Wow, it seems only yesterday a cousin of mine was asking me advice on what trim level she should get in a Mazda Protege. Her 323 hatchback had racked up a lot of miles, and she was ready to get something "more mature". She was set on another Mazda (which she bought after her much-liked '82 Cavalier Type 10 hatchback got totalled in a rearend collision), so I told her she should go for the hotrod, the ES. She listened to me and got herself what has been a Great Little Car for her. We went to the Ren Faire in it today... 174k miles and still mechanically in good condition, she's never put a clutch in it, for example. It's a rattletrap, some of the interior parts show a good amount of wear, but I have to say I was impressed to read the odometer.
She is interested in another compact, or subcompact car... gas mileage is very important to her. When it came right down to brass tacks, I had to recommend the Honda Fit as the best in the tiny car class. She likes the Fit, but is frustrated at a lack of color choices, especially in the interior. As we know, the Fit is black only on the Sport model, which she would want. I told her the Japanese makers are more restrictive than the domestics in their color choices, and she agreed.
Other cars on her list were the Matrix (snore), the xD (ew), the Versa (nice interior but ungainly exterior, also less-than-expected mileage ratings). I mentioned the PT Cruiser (also low mileage ratings) and the Civic sedan. She hates the Yaris' central instrument cluster.
Shoot, what else is there? The new Mini is cool and gets good mileage ratings, but she feels it is too expensive. The Aveo is really not as sporty and nice as the Fit. She wants a hatchback this time, so the Cobalt was out. Which left us the Honda Fit Sport. I don't feel guilty. In the tiny car class, the Fit seems the most fun, and the sportiest looking. Plus with Honda's experience with lawn mower engines, it should be a pretty good car for her. I'll see what she decides in the next several months leading up to this new-car purchase.