small cars making a comeback ?

Just read that prices of used small cars are rising due to demand.

  This is credited to the rise in gas prices.

I should probably add another $5k '07, '08 Prius to my business fleet again before they get expensive.  

Also, '11 Elantras are nearing the magic 8-10 yr old mark.  Good choices for 35-40 mpg 

Too bad, Ford. 

In reply to SVreX :

They haven't stopped producing, or engineering small cars yet. That decision could be rescinded if market forces warranted it. I moved to this country almost 19 years ago and people have been whining about gasoline prices constantly, and yet the Ford F150 has been the best selling vehicle for the entire 19 years. Any move to smaller vehicles probably means more smaller SUV thingies, not more proper small cars anyway.

iceracer said:

Just read that prices of used small cars are rising due to demand.

  This is credited to the rise in gas prices.

Where is this happening?  Fuel prices by me are cheaper than they've been in a long time.  I have been used to paying $3.40-3.50 for 92-93, just yesterday I bought it at only $3.01.

SVreX said:

Too bad, Ford. 

Ford will always make a lot of small cars.  They just recognize that the people buying new vehicles in America want a car about as much as the previous generation wanted a station wagon, so they won't sell them here.  Heck, it is a miracle that they sold the Fiesta here, you know?  (And dang it would have been awesome if the Puma or Ka were sold here...)

This is lame and proof that the modern American consumer just plain sucks, but the last time Ford tried to define a market instead of following market trends, they created the Edsel.  Which worked out SO well...

I don't think the local farmers will be replacing there f series trucks with a new hatchback so Ford should be alright between that and contractors. Personally I'm looking at replacing my fuel efficient (16mpg lol) vehicle with something even worse on gas. I'm guessing the small cars is more prominent with people in city's or long travel times for work etc.

At $6/gallon I have no idea what you speak of.

F150s are still flying off the lots here in Canada.

Pete

It's funny, in thinking about it, I have only ever seen about 3 or 4 other fiat 500s on the road aside from my own.. and I live 3 miles from a fiat chrysler dealership!

Personally, I am loving my little Abarth, the one owner I talked to was right, it's the most fun you can have and not lose your license.

What I find very funny, one of my co-workers DDs a vette. He not only loves the cars, but drives one because he thinks they attract women. In the past three days of owning and driving my Fiat, I have had more random women talk to me about the car than ever imagined could happen. They love the 500.

Knurled. said:

 

This is lame and proof that the modern American consumer just plain sucks, but the last time Ford tried to define a market instead of following market trends, they created the Edsel.  Which worked out SO well...

I am the anti-Ford, but I'm aware that there was a thing called the Mustang

NOHOME said:

At $6/gallon I have no idea what you speak of.

 

F150s are still flying off the lots here in Canada.

 

Pete

$3.59 by my math

I cannot see this thread without thinking

"Don't call it a comeback!  They've been here for years!"

small cars said knock you out

The new Corolla hatch looks okay. 

In reply to nutherjrfan :

from all the reviews its still terrible to drive

Isn't that just a rebadged Scion whatever-it-was-called?

Successor to the Corolla iM I think but a small car nonetheless and well I've only read one admittedly 'gushing' review about it.

Popular Mechanics. Low ride and 'maybe' small cargo space complaints. 

MrChaos said:

In reply to nutherjrfan :

from all the reviews its still terrible to drive

It's not even publically available yet...all of the "first drives" say it's a huge improvement. Even has a 6-speed that can automatically rev-match on downshifts. I think you are thinking of the Corolla iM (formerly a Scion) which is nothing special.

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2019-toyota-corolla-hatchback-first-drive-review

Yeah I read the Car and Driver article just before coming back to post this video.  I'm intrigued because of Toyota quality even though I prefer Nissans.  The only way I'd consider a new car is if it was a good fit for Uber to defray ownership costs.  The rear of this 'Auris' world platform not really a Corolla anymore is it?  doesn't seem to be very Uber friendly. 

it doesn't look bad.. except for that awful 8" screen in the middle of the dash. Toyota made a wonderful  minimalist looking dash, and then plunked that screen in the middle of it like an aftermarket afterthought.

From what I have read about the new Corolla the manual one is tuned to be hard to stall so it's not much fun to drive, and that it tugs at the steering wheel and makes annoying noises if it thinks you aren't close enough to the middle of the lane, and there wasn't any mention of turning it off. Doesn't seem like my idea of fun.

An increase in demand for used cars is interesting because new car sales (not CUV/SUV/trucks) are on pace to hit a 60 year low.

I'd guess that the large depreciation that traditionally comes with small cars, combined with a general lack of supply in the new car market is making used cars more appealing than buying them new.

For the same price as the Focus ST, I'd go that route while they're still available.  Love the bold blue and available 6MT, though.

nutherjrfan said:

The new Corolla hatch looks okay. 

Look like the previous generation Mazda 3 and Focus had a baby and someone tacked really expensive tail lights on to it. Ironic considering all the rear end damage Camrys and Corollas seem to attract.

What irritates me is that NO ONE makes a small station wagon besides VW.  And I won't touch VW because, well, VAG reliability.  Everyone else's hatches are actually shorter than the sedans.  WTH?  I buy a vehicle with a larger back end TO HAUL STUFF WITH.  

Just give us the Polo GTI and I'll go away