Reading Edward Snitkoff’s Scion Discussion yesterday, it occurred to me how much compact cars have changed in the past 10 years. It used to be that they were marketed solely as cheap, simple transportation. Compacts were a stepping stone to something larger and better-equipped in the future.
That’s not the case anymore. With more people buying smaller cars for fuel savings, compacts are getting more luxurious and expensive with each new model. Compact coupes have also seemed to pretty much disappear. Sure you can still get a tC, Civic, Forte, and now, even an Elantra coupe. But when was the last time you saw a new one without seeing 10 times as many sedans?
Compact coupes were traditionally aimed at “youthful” buyers who wanted something sportier than a 4-door, but were unable to afford any new car that was bigger or truly sporty. Motorweek ran a comparison test back in 1992 of 5 base model compact coupes. In case you don’t feel like watching the whole video, this is how they placed:
1st: Saturn SC
2nd: Toyota Paseo
3rd: Nissan NX1600
4th: Geo Storm
5th: Hyundai Scoupe
Now if this was 21 years ago, I would technically be -1 years old. If I were the age I am now in 1992 (20 years if you couldn’t do the math), and looking to purchase one of these, it would be the Saturn SC. A girl on my cross-country team in high school owned a later model one (with the driver’s side rear suicide door!), that I rode in several times. It was actually a pretty nice little car.
So if you were a value-conscious individual in the market for a base model coupe in 1992, which one would you choose? Would it be one of these coupes here or something else?
I’d choose my old Integra everytime, what a wonderful little gem.
The Integras from that generation were really nice. Probably out of the price range here but so much better of a car it was embarrassing.
Pretty nice car if you like riding in a coffee grinder that is off balance. GM, remember? The Civic Coupe is the only choice.
The DOHC “2” first gen Saturns were nice cars for the time, my brother owned an SC2 sedan with a 5spd that was almost as nice as our 1990 Accord EX 5 speed. Comfortable, handled well, and a surprisingly well screwed together interior. Ran it to over 200k miles. I’d definitely choose the SC here.
But I disagree about the second generation ones, I dated a girl who had a 1999 SC1 automatic, and it was a deplorable POS. In the six or so years she had it, it was on the back of a tow truck probably a dozen times, and when it did run, it was a wobbly, slow, loud torture chamber with the worst interior I’ve still ever seen in a car (I’ve never actually sat in an Ion though…). It finally decided it had had enough of living its miserable life and caught fire one day after it was parked.
The first-gen Saturn coupes and the second-gen Saturn coupes were basically the same car, they didn’t really change anything except the body panels. If you open the door on the second-gen “swoopy” models and look at the framing, it was the same exact flat frame and the plastic panels stuck out about 2 inches from it, creating the curving sides. I am fairly sure even the interiors were identical except for maybe the door panels, but the dash, switchgear, guages, etc were all the same between my SC and my neighbors older SC, I remember how we thought that was pretty cool how they updated the look so easily.
But the Saturn cars were crap, it was reliable but very cheap feeling overall, nothing like the Honda we had before. Saturns were hot because they were so different from the earlier GM products and they had the innovative sales style, but compared to the imports they were nothing special. This was probably one of those comparisons designed to let the newest car win.
The SL2 I was referring was a 1992 that had the original 1990-1994 interior, like the SC’s did until the 1995 update. It was the updated interior in either bodystyle that was awful, the original used surprisingly nice materials.
The second generation SC’s were actually a quite bit different underneath from the first gens. They used the longer chassis from the SL instead of unique a one. Still, the driving dynamics at least between a first gen SL2 and second gen SC1 with the SOHC are a night and day difference.
I can’t comment on the earlier interior as i never saw one up close, but its not fair to compare a 2 to a 1…different engine and different suspension. But IMO neither of them could hold a candle to the Honda.
My entire point was that 2’s were worlds better cars than any of the 1’s. And yes, the 2 was almost as good to drive as our Honda. The engine wasn’t as sewing machine smooth, but in every other area it was 90% as nice as the Honda, for much less money.
The Saturn.
I’ve had five.
They have all been excellent cars and the best thing about them is how much fun they are to drive. Cheap too. And they don’t rust.
