For those of us looking or dreaming... please recommend a good reliable cheap car to replace an old Geo Prizm.

Gas mileage is important. What I'd really like is a new Prius... but I don't have that kind of dough.

Anyone have suggestions?

A used Prius?
A Honda Civic Hybrid?
A Mazda Protege? (this was my last car, and was very reliable)

Impreza 2.5RS
Focus (SVT)
Mazda 3
Corolla

[img][200:200]http://babyborrowrental.com/opt/Flinstone_car_opt.jpg[/img]

Sweet mileage.

Is that a V6?


For mileage and money my roommate swears by his Honda Civic.

Honda Civic all the way.

I like my Focus, I'm sure you can get a used one cheap.

If you are looking at a used car, a Honda or Camry are probably your safest bets.

Just don't get suckered into a Hyundai Sonata. At least not the 1999 model. The warranty is appealing but there's a reason for it.

I've had used Nissans (Altima) and Hondas (2 Acura Integras) and they've always been great. Toyota also has a great reputation for quality cars.

Toyota, Honda or Mazda. I love my new Civic - great gas mileage.

No matter how much you may want one because of styling and their advertising, dont be sucked into the black pit of hell that is owning a Volkswagen.

I love their styling, but owning one is a pain. We bought a new one (Jetta GLX), it was ruled a lemon by a BBB arbitrator, got the replacement (Jetta GLX year newer), traded that on a smaller one (Golf GTI), that third one cost us $800 in 3 months. All things that "were'nt" under warranty.

Now we have two Hondas and live happily.

but it's german engineering

And, Hitler designed the Beetle!

It's true. It's so true.

... Designed the original model anyway.

Wouldn't "commissioned" be less wrong?

Get a Jetta, because that's what i have, and i'm a hipster.

...someone else recommended the Mazda Protege.

I have a '91 that I got for $500 (can you say steal?), and what a great car it's been. It's starting to wear out a bit, but I wouldn't hesitate to get another used one. No way in hell I could afford a new one.

Good luck.

fp

New: Mazda3
Used: Mazda Protege or 323

Thanks for weighing in everyone.

I really love my Geo/Toyotachevy... but I'm curious and short of funds - so I'll have to look into the used Toyota Honda and Mazda choices.

All the consumer guides seem to agree that Volkswagen's are a pain as well.

Members of the family have owned five VW's over the last 45 years, and every car has some reliability-related horror story to it.

I've owned/leased a Chevy Impala that was indestructible, a Honda Accord that was likewise indestructible but a bank-breaker when the life-limited parts wore out, a Ford Mustang that gave me no trouble, and my current vehicle, a Ford Fairlane which also has been no trouble.

I'm late, but here's another vote for either/or Honda & Toyota. I've owned both, & loved both.

The Subaru Impreza has sweet AWD which may be good in Massachusetts.

used Nissan Altima

I'm thinking of leasing one of these:
Saturn VUE

I don't know if you care, but I saw a graphic (I don't remember where, but not just "on the Internet") talking about how "American" American cars were, and Saturn was pretty low (i.e. more than 50% foreign parts). Just thought it was interesting. Some were up to 95%.