Wanted: Commuter Car with Small Testicles
 

Ya know, as opposed to no testicles.

Here's the deal: I'm looking for a moderately-nutted vehicle for my current S/O to use while I'm working. A zippy little commuter car with some balls. It isn't supposed to be a Camaro or an Evo. I'm thinking five speed four banger with two doors. Price range is $15k, so it'll be lightly used (buying a new car isn't frugal enough for me). I've found a healthy number that are under 35k miles.

The two main contenders:

- Chevrolet Cobalt SS
- Honda Civic SI

I've picked these two models because I'm most familiar with them under the hood. I'm far from a mechanical genius, but I've learned to do more than just change the oil and brake pads.

So... automobile gurus of TFP... park your learnin' upon my feeble brain.

Thoughts on my two choices? Experiences with these vehicles? Knowledge of the engines? Jokes?

Don't rule out Mazda.

We have the Mazda3 5-door, which has a bit more pep than others in its class (167 hp), and the hatchback makes it look sporty, yet it's hella practical. It fits a lot of crap.

If you need more pep, the MAZDASPEED3 can be had for a few thousand more (costing just a tad more than the Honda Civic SI). But you get way more pep, nearly 100 hp more. (Which I think gets you more punch than both the Honda and the Chevy, and personally, I think the Mazda looks better than both. Oh, and hatchback.)

(Zoom, zoom.)

I recently test drove a Civic EX coupe and a Mazda3 hatch.
I found the Civic coupe to be a bit on the claustrophobic side and it had no grunt at all. Granted, it was the EX with the base motor and the SI does have more ponies.
I really liked the Mazda3 hatch I drove. Comfortable, good handling, decent brakes.
If I had to choose between the 2, I'd have taken the Mazda3.
I won't buy GM. Had too many issues with their cars in the past and it'll be a long time before I buy another.

Volkswagon GTI would fit the bill... perhaps even a jeep wrangler.. remove the top and enjoy the sun

My SO's previous car was a Civic sedan, and she says she's a bit more pleased with how the Mazda3 drives.

Mazda and Honda hold their value the best.

I'm more than happy with my Mazdaspeed3 - as Baraka mentioned, it has plenty of balls. However, it's also a 6-speed and only available in a manual transmission. With a turbo.

The Mazda3 has a ton of power of its own, it looks classy (assuming you're looking at <2010 models, I hate the big smiley face in front now), and they're efficient.

If she doesn't drive much, she probably doesn't need something with as much balls as the Civic Si - and realize that the more horsepower you have in a small car, the greater the amount you'll be paying in insurance, since they will be considered sports cars. I believe the Si is considered a sports car by most insurance companies. I don't know much about the Cobalt SS, but I won't buy anything GM again.

There's always Toyota Corolla, as well.

I'm assuming she thinks the Vibe doesn't have enough balls for her?

Another vote for Mazda3 or MAZDASPEED3.. I drive Mazda's "sports car" and the MZ3 can nearly keep up. It's quick. The base 3 is very comfortable too..

A nice low-mileage Focus SVT brings a pretty healthy amount of pep to the table.

Just how did you come to rate a Chevy with a Honda??? Honda is the best of the two by far. Chevy is a bad idea. Especially the cobalt.

Why did I know BG would be advocating for the Mazda as soon as I saw the threads premise? And why in heavens name would you own a manual vehicle in the US? In a densely populated region like VA for that matter.

The ford focus is also not a very bad idea. The Fords have become increasingly reliable and have better gas mileage.

No Fords, guys. Especially the Focus. I swear to god the next time I work on a Ford it'll be in hell... as a punishment for something.

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Because I don't actually live there?

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We all know that GM is total crap, but I actually found the Cobalt SS to be a pretty decent fun vehicle. It's got some juice and is a million times better than a Cavalier. How will it look up on the rack at 100k? Like shit, probably. Common sense suggests Honda for long term. But I'm not that smart.

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I'll take a look at the Mazda3 again. It doesn't do me any good if I have to take it to the dealer to play the basic maintenance game, but I'm sure it can't be any worse than a Volkswagon. I'm not worried about insurance costs because I won't be paying it. I just want to find a more sensible vehicular plaything than desired because I'm a total Scrooge like that and if I'm driving this dented pick-up, they're not driving a friggin' Camaro SS.

And did someone really suggest a Jeep Wrangler? Holy TLDR.

Having been stuck driving a Cobalt when someone rearended the Vibe a few years ago, I'd go negatory there. It's horrid. I bumped my head on the ceiling... and I'm 5'6". No balls at all. All of my friends that have the smaller commuters drive Mazda3s, Civics, and GTIs.