I don’t know where these stories come from about how bad they were, because I’ve probably put over half a million miles on them, and I don’t understand the accusations at all.
A lot of folks are too fat for them, probably thats why they get complaints – they are low to the ground and fatties don’t like getting in and out of low cars like the old Saturn S.
I like cars that really do corner so nothing on your list appeals to me and the BMW clip explains what I said about them some time ago, no turn in. There was a reason an underpowered Citroen BX could beat an M3 on a race track. I’ll stick with my very clever PSA cars thanx. Honda tried to emulate their rear steering as did Mazda with mixed results, but neither is anywhere near as good.
What race track has a Citroen BX ever beaten an M3 around where it wasn’t an issue of poor driving or mechanical failure?
Citroen was long gone in the US by the time the BX came out, but the Peugeot 405 was built on the same platform, correct? I’ve driven an Mi16 and while it was an outstanding car, you’re mistaken if you think it went around corners considerably better than the Saturn or Geo Storm/Isuzu Impulse.
That Saturn SC was a real looker. The cars were really popular out here until they added that weird extra door.
I will say though… its winning had as much to do with the competition as it did with it being a good little car.
Not to pick on Toyota again but if you had popped the nine year old AE86 Corolla in there that car would have won I think. The Paseo effectively replaced it.
To answer your question if I was looking new I would have bought a Sentra SE-R. If I was looking used I would have chosen a used Corolla GTS.
Ford Probe GT.
I agree with Brendan – I would’ve chosen the SC as well. I’ve always had a soft spot for the styling.
How would the Mazda-based Ford Escort GT (a hatch, I know) have compared?
I was car shopping in 1992, and that was a pretty bad time for new small cars. Toyota already stopped making the good ones, there wasn’t much else available that was nice and fun to drive. I wouldn’t have picked anything on that list. Nissan Sentra SE-R or Honda Civic Si were the two best compacts available. Or I would have gotten a Mustang GT.
Wow, this is a real rogues gallery. I guess I’d go with the SC, provided I could get comfortable with doing my own clutch replacement.
sentra se-r , mitsu eclipse, or a slightly used 1st gen Probe Turbo is what i would have picked for a coupe purchase in 1992. if i had to stay within the given choices i’d pick the paseo. totally gutless but very tossable and very efficient.
Now it would of been out of the price range the cars you mentioned, but for handling alone, a VW Corrado would win hands down. Actually it would win for the VR6 engine too. But would lose it all on reliability….
Of the choices listed, I’ll go with the Nissan NX1600. Second choice would be the Geo Storm.
However, my REAL first choice would be the Mazda MX-3 with the V-6 engine. That little bastard could move and was a joy to drive.
Agree on the V6 MX-3.
In the fall of ’92, I was shopping for a Mazda MX-6, but the salesman insisted on taking me for a ride in a V6 MX-3. What a hoot!
Turns out the salesman had been a semi-pro racer, had now got his kicks taking prospective customers on joy rides in one of the most congested parts of the city. I don’t think he ever lifted as he weaved around traffic on the nearby expressway and screamed around exit/entrance ramps.
He appeared to be an excellent driver, but this kind of behaviour on crowded streets was inexcusable. No doubt some customers complained, because he was no longer at the dealership a few weeks later.
Geo Prizm (5-door) hatchback. 4A-GE powered GSi if I could swing it. By ’92 they had gone on to the sedan-only next generation that looked even more like a 5/6-scale gen3 Camry than the Corolla did, so I’d be looking at late model used (but unwilling to settle for an automatic, so no ex-rentals).
What was I actually driving in ’92? $500 beater ’81 Omni.
The Prizm isn’t a coupe.
Says the man who chose a Mustang GT as his pick over the econo-sport coupes listed in the video… A Prizm GSi is at least comparable to the cars on topic.
I didn’t choose a Mustang, I said I’d have chosen a Civic Si or Sentra SER, which are on topic, comparable, and still today considered iconic cars, which cannot be said of a Prizm. The fact that they were left out of the test sounds like they wanted the Saturn to win, also the saturn was the only performance model used, the rest were all base models. even the NX2000 would have trounced it. I merely added the fact that given the sorry state of choices in sport coupes back then I’d have elected something very different. I imagine @nlptm had the same idea.
