recommend a car for me

[nageov3t]

I'm not really in the market, but I probably will be within the next year or two and I'm just trying to get some ideas for what I should be looking for. figured it's never too early to start researching

my big requirement is that I want something small. I live in an urban area, have to parallel park almost every day, and I'm not super great at it. likewise, I almost never have more than a single passenger in my car and I have no regular need of hauling around large shit.

gas mileage isn't hugely important, though... my 2003 car is only at 48,000 miles, as a point of reference for how much driving I do.

thinking my budget will be ~25K or under.

a minicooper was my top candidate, but then I was wondering if maybe they were a little too trendy and would paint a target on my car for thieves.

 

[satyajitmenon]

Honda Fit
Hyundai Accent or Elantra


Or maybe even a Mustang V6

 

[Kadarin]

How about a Smart car? Base model is just under $14K new (with AC and climate control, w/o is 13.2K). I can imagine this thing being easy to park.

 

[punjabiplaya]

Fit, Yaris, Fiesta, Mazda2

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Hyundai Velostar - will be out in about 6-months.

Fiat 500

VW Golf/GTI

Miata

 

[AdamK47]

Chevrolet Corvette

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Fiesta Hatch sounds right up your alley

 

[TanisHalfElven]

Honda Fit
Hyundai Accent or Elantra


Or maybe even a Mustang V6

another one fore the fit. If only for phenomenal ease this thing squeezes into parallel parking spots.
OP, if you'd like more info on the fit (ie what its like to live with) PM me.
but in short, i highly recommend it.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

Honda Fit. My Calculus professor has it and he LOVES it.

 

[Throckmorton]

800 HP Super Snake

 

[power_hour]

VW Golf GTi or 2.5 (3 or 5 door)

 

[satyajitmenon]

Honda Civic.

Parking isn't an issue

 

[JCH13]

Mazdaspeed3

 

[Doppel]

Lingenfelter Accord

 

[satyajitmenon]

Lingenfelter Accord

 

[nageov3t]

thanks for the great suggestions

I think I'm definitely leaning more towards a 2-door than a 4-door. given that I don't need to care about the comfort of my backseat passengers (seriously, I think I've had people in the backseat like twice in the 8 years I've had my car), I may as well pick up the sleek look of a coupe.

 

[satyajitmenon]

thanks for the great suggestions

I think I'm definitely leaning more towards a 2-door than a 4-door. given that I don't need to care about the comfort of my backseat passengers (seriously, I think I've had people in the backseat like twice in the 8 years I've had my car), I may as well pick up the sleek look of a coupe.

Well, then Mustang V6 fits right in your budget.

 

[nageov3t]

Well, then Mustang V6 fits right in your budget.

I'm not sure if it meets my "I don't want this car to get stolen the same day I bought it" criteria, though just something I need to factor in considering that I live in a city and my only parking option is on the street.

 

[SandEagle]

civic
accord
fit
peronally, i'd get the new crz

 

[Jumpem]

Impreza. You still get a little snow down in NJ.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

I'm not sure if it meets my "I don't want this car to get stolen the same day I bought it" criteria, though just something I need to factor in considering that I live in a city and my only parking option is on the street.

A regular cooper shouldn't be much of a theft magnet, I see them all the time parked on the street in SF/Berkeley/Oakland. If you want something like a upscale coupe that wont get stolen you're looking at a Cooper/Mustang coupe/Miata. You could get a CR-Z but its fugly as hell, same with a Tc. If you want AWD you could pick up an Impreza, but it will be shit to drive compared to a cooper.

 

[Howard]

miata

 

[GoatMonkey]

The next Focus coming out in a couple of months has an option for an automatic parallel parking system.

 

[nageov3t]

The next Focus coming out in a couple of months has an option for an automatic parallel parking system.

very cool.

I should have mentioned in the OP that I can get a discount on Ford cars (my dad used to work for them, and when he took a buy-out, I think it included lifetime employee pricing for him + immediate family) but my first ever car with a Ford and it was such a piece of crap that they left a bad taste in my mouth this was 10-15 years ago, though.

 

[Imp]

thinking my budget will be ~25K or under.

a minicooper was my top candidate, but then I was wondering if maybe they were a little too trendy and would paint a target on my car for thieves.

I looked into getting one a few years back. Premium gas, $25k $CAD (take off $5k for US?) for the base model. It's also a bimmer, so maintenance, parts, etc. are expensive. Love the small size and look, but damn expensive. It's a bimmer though, so that should be obvious.

Civic is super cookie cutter. Still better than a Corolla though. Depending on the amount of highway driving you do, a Fiesta or Fit may be adequate.