Small car needed for under $6K - opinions please

[fairfieldfalconsfan]

I know when I was taking Driver's Ed 4 years ago I drove a Vibe and could barely fit in it. And I was smaller then I am now (6' 4", around 300). I know they have redone them a little but now they look smaller but that may just be the body styling. A guy a little taller then me came into work with a Kia Soul and said it was ok for his size but I know those are newish (just checked and the first model year was 2010).

Just today I rode in my cousins VW Jetta and I fit easily in the passengers side. I know the driver's seat is normally more cramped but you may want to check them out also.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[acerinpa]

Ya, have started looking into a VW- heard I fit O.K. in a new bug as well. But they don't get great mileage unless you get a diesel which is problematic in Pittsburgh winter. But have read the Glow plugs have greatly improved to start in the cold.

 

[C0RR0SIVE]

One thing about those diesel cars is that in the winter the diesel will want to turn into gel, gotta plug up a heater to keep the tank warm enough to keep it from all turning to gel.

 

[acerinpa]

hmmmm. I thought they somehow got that difficulty taken care of in the newer models.

 

[patonb]

Man, lots run deisels up here and we get winter all the time and live in igloos

 

[C0RR0SIVE]

Newer cars probably have a highly insulated tank, AND a heater that heats the fuel while the car is running, to get the fuel HOT, but not to the point it poses danger, and it can last a good deal of time, or just a built in heater that runs off the battery for a short period of time.

 

[overlord20]

Even a lot of newer diesel engines come with heaters.

 

[C0RR0SIVE]

I don't touch them much, I just know the one or two I have been around was rather... lame in the winter.

 

[schumania]

'97 Acura integra 3 door

< 5k is a stellar budget. I would drop that pre-req of 25+ mpg city though. Discounting hybrid options I'm pretty sure almost all brand new civic options are still under that and a brand new corolla is something like 26. You could get a late 90's Camry for that coinage and even a mid-late 90's Lexus ES (if you can find one) and expect a lot of miles are still left, but those are sedans. I think your best option is a mid-late 90's Acura Integra hatchback. That is a small, inexpensive car with a good reputation. The official city mpg is 24, but you'll do less.