Choosing a new car...
 

...well a new used car.

Hey everyone, I'm having a bit of a tough time deciding on a new ride. I'm currently driving a 1999 Ford Ranger. It's a 2wd single cab with a V6 and 5 speed. I mostly just commute with it about 50 miles a day. It gets around 21 to 22 mpg.

I am getting a little tired of the lack of room inside and the truck is definitely aging. It has nearly 170k miles now. I like having the truck bed when I need it, but I don't really need it that often.

My thought was since I'm about to be in the market for a newer car I'd like to get one more economical and practical. My goal is 35mpg highway. My other wants are 4 doors, manual transmission, and somewhat fun to drive. Budget is $10-12k.

Here's the kicker, I was thinking to replace my truck bed I'd get a little utility trailer. I am also wanting to get back into dirt bikes. The bike would weigh under 250lbs, so probably 500lbs total weight. I have friends and family with trucks so if I needed something big that's not a problem. I just want to be able to pick up a little lumber or whatever, nothing crazy.

I'm thinking about a Civic sedan. I'm really happy with the 2012 Accord I just bought for my wife. (We doubled the mpg from the Grand Cherokee we replaced) It's our first Honda and first import.

I'd appreciate any input you guys have.

Have a good one,
Joey

PS- keeping the truck is not an option. I just don't have the space for it. We don't all park cars in the yard in Alabama lol.

I was gonna suggest keeping the truck until I saw your post haha.

Anyway, I would go with a Civic LX or maybe a newer Toyota Camry. My 2.2l 95 Camry I had hauled ass when I put my foot down, all I had on it was a cold air intake (sounded 'cool') and I loved slamming that thing around once in a great while for the lolz. I would note though, I don't think you are going to find anything that will have decent towing capacity and get 35mpg. Just saying. Your going to have to pick one of the 2. Decent towing capacity, or mpg. Because anything that's going to have a frame strong enough to tow, isn't going to be light which means -mpg. Hell the 2010 Camry that has a 2.5L engine is only rated for 1,000, while my dads old 2000 Toyota Tacoma 2.4L can tow 3500LBS. So like I said, low mpg and good towing capacity, or high mpg and little to no tow capacity. There might be sedans out there that can do both, but none that I am aware of.

Unless you don't want to tow more then 1,500lbs, because the newer corolla's can tow up to 1,500lbs (could probably do 2k if you wanted as long as the trailer has brakes and your not going to far) and gets well over 40mpg when driven correctly.

I'd rather get a Corolla over a Civic anytime. You can also keep an eye for a Toyota Matrix.

I just need a little towing capacity. I'd be under 1000lbs.

Do Corollas handle decent?

Hard to go wrong with any of those.

BTW, it's Pahk the cah in the dooah yahd.

I had an 03 Matrix and it handled very good. I also had a set of Eibach springs and a Progress rear sway bar on it though.

Sure. Their handling is kinda bread-and-butter compared to the Civic, but it's not really that badif you're not willing to street-race it.

No street racing here. I'm sure any small car would handle better than my truck anyway. I'm not into going super fast or anything, just driving to work. With that said I do like going on curvy back roads from time to time.

So you would be satisfied with the Corolla. BTW the previous generation even had a 1500lbs. tow rating for the ones fitted with the 1.8L engine and manual transmission, but I didn't find any tow rating for the newer ones.