The Mazda 2 has better handling than the fiesta even.  And I think you can get them even cheaper.  When I bought mine new in 2012 the fiesta was so awful to drive and cramped, the 2 handled so much better and had much less clutter and cramping.  plus it is 300 lbs lighter. 

From everything I have heard, Honda reliability is a myth now a days anyway. 

No problem.  I had a blast with mine for the 40k miles I drove it.  The interior is cavernous compared to most vehicles I have owned (Miatas, Autozam, even my CX-5 up front.)

I had one of these and if you put the seat all the way back my 5'11" with fairly long legs couldn’t reach the pedals.  The 6'7" co worker of mine was completely comfortable in it.  They have plenty of leg room and ceiling height for tall people.  I’d recommend test driving one. 

I had one and I agree with you, except you left out ignition coils.  I did the Autozone lifetime warranty coils on mine and then just warranty swapped them out when they failed (20-30k miles about).

The people bashing the side of the car and attempting to break the windows were the problem, not the cyclist. 

The width is a problem at the entrance to my driveway, and the length is an issue where my driveway takes a hard right angle turn into my garage.  Short wheel base trucks also look better to me.  

I want to see the 2 door with manual in my driveway. 

Go test drive a CX-5 Turbo.  It’s hardly a snooze fest.  

I’m pretty sure anything modern 4x4 might even be too tall for my standard height garage door too.

Right and my personal opinion is that I do not like them for that.  I’m not saying other people’s opinions are right or wrong, just my opinion is that I do not like a “one vehicle for all things” truck.  

I like trucks the size that full sized pickups used to be.  Late 80s to early 90s seemed to be peak truck in my book.  I even liked the mid sized dakota.  Trucks were more work oriented and then there were separate people haulers.  Modern trucks will barely fit in my driveway, let alone make the turn to get into my…

The only high strung production stuff is the Valkyrie. (10,000+ RPM)

Time to bring back the TC 

The laser welds on that viscous crank damper look terrible... oof.  

I love the idea of a wrangler, but man do I hate the build quality.  I love the idea of a short wheel base manual 4x4 with a super low gear.  To me, the thing could be a workhorse, but not have the “it’s a Jeep thing” excuse when it falls apart months after buying it.  

This is what I am hoping for.  My current vehicle will be just about paid off by then and pushing 150k miles.  So I’ll get *something* for it in trade or I’ll sell it off on the side.  I was considering a stripper model ranger, but I could have a lot more use for that crawler gear on the manual Bronco, and probably…

I want one too.  That crawler gear is going to make it my tractor! 

I much prefer this, than making a 2 door an afterthought or not at all.

Very true.  Mine was pretty darn reliable, even though it had 240,000 miles on it.