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Economy Sedans (~$16k-$20k)

1205 messages,  Last post on Jul 16, 2009 at 5:31 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Honda Fit, Mazda MAZDA3, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Yaris, Nissan Sentra, Sedan

Messages Page 117 of 121

#1156 of 1205 Re: I've driven them all (almost)... [backy] by shipo

Nov 13, 2008 (10:58 am)

Replying to: backy (Nov 12, 2008 8:22 pm)
Yeah, I'm aware that the Mazda3 is in its last year, and as it turns out, the Rabbit has already been replaced (in Europe) as well, so both of my two finalists are "lame-duck" cars. Appropriate given our current economic and political situation.
 
As far as which version of the cars; I drove the models that offered the best mix of fuel economy (my 25,000 annual commute miles were looming large in my mind when I started doing my test drives, and that was when fuel was still north of $3.00 a gallon), extra goodies, and a stick shift.
 
So, to run through the list, I drove:
 
2009 Mazda Mazda3 i Touring Value edition (2.0 liter & 5-Speed)
2008 VW Rabbit 2-Door (2.5 liter & 5-Speed)
2009 Chevy Cobalt 1LT-XFE Sedan (2.2 liter & 5-Speed)
2009 Ford Focus SE Sedan (2.0 liter & 5-Speed)
2009 Honda Civic LX Sedan (1.8 liter & 5-Speed)
2009 Hyundai Elantra SE (2.0 liter & 5-Speed)
2009 Toyota Corolla S (1.8 liter & 5-Speed)
2009 Nissan Sentra S (2.0 liter & 6-Speed)
 
Best regards,
Shipo

#1157 of 1205 Re: I've driven them all (almost)... [shipo] by backy

Nov 13, 2008 (11:02 am)

Replying to: shipo (Nov 13, 2008 10:58 am)
I'm kind of surprised you didn't test the Civic LX-S or even the EX, since you said you wanted extra goodies, and the LX is pretty stripped compared to most of the other cars you drove.

#1158 of 1205 Re: I've driven them all (almost)... [backy] by shipo

Nov 13, 2008 (12:12 pm)

Replying to: backy (Nov 13, 2008 11:02 am)
I drove the EX last year, however, given that I'm trying to keep this car as inexpensive as possible given that I'm most likely going to hand it down to my kids in a couple of years. The LX Civic was the most expensive car (or the second most, I don't remember off the top of my head) as it was, and the EX would have pushed that number up even further. FWIW, the Mazda 3 i Touring is as nicely equipped as the Civic EX for considerably less money. That said, even if the EX was the same price as the Mazda 3, I would choose the Mazda. Why? When pushed, it feels much more composed on the winding 2-lane roads we have around here. The only other car that felt as good (a little better actually) in the curves was the Rabbit.
 
Best regards,
Shipo

#1159 of 1205 Re: I've driven them all (almost)... [shipo] by micweb

Nov 13, 2008 (4:35 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Nov 13, 2008 10:58 am)
How would you compare the Cobalt XFE vs. Focus, two cars I am currently interested in? My quick guess is pickup would go to the Cobalt, handling would go to the Focus, both quiet, but the Civic was quietest (at 70 mph cruise).

#1160 of 1205 Re: I've driven them all (almost)... [micweb] by backy

Nov 13, 2008 (5:26 pm)

Replying to: micweb (Nov 13, 2008 4:35 pm)
According to C/D's tests, the cars rank as follows in 70 mph cruise, from quietest to loudest (in dBA):
 
Focus SE - 68
Corolla (base) - 69
Elantra SE - 69
Sentra 2.0S - 70
Mazda3s - 71
Civic LX - 72
Rabbit - 70 or 72
(they haven't tested a "normal" Cobalt recently)
 
Note that the numbers are from two different tests. In one, the Rabbit got 72; in the more recent one, it got 70. Not sure why since both cars were similar, but maybe the road conditions were different in the two tests. All the tested cars had sticks.
 
Reviewing these tests reminded me that the Astra is a pretty nice car in this group, and is available at a pretty good price now.

#1161 of 1205 Re: I've driven them all (almost)... [micweb] by shipo

Nov 13, 2008 (6:48 pm)

Replying to: micweb (Nov 13, 2008 4:35 pm)
How would you compare the Cobalt XFE vs. Focus, two cars I am currently interested in? My quick guess is pickup would go to the Cobalt, handling would go to the Focus, both quiet, but the Civic was quietest (at 70 mph cruise).
 
Hmmm, oddly enough, I would say that the Focus felt as fast or maybe a tad faster and handled a bit worse. Why? Well, as far as the acceleration goes, I'm thinking that due to the extra 368 pounds the Cobalt is toting around combined with what feels like extra tall gearing (I suspect that they changed the gearing a bit for the XFE package), has erased what should look like an acceleration advantage on paper. As for the handling, I think Focus models from a couple of years back handle much better. However, when Ford decided to "Americanize" the suspension of the Focus, they ruined the crisp handling and knocked it down to a lesser handling car than the Cobalt.
 
FWIW, my nephew has a 2006 Focus and it handles MUCH better than the new one.
 
As far as noise goes, I don't mind some engine and road noise, however, I absolutely hate wind noise, and the sedan version of the three different Cobalt sedans that I've driven (two rentals plus the XFE test drive car) have had significant wind noise emanating from the rear doors and/or windows. The Focus suffered from no such wind noise.
 
Best regards,
Shipo

#1162 of 1205 Re: I've driven them all (almost)... [backy] by joe97

Nov 13, 2008 (10:38 pm)

Replying to: backy (Nov 13, 2008 5:26 pm)
Reviewing these tests reminded me that the Astra is a pretty nice car in this group, and is available at a pretty good price now.
 
Make sure to get the 08. The 09 version just went up in price for a car that is not really selling

#1163 of 1205 Re: I've driven them all (almost)... [joe97] by backy

Nov 14, 2008 (9:34 am)

Replying to: joe97 (Nov 13, 2008 10:38 pm)
Most '09s have gone up in price vs. '08s, especially considering rebates or lack thereof. For example, an Elantra SE AT is now about $18,600 list with no rebates yet. Pretty pricey for an Elantra, more than the Mazda3i and Rabbit 3-door, and pretty close to the Impreza, Corolla LE, and Civic LX (with ESC on the Rabbit, Impreza, and Corolla ala the Elantra SE).

#1164 of 1205 Re: I've driven them all (almost)... [backy] by lhanson

Nov 14, 2008 (9:52 am)

Replying to: backy (Nov 14, 2008 9:34 am)
The same can be said for the 2009 Toyota Yaris's. It's hard to find any under $16,000 now, with some as high as $18,000. I paid full MSRP ($12,500) for my first one in 2006. You would think that GM, Ford, and Chrysler about to go out of business or something.

#1165 of 1205 Re: I've driven them all (almost)... [lhanson] by backy

Nov 14, 2008 (9:57 am)

Replying to: lhanson (Nov 14, 2008 9:52 am)
Or you would think that Toyota's sales are at record levels and gas was $5 a gallon.

Messages Page 117 of 121

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