Re: $20,000 gift for new car
 

Well think how much gas the difference in $20,000 and the cost of a late model car could buy? :)

Re: $20,000 gift for new car
 

However, the purchaser of the car wants the recipient to have a new car. One can easily get 10-15 years of trouble-free, reliable use out of a well maintained new vehicle. While possible with a >10 year old used vehicle, one does not know for certain how well maintained, the vehicle was over those years, nor does the purchaser of a vehicle know for certain if the vehicle was abused or not.

Re: $20,000 gift for new car
 

The main problem I have with the Fit is its buzz-bomb gearing. My xB is the same way. It runs 3000 rpm @ 60 mph, v. our ('06) Elantra's 2200 rpm @ 60 mph. I'll bet the '11 Elantra's turning under 2000 rpm @ 60.

Re: $20,000 gift for new car
 

I do hate the gearing in the manual version. The Fit really needs a 6-speed. The auto is has a slightly taller final drive ratio and a much taller 5th gear.

Re: $20,000 gift for new car
 

I imagine that if they put a 6 speed in they'd do the same thing VW does - just make the ratios closer, leaving the low and high gears the same.

Re: $20,000 gift for new car
 

That's a pity. Even the Fit has plenty of torque to overcome the gear spacing. But I know you have a point.

Re: $20,000 gift for new car
 

Took a test drive in the Fit and agree that at 60mph the rpms are annoying so that is out although I like it (where has the cheap civic hatch gone?) The 2011 civics don't offer affordable traction and stability control. I'm leaning Elantra for lack of affordable choices though still undecided. What do you folks
consider the best transmission for best mpg with the 2011 Elantra?

Re: $20,000 gift for new car
 

A heads-up hypermiler will always do better with a manual transmission. Even if you don't EOC, automatics lose tremendous amounts of fuel with undesired torque converter slippage, downshifting, and attendant high rpm operation. Plus, the AT option will cost you $1000 that you can use for other purposes. 6 speed MT FTW!

Re: $20,000 gift for new car
 

I enthusiastically second the manual transmission vote...the only downside, for fuel economy, is that (mostly foreign) automakers tend to gear their manual transmissions too short. It's probably done so that magazine reviewers and people test-driving don't complain of a lack of power at highway speed.

Re: $20,000 gift for new car
 

OK. Please explain how or if this supports your statement, holycow, I don't grok this. From the Elantra brochure:

Final drive ratio: MT : 4.333, AT : 3.065