Fleet Reduction advice needed.

I am in need of some advice. The current fleet is a 15 Ford Fiesta 1.0 with 40k miles, a 95 Miata M-Edition with 102k miles and a 87 Samurai. I am considering 2 options and need help.

I commute 80-100 miles a day and need a vehicle with 4x4. The Miata is staying with either option and the Fiesta is being traded with either as well.

Option 1.
Sell the Samurai and trade the Fiesta in on a newer Frontier Pro-4x. My main issue for this one is the Frontier will get 18 mpg combined max, my parents have a 05 Xterra and that is what it gets.

Option 2.
The Samurai is currently up for sale but I am trying to decide if I should just fix the issues that make me not like the samurai currently. Seats, smaller tires, and suspension, etc. Then trade the Fiesta in on something of similar size and gas mileage but Japanese(Mazda 3, yaris iA(Mazda 2), etc.)

I have been pricing the stuff for the samurai and it seem to be about $2500-$3500 to get it where I want it.

I am thinking I want to drop down to 2 vehicles instead of 3 and we have limited parking space.

So I take it 4x4 and commuter car don't have to be the same vehicle? Just out of curiosity, would like to hear your perspective on why option 2 involves trading the Fiesta in on a different fuel efficient car. Is it that the fuel efficient car should also be the fun car and the Fiesta doesn't measure up in that respect?

In reply to szeis4cookie:

well with option 1 I would be half and half commuting with both the Miata and Frontier and with option 2 I would get another small hatch to commute that wasn't an appliance and was a little fun. The fiesta has some long term reliability concerns that I just don't want to deal with(mostly issues of engines grenading at 60-70k miles.)

It seems to me the premise could use some clarification.

1. How do you define the purpose and need of awd in South Carolina?
   Would a Mazda CX-3 meet your need of awd and economy car in one car?

2. You will be choosing to get rid of the Fiesta. No changing that idea?

3. I am not sure if you will be keeping the Miata or not. In one sentence you claim it is staying but in another sentence you say you only want two vehicles.

John Welsh wrote: It seems to me the premise could use some clarification. 1. How do you define the purpose and need of awd in South Carolina? Would a Mazda CX-3 meet your need of awd and economy car in one car? 2. You will be choosing to get rid of the Fiesta. No changing that idea? 3. I am not sure if you will be keeping the Miata or not. In one sentence you claim it is staying but in another sentence you say you only want two vehicles.

Western NC not SC so we actually get snow here and it will be for offroading. The fiesta is gone 100%. The miata is 100% staying. Sorry but I forgot to mention I am currently trying to sell the Samurai, but trying to sell it is annoying me greatly atm. Hope that helps.

Would a subcompact Crossover meet your definition of awd and econony car all in one vehicle?

Choices include:
Honda HR-V.
Buick Encore.
Chevrolet Trax.
Jeep Renegade
Fiat 500X.
Mazda CX-3.
Nissan Juke
Mini Cooper Countryman

Or, do you require something more off-road capable.

In reply to John Welsh :

no I am wanting actual 4x4 for offroading. Like the Wrangler but I dont like Chryco so that is why I have the Frontier Pro-4x in option 1. The only issue I have is the Frontiers gas mileage and I know a 1/2 ton will get better gas mileage but they are just too large for my needs.

So, you want:

An off roader
A commuter
A Miata

All in two vehicles.
Can you, would you, commute in the Miata?

In reply to John Welsh :

Yes I would be commuting a couple days a week in the miata if i got the frontier. Likely at least 2 days a week

So, a Nissan Frontier and a Miata sound like a nice and versatile combination.

How does the Samurai sit now? What's it got vs. what you want it to be?

In reply to ebonyandivory:

main issues are tires are too big and heavy for the gearing and weight of vehicle, The suspension is stiffer than a stance coiled miata and the stock seats are horrible and hurt after 15 mins. Honestly smaller tires, a softer suspension and better seats would help the samurai completely. Also some rust repair.

I drove the hell out of mine (3 actually) with Spring Over Axle lift, 33" Super Swampers and racing buckets on Spidertrax brackets.

It had 3.73's but the Rock Lobster transfer case gears lowered the High Range as well as the ultra low-low.

I'd be gone all day and 1/2 the night in that thing. Crappiest stereo and speakers playing John Denvers greatest hits.

God I miss putting thousands of miles on that (those) thing (s).

In reply to ebonyandivory:

SPOA would be softer than it is now. Like the suspension doesnt move at all. It has 4.1:1's in the tcase on with stock axle gears. If i keep it I am going 235/75r15's or 30/9.50/15 and Corbeau Baja's on Corbeau brackets and the OME 2inch lift to replace the 31/9.50/15 tsl swamper radials and 3inch calmini springs. These seats are more comfortable than the stock seats and they are plastic

I had the Calmini 5" lift (same springs as yours combined with 2" shackles and shackle-flip) and I agree, I hated it.

The OME springs are interesting though.

I almost bought this bolt-on SPOA kit but had to buy a bigger vehicle (XJ) when we had kids.

Those are the seats I had too.

In reply to ebonyandivory:

it would be OME's for now but likely YJ's in the future. Also I wanted to run 225/75r16's(29x8.5) but no one makes a light wheel in 16x8 with 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern with 4" or less back spacing(or -19 et)

and those seats are still miles better than the stock seats

The YJ weighs about 1,300 lbs more than the Samurai so I'm not sure how flexible the springs would be.

they are softer. and it gives more flex. If it doesnt sell by the time my craiglist posting expires ill likely keep it

Can you give some links for the engine failures that you are talking about? I found a couple references to cooling system failure but I haven't found anything about the manifold cracking that I remember you mentioning in the past.

In reply to singleslammer:

main thread http://www.fiestafaction.com/forums/threads/47202-cracked-head-78k-(venting)

and the facebook group from the uk where they seem to be having tons of issues. https://www.facebook.com/groups/FordEcoboostNightmare/

I also am not happy with the local ford dealers and the subpar warranty

Paco motorsports Miata and done?

MrChaos wrote: In reply to ebonyandivory: SPOA would be softer than it is now. Like the suspension doesnt move at all. It has 4.1:1's in the tcase on with stock axle gears. If i keep it I am going 235/75r15's or 30/9.50/15 and Corbeau Baja's on Corbeau brackets and the OME 2inch lift to replace the 31/9.50/15 tsl swamper radials and 3inch calmini springs. These seats are more comfortable than the stock seats and they are plastic

Off subject: does anyone know if those seats will fit into a 97 Tracker?