If you have to buy a sub compact car you should probably just kill yourself.
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Subcompact commute car you’d recommend.
- Thread starter ldi
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ldi
NES Member
I’ve noticed that’s there very few compact Mazdas on the market and those few that are there come with the crasher ready mileage.
ldi
NES Member
You know - you don’t have to rubbing it in LOL
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I have a fiat 500 abarth and if I nurse if in eco mode I can get aprx. 40mpg. In sport mode I average 31ish and that's all highway 75mph max. It's small, light weight, quick & fun and sounds gnarly with stock exhaust. And they have an endurance race every fall for them!
Trend towards nice big expensive SUV's and loans
All-time high for Americans late on car payments is a warning sign for the economy
The top of the "High Five" in TX is a favorite place they go to take a final leap
The people in the office building next to it see frequent flyers frequently
All-time high for Americans late on car payments is a warning sign for the economy
The top of the "High Five" in TX is a favorite place they go to take a final leap
The people in the office building next to it see frequent flyers frequently
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D
Deleted member 67409
My mom has a Fiat Abarth and most people love them and waive to you when you drive it. The reliability isn't "horrid", especially in comparison to the Ford Fiesta (mom has a basic Fiesta as a company car). However, the Abarth won't fit in with what OP wants because it's a standard. I had to drive her Abarth from Concord, NH to RI in rush hour every weekend last summer and it's not an enjoyable experience. I would strongly suggest against driving any stick shift performance vehicle in commuter traffic. These cars are designed for the track and open road, not 495/128/93/90/9/290/190 at 4:30pm.
So I had to go to Maine last week for a business trip. Person who drove had a M3 or a M4. He drove it like an ass - going up to 100, no blinker, randomly moving into lanes, using the GPS all the way despite the fact that I told him many times "I know exactly to get to where we're going."
One of the things I noticed is that because BMW drivers are generally asses, people don't accommodate you. People don't let you in, people cut you off, people see you as a nuisance on the road. Even when I was driving us home and largely following the speed limit and rules of the road. Yet when I drive my own car (Volvo) or any other brand, I don't have this problem.
Meccanica Solo
Probably have to wait a year though
Probably have to wait a year though
SKumar
NES Member
Yes, but civic/corolla are technically in the compact class. Same with 3 series, a4, c300, jetta, etc. the new civics are massive. No reason to get an accord (unless you have a family). If city parking is the goal, id 100% go with a subcompact hatchback like Honda Fit, toyota Yaris, Prius hatch, etc
Varmint
NES Member
I also think 400+ hp cars just frustrate owners cause they can’t find anywhere to use more than 70% of their car’s ability. and even that’s usually illegal.
Wickedcoolname
NES Member
If my life choices had me buying a miniature car in order to drive through Boston traffic I think I'd reboot. Not picking on the OP, I just couldn't do it. I'd rather drive my Silverado and my Triumph Bonneville through the back roads for half the money and twice the quality of life.
I just don't know how you guys do it.
Before I started my business I had a job I really liked up by route 2 in the Gardner area. I was offered an amazing promotion in Quincy with a free car and a gas card and a list of perks too long to list and a two pay grade bump. But I turned it down. I lived in Townsend at the time and I loved my back road commute through Ashby and Asburnham. i couldnt imagine wanting to sit in bumper to bumper traffic for 4 hours each day versus 45 minutes each way on roads where I'd see more deer than cars some days.
I guess I just don't have the personality for it. I'd rather get a root canal then drive to Boston more than once or twice a year. And the thought of driving in a tin can car amongst the worst drivers in the country just adds to the anxiety. I think if I had to do it I'd get a full size diesel pick up. Parking would suck but you'd probably get there alive.... if the stress doesn't kill you first.
I just don't know how you guys do it.
Before I started my business I had a job I really liked up by route 2 in the Gardner area. I was offered an amazing promotion in Quincy with a free car and a gas card and a list of perks too long to list and a two pay grade bump. But I turned it down. I lived in Townsend at the time and I loved my back road commute through Ashby and Asburnham. i couldnt imagine wanting to sit in bumper to bumper traffic for 4 hours each day versus 45 minutes each way on roads where I'd see more deer than cars some days.
I guess I just don't have the personality for it. I'd rather get a root canal then drive to Boston more than once or twice a year. And the thought of driving in a tin can car amongst the worst drivers in the country just adds to the anxiety. I think if I had to do it I'd get a full size diesel pick up. Parking would suck but you'd probably get there alive.... if the stress doesn't kill you first.
Varmint
NES Member
Some wear MAGA hats cause they have an open mind.
Varmint
NES Member
Totally right. When my job takes me into Boston I hate it. I’d rather drive 3 hrs on rt 2 to Western Mass than 45 min to Cambridge. I wouldn’t commute to the city for double the pay.
One resource not mentioned is Edmunds.com True Cost Of Ownership. It gives you a five-year total, based on 12,000 miles per year. Commuters drive a lot more but you can pretty easily make your own spreadsheet.
FWIW our fleet had Chevrolet’s, Fords, Hondas, Nissan, and Subarus. Not one of them required any major repairs until over 100,000 miles. The earliest was an axle replacement on a Ford Transit Connect at 112,000 miles. They all need brakes, tires, struts, and tuneups as maintenance items. Only other regular replacements were axles, wheel bearings and radiators.
Bonnevilles are fun but with old-fashioned dual shocks and very basic fork internals, they are definately not the bike for New England’s ravaged roadways. This is betterer.
