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Inexpensive new hatchback wanted

lovemyescortlovemyescort Member Posts: 1
Help! I need to replace my beloved '90 Ford
Escort hatchback (5-door, white). I want a new
car, but I can't seem to find any 4-door hatchbacks
on the market. Do such machines exist? Or must I
settle for a sedan or coupe? Advice please. I'm
looking for a low-cost vehicle.
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Comments

  • mznmzn Member Posts: 727
    There may be others, but the 4 door VW Golf comes to mind. Maybe because I own one? :-)

    carlady/host
  • enigma23enigma23 Member Posts: 36
    The only 5-door hatchback seems to be the VW Golf. Don't overlook the Golf because it is an excellent car or hatchback, whichever you may call it.

    If looking for a 3-door hatchback, consider the 99 Cougar as probably the best choice on the market right now.
  • pam2pam2 Member Posts: 185
    The Cougar is a hatchback???
  • mznmzn Member Posts: 727
    Sure is! All the great cars are hatchbacks!! :-)))

    carlady/host
  • zacharylauriezacharylaurie Member Posts: 51
    This is a little off topic, but wagons offer a lot of the convenience of a hatchback. But if the size of a wagon is too big, you might want to wait for the new Ford Focus to be released. I think they one of the models is a 5-door hatchback.
  • mznmzn Member Posts: 727
    The Ford Focus sounds interesting. One thing I especially like about hatchbacks versus wagons is not having all my gear exposed when I park my car - especially when I'm travelling. Looks neater too. ;-)

    carlady/host
  • mznmzn Member Posts: 727
    Guilty as charged, sichang! At least, speaking for myself. :-)

    You're right, the Daewoo Lanos didn't come to my mind. What about it friends? Are there any Lanos drivers among us? Or others with Daewoo experience?

    carlady/host
  • mznmzn Member Posts: 727
    Let me rephrase that... ;-) If you want to talk about the Daewoo Lanos or Nubira, join us here.

    See you there!

    carlady/host
  • pam2pam2 Member Posts: 185
    Sichang,

    No need to be so hard on Edmunds for not loving the Daewoo. I'm sure the people here go to great lengths to do the research on the cars they write about. Maybe they limit their research, etc. to cars that have been in the U.S. for awhile.

    Just curious, why are you so eager to have people buy Daewoos?
  • rdeschenerdeschene Member Posts: 331
    carlady. " One thing I especially like about hatchbacks versus wagons is not having all my gear exposed when I park my car - especially when I'm travelling. Looks neater too."

    Isn't that why wagons tend to come with retractable covers? The difference between a wagon and a hatchback is more a matter of size and styling IMHO.
  • mznmzn Member Posts: 727
    Good point, rdeschene! The retractable cover is useful, but can be more awkward than the hatch for those of us who are "stature-impaired." :-) Personally, I find the cover a bit much for everyday use.

    carlady/host
  • cjayzcjayz Member Posts: 1
    I am looking for a Ford Escort anywhere between the yaers 1989-92 in the Iowa/Nebraska area.
  • pam2pam2 Member Posts: 185
    Cjayz,

    I hope you don't end up regretting it if you buy an Escort of those years. Not really a good car at all.
  • emmett1emmett1 Member Posts: 20
    I think the Daewoo Lanos or Nubria are both excellent cars. The company offers the 3 year/36,000 mile warranty which also covers maintenance. Does Honda offer to replace the windshield wiper blades during that time frame?...I think not. Not comparing Daewoo's shorter track record in Europe to Honda's record in the US...but $$$ was a factor in purchasing I believe. Daewoo also offers a 3 day test drive...certainly enough time to decide on room, road and/or interior rattles/niose, stereo quality and comfort. No, I don't work for daewoo, but 2 of my friends have purchased them from a Philadelphia dealer and LOVE them. Just a thought.
  • emmett1emmett1 Member Posts: 20
    Excuse the typo..."niose" should be "Noise"...-15 for typo...lol
  • billysbillys Member Posts: 11
    I love my Hyundai Accent 1995 that I used for 3 years without a single problem. Acceleration and gas mileage is excellent (30-35 miles per gal!). Since my fanily grows, I want to sell it. I was only a used of this car and used it in PA suburb area only. If someone interested, please see my web page, http://webideas.com/car or contact me via e-mail: kbrd@usa.net
  • shatsky1shatsky1 Member Posts: 1
    does anyone know if nissan makes a reliable hatchback?
  • pam2pam2 Member Posts: 185
    Any potential buyers of the Hyundai listed above, please be aware that the pictures shown on Billy's link are of two different cars and are thus likely not to the the one that is actually for sale. One picture had 2 doors, while another has 4 doors.
  • rdeschenerdeschene Member Posts: 331
    shatsky1. I don't believe Nissan is currently making any hatchbacks at all.
  • jnijni Member Posts: 1
    I need a car. No experience about car. Please give me some advise.

