Old girl is heading out, in need of a new eco car?

[Mr_Accord]

I have been the proud owner of a 92 Honda Accord LX A/T for about 6 years now. This was my first car that I purchased near the end of my time at High school and she got me straight through college. I paid 1000$ for it and during the years this car has been absolutely bulletproof reliable. Unfortunately I have to face facts though she is about to hit 20 years and the cars age is really starting to show, lots of corrosion that I just can't keep up with from the harsh Canadian winters, and mechanically she is o.k right now but the car is going to need some work down the road and anything major could go, including the A/T started acting up the other day. I just don't feel I should be putting any more $$$ into it, so I'm starting to look for a new replacement.

prerequisites:

- At least 6 years old
- Good on gas
- Easy to fix/maintain
- Reliable/Longevity
- Low Insurance

Cars I'm currently looking at:

- 2007/2008 Honda Civic EX 4Dr Sedan A/T or M5SP
- 2005/2006 Honda Accord 4Dr Sedan or Coupe 2.4L 5SP
- 2006-2009 Toyota Corolla S
- 2005-2007 Mazda 3 4Dr Sedan A/T or 5SP
- 2005/2006 VW Jetta/Golf TDI 5SP

 

[Steve S]

Not sure about the VW.

 

[xxch4osxx]

Id be looking at a Mazda 3

 

[Mr_Accord]

Originally Posted By: Steve S
Not sure about the VW.


hehe yeah I know thats why its last on the list, but man would I love a TURBO DIESEL engine in a small car

Honda has diesel engines in their civics and accords in Europe but not here

I wish more small cars had a clean diesel option.

 

[oggb]

If it's a Honda, get it with a 5-speed manual. Also, stay away from the VW stuff. Diesels seem great when they're running right - when things go wrong, they can go very wrong.

 

[Mr_Accord]

Originally Posted By: xxch4osxx
Id be looking at a Mazda 3


I'm in between the 3, civic, accord, and corolla...

 

[Mr_Accord]

Originally Posted By: JRed
If it's a Honda, get it with a 5-speed manual.


Are they still having issues with their A/T's I know the early 2000 models had lots of problems?

 

[bepperb]

The Accord, while more bland than some, is a much better car than the rest. The only other car on your list I considered was the Mazda 3, but smaller and less efficient didn't work for me. Perhaps the hatch, if I didn't have to shoehorn two child seats in there.

My advice, don't buy a 2door car.

If I would add one, it would be a Fusion.

Our 03 Civic got about 32~33 around town, 35~40 on the highway. The Accord gets 29~31 around town, 34~36 on the highway. I would have thought there was a larger penalty. Both were stick. I imagine this is the same for all compact vs i4 family sedans... not that big a difference in mileage.

 

[Mr_Accord]

Originally Posted By: bepperb
If I would add one, it would be a Fusion.


Hmm never thought about the fusion, but that is a nice car, I do recall Ford did offer it with a 2.4L 4 banger?

 

[Mr Nice]

1. Accord
2. Mazda 3
3. Corolla
4 Civic

in that order

 

[SLCraig]

Honda is everything except low insurance.
I like my Civic.. Gets stellar gas mileage, its a nice drive, and it looks great.

 

[Mr_Accord]

I have read many car reviews both professionally and by regular people on other forums for each car I have in my list. I have gotten to know the pros for each model and at the same time the recurring cons as well. Could some of you let me know if you have ever heard of any of theses problems in regards to each car.

Civic
- Not a lot of sound proofing in wheel wells, noisy drive while travelling at high speeds
- A/C condenser is placed in a location on the car that allows it to be punctured by small flying debris while travelling on the highway and is not covered by Honda warranty.
-A/T failure

Accord
A/T failure

Mazda 3
-Paint flaking and premature corrosion.

Corolla
-Nothing, just very bland, boring, no power, and just nothing special.

Thanks

 

[daves87rs]

Accord.

 

[bullwinkle]

#1. Corolla/Matrix
#2. Scion xB, xA
#3. Civic, preferably 5 speed
#4. Mazda 3
#5. Cavalier or Cobalt 4-cylinder (don't laugh)

 

[cmf]

My vote is for the Accord, I don't like small cars though. Definitely a sedan, there really is no benefit to a coupe over sedan, just drawbacks. Coupes are fine if they are specifically made to be coupes, but turning a sedan into a coupe doesn't make it any faster... Just makes you look like an idiot for owning a grocery getter coupe.

Definitely not the Corolla S, whoever designed that needs to be shot. Let's make a car that looks like it has a body kit but have it be the slowest car on planet earth. Alright! And then the Corolla S was born.

VW reliability is... not good.

Mazda 3 would be my second choice, but only the manual because that car drags with the automatic.

 

[dparm]

The AT in the 4-cylinder Accord is fine, it was the V6 one that had some issues.

 

[chubbs1]

Go for the Accord. Reliable good fuel economy and safer than the Civic and Corolla.Good Luck!!

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: Mr_Accord
Hmm never thought about the fusion, but that is a nice car, I do recall Ford did offer it with a 2.4L 4 banger?

Well, 2.3 (and later 2.5) Duratec/Mazda MZR

The older ones are a little on the boring side and have mouse-fur seats but a good amount of the Mazda6 DNA did make it through the nearly 2" stretch and the roughly 1" widening process

 

[HTSS_TR]

Mazda 6 is not on the list but it is better value than Accord, you can buy a similar year/mileage/condition for up to 25-30% less. Honda and Toyota are overpriced for a used car because many people willing to pay a premium for it.

 

[123Saab]

Having driven both Civic's and mazda 3's, I always found the mazda far more entertaining.