Like most people, my car is a reflection of my personality and lifestyle. It's usually one of the deciding factors when deciding to buy a car as well. But with the cost of gas these days, buying a car that matches your style and taste can be a bit of a challenge or even something of a compromise as prices at the pump continue to rise.
I put together a review of some stylish rides that won't break your wallet at the pump while allowing you to still enjoy the recreation of driving.
My personal-favorite is the Toyota Matrix
It combines a sport-style look with functionality. Although it's in the compact car category, it provides some generous cargo space, particularly with the rear seats folded down. Gas mileage: 30 city/36 highway.
With a new look for 2007; the Chevy Aveo seems to be gaining some popularity as gas prices continue to rise. A smart move to give it more style as opposed to its former box-like appearance of the earlier models. The Aveo gets an EPA estimate of 26 city/34 highway with an automatic. The manual gets an estimate of 27/37 mpg. The Chevy Aveo's are also tops in affordability. Starting below $10,000. It may not have some fancy features, but it will certainly get you around town. And look nice doing it.
The Pontiac Vibe. Yes it does look similar to the Toyota Matrix. But don't start mixing and matching parts with your Matrix friends. You can get a Vibe with a variety of options to suit your taste. With the base model, you can get 30 city/36 highway. There is a GT and AWD version which might average a little less, but still fun to drive.
If you're into the European look, the Mini Cooper is your best choice. I recommend the base model with the manual transmission. It gets a rating of 32 city/40 highway. As with most Euro-type vehicles, don't expect to haul all your stuff around in this car, but it's a great people-mover.
And of course, I have to mention the ever-popular Honda Civic. I'm particularly impressed with the 2008 model. It boasts a stylish, sports-car look, without the sports-car price. EPA estimates 30 city/40 highway. The hybrid estimates 40 city/45 highway, but this comes at a higher price tag.
Speaking of hybrids, I'll write more about them in the near future. There are many accounts of them selling off the lots like hotcakes, but yet I still see an overwhelming majority of conventional cars on the road. As much as I would want one, the price is keeping me from buy a hybrid myself. I'm hoping the price will come down sometime soon, but if a hybrid can fit in your budget, by all means, I recommend you make the investment. For more information about the cars I mentioned and others, go to here.