The Saturn was the base model. There was no SOHC SC in 1992, the SC1 didn’t debut until 1993. And the Sentra SE-R and Civic Si would have been about 50% more money than these cars.
An important distinction is this test is of $9-12k ECONO-sport coupes, not sporty coupes, or top end 2 door sedans. Notice the question in the article is “So if you were a value-conscious individual in the market for a BASE MODEL coupe in 1992, which one would you choose?”
Even a base Civic and Sentra coupe would be pricier than these cars, and they’re not even the unique sporty-bodystyle smaller-engine combo these cars are, i.e. using the Tercel based Paseo instead of a Tercel, and the Sentra based NX instead of a Sentra. They’re 2 door sedans that the buyers of these cars wouldn’t have cross shopped. Think of the difference between Hyundai Veloster and Hyundai Elantra buyers. Same car underneath, but totally different market. It’s also why the NX1600 was included instead of the NX2000.
A 1992 Civic Si would have been about $15k out the door, and without the 45mpg average of these cars, and it would have been an entirely different insurance group. Not saying it wasn’t a good car, but it’s not comparable. Really the only car that fit this class in 1992 that wasn’t included was the mentioned 4 cyl MX3.
Pricewise the SC played between the sporty coupe low (Paseo, Storm) and sporty coupe high segments (Celica, Prelude, 240SX). The Eclipse had similar positioning. This pricing was about the same as an SE-R.
Seeing as how the testers went half a segment up to include the SC I think it’s fair for folks to say they would have taken a Celica or similar. The Integra was priced higher still and maybe wouldn’t be fair if the point is to stay within the class.
Too bad the CRX couldn’t have been included, it ended production the year before. A used Integra (the glassy headlamp model) would have been a great choice. Still see lots of them around.
The CRX definitely would have fit, and dominated this group of cars.
I don’t think the 240SX, or Prelude would be comparable cars either, price aside, just like with the Civic Si, none were as efficient, inexpensive, or cheap to insure as the listed cars. And $15k for a Prelude is a HUGE jump from a $9k Scoupe. A Celica ST with the 1.6L would be comparable to the cars in almost every category here, but not price, its base MSRP was $14k. Admittedly the SC splits the difference at $12k, but a line has to be drawn somewhere.
I’m not saying all of those cars wouldn’t have been better choices, but what’s analogous today would be us bemoaning them for not including an FRS in a test of Veloster/tC/Mazda2. Similar pricing, power, and mpg spread as the tested 1992 cars and mentioned comparables, but the economy minded cars are going to be in a different world of insurance, practicality and cost of ownership from a cheap, proper sports coupe like the FRS. Even if the MSRPs are within shooting distance on paper, very few people are going to be cross shopping both types of cars.
Good call on the DSM cars, the base 1.8l 92 hp versions would definitely be a good competitor that was cross shopped with these cars. I’m curious how a base Eclipse, Laser or Talon would have fared.
Cavalier Z24 with a 3.1 litre V6 and a stick. Geo Storms were very popular here in South Jersey. My first car was a first generation Saturn SL and I have to say it was a well put together car. And everywhere I went, other Saturn owners treated me like I was family.
GM was still variety-o-rama at that time, you could get the pretty slick shark like Saturn SC, the kinda neat baby-Camaro Geo Storm, and a couple of J-body coupe or convertible variants, including kinda abserd junior muscle car stuff, like a Cavalier with a 3.1 V6 stuffed under the hood, and a turbo Sunbird too, and not to mention the dishonorable LeMans GSE, Wow, that’s a wide variety of choices.
SC2 5-speed. I still see one around Gallup on a semi-regular basis, not something I can say for any of the other contenders.
Without a doubt, an Isuzu Impulse XS. By 92 Isuzu fitted the 1.8lt 4XF1 engine that “solved” the torque “issue” of the 1.6lt 4XE1 engine. I say “issue” because I had the 1.6 version and revved the bloody thing to its near 8K RPM redline from time to time. I loved how that little marvel sounded after 6K.
Second on my list would be the Storm GSi.
And third would be a fastback Celica GT-S (wide body). In this case, I’d have the version that was sold in Venezuela and other markets that used the 3S engine instead of the 5S that you guys up there got.
