I like making informed decisions about most things--especially those to the tune to 15k big ones... I've been in a research/obsess marathon with trying to pick out a new econo-box to replace my aging and failing ford "ghetto salad" escort.
I've spend many nights researching the current line-up and have been trying to get test-drives of them:
VW rabbit/Jetta (guts-wise they're the same car really)
Toyota Yaris
Scion(toyota) xD
Nissan Versa
Honda Fit
Mazda 3


So far I've had a hard time getting manuals to test drive, so everything is compared auto to auto.






VW Rabbit (auto with tiptronic)--
Good: Amazing standard features, amazing warranty. One of the more powerful cars of the group.
Bad: Not sure how I feel about the Tiptronic "pseudo-manual" tranny. Steve would like the auto option though...
Ugly: 23/30 miles per gallon blows marsh gas as far as the other cars I've been looking at are concerned. It's gotta be the 5-banger inside. More power,more displacement, crappy gas milage.


So far it's the best car I've gotten to drive. Even was peppy with the auto tranny. Smooth ride and decent acceleration compared to the others I've gotten to test. The MPG is the real killer for me on this one. And it apparently is very very difficult to get manuals for the rabbit.


Toyota Yaris --
Good: crazy good MPG (as reported by a friend who owns one). Base price is super low (12k-ish)
Bad: Very meh as far as drivability goes. Weak engine was totally noticable in the auto tranny. Felt like effort to even keep at 40 on 99.
Ugly: base model is so stripped it hurts. Interior looks and feels cheap. Breaks suxx0r. Middle HUD setup is weird....


Worst car I've driven so far. Looks and feels cheap. Car drove like a schizophrenic: the handling was tight and zippy, but the breaks felt like crap and so did the acceleration. What good is handling if there's nothing to back it up? The auto felt out of sync and laggy at times I needed power from it(manual might fix that though). The breaks totally freaked me out, I felt out of control when trying to stop.


Scion xD --
Good: better than the yaris offering, felt more like a real car. Decent acceleration, and the breaks felt much better. I felt more in control of the car.
Bad: Still kinda meh to drive over all.
Ugly: The interior is overall alright, but the styling really throws me. Ugly turn-knobs for temp control and such, feels like i'm driving a big powerwheels car. I like the old but good dash stylings, they look much better.


Better than the Yaris but not as smooth overall as the Rabbit. I felt more in control with the breaks this time, the drivability was better. Interior style kinda silly looking, and a nasty driver-side rear blind-spot was no fun to deal with. I wouldn't kill myself if i got stuck driving one, but I think i can do better.


Honda Fit --
Tragically, these sell days, nay! hours after they hit the dealership, making getting a test drive nearly impossible it seems. All the ones currently around were sold. Probably a good sign if they're getting snatched up so fast, but now I have to wait for a call to haul ass to the dealership to get behind the wheel. I have big expectations for this car, its gathered many econobox of the year awards from the likes of Motor Trend and Car and Driver, to name a few.
Hearsey results--more when I actually drive it!
Good: excellent MPG, amazing space capacity, standard features are nice for the price
Bad: Reports from drivers claim the MPG is not that good (still better than the Rabbit though :/ ), weak engine might show (hope to drive a manual...)
Ugly: none that I know of other than a possible big letdown after drive


Nissan Versa --
No results yet, the dealership is so far away. Just based on the reports, this might be the car I want. Good gas milage and a decent 1.8 liter engine to boot! Looks nice, lets hope it drives nice too...


Mazda 3 --
No results yet, may prove difficult to get a test drive of this one. The U-dist dealership doesn't show any in inventory :( May need to see if the 2008 (if they plan on making one anyway) comes out to try. Will try and track down one at another dealership, the MPG to power ratio makes me want to give this a whirl, even though it looks like a boring standard sedan...






If anyone who reads this journal actaully owns any of these cars wants to throw in their two-cents, please feel free. More info for my growing pile.