The Fit is a good car, one not in your list that you may consider.

We had a 2017 Impreza hatchback for a rental for our stay in CA over the weekend. It was the CVT auto, but I believe it is still available in a stick (5MT).
I was pleasantly surprised with it, A: The CVT is actually pretty good and B: it was much peppier than it seems on paper.

Wasn't tracking the MPG, but it easily looked over 30mpg on the highway at 70mph, instant MPG was shoing high 30s to mid 40s.

I really enjoyed driving a rented Fit.
However: if you are driving kids around I would absolutely get a bigger car for safety. Crash tests don’t show it—they simulate the Fit crashing into another Fit, for example—but real world crash data from the IIHS/Highway Loss Data Institute show that small cars have much higher rates of serious injury and death.
Consequently IIHS recommends cars midsize or larger.

I would second looking at a recent used Accord coupe or sedan with a manual. If you want to spend a little more to get new, you can’t beat the 2018-19 Accords, their manuals are excellent.

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Not really if you want true performance.

As far as sports/performance cars go if you want the best times/performance then a manual is the last thing you would choose these days. Even the best drivers cannot come close to matching what the computers are able to do in a dual clutch type setup.

Manuals are incredibly fun and add so much to the driving “experience” but if raw performance/track times are what you are looking for the manual was left in the dust some time ago.

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Originally posted by smschulz:

Besides auto transmission is just not FUN.

Automatics suck the life out of one's soul.

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Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:

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Originally posted by Orguss:

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Originally posted by marksman41:
Although I am partial to manual transmissions, when I drive in a big city with its stop-and-go traffic I long for an automatic.

This is key. Unless you're not going to experience much traffic--consider cumulative over weeks and months and years--I'd stay away from a manual car for commuting.

I suppose it's a mystery how they manage to get by in Europe and practically the rest of the world then, huh.

I'm not sure WTF your problem is. What other people do is up to them, the above recommendation is meant to give the OP something to think about that maybe hadn't occurred to him.

A car is a lot of money. Buying something that you think will be great then finding out you hadn't considered a vital aspect of its use, and the resulting disappointment and frustration, makes for serious buyer's remorse.

My wife has a 2013 Fit (with auto) and she loves it. It's been a great car and it's hard to beat the utilitarian design of it. Typically my wife has the seats folded down to maximize the cargo area and it will hold quite a bit in the back! It gets good mileage and is "reasonably" peppy.

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Originally posted by marksman41:

I'm not sure WTF your problem is. What other people do is up to them, the above recommendation is meant to give the OP something to think about that maybe hadn't occurred to him.

A car is a lot of money. Buying something that you think will be great then finding out you hadn't considered a vital aspect of its use, and the resulting disappointment and frustration, makes for serious buyer's remorse.

Man, who pissed in your cheerios this morning? I haven't told anyone to do anything. Just pointed out that millions of people commute with manuals in big cities and heavy traffic every day. I don't think city driving with anything other than an automatic is a big deal. I wouldn't consider it a deal killer for anyone who truly wants a manual.

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Originally posted by cslinger:
This is just my opinion but don’t simply downshift to lose speed when coming to a stop. Use your brakes. Brakes are cheaper then clutches so I prefer to put more wear on them so I typically will brake to a stop clutch in and just shift to first or whatever once at the stop instead of rowing down 5,4,3..... etc. again just my opinion.

I definitely second this advice. "Use the brakes to slow - use the clutch to go."

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Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:

quote:

Originally posted by marksman41:

I'm not sure WTF your problem is. What other people do is up to them, the above recommendation is meant to give the OP something to think about that maybe hadn't occurred to him.

A car is a lot of money. Buying something that you think will be great then finding out you hadn't considered a vital aspect of its use, and the resulting disappointment and frustration, makes for serious buyer's remorse.

Man, who pissed in your cheerios this morning? I haven't told anyone to do anything. Just pointed out that millions of people commute with manuals in big cities and heavy traffic every day. I don't think city driving with anything other than an automatic is a big deal. I wouldn't consider it a deal killer for anyone who truly wants a manual.

It wasn't what you said, it's the way you said it trying to belittle others' experiences and opinions that bothers me. You're the one that came across like someone gave you a bowl of urine covered cornflakes.

I'm a big fan of Hondas, particularly manual transmissions.

I think you'll do fine with the Fit and MT. If you're in the usual LA traffic, a MT could be tedious. If you want to go a little more fun, go with the Si.

I challenged myself this past Christmas and replaced the clutch on my 2002 Civic Si. Pretty straightforward, but wish I had a car lift.