    Purpose:

    1. Drive to work and drive to school for one kid.
    2. Hope to have space in case to buy big stuff like a desk or book shelf or a bed.
    3. Inexpensive. Better under $9000.
    4. From edmund information, it seems SUZUKI Swift is recommened. Is it good? Or a Huyndai Accent? Which would be your choice? They are at same price level.
    5. Is hatchback safe as sedan?
    6. Do all the hatch back have two doors? Or some have four doors? What is the differnce?

    Thank you.
  • alextalext Member Posts: 63
    Looking for advice...

    The suzuki swift will outlast the Hyundai, even though Hyundai does offer a better warranty. It's not as powerful, but it gets MUCH better gas mileage. So you'll save money every month on trips to the gas station. The Swift's hatchback is also very nice since it can fit quite a lot of junk in it even though it looks small. The hyundai, on the other hand, has a very small trunk that will not fit furniture of any kind. I suggest getting the Swift, it'll save you money on gas and maintenance.
  • mstnt007mstnt007 Member Posts: 2
    I am interested in the Daewoo Nubria Hatch. 4 door, does any one out there own one??? If so please give us some input about this H/B. I have checked out Edmunds site and the price seems very good. But info on ride, fuel economy, performance etc. is needed. Any info is appreciated
  • occupant1occupant1 Member Posts: 412
    The things I see wrong about Daewoo are:

    they were the miscreants who made the very poorly rated Pontiac LeMans from 1988-1993. Daewoo offers little help and it is simply impossible to make one of these reliable.

    the Daewoo company is using low-income college students to sell their cars and they are selling them like Saturns...retail only...no discounts...only financing incentives.

    Kia has been making bulletproof (if slow and boring) Ford Festivas and Ford Aspires and these cars, although small and uninteresting, are very good cars.

    Hyundai finally figured out that sending a product over here without making it good is useless, now they have to offer 10-year warranties to sell their cars.

    Kia has a decent car, the Sephia, but it is only a sedan. For a small hatchback, (since I drive one) I would choose a Chevrolet Metro. The hatchback version is only a 2-door, but you can get a catapult seat that makes it a cinch to get in and out of the back, and it gets phenomenal mileage with a 5-speed. The sedan has a folding rear seat for cargo. Both get a $1000 rebate and Chevy dealers will heavily discount them (there is about $600 profit here to work with). The similar car you've been talking about, the Suzuki Swift, would work fine except that if you want a radio, or air conditioning, or anything else for that matter, you have to have the dealer install it. There are very few Suzuki dealers, and they have to order Swifts because they never carry them...thus they are difficult to discount. A Metro similarly equipped is cheaper with the rebates and a normal $400-$600 discount. Email me for stories of my Metro (a 1995 LSi 4-cylinder automatic hatchback)
  • spellispelli Member Posts: 1
    Honda is missing the boat by not making the civic hatchback available with 4 wheel drive. subaru quit making the justy w/4wd in '95. my subaru justy 4wd is very old and tired and in researching for something comparable, there is nothing out there. i want something dependable and strictly utility - no frills. suv's are horrible in every respect and to spend money for one is insane. if honda made the civic hatchback w/4wd for around $13,000, i would be the first in line to buy one.
  • rdeschenerdeschene Member Posts: 331
    spelli. The Justy, and it's predecessor (sort of) Subaru Hatchback, were truly singular vehicles. I think you might be stuck trying to find a used Impreza, at that price!
  • mimeliomimelio Member Posts: 6
    The Ford Escort has become pricy the Festiva/Aspire are no longer imported.I understand next year a new model based on Ford Fiesta will be available here.I can't wait my 1988 Festiva has 206,000 miles and 1994 Aspire 126,000 all trouble free minus of course tires,exhaust and brakes which wore down not failed !!
    The Festiva continues as the Pride and Aspire as Avella
    Why doesn't Kia sell those cars here,I would buy one in a heart beat.
  • bill0137bill0137 Member Posts: 2
    Hyundia Elantra wagon. Daewoos are nice but I thought the Elantra wagon was the best. I just bought one for $200 under invoice with rebate. For $12200 I got; auto, A/C, power windows and locks, cruise, Michelin tires, many Bosch engine parts, good radio, excellent ride, fast, quiet, comfortable, 39 cu/ft trunk ( I'm 6 ft tall and can lay flat in back with lid down), 10 yr warranty. 5sp is $600 less. The car is about 1 ft longer than my 89 Tracer hatchback. I considered the Accent but not enough power. For $2000 more that an Accent you can get the Elantra wagon. I'm only writing this to pay back all the good information I received while shopping for my car. Thanks all of you.
  • indyianindyian Member Posts: 4
    For anyone looking for a used hatchback I would recomend having a look at these. I have a 91 EGT and it is a hatch back, i think of it as a civic si that is useful! Not the most refined car on the road but it is quick, fun to drive, and I can carry big items in it.
  • aichezhuaichezhu Member Posts: 6
    I have about $3500 to buy a used car for inner city driving and occational highway excursion(I am a college student). From what people talk here, it seems that ford escort, Mazda mirage, Chevy cavalier, or Geo metro met my requirement.

