The Yaris and the Fit are good choices based on what you are looking for. I think you might be very pleased to look at a brand new Chevrolet Cruze. A bigger car with similar mileage.

Oh, cool.

I'd never even heard of those models before. I guess that's what happens when you switch over to on-demand style media consumption!

That Sonic looks nice. Kinda reminds me of the VW Golf/Rabbit/GTI that I've always been really fond of.

Thanks, Will.

-chef

I see that the Sonic is just the Chevy Aveo re-branded. Same platform they've had for 10 years or so. It's a beast on the international market. Wiki says it was a Daewoo design. I'm also leery of buy the first of a new model because it seems like it takes a couple iterations to get it right. But in this case, it's not really new per se.

I love that it's actually made in Michigan. I'm trying to talk my wife into the Sonic now. Best looking car of that class, IMO. For an extra $1000 or so, I'd buy the American car over the Kia.

-chef

I'm pretty sure the Chevy Cruze is Korean made also.

IIRC it's a re-badged Daewoo.

I had to go on a business trip interstate and hired one about 6 months ago (it's called a Holden Cruze over here).

Nice little car. If I had one complaint I wasn't a big fan of the automatic transmission.

Update: Bought a Yaris SE.

We drove pretty much every car in the class. Mazda 2, Yaris, Scion xD, Chevy Sonic, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Kia Soul and Nissan Versa. At the end of the day, the Yaris seemed like the most car for the dollar. After explored used options, we realized that getting a high-mileage car used isn't really a great idea. The mileage totals on those cars was staggering. $17K for Prius with 100K miles? $14K for a Toyota Corolla with 80K miles? Just not that great.

I really wanted to love the Chevy Sonic. It was a solid car, but just lacked the overall style of the Yaris to both of us.

Toyota had a cool deal of a $1000 rebate for recent college graduates. My wife happened to have a picture of herself holding her diploma from a couple weeks ago. Nice.

The Mazda was the cheapest, but definitely felt like it. Loud and rattly on the highway.

The Fiesta was the most expensive, but lacked the polish of a $20K car

The Chevy was just "eh." And for basically the same price as the Yaris, it was an easy choice. The built in Michigan factor wasn't enough to over come general lackluster design.

-chef

Can't really go wrong with a Toyota IMO chef.

Usually reliable as the day is old.

Good choice.

Its not a compact...but I love my Toyota Tacoma 4 door pre runner...nice ride....lots of room..good gas mileage..

Legendary car over here although we still call it the Hilux gtromi.

Aussies worship their utes, or pickups as you guys call them.

You're right..here in Hawaii lots of trucks...and Toyota is one of the top sellers...I did have a 91 Toyota HI lux 2 door extra cab....4 cyl..but it was 16 yrs old and we needed more room for the grand kids...and company...so I picked up a white 2007 Toyota Tacoma 4 door,v6.TRD sport..its ok..we dont go 4 wheeling so it fits its purpose...Its going on 5 yrs come September....

Nice.

I own a 2009 Nissan Patrol myself.

I don't think they sell it as that in the US but they have a luxury version of it known as the Infiniti QX56 which you guys can buy.

Great for work as I'm on the road a lot but also great offroad and for towing which it's really designed for.

My only gripe with it is it's fuel consumption in the city. It's a 4.8 Litre donk so slurps fuel like nobody's business around town but not too bad out on the highway.

We throw the dogs in and get away camping pretty regularly so it's perfect for our lifestyle.

My classmates and other friends know my truck...have SF Giants license plate holders,stickers on the rear windows,driver and front passenger Giants floor mats....oh,a world series championship license plate holder on the rear plate....proud to flash our orange and black pride...

Ha Ha.

Way to fly the flag.

Nice work.

One of my classmates...a Vietnam vet said...You still a Giant fan??I know you was a Giant fan since high school..and that was in the 60s....most of us joined the military back then....I myself joined the Air Force.....in 66...we graduated from HS in 65...I went in after most of my class mates.trying to make it in college...but couldnt make the grade....so the military was our out.a lot of us had never left the islands....and this was a good way to get away from Hawaii and see the world..altho,the war in Vietnam was going on full swing..lost only one of us...he was a straight A student..but his parents couldnt afford college..but the Giants was my favorite team...since 1960....in our bedroom is some photos of me and the mrs,at the games..a photo with the WS trophy,taken last year,a Giants stadium blanket on our bed,a photo of the WS mound celebration,a photo of the ring ceremony,which my daughter had bought for me for Christmas...all on the wall..I call it my trophy room..nothin but Giants memorabilia...

Cool story.

You live in a great part of the world by the way.

I was there for work about 2 years ago, and will probably be back next year.

Loved it.

If you come next year...let me know..maybe we can meet and get together...I retired as a ticket agent for Aloha Airlines back in 06...both of us are retired..we do still travel,,,just got back from Vegas in April,and Ireland 2 weeks ago...dont think I can make it to see any Giants games this year...but next year for sure...I worked for Aloha for 33 years....and they closed down in 2008..I have no travel benes..I still have my pension,and collecting my social security,and part of my 401k...Im covered by medical under my wife's retirement plan..until she reaches 65...Im now under medicare too..so living ok...all my kids are grown..my daughter lives with us...she has her own studio upstairs...I have a grand son,who will be a senior in HS next school year..I have 1 grand daughter who is 8...she is my pride and joy...I do anything for her..even tho her parents are divorced...we live on the island of Maui...when I was with Aloha...we used to make yearly trips to Oakland..and catch Giants games...we usually stay at the Handlery,,and use the metro to the ball park..we then would get together with my sister and her husband,and we would enjoy what the city have to offer..Chinatown,Fisherman's wharf,and shopping...but my sister and husband have moved back to Honolulu...but I still have my nephews there,,,but they all work,so we dont bother them...staying at the hotel makes it much easier...so close for now....Aloha no..

Sounds good.

Work will be in Waikiki but I'm thinking of taking Mrs Aussie with me this time and we were thinking we may spend a few days in Maui.

I'll keep you posted a bit closer to the date.

Usually around Easter.