I thought the Storm was identical to the Impulse? Good choice on the Celica, I didn’t realize the wide body ones were out by then.
Storm and Impulse are almost the same. Suspension on the Isuzu has better bits than the Geo.
The Storm (I think) got slightly better seats than the Impulse. Front and rear ends are different too.
And IMO the Isuzu looks better.
If the choice was among those five, then I think that I would opt for a bus pass.
Otherwise, within that segment, the Civic seems like the obvious choice. Or if I was willing to roll the dice on reliability, a Golf.
“If the choice was among those five, then I think that I would opt for a bus pass.”
We agree completely. What a depressing menu. Only I would have gone on the prowl for another pristine old Mopar. There were still lots of little old lady versions of them sitting in garages back then, and I enjoyed the snot out of a few of them in those years.
If I recall correctly, the Civic coupe didn’t debut until the 1993 model year in the U.S. If you wanted a two-door Honda Civic in 1992, it would have been the hatchback.
I had a 1993 Civic EX sedan – it was a very refined car (for the price) that boasted excellent reliability, a comfortable, well-assembled interior, and surprisingly decent handling.
I’d choose used before any of the listed options.
OMG, I didn’t watch the video before posting. Most of the cars are the bottom of the barrel versions.
The Storm doesn’t even have the DOHC engine. The NX doesn’t have the SR20. And there’s that horrendous Hyundai.
If the choice is limited to that list, I’d almost side with Pch101 on the bus pass, but I hate public transport with passion and even a Festiva is better than going PT. So of those 5 cars I’d go with the Storm.
Otherwise, I stand by the list I wrote above.
Why do you hate public transportation with a passion?
Where I come from public transport is:
1) Unreliable, there are not even time tables
2) Unsafe. Buses are in bad condition and thieves can jump in and you may end shot
3) Uncomfortable. Seats are usually rearranged to allow more seated passengers.
4) Dirty. Inside the unit and emissions wise (there may be even an exhaust leak). Not to count the music of the driver’s preference at whatever (high) volume he ‘prefers’
5) Slow. In part due to traffic congestion, in part due to revenue seeking
6) Crowded. More often than not I had to be standing inside the bus like packed sardines (no biggie). When you’re hanging ON the doorstep… it may not get funny (hold on tight).
7) If you don’t like it, GTFO because this shit is mine. That’s the customer service you get if you complain about something.
That’s very summarized. I dealt with that for a good part of my initial life and it is no surprise I hate it.
Here instead, situation is much much much better, although if you’re going to some far areas of the city, coverage and timetables get a bit sketchy.
Yeah, I had an 1988 Integra I wish hadn’t rusted itself out of usefulness… I also had a 1991 CR-X that I wish I’d have kept.
Now I have a 2001 New Beetle Sport (a real one) and a 1997 BMW 318ti.
I had a Saturn SL2 in college which was basically the sedan version. It was an unbelievably great car, especially compared to my old Celica that it replaced.
In 1992, I’d have bought a BMW even if it meant eating nothing but Ramen noodles and living out of my car. In hindsight, I should have bought something with a Honda badge instead.
I’d have kept saving and bought a Ford Puma in 1997!I liked these but I suspect they were too small for us plus size people.
I would probably pick what my dad picked in 1991 which was a brand new 1990 Impulse XS. It’s a really nice car. Really well equipped too. Can’t see a Saturn or Civic being better. Maybe an Integra, but the interior wouldn’t compare.
I know the Storm is basically the same car, but there’s some differences.
I have yet to see a nicer factory radio.
I don’t really like any of those choices if given the choice. Probably the Geo or the Saturn.
Actually, when you adjust for inflation, those cars weren’t all that cheap. My dad told me he paid about $18k for his Impulse, which when adjusted is about $35k. Granted, that was in Puerto Rico which has an additional tax on cars but it wouldn’t be that much cheaper in the US.
I had a 91. Very nice car. I also had the RS.
I don’t think a 92 Integra had a nice interior.
You must not have ever been in a Honda or Acura of that generation. They (and Toyota) were worlds better than any imports or domestics.
We had a 1990 Accord for about 12 years, it was a great car for the time, but not any better than any other European or Japanese car. And Toyota’s of this era were just incredibly well built appliances that all drove like Buicks. Other people have other opinions, let it rest.
