I need a new daily driver as my Dakota just don't cut it driving 30 plus miles one way to school and work.
My requirements are quite simple, but finding what I want is hard. Simple demands are 2dr, seats 3 adults comfortably, manual, cheap, easy to get parts for, and better then 25mpg. Oh and no imports unless it is like a Mazda.
Thoughts opinions GRM?
Focus. Parents got deep into the 30's on theirs. Pretty easy to find a 2/3 door used focus.
Fusion's can also get good mileage. Little harder to find one with only 2 doors, though... 
GM versions of the same?
BTW, new or used?
Never driven a Fiesta, and wonder how comfortable the rear passenger is.
As alfa said, going new or used? What's the budget range?
4cyl/5spd Honda Accord coupe - fits all criteria above. You mentioned not wanting an "import", but the Accord is a US market car, built in Ohio.
Focus. SVT or 2.3 (2004+) ZX3 as a bonus. The 'plain' Zetec cars are good, inexpensive fun too.
+1 on the Focus.
I would say an older Civic. It seats someone in the back seat with more room then a Focus. But you said no imports other then Mazda.
An Ohio-built Civic or Accord is less of an import than a Mexican built Ford.
Based on your requirements... Cavalier or Cobolt
Used and cheap. Cheap like well under $3000.
Cobalt SS
Hmm, if it wasn't for the "no imports" and "manual" parts, I'd recommend a Mercedes W123 Turbodiesel - you can find the 300CD coupe, but the 300D sedan is more plentiful.
About as complex as a box of rocks and pretty much as durable as the rocks, easy to work on and will go on forever. Should get you between 30mpg and 35mpg, too.
mtn wrote: Cobalt SS
I like this idea! A friend has the Ion Redline, and it's actually a blast to drive. It's not tear your face off fast, but it'll make the wife scream in terror if driven just right.
Edit: Oh, and to prove I was paying attention to the OP, the Ion has the little wing doors and a decent back seat, so you can fit three adults in there.
Javelin wrote: * Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
Erm, if you change your definition of adult to "double amputee midget child" a DSM would work. That back seat is purely for insurance purposes.
Reason for the manual is I am sick of driving boring slushboxes. My last last two purchases have been autos and they both are soul sucking abominations. Everything but my first car, a Ford Pinto, have been manuals. Would like to get back to driving them again.
Mazda 626 or MX-6 are my suggestions going by your requirements. If not going by your requirements Honda Civic. I have 4.
I won't do "imports". I've had my fill of attempting to repair them over the years. No thanks.
Out of idle curiosity, why are Mazdas ok?
Ranger50 wrote: I won't do "imports". I've had my fill of attempting to repair them over the years. No thanks.
This does not compute. I can honestly say that both of my Civics are a million times easier to work on then a Focus or most any other car I have touched.
To myself, Mazda's don't have the typical Japanese feel. They seem to be made with my American "body type" in mind.
93EXCivic wrote:Ranger50 wrote: I won't do "imports". I've had my fill of attempting to repair them over the years. No thanks.This does not compute. I can honestly say that both of my Civics are a million times easier to work on then a Focus or most any other car I have touched.
It computes to me. Go work on a 1970's American boat with no emissions equipment, no electronic doo-dads, and an engine bay you can stand in. I'd much rather work on actual old-school domestic stuff than the import-style cars with the cramped FWD bays, metric fasteners, and electronics. And yes, I have owned a Civic (and an Integra, and a MX6, and a few DSM's, etc).
Nothing wrong with metric fasteners . Given my experience with a DSM so far, I wouldn't really recommend one as a daily driver, even to this crowd.
If it's not a philosophical opposition to imports, how about an E30 or E36 318 of some flavor? $3K should gets you a very well maintained one and if you're doing your own repairs they're easy to fix and relatively cheap. Yeah, it'll cause you a bit more pain than a Focus, but more pleasure, too.
BoxheadTim wrote: I'd recommend a Mercedes W123 Turbodiesel - you can find the 300CD coupe, but the 300D sedan is more plentiful.
+1 The automatic isnt even that bad (the best of any I have driven) and they can be manual swapped with junkyard parts (if you dont mind having a 4 speed). It would meet all of your other requirements.
93EXCivic wrote:Ranger50 wrote: I won't do "imports". I've had my fill of attempting to repair them over the years. No thanks.This does not compute. I can honestly say that both of my Civics are a million times easier to work on then a Focus or most any other car I have touched.
uh, based on your id, your Civics are close to 20 years old. Any car made in the early 90's will be easier than one made in the last 10 years.
Then again, my CRX was a major PITA to change the alternator.
Nice thing about a good focus, you won't have to work on it.
(side note- American cars have used metric fasteners for quite some time now.)
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