My Chevy Spark no longer illuminates my fire! Which car should I buy? – Jalopnik

Steven currently lives in the Pacific Northwest and although his spark was a great city car when he lived in DC, the little Chevy is no longer ideal. He wants something nice to ride, but easy for maintenance, can be a little funky and bonus points for three pedals. Which car should he buy with a budget of $ 25,000?

(Welcome back to Which car should you buy? Where we really give real people advice about buying cars. Do you want us to help you find a car? Submit your story on our form.))

Here is the scenario.

Retired and lives in the Pacific Northwest. Tired of my Chevy Spark 2013 (5 speed stick. Cheap to buy and maintain). The current car journeys like a truck, but does a corner like a Go -Kar (granted, turns is at a relatively low speed). While the spark was great while lived in Washington DC … the “charm” was solved here in the wilderness.

I am looking for Sedan/SUV/Pick -Up – EV or Hybrid

My car history includes packards, study bakers, lemon DS21, Peugeot 505 STD, as well as a brace from Subarus, an MG1100S and a Fiat 128. I am not detrimental to diesels or manual transmissions. In fact – I love manuals!

I want something economical (with regard to maintenance), nice to drive, comfortable and quiet interior. Budget up to $ 25,000

Fast facts:

Budget: $ 25,000

Location: Bellingham, Washington

Daily director: Yes

Want: Nice, easy to maintain, ideally three pedals

Don’t want: A little too big, or hard to find parts

Steven, I once rented a spark when my wife and I stayed a bit in Ecuador. To the honor of Chevy, at least they have called it well because a “spark” is all the power it felt. I remember that I was driving some mountain roads, and the only way to pass the old waxes in front of me was waiting for a downhill section and the gravity as my booster use.

You want something you don’t have to worry about having enough passing force on the highway, and if you are not completely ready to give up on a manual, the VW GTI is your perfect daily driver. Now I am biased because I have had a GTI relatively trouble -free for more than 10 years. Although others have had a mixed bag experience with their VWs, you can be lucky like me. Finding GTIs with manuals below $ 25,000 is not super difficult, you just want to ensure that the car was well cared for. Here is a basic model 2022 with 34,000 miles for just under $ 24,000. If you find the MK8 generation a bit too technically heavy, you can save some dollars and get a slightly older MK7 car.

After I have worked in a GM dealer in my past, I am completely desired to dump the spark. But Steven, I can also see why you are sitting with it for so long – there is a kind of simplicity for the spark that can be found nowadays, especially if you now want to add a little electrical force to the garage. Fortunately I think there is still AC -Ar for you: The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid.

The cross-stretch may not be a stick (I started looking for a Honda CR-Z for you, but I couldn’t find a good one), but I think going a spark to a Subaru will be a very natural movement. Subarus has a little bit of that simplicity that I think makes the spark attractive, and I hope that adding PHEV power that does not change too much.

Plus, This cross trek Is not an old cross -rack. View that roof rack, those tires and wheels. The dealer contains no photos under the hood, but I am not convinced that the suspension is also fully stock. Doesn’t it seem a bit high? If it is lifted, it is an even better choice for your use case. It also fits perfectly with your $ 25,000 budget – it is a sign.

Steven, I know what you think. I know that you look at this huge RAM 3500 and wonder what the hell is wrong with me, but I promise that this is the exact vehicle you are looking for. If you think about it, it checks all your courses; The 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engine is bulletproof, so it will not be difficult to maintain (even after 218,000 miles), it has a manual transmission for extra pleasure, it is huge (so it is quite comfortable when the bed is full of whatever you want to put in) and it is even economic. In fact, it is so economically that the EPA did not even bother to test it. It has unlimited fuel consumption. Impressive, isn’t it?

Of course, you can go with a small hatchback such as a VW GTI or a Subaru Crosstrek, but would you rather have the opportunity to put the whole thing in the bed of your pick -up? I know I would do that. In this thing you become the master of the road, and you can even cosplay as a storm casserger if you choose.

Because I’m a good guy – better than most – I found you the perfect RAM 3500. It is a bit of a way away from you, but who doesn’t like a road trip? And although it has many kilometers on the clock, that has hardly been broken into one of these rigs. A relatively clean carfax also shows that it is well cared for during its 13 years on the road, and you can be a tick under your budget for only $ 24,999. You won’t beat that, Steve – especially with a hatchback.