & accurate on off-ramps and stuff. If I were to buy a play-car today (aka I didn't have to sit in traffic with it), I'd totally get this with a manual transmission. Crazy good MPG & way fun to drive.

 

[JCH13]

My 2010 auto Fit was a blast to drive and the stick I test-drove was even more fun! And the new models have both traction control & ABS, which are huge. Had a really zippy feel to it. My wife said she liked it more than her New Beetle, which I thought was one of the most fun-to-drive cars ever. Not to mention the awesome versatility with the seats & space layout.

I took out a Jetta TDI and I'd have to say that it was the fastest car I've ever driven (no sports car history from me). That turbo diesel was nuts, and the electronic steering was like driving on rails, super tight & accurate on off-ramps and stuff. If I were to buy a play-car today (aka I didn't have to sit in traffic with it), I'd totally get this with a manual transmission. Crazy good MPG & way fun to drive.

That is an awfully big grain of salt!

 

[SpongeBob]

One like this.

Or this.

Sure, you can get a Cobalt SS with fewer miles for the same price, but not THAT many fewer miles.

Here is a comparison of these vehicles from back in the day. It's basically the list of cars the OP should be looking at.

The Cobalt SS was slightly faster than an MS3 in C&D's lightning lap comparison by about 3s, I'll give it that, and I'm not saying it's a bad car. But that is not much difference on a 3 minute course, 3s is well within the realm of driver skill variation. The Cobalt SS is most certainly not "far better than anything else" of the cars mentioned in this thread.

Yeah, I agree with you. I thought used MS3s with low miles were more expensive. I'll take your word for it that the one link you provided is not an outlier.

 

[Zap]

Would be a bit above your price range, but how about a Fiat 500 Arbath? I'm thinking about test driving one just for the yucks tomorrow (actually considering a 3rd household car just for commuting, wife putting 70 easy highway miles on her WRX daily). I'm visiting family in San Diego and I often drive past that Fiat dealer on Convoy (by highway 52).

160bhp
a "real" city car
sporty
0-60 around 6.9s
28/34MPG
$22,700 base price MSRP for a new one

There's also a lower end "turbo" model with 25 fewer horses and 0-60 @8.1s but $3000 cheaper at around $19,700 starting price.

 

[JCH13]

Yeah, I agree with you. I thought used MS3s with low miles were more expensive. I'll take your word for it that the one link you provided is not an outlier.

FWIW I found 98 MS3s in the country under $15.5k (I figure anyone can haggle $500). 7 were over 100k miles, 6 less than 60k miles, and 3 near, or under, 40k miles.

The Cobalt SSs were lower mileage, the lower ones generally being 25k-40k in a similar price range.

 

[vi edit]

If you would consider spending a bit more, you can get into a 2014 Kia Forte EX for a little over 18k. The 2.0L in there is supposed to be quite fun and the car itself looks great and is well optioned out. Nice having a long term warranty too if maintenance costs are a concern.

Otherwise for the budget and requirements I'd be looking in '09'ish GTI or a non-speed Mazda 3.

 

[thedarkwolf]

That is an awfully big grain of salt!

Well my jetta tdi is probably faster than my miata for what that is worth .

 

[Knavish]

I took out a Jetta TDI and I'd have to say that it was the fastest car I've ever driven (no sports car history from me).

Just FYI,

A Jetta TDI runs 0-60MPH in the 8.5-9.0 second range.
A Mazdaspeed 3 runs 0-60MPH in the 5.0-5.5 second range.

Also, I do not understand why you would be reluctant to pay for premium gas but would be willing to pay a large premium for a diesel engine.

 

[JCH13]

Well my jetta tdi is probably faster than my miata for what that is worth .

I found this:

2011 TDI Jetta, 0-60 in 8.7s

1990 Miata, 0-60 in 9s

1994 Miata, 0-60 in 8.7s

So, the TDI might be faster, but only by a tiny bit. The massive amount of torque at low RPM makes it feel faster I'm sure.