Russ

I've got a '12 Civic Si and I very much enjoy it. The 4-door is fine on size, but I would say that it definitely lacks the comfort of a comparable non-Si Civic. Hard suspension and hard seats really let you feel the road--for better or worse. Maybe not idea if you're schlepping your kids around in it.

Transmission is a little more lively than some other non "sport" manuals. I find you have to be much better on the clutch not to be herky-jerky. The Si is capable of getting off the line in 2nd or even 3rd in an emergency, though--like when you see an asshole in the rearview barreling down on you without seeing that you had to stop short in traffic.

Overall I get fair gas mileage and the car has been plenty reliable and fun to drive. I see the new models have a turbo engine. Can't speak to that, but the price is still quite competitive for the regular Si when I was at the dealer the other day.

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Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
I suppose it's a mystery how they manage to get by in Europe and practically the rest of the world then, huh.

Do you receive monetary compensation for being a prick? I didn't say it would be impossible to drive a manual in traffic--in fact, I did it for nearly a decade in San Francisco. But I would never choose a manual for driving in those conditions again.

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Originally posted by marksman41:

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:

quote:

Originally posted by marksman41:

I'm not sure WTF your problem is. What other people do is up to them, the above recommendation is meant to give the OP something to think about that maybe hadn't occurred to him.

A car is a lot of money. Buying something that you think will be great then finding out you hadn't considered a vital aspect of its use, and the resulting disappointment and frustration, makes for serious buyer's remorse.

Man, who pissed in your cheerios this morning? I haven't told anyone to do anything. Just pointed out that millions of people commute with manuals in big cities and heavy traffic every day. I don't think city driving with anything other than an automatic is a big deal. I wouldn't consider it a deal killer for anyone who truly wants a manual.

It wasn't what you said, it's the way you said it trying to belittle others' experiences and opinions that bothers me. You're the one that came across like someone gave you a bowl of urine covered cornflakes.

Well, in that case, my bad

IMO Honda does GREAT manual transmissions. My Hondas were always very slick, even the old ones.

The newest Civic Si coupes are AWESOME. Totally worth the extra money, for someone who loves driving. They have goodies like nice brakes, sporty suspension (without being punishing), turbo, LSD, lots of value if you are into performance.

If you don't care that much and just want something practical and fun the Fit is perfect. I would hesitate to reccomend them to someone who lives at high altitude (non turbo 4 bangers are DOGS in colorado), but at sea level I'm sure they have enough pep if you aren't out to race everyone from the stoplight.

Did I mention I like Hondas?

And FWIW I daily drive a Tacoma and drive a Camaro SS on the weekends. I'm no brand fan boy, I like all cool cars.

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Originally posted by Orguss:

Do you receive monetary compensation for being a prick?

Look, I'm sorry. I didn't realize my comment came across so negatively.

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Originally posted by marksman41:

It wasn't what you said, it's the way you said it trying to belittle others' experiences and opinions that bothers me.
You're the one that came across like someone gave you a bowl of urine covered cornflakes.

Sounds like you need a Safe Space .

Great car the Fit, still made in Japan. QC much better with their Japanese built cars. The Fit is a commuter but handles excellently, good MPG, and you can have some fun flicking it through corners. It just won't have the hp, but that won't matter. At that price you can buy, drive, and sell for minimal to no loss should you want to move on.

I guess I'm glad I know how to drive a manual, but I'm WAAAAAY more glad I got rid of mine 15 years ago.

To me it was a pain in the arse. I can only imagine how it is now, what with often needing a hand free for the phone while I drive. (Not that I talk that much, but I do listen to podcasts/radio, and use the phone GPS.)

quote:

Originally posted by cslinger:
This is just my opinion but don’t simply downshift to lose speed when coming to a stop. Use your brakes. Brakes are cheaper then clutches so I prefer to put more wear on them so I typically will brake to a stop clutch in and just shift to first or whatever once at the stop instead of rowing down 5,4,3..... etc. again just my opinion.

...yeah, but how can you practice rev-matched downshifts and heel-and-toe that way??

I've heard only good things about the Honda Fit but have to question, WHY OH WHY would you want a manual transmission for a daily commute car?

Unless you are blessed to not have to deal with ANY traffic, a manual is a flipping nightmare to have to use as a daily commuter where you may get stuck in stop and go traffic.

I once go stuck with my Mini Cooper here in the Philly suburbs in really bad traffic for like an hour of nothing but stop-and-go misery and my left leg was cramped up and shook for hours afterwards. I got rid of it not long after that.