Go with the Mazda 3

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Subaru Impreza. Does just about everything (except accelerating from a dead stop) really well. Good driving dynamics and very reliable.

I want this one but I can't for the life of me find one in my local area!

We have an Impreza and I love it. We are considering replacing my DH's old Honda with a Forrester. However, the dealer told us most folks are just placing factory orders for new Subarus right now because as you said, dealer inventory has been low. Have they not presented that as an option to you? Unless you are looking for used (this was originally our intention as well but impossible). We haven't pulled the trigger yet but were told it typically takes a couple months to come in after ordering.

OP here. Unfortunately, my issue is that I really cannot wait the amount of time that it takes to get a factory order. The transmission on my current car blew over the weekend. For now we can get by just with using DH's car, because he WFH (I have a commute) but that's just not going to work for the 8-12 (?) weeks it takes to get a factory order. I'm going test driving tomorrow and hope to have the car in my driveway by Saturday...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Subaru Impreza. Does just about everything (except accelerating from a dead stop) really well. Good driving dynamics and very reliable.

I want this one but I can't for the life of me find one in my local area!

We have an Impreza and I love it. We are considering replacing my DH's old Honda with a Forrester. However, the dealer told us most folks are just placing factory orders for new Subarus right now because as you said, dealer inventory has been low. Have they not presented that as an option to you? Unless you are looking for used (this was originally our intention as well but impossible). We haven't pulled the trigger yet but were told it typically takes a couple months to come in after ordering.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How come no American brands? Or VW

Why did they stop making Chevy Cruze? Gah!

Because they wanted higher profit margins. They sold a lot of them. Almost 1/4 of a million in a single year at one point.

Anonymous wrote:How come no American brands? Or VW

Why did they stop making Chevy Cruze? Gah!

I’d pick either of the Mazda options- the styling and fit and finish feels more upmarket and they are fun to drive. On the other hand, Nissans must be fast because I swear every one I see on the road is going 20mph over the speed limit

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Subaru Impreza. Does just about everything (except accelerating from a dead stop) really well. Good driving dynamics and very reliable.

I want this one but I can't for the life of me find one in my local area!

+1, we have been waiting on an Impreza wagon for over a year but we'd like to buy slightly used (2018 or later) and there are so few on the market and the ones that come on the market get snapped up instantly. I have all the local Subaru dealers on speed dial and we still keep striking out. I imagine it's even worse if you want to buy new. Though hopefully it gets better later this year and that will also loosen up the used car market? It's brutal right now.

(also good luck finding an Impreza for under $25k! Even base models are going for more than that right now, unless they are older.

I had a 2006 Corolla that I loved. We finally got rid of it in 2017 because we weren't driving it enough. It was a reliable, boring little car, which is exactly what I like.

We love Corollas. We still drive our 2003.

Anonymous wrote:I can't do Hyundai or Kia (there's some mechanical thing in those brands that makes it so that if you can get in the car, you can basically start it with a usb or screwdriver and then steal it...MAJOR theft issue with Kias and Hyundais in my city, you're basically advised not to buy them). And I hate to say this but I am really really really biased against American-brand cars, something about them is just *bleh*. Can't do it, won't do it.

American cars are hit or miss. My wife’s 2012 Acadia is trouble, a lot of electrical crap!!! Maybe 15-20 times in shop. But amazingly my 2011 Cadillac had one minor repair since new. Like $300. It still has original battery. It literally runs like new and never garages. My daughter has a 2017 Cruze not a single repair since new.

But my wife’s truck we had seven year warranty and we did like $6,000 in repairs and maint in warranty and $4,000 after warranty!! It only has 50k miles and we own it less than ten years.

I have no clue how some of their models literally run great and some are big fat lemons. Bad quality control. Also some models are all plastic inside.

My daughters Cruze gets insane mpg. We have done round trips DC to NYC on less than a tank of gas. Of course that one they canceled was like 12k brand new

Try to pre order the Ford Maverick

I can't do Hyundai or Kia (there's some mechanical thing in those brands that makes it so that if you can get in the car, you can basically start it with a usb or screwdriver and then steal it...MAJOR theft issue with Kias and Hyundais in my city, you're basically advised not to buy them). And I hate to say this but I am really really really biased against American-brand cars, something about them is just *bleh*. Can't do it, won't do it.

Here’s last year’s ranking, more American brands in the top of the list but plenty of Toyotas and other foreign brands that are mostly made in America, supporting American workers:

https://www.cars.com/articles/2021-cars-com-american-made-index-which-cars-are-the-most-american-437020/

Anonymous wrote:How come no American brands? Or VW

Do you know how many Toyotas are made in America? Hondas? etc.

It’s well past time to stop thinking of vehicles that way, in a globalized economy.

This article is a few years old, but I don’t think the landscape has changed much. ‘American’ cars aren’t in the top five for vehicles made in America.

https://www.industryweek.com/the-economy/competitiveness/article/21974235/toyota-tops-most-american-made-car-list

Hyundai and Kia has some cool ones

They got rid of most cheap American cars.