Wife needs a new car, any suggestions?

A man pulled out in front of her deploying the airbags. Insurance company bought the car(99 Escort).

My thought was hey you can drive a TC .

She tried it but doesn't like looking over the long hood. So now we are looking for another small 4door car, something maybe like a Mazda3? Anyone have any suggestions/experience on what type of car would make a good replacement.

I didn't really care for the Escort but she loved it.

Anyone have any experience with the Mazda3?

I've heard the Mazda 3 is a pretty good car, same with the Ford Focus (same platform I believe).

Personally, I like the Fusion a bit better, but she might not like the size.

Are you looking new or used? If it were me, I would go used and let someone else take the financial hit when driving it off of the showroom floor. A 5 year old car with low mileage and a warranty can be had at quite a bargain.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

Of course used . I think it is ridiculous how the "value" of a new car declines as soon as you drive it off the lot.

Mazda 3 = great car.

Id have to give it too honda Civics,Accords An even though they are technically in the usa called acura i still call them hondas the integra,TL and just about any other vehicle made by them would have to be my first choice. I have driven enough of them to love them (93 dx hatch,91 si hatch,94 4door ex,96 accord,94 integra 300+hp turboed b16a1,98 integra 4 door gsr factory b18c1,87 crx hf with a b18b1 stuffed under the hood original 1.3 car so it was a squeeze and the one TL i drove was like heaven lol so many goodies and yet still nice power from the v6 plus it had power everything and heated seats and such)out of all the hondas ive driven my 2 favs for everyday driving would be the Tl or the 4door integra. I wish i still had a honda but i dont plan on gettin rid of my 4 door f350 to get another atleast not right now.

My experience is limited but the Fusion is an impressive vehicle. I've been in a couple 2010 4 cylinders and they run great. The one I drove, felt more like a small 6. Fit and finish are good. I've helped a couple friends to "X" plan them. One guy was coming off a Honda Accord which treated him very well (I though about buying his Honda more than once) and he very pleased with the Fusion.
It's worth a look. I know a couple people with Mazda 3s and they are satisfied also.

The Ford Fusion is getting rave reviews and I really what I've seen with them. My son just got out of college and my daughter is still in college, so we're sticking with our 94 T-Bird for a while longer. When we're in the market again, the Fusion is going to be #1 on the list.

For whatever it's worth, Toyota was the most recalled vehicle in the US in 2009. I think it was mainly due to their crappy trucks, but I still thought it was interesting.

Well, being the owner of a 2005 Mazda 3 S model with the 2.3L 4 cyl, I am kinda biased. However it is the best small car on the market for the money ( sorry Ford). I drove everything in its class before deciding on this car. It is based on the Volvo S40 chassis and you can tell as soon as you drive it. It feels like one solid piece of metal when you drive it. No squeaks, rattles or thumping. I use this car for a work vehicle and it has plenty of power throughout the RPM range and even in an auto it has autostick feature. Protouring, the Fusion is based on the Last gen Mazda 6 platform but is also a great driving car. I recommend her driving them all and let her decide. Cuz if you don't you will have to live with an earful for a long time. LOL. I had good luck with tyhe two Escorts that I owned over the years and they would run forever (242,000 and 210,000 miles). Even with the 3, and 2.3L, I get about 30 MPG in spirited driving to and from work on the freeways in DFW area. I think the prices for the 04-05 models used are (depending on equipment) around $4-8000 roughly. Good luck and too bad you could not convince her to drive a T/C. I can't get my wife out of the Jag.

Mazda 3 is a great choice, I test drove one and liked it but it was a little to small for my liking.

Fusion is a great choice too, if I am not mistaken it shares the platform as my milan and I really like that car.

Focus could be good too if she likes it; I personally never liked the looks of them.

I hate to suggest an import, hondas are quite reliable and would be nice and compact for her. So it should fit size wise.

Maybe a chevy cobalt or something will fit? Not that I have ever owned anything but a ford, but if the price is right and she likes it....you don't have to drive it.

Get her addicted to boost, get a neon srt-4 because its a small four door. Not a fan of the cars, but it could get her into it

my g/f has a 08 focus loaded... i love it. has microsoft sync and all the bells and whistles an econobox can have.
it gets around 28-37mpg...she's not too easy on the pedal but if i drive i can get it to go back up, we average 42mpg on a trip to hershey park in Nov 09.

if i was buying a new/used car i got with a 07 fusion, love them, a bit quieter then a focus , more creature comforts and smoother...but mpg goes down with luxuries.
my sis has a mazdea 6 (fusion) and loves it. i like em.
the mazda 3 is also a great car..same as focus..but i prefer the ford