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From: ciaraldi@rochester.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Need help choosing small car!!!
Message-ID: <6846@rochester.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 27-Feb-85 00:00:54 EST
Article-I.D.: rocheste.6846
Posted: Wed Feb 27 00:00:54 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 4-Mar-85 06:46:14 EST
Sender: ciaraldi@rochester.UUCP
Organization: U. of Rochester, CS Dept.
Lines: 50

From: Mike Ciaraldi  

I'm trying to replace my 1976 Honda Civic CVCC 5-speed with 
something in the same class.

Desirable features:  Low cost, good handling, peppiness,
      high reliability.
Don't really care about: Lots of fancy equipment, blinding speed,
     room for more than two adults except occasionally.

I have been looking at several cars in the price range of
$7500 or so, and have made the following observations:

Honda Civic S:  A lot like the car I have now.  Nimble, peppy,
     cramped in the back, fairly small under the hatch, hard to get.

Toyota Corolla:  More expensive, kind of sluggish.

VW Golf:  Powerful, roomy, good handling and riding, but
      a brand-new model.

Nissan Sentra (think this is the model): expensice if you want the 
      hatchback.

Renault Encore:  OK, but nothing special.

Chevy Spectrum:  Same as Encore, also a brand-new model, and who
       knows how long they will be imported?

Mazda GLC:  Surprisingly powerful and smooth riding, and not too expensive.
       Only one dealer in Rochester, though.

Other US cars: nothing looks too good.


Right now I am leaning toward the Golf or GLC.  Does anyone have
experience with any of these cars in their current versions?
Do you have other suggestions?
I've been reading Consumer Report, Road & track, Car & Driver, etc.
The enthusiast magazines love the Golf, especially the GTI (too rich
for my blood, but it seems real nice).  The Mazda 626 is highly-regarded,
but I haven't found anything on the GLC.

I would appreciate any help in this matter.

Please reply to me (copy to the net if you want),
as I am not a regular net.auto reader.

Mike Ciaraldi
seismo!rochester!ciaraldi