FWIW our fleet had Chevrolet’s, Fords, Hondas, Nissan, and Subarus. Not one of them required any major repairs until over 100,000 miles. The earliest was an axle replacement on a Ford Transit Connect at 112,000 miles. They all need brakes, tires, struts, and tuneups as maintenance items. Only other regular replacements were axles, wheel bearings and radiators.
We have a 2016 Tahoe (Silverado chassis) and the suspension and handling is a joke. Massive unstrung weight and a beam rear axle does not result in modern chassis dynamics. A Fit is a blast to drive in comparison, though I prefer cars with more motor. Why men who claim to like to drive are willing to drive around in full-size pickup-Marus is a mystery to me.
Bonnevilles are fun but with old-fashioned dual shocks and very basic fork internals, they are definately not the bike for New England’s ravaged roadways. This is betterer.
rogzballz
NES Member
I don't disagree, I'd drive my Versa back and forth from NYC to Boston at least monthly for a long time, but it's a compromise between luxury and cost. The little Versa could get me 1 way in about 3/4 tank!
I had a 2012 Hyundai Veloster for 6 years. It is the most deceptively roomy car I have ever owned. My son is 6'5" and fit in the back seat. In the driver seat, I usually put the all the way back and wish I had more room. But in the Veloster I have to bring the seat forward 3 inches to push the clutch all the way in. The third door for the back seat is only on the passenger side. Makes for safe access if you have kids. No accidentally getting out in front of cars on the street side.
I used it for runs to home depot to get lumber up to 8 feet long with hatch closed.
Sold it recently. The Veloster Turbo is on my list for next cars. But so is the Dodge Challenger R/T.
I used it for runs to home depot to get lumber up to 8 feet long with hatch closed.
Sold it recently. The Veloster Turbo is on my list for next cars. But so is the Dodge Challenger R/T.
babygorilla
NES Member
Kia Soul. They are the Tardis of automobiles. WAAAAY bigger on the inside. I always get them as a rental when travelling for work.
Golddiggie
NES Member
I won't even go into Boston once a year. Be that for a job, or any other reason. There's simply nothing in that area that's enough of a draw for me.
I'm actually waiting to hear about a potential new gig in NH that's about 7-8 miles further away from where I'm going now (Lowell). BUT, the commute will actually be shorter (time). Nor to mention I'll be going the opposite direction of most traffic, it should make things even better.
I don't see how people that don't drive small cars can deal with going into Boston. Hell, even WITH a small car, it's an ass ache. The way people just seem to cross most of the streets (pedestrians) is insane. I see it when driving through Lowell each day I go to the office too. But in Boston it's 100000000x worse.
The amount of $$ it would take to get me to go into Boston even once a week would be enough to retire in a year. Hell, I'd even make it so that I didn't drive myself into the office. Which means it will never happen. Which I'm perfectly happy with. IME, there's enough jobs outside of that area in my field that I don't need to subject myself to those levels of stress (not going to happen).
Not a subcompact, but I'd say get a used Honda Element. Then remove all the stuff in back except seats, and you have a light weight vehicle with lots of room for stuff. Being a Honda makes it good on gas and reliable.
Commuting in and around Boston, it all smells like a septic vent. I really miss it. I guess that GE and Amazon didn't buy Mahty's state of the city speech. Boston vs Virginia? That was a tough decision. But hey, they now have a Casino and Pot Shops! Can't wait to see what the pot head zombies do to traffic and accidents in a crumbling infrastructure with a diminishing income outlook.
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Oh, Yeah, go have dinner in Fall Reev....
Toaster!
We know three people in Boston with them, and they’re not selling. One is actually the pinnacle Toaster: V6 AWD.
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The reason I bought my Fiat Abarth is cause my buddy who has numerous cars and tracks several got one when first came to US in 2012. He tracks that thing HARD (Palmer, Thompson, Lime Rock, NHMS, Watkins Glenn) and he has not had any reliability issues. I use mine as a daily so I dont subject it to the duty cycle of a race car but communitng in & out of Boston can be "severe" duty as well. Full disclosure, I had a wiper linkage assy. fail, rear trunk struts, my bluetooth is finicky, and um that's it in 3.5 years 62k miles. 1.4l turbo, 5 speed (they make a nice auto option) FWD, small (big compared to a SMART car) reliable & fun. Dont let people deter you that Fiat is unreliable just cause the old "Fix It Again Tony" saying.
Additionally, if you intend on keeping the car for a long time, Chrysler is the ONLY manufacturer to offer a factory LIFETIME warranty for the vehicle, essentially bumper to bumper unlimited time (obvi) & miles. I got the $100 deductible plan. My brother has a Fiat 500L with the lifetime Mopar MaxCare and got his car new a month after me in spring '15, has 250k on it now and they are still doing warranty work to it, most recently a brand new transmission.
Additionally, if you intend on keeping the car for a long time, Chrysler is the ONLY manufacturer to offer a factory LIFETIME warranty for the vehicle, essentially bumper to bumper unlimited time (obvi) & miles. I got the $100 deductible plan. My brother has a Fiat 500L with the lifetime Mopar MaxCare and got his car new a month after me in spring '15, has 250k on it now and they are still doing warranty work to it, most recently a brand new transmission.
ldi
NES Member
Thanks - I didn’t know about lifetime the warranty.
Chevy spark 43MPG 250,000 miles cost me $15,000 out the door. Sold it for $2000. Tires were $60 each and brake pads were $18 a set. The only things I had break were a coolant tank ($18 part) and blower ($25 part). With studded snow tires it was decent in the snow.
ldi
NES Member
Now that’s would be something I’d be willing to brutalize as a commuter.
Thanks.
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