<p>Hello. I am going to start driving soon and I am going to be purchasing a car for the first time.</p>
<p>I am a college student and I am looking for a car that is versatile, user friendly, and cute ;) I like to travel, and once I get a car, I plan on driving quite a bit. I want a car that doesn't get dirty easily, cause I plan on going to the beach, and will let me fit lots of suitcases in when my family comes. But most of the time, its going to be just me, so it doesn't have to be huge.</p>
<p>So far I am stuck between the Jeep Compass and the Element. If any of you guys have owned/experienced any of these cars, I'd really appreciate what you think and which buy you think is better.</p>
<p>ps. I don't know if purchasing a Honda Element is advisable because they have stopped production this year :( I love the car, but I'm afraid that if I purchase the car and it has problems later, getting parts will be an issue</p>
<p>ps2. i am not a fan of the Kia Soul or the Nissan Cube. any other recs would be nice :)</p>
<p>If its between those two options, I’d kill any hints of soccer mom and go with the Element. Those puppies are like all plastic in the back so they’re pretty dirt friendly.</p>
<p>I think you should get a Element because it’s cheaper and is perfect for what you want to do with it. And for the color get it in metallic gray. My parents have an 06 and an 08 cars, and they still look like brand new. And I don’t think you would have a hard time finding parts for an Element, for years to come</p>
<p>If you’re going to get something that you drive a lot, why are you looking at cars with hideously low MPG? I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but gas is really expensive and going up. If you have that kind of money to spend on a car, put it to better use. I understand you want a car that looks good- but you need a car that keeps $$$ in your pocket, unless you’ve got some to burn.</p>
<p>LOL no i wish i had a money tree. the reviews i read weren’t too bad about the gas mileage, but im pretty inexperienced when it comes to this stuff. i just want a good car that won’t get dirty when i take it to the beach and is reliable.</p>
<p>I highly suggest you take a look at sedans.</p>
<ul>
<li>More aerodynamic shape = much better gas mileage.</li>
<li>Shape also affords for much better handling; increased safety.</li>
<li>Although it doesn’t look the part, most sedans actually have more interior volume than the boxy subcompacts you mention.</li>
</ul>
<p>If you really like the boxy feel, though, I suggest you take a look at the Scion xB. However, I suggest that you at least give the following a consideration: Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3. You might also want to try out a slightly larger car to see if you’d prefer the handling: Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Chevy Malibu.</p>
<p>To act as a devil’s advocate - I dislike sedans. Only Americans like them so much, and they are far less practical than hatchbacks or wagons or even some small crossovers. They have a large footprint, need more space to park, burn more gas, and quite often do not offer much space for cargo compared to a significantly smaller (and frequently cheaper) hatchback. For example, I think a Honda Fit is smaller, more gas efficient, and cheaper than a Honda Civic, but still has more usable interior space in terms of both, rear passenger leg room as well as cargo capacity.</p>
<p>I agree that you should not look into a Jeep - traditionally very UNreliable. And the Honda Element is not good on fuel compared to many other similarly sized vehicles. Have you test driven a Honda Element yet? You’ll find that it’s very utilitarian - not very comfortable at all. If you don’t anticipate taking your car much off paved roads - not a whole lot of reason to get an Element or a Jeep.</p>
<p>I think you definitely fit more so into the lifestyle of a hatchback. You want versatility - so a traditional sedan is probably not for you. You want user-friendliness, so why look at such utilitarian cars like the Element? You want to travel quite a lot - so you probably would like something with good gas mileage. You want something that “doesn’t get dirty easily” - I’m not sure what exactly that means - no cars are more apt at avoiding dirt than any other - perhaps by that I take it you want something low-maintenance. Hence, probably you don’t want something that’s plush or luxurious but rather more liveable. So I guess no European upscale cars. Also - you want something that can accomodate occassional suitcases and passengers - so probably again something more along the lines of a hatch or wagon or small SUV.</p>
<p>Here are some I would look at if I were you:
Toyota Matrix (basically a Corolla in wagon shape, this is probably what I would buy)
Honda Fit (maybe a bit small for your needs, but a good car with lots of usable space)
Subaru Forester (a bit more expensive at 21k+ and less fuel efficient)
Scion xB (boxy shape means lots of cargo space, but poorer fuel econ.)
Hyundai Elantra Touring (another affordable wagon)
Hyundai Tucson / Kia Sportage (the newly redesigned models only)</p>
is it bad to buy a car that is discontinued? </p>