Another vote for the Mazda3. I got one for the wife when we moved and she needed a car as there was nowhere to grocery shop within walking distance.

The VW Golf was on the list but there was more space in the Mazda for trips to the cottage. We'd take my Mazda Tribute but I use it for work and it's taken on an odor that makes here gag :P. The smell of $$$ I tell her...LOL!

Pretty good in winter as long as you get winter tires. She's got a set of ContiViking 3 and it stick top the road pretty good as I'm a "spirited" driver.

My wife had a Mazda and loved it, she really wants another. Just a thought though, as you seem to dislike Ford so much...Ford owns/owned a substantial stake in Mazda and there was much intermixing, especially in parts. Depending on the year/model there can be a great deal of overlap in the vehicles/parts (particularly with the Mazda trucks, but that wouldn't be a concern for you). What that may mean for you is swapping an alternator on a Mazda may feel suspiciously like swapping one on a Ford. Then again...maybe not, just something to be on the lookout for - don't be surprised if you open a Mazda hood and find a Ford emblem staring you in face.

Yeah, I was aware of the Ford/Mazda thing, especially with the Ranger.

I'm not really looking for a hatchback. It's redundant if you own a pickup.

Don't rule out the Cobalt too quick. Those Ecotec engines are known to run and run and run and run...

And the 2.4 (i believe) thats in the SS will get in the very high 30's for MPG depending on what her commute is like.

Both good cars though.

I'm not sure as to why there is such a dislike of chevy here. I truely love them and they have always been rock solid for me.

While I must admit the base models of some of chevy's cars are not as nice, they are very capable when properly equipped. A Cobalt Coupe with it's performance options will make for a very comfortable ride and will be more roomy than a four door for the driver. Versions of the ecotec engine has been used in a handful of fun cars including the Opel Speedster/Vauxhall VX220, Saturn Sky Red Line, Cadillac BLS, Saab 9-3 and various other small performance ventures.

Clue me in if I'm wrong, but the Cobalt SS is as good as it gets as far as the Cobalt line. The SS package is supposed to be top of the Chevy line.

Unless they have a Cobalt GSS model equipped with miniguns and flamethrowers that I haven't heard about.

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Fuel economy is important in this vehicle selection for the rare occasions that it is used to drive to Canada.

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The features and the trim of the Civic Si are better on paper, but I haven't sat in either so I don't know how it'll feel.

Engines are close, albeit a different route. Any thoughts on the supercharger versus what I assume is just a beefy 4-banger?

The 2006 Cobalt SS (supercharged) gets around 205 hp.

The 2006 Civic SI gets around 197 hp.

A buddy of mine in college had one of the sportier civics (with some iteration of the vtec) and was pretty peppy. Impressive for what it was, it's a shame he wasn't particularly good at driving it.

Like Baraka, I'm a Mazda fan. I drive a 2001 Protege, and aside from the lame name, I like pretty much everything about it. Mileage is good, I've had very few mechanical problems, it's a manual, has decent pep, and was dirt cheap ($5k a year and a half ago). A friend has a newer Mazdaspeed 3 hatchback, and loves it.

Thinking outside the (econo) box here. About four years ago I bought (on ebay) a 2002 SAAB 9-5, turbo, 5-speed with 58k miles for about $7600, On the road I can drive it as fast as I think I can get away with and still get 32-33mpg. Better if I keep my speed down. I don't drive much within the city, but regularly drive from Massachusetts to Western Kansas. About a 25 hour drive. Less if I can miss rush traffic in Cleveland and Chicago, but I digress. That's my commute. In four years and about 55k miles I've done regular maintenance. replaced the heater bypass valve and left headlight bulb (four or five times) a set of tires, one bent wheel, fuel injection hoses (on a factory recall) and a battery. that's it. I don't get as good mileage as the cars mentioned here, but figure I match them by saving on depreciation, as the distance from $7600 to zero is a lot less than from $15000 to zero. And I drive a comfortable near luxury car. And I love being able to say that my car was made by the trolls in Trollhatten, Sweden.:)

Lindy

Well if you look at the Mazda, you might as well check out the Mitsubishi and the Subaru Imprezas. 170 horses on most of the base Imprezas, more on the better models, and never an ounce of torque steer thanks to the AWD! Oh, an another vote for the 5 doors too!

VW GTI. Trust me.

You're from California and a mechanic can deadline a VW trying to change the oil. No.

Huh? :confused: