Battle of the compact cars

These are the cheapest new cars you can buy (in the US at least). Let's discuss which is the best and why. Let's keep the discussion to only the base model version of each car, because the higher trimlines cost a lot more.

2005 Chevrolet Cavalier/Pontiac Sunfire base
-2 dr coupe
-2.2L 140 hp
-5 spd Getrag transmission
Price: With all the GM incentives, most dealerships will sell you one for around $11,000 after taxes

2005 Dodge Neon SE
-4 dr sedan
-2.0L 132 hp
-5 spd trans
Price: Can be found as low as $11,000 after taxes

2005 Ford Focus base
-4 dr sedan
-2.0L 136 hp
-5 spd
Price: Also around $11,000 after taxes

2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8
-4 dr sedan
-1.8L 126 hp
-5 spd
Price: $12,500 after tax

2005 Honda Civic DX
-4 dr sedan (coupe not available in the base model DX trim)
-1.7L 115 hp
-5 spd
Price: $13,000

2005 Toyota Corolla CE
-4 dr sedan
-1.8L 130 hp
-5 spd
Price: $13,000

2005 Kio Rio base
-4 dr sedan
-1.6L 104 hp
-5 spd
Price: $10000

2005 Hyundai Accent
-2dr hatch
-1.6L 103 hp
-5spd
Price: $10000

2005 Mazda 3i
-3dr hatch
-2.0L 148 hp
-5spd
Price: $13,500


These prices are not based on MSRP but on ads I foudn in my local paper, and then I added a small percentage for tax.

I think the Pontiac Sunfire is the best deal. It is the most powerful of them all with 140 hp, except for the Mazda 3 but it costs at least $2500 more. The Sunfire also has a Getrag transmission, which are really good Porsche-quality transmissions. What's everyone think?

Also any other cars in this class that I missed? But, they must be under $14,000 brand new after taxes and all other expenses, and they must still be in production in 2005.

i wouldnt say the pontiac sunfire/cavalier is the best, the reliability on them sucks major, really cheap made, may be the most powerful, but thats one i definately would not pick, i wouldnt pick the Kia or the Hyundai either, because IMO i just dont like them, if i had to pick i would pick the nissan sentra, looks are ok, except for the tail-lights, but then my second would be the mazda 3, then 3rd i would pick the Civic

I don't know about the reliability, I have heard that Japanese cars (Civic, Sentra, Corolla, etc) are more reliable than American ones. Whether or not this is true or a rumor I don't know. Maybe someone who has owned both Japanese and American compact cars can comment.

But on a brand new car you get 3 year/36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty on it, and 5 years on the powertrain. So who cares if it's not reliable, they'll repair it for you for free, and since the cars are so cheap you're probably not gonna keep them for more than 3 years anyways.

well i would care if it broke down even if it did have a warranty, because it will be in the shop and take forever for them to fix it

If the repair takes more than a day the dealership has to give you a loaner for free.

I would only worry about reliability if buying a used car.

yeah but still, nobody likes having the car in the shop while driving around in a loaner car

Reliability isn't necessarily always good or bad with any type of cars. American compact cars are usually hit-or-miss, because the manufacturers are more concerned with offering the most amount of power and features that they can for the lowest cost. Sure, the Cavalier/Sunfire have 140 horsepower and a lot of neat features, and they only cost around $11,000 after rebates, but they are the most likely to start falling apart after 60,000 miles. Japanese compact cars are generally more reliable, but that's not always true either. The Sentra has had build quality issues ever since they started producing it in Mexico back in 1999, for example.

The Sentra has had build quality issues ever since they started producing it in Mexico back in 1999, for example.

Then that should make the Dodge Neon tops as well.:rolleyes:

I know you have heard this all before, but serious with the culmination of where car parts come from not only where some automobiles are manufactured compared to their manufacturer's origin what is truly JDM, USDM or even CADM anymore?

And another thing today's Dodge Neons are actually quite reliable, the problem is that people are too blinded by the headgaskets problems of the first two generations of models to take note or for that matter want to.

How about chocking it up for the Subaru Impreza 2.5RS and Mitsubishi Lancer and the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta as well? I'll get some info up on them soon enough, if someone doesn;t beat me to a couple or even all of them first.

I like the Dodge Neon quite a bit, and out of the cars listed there, would probably be my first choice. Also, I'm not saying that the Sentra is unreliable because it's built in Mexico, I'm saying it's been unreliable since they started building it there. Draw whatever conclusion you wish. I didn't mention the Lancer because I think it's ugly and underpowered, and the build quality is iffy (the Ralliart solves those problems, but it costs well over $14,000). And there's no way you're getting an Impreza out the door for under $14,000, either.

If you want to take into consideration one of the cheapest AWD compacts, there is the Suzuki Aerio SX. You should also take into consideration the standard FWD trim, as well as the Forenza. There is also the Saturn ION to consider, which has finally achieved which Saturn has set out to do and created a model that is a great alternative to the Civic, at least mechanically, at a price which is thousands lower, about $11,500 at lowest.

I have actually driven most of these cars already and when they are new they are all pretty decent. I would say my favorite 3 are the Ford the Honda and the Mazda. You get about the same car out of all of them, I would say I liked the Hondas manual transmission a little more and the Mazdas interior the most but the ford was definately cheaper and it felt really comfortable to drive. These are all new cars and all of these cars I drove were 03 on up and none of these cars are really bad but the hyundai was kind of cheap.

Every single one of those cars bar the Focus and Mazda3 is 10 years out of date (The Honda is closer to 5 years out of date and the Cavalier, near to 20). I'd say go with the 3, if you're not going to get a VW or an Impreza, then get the Mazda3.

It looks like I forgot a few cars:

The 2005 VW Golf in base model trim should be available for around $14,000. The 2.0L that comes with the base model only makes 115 hp.

The 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer, base model is called the ES, can be had for around $13,000. It has a 2.0L with 120 hp.

Then there is the Saturn Ion, but that is basically the Cavalier/Sunfire with a slightly different look. The same Ecotec 140 hp engine, and price is the same.

Mazda 3 would be my pick. Newest styling, pretty reliable, and who cares about performance. If you want a performance car, than you're looking in the wrong category.

Yeah, I like the Mazda 3 Hatchback.

But... 13,500$????

the cheapest model starts at 21,990€ here in Germany which currently equals 26,800$!!

Same for the Focus, the 4dr/2.0l is 6-sp and starts at 22,300€ /27,200$!

The Golf 115hp version has a 1.6l engine and starts at 17,825€/21,740$!

Did you check those prices? I mean... wow Germany sucks..

The Focus and Mazda are probably so expensive because of Germany's high (comapred to America's) tariffs. The Golf, while $6,000 cheaper than the other two, is still quite expensive at $21,000. So yeah, German car prices are high :o

It would be pretty hard to buy a new Corolla for $13k. Maybe a base Corolla with literally no options. If you add something like power windows and locks, forget it.

Yeah, well if you didn't notice we are comparing the very base models, in order to make the comparison relatively equal...

It looks like I forgot a few cars:

The 2005 VW Golf in base model trim should be available for around $14,000. The 2.0L that comes with the base model only makes 115 hp.

The 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer, base model is called the ES, can be had for around $13,000. It has a 2.0L with 120 hp.

Then there is the Saturn Ion, but that is basically the Cavalier/Sunfire with a slightly different look. The same Ecotec 140 hp engine, and price is the same.

The Saturn Ion has a new chassis.

The new Chevrolet Cobalt has replaced the Cavalier.

check this link

New Cobalt (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=406056)

The lancer was pretty nice, good over all package, but didn't look as good as the other 3 metioned in my opinion, thats for you to decide. The golf though I was not impressed by the base model engine. The 1.8T was better and the VR6 was even better than that in my opinion. I wouldn't get the VW with the base engine its pretty under powered feeling, nice car otherwise.