Hey Guys - My 2012 Ford Focus manual has been great - But she's now starting to show her age, and will have to start considering a replacement in the near future.
Looking for recommendations on a used compact/entry level car:
- MUST be used (2-6 years old)
- MUST come as a manual
- MUST be relatively "sporty" look to it
- Preferably hatchback/Wagon (might consider a crossovers if available in manual)
- Not picky about higher mileage if it's a more reliable make
(I'm well aware I'm REALLY narrowing down my options with a manual (especially living in North America), but this is 100% non-negotiable)
I am thinking a ~2016 Scion IM is my best bet, but open to any recommendations that meet the criteria above.
Thanks!!!
Your on the right track with the Scion IM. I would take it on a test drive and see what you think of it. Keep in mind the Toyota Matrix, Scion IM, Toyota Corolla IM, and Toyota Corolla Hatchback are all the same car but part of different generations and badges.
The Scion IM is an excellent choice. Other cars to look at would be the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Mazda 3, and Subaru Impreza. Manual transmission Civics have a bit of a cult following so they will probably be the easiest to find with a manual transmission, although you should be able to find examples of all of the above with manual transmissions.
I say consider a Scion tC. The IM Is a fine car, but it isn't exactly 'sporty'.
The tC adds 50 HP or so to your driving experience, and looks a lot better.
As long as you are fine with the 2 doors, you can have a lot of fun in those cars.
It seems limiting that you watch a manual hatchback . I suggest Mazda 3 Hatchback since it looks sporty and they are very decent fun cars to drive. Beware the others cars the other members mention is in a different class you wanted. But then again, they are good choices in a different vehicle class.
You might also consider a honda civic, or a honda accord although the accords with manual transmissions are harder to come by. You might also look at an Acura. I recommend all of these because you said you'd like for them to look relatively sporty. If you're looking for a hatchback, I might recommend looking at a Subaru Impreza (not a WRX, just plain jane), as in my experience they are also surprisingly easier to find with manual transmissions.
The best Civic, Corolla, Camry or Accord your money can buy
I prefer the Toyotas, but having had an '86 GL10 Subaru 5-speed manual that drove for 300K miles, you might look at the manual Crosstrek. I test drove one last year, but decided on a RAV4 instead.