    I would like to get someone's advice on this: how reliable are the above mentioned cars? Say, a car around 93' or with no more than 10k miles on it. Or, what kind of the car should I looking for with those money, if a trouble-free(no need for big maintainence, if any) car for at least 4 or 5 years is possible?

    Advise and help highly appreciated. Thanks very much. Please reply to yli9@students.wisc.edu.
  • trsrjstrsrjs Member Posts: 3
    For those you are asking when is Kia bringing these cars here in the U.S., Kia will bring the 4-door Sephia hatchback known as the Kia Shuma in Korea here starting in March 2000 based on their press release dated December 21. It will be called the Kia Spectra here in the U.S. and will be introduced at the L.A. Auto Show and the North America Auto Show in Detroit in January.

    As for the Kia Rio which will replace the Kia Avella better known as the Ford Aspire, this vehicle will be a four-door subcompact and probably be introduced at the auto shows mentioned above. Nonetheless, it will be available in June 2000 as a 2001 model. This vehicle will also replace the old Kia Pride (Ford Festiva).

    Hopefully, this info helps.
  • occupant1occupant1 Member Posts: 412
    It wouls sure be nice to have the Ka here, it is like a Geo Metro in looks and size and power. But in that class, a Suzuki Swift is the best buy. Brand new, with air, 5-speed, defroster, wiper, tach, cassette, and freight, it is only $10,499. Take off any rebates that may apply and then there is about $800 of profit to deal with. You can probably get the car close to $9000, for a brand new car, with a 79hp engine. The European specification Ka has only 59hp according to GT2.

    Enterprise still has some 1997 Metro sedans for sale in West Coast states. Check with your local Enterprise agent for sale dates and locations. Those are selling for about $4000 each with 40-50K on them.
  • thedave2thedave2 Member Posts: 6
    hey i know that money is short, believe me im a high school student with a part-time job, i bought a daewoo lanos hatchback with a 3year , 36,ooo mile warranty, for only 9,500!!! air,automatic,and radio includes. i put down roughly 5,000 and pay 130 a month. Even though the daewoo isnt tested im using it until the warranty runs out before i buy a new car!!!! you cant beat it a car that will be fixed for free for 36000 miles and is under 10,000 brand new!!!

    -thedave2
  • occupant1occupant1 Member Posts: 412
    since Daewoo Motor America is now bankrupt and up for auction, how are you going to get your service? Should have bought a Chevy Metro...
  • lperrylperry Member Posts: 4
    Hyndai Tiburon... I have never driven one, but i heard their cheap, preform decently, and have a good warranty...Integra is the best hatchback, but not very cheap.
  • lperrylperry Member Posts: 4
    if you find a low milage Honda CRX, buy it.
  • focuszx3rfocuszx3r Member Posts: 92
    If you arent gonna get in an accident buy a Ford Focus ZX3. Trust me I got one and its great! Just go see the message board for proof
  • poconojoepoconojoe Member Posts: 42
    If we asked the question "What's your favorite flavor of Ice cream" You would chime in Ford Focus and it tastes great.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Actually, the crash tests on the Focus ZX3 weren't too bad. Not to complain, but does anyone buy a car with the intention of having an accident in it?? Just curious.
  • atlas1212atlas1212 Member Posts: 5
    I lost my job and now have to sell my Lanos S Hatchback dirt cheap. Just take over my 250.00 a month payments with nothing down. Or 10,000.

    It is white, has AIR, AUTO, 3600 miles.

    Email me at emperor@amabilis.net
  • tiresmoketiresmoke Member Posts: 2
    I hope you carnuts out there are still tuning in to this topic...

    I'm currently working overseas (Romania) and thought I'd share with you some of the car experiences I get in this neck of the woods.

    I got for my personal use one Daewoo Tico. It's assembled localy from Korean parts. It's a little bugger (about 130in. length, 800cc carbureted engine = 41 horsepower, 12in. wheels, but ... 4 doors hatch). They're only available with a 5-speed manual. The thing only weighs in at about 1500lbs. so its really chintzy in all respects, but as far as moving goes, it's go-kart fun! The little mill seems to doing at least 8,000 rpm at full throttle (it doesn't have a tach, the only real flaw of the car), it revvs freely and it's just willing and begging to rush it over the top!

    They are very popular here (then again, the choice they have come to affordable cars is pretty limited...) and you can see young delivery kids or company employees racing the hell out of them through pothole-filled roads! A new basic one costs about US$4,800 cash, the trimmed-up version (air, cassette and ... rear wing!) about US$5,900. Mine's a base one, as I will only be here through this summer and thought I would make it without air ... might have gone awry there!

    Come September I will go back Stateside to move to Florida (I'm originally from Northern California but I'm willing to trying a different and cheaper setting...) and will need a cheap, reliable pair of wheels.

    Occupant1 has got me pretty convinced of the Metro. Just one question: what advice would you give me in order to start being more car maintenance/repair conscious? I mean, I love to drive, but so far have no mechanical experience/skill whatsoever and from your posts it's pretty obvious that you can save a lot ($$$) by knowing how to dally with the various parts and components. I would also like to maybe try some racing someday and the practical skill will not hurt a bit. Where should I pick up (now I know I should have taken auto shop back in high school...)?

    Sorry for the novel. It's my first time.

    tiresmoke
  • mznmzn Member Posts: 727
    To increase your knowledge of maintenance and make you more aware of its importance, I'd start reading our Maintenance & Repair conference. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience there. You can read some of the general topics on oil changing and tires, as well as specific topics on any car you are considering purchasing when you return to the States.

    I hope you had a happy 4th of July!

    carlady/host
  • lavalantelavalante Member Posts: 1
    finally ditching my 87 VW jetta, now looking for a reasonable hatchback. have been checking out hyundai accent but seems to have transmission probems, and no one's sure about the future of daewoo. anyone had either good or bad experience with either? or a better option.
    I like the subaru outback but it's a bit out of my price range.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Trying out a Honda Civic hatchback or a Mazda Protege DX sedan? The Protege DX is a sedan, but cheap (about $14,500 MSRP, which goes down to about $13,000 or so before tax/tags) and it's a nice car. On the same level almost as the Civic and Corolla. Civic hatchbacks are nice too, and last forever. But they are a tad expensive for what you get. Check them both out.
  • nubirapower4unubirapower4u Member Posts: 10
    I personally have a 1999 Daewoo Nubira Hatchback w/ 12,000 miles. The car runs great no problems at all. Oil changes are paid for 3 years!! But I'm just a owner of a Daewoo, but its a really nice car for the money too.
  • freddy_kfreddy_k Member Posts: 376
    I trust Korean cars as far as I can throw them, but they may still prove themselves yet...

    btw - Its easy to recommend a Civic over a Daewoo- untill you compare prices/features. I believe in the old saying 'you get what you pay for'.
  • marbymarby Member Posts: 34
    http://www.egroups.com/group/festiva

    Sorry about that folks!!!
  • plush1plush1 Member Posts: 12
    I would suggest either a Honda Civic Hatchback or a VW Golf. If you want a good, reliable car that's not gonna break any speed records, than go with a Civic Hatch. If you want a car that has great styling and some good power, than a Golf would be a good choice. It's always better to buy used. Try a 1992-1995 Civic Hatch, preferably an Si version. Those things are rather nice and have more than sufficient power. Peace...
  • mznmzn Member Posts: 727
    And if the emphasis is on inexpensive, check out the Ford Focus Hatchback. You get a lot of car for your money.

    carlady/host
  • ferdulaferdula Member Posts: 2
    The freak show is that I just called a honda dealership and they said honda is not making a hatchback for 2001!!!! What the__________!!!???
    Why are they so stupid? They did the same thing in 89 with the civic station wagons. I'm gonna have to get a volkswagon now (sob).
This discussion has been closed.