To be honest with you, after seeing lots of Japanese cars of that era while parked on the curbside here, I don’t know where is the “superior uber alles” fit and finish the magazines preached.
The Integra from that time looks crap inside. The following generation is another story.
And yes, I’ve sat in a 93 Civic (nice), 91 Corolla, 96 Corolla (very nice), 91 Impulse, 92 Lancer, 98 Lancer, 94 Golf, 94 Legend.
Really? I’ve gotta disagree. I had one of these and everything was extremely high quality. Much nicer than the same era Civic, which was also very good.
Listen to the clatter in that Hyundai engine, yikes!
As for the NX, the front styling made them look like they were crying, IMHO.
Isuzu-junk!
Saturn-nope.
It would have to the Paseo from this group, as it’s the only one which stood a chance of still being on the road 20 years later.
My real choice would have been a used GTI, at least then, before I became disillusioned with, and later hostile to VW.
A more open minded me would have chosen a year or 2 old Integra.
Which is hysterical because I haven’t seen a Paseo in at least 10 years, early ’90s Saturns… tons of them still on the road around here.
My first Subaru was a ’93 wagon back when I was in college about ten years ago. I had it for three or four years, and it was a very capable little car that never felt like a tin box commuters’ vehicle. I would go with a ’92 Impreza coupe were I in a similar situation to what I am today and stuck with deciding amongst coupes. Although, I live in Japan. In Japan in 1992, I do believe it was possible to get a WRX coupe. There we go. That’s what I’d look at. A basic one, of course 😉
I always liked the looks of the Saturn, but I bought a new, ’91 Plymouth Colt… 4 speed base model (no AC or radio) for $5995 plus T&L… it ended up being a great little runner that I put 192K on before giving to one of my sons. That car would cruise all day long at 85 or 90 and still return 32mpg.
What a fun product segment that was! It’s now much less relevant, although there are a few cars like this left. The one that comes to my mind first is the Scion TC, which I really like. In 1992, I was a recent college graduate driving my 1990 Civic LX sedan. I liked coupes but Civic didn’t offer one yet in 1990, and the hatchback didn’t have the content I wanted (power windows, locks, etc.) In 1995 it got totaled (long story) and I replaced it with another Civic sedan, only briefly considering the coupe. But looking back, if I had known that coupes would practically disappear in a few years, maybe I would have gotten one.
My second car was a new ’92 base Storm, with an automatic to boot. It was not an inspiring performer, though it did seem to be a quality piece (aftermarket A/C with a penchant for snapping accessory belts notwithstanding.)
Of these choices, the SC wins hands-down by virtue of the DOHC engine alone. My subsequent ’94 SL2 was a fantastic car for what it was.
Toyota and Honda interiors of those years weren’t bad at all from a quality standpoint (since they still hold up today from the ones I’ve seen and ridden in) but they were boring, and are still a bit boring though Honda is miles “less boring” than current Toyotas (mainly Civic vs. Corolla). Hyundai and Kia probably have the best interiors from those segments nowadays since they are really trying to take over the market.
I gave it to the Impulse cause the interior is still very nice (always garaged probably aided in that) and has interesting things like a full graphic equalizer right below the radio. Something I’ve never seen anywhere else.
One of those coupe wrx Subarus would be sweet indeed. If I had been of age and well off, a used 944 or 968.
I’m really curious about the V6 MX-3. I don’t recall ever seeing that badge on one of them do I’m surprised they came with one. It’s a small car so a V6 must feel rocket-like. Would it be the same V6 as the Probe GT?
It was a 1.8L version of Mazda’s K-series V6, related to the 2.5L V6 in the MX-6 and Probe. I’ve seen some MX-3’s online with the 2.5L swap, and while it would be faster than the 1.8, the fact that it has one the smallest V6’s ever made is part of the reason I’d still want an MX-3 GS in the first place.
Wow, that is properly small. Had no knowledge of that engine. I wonder how it sounds.
It’s definitely something special.
Like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT5tx2gZZVw
I, too, would take the MX-3 GS V6. Though since the 1.8L K8-DE and the 2.5L KL-ZE are essentially the same size and weight, I’d do the KL-ZE swap and have 200 hp instead of 130 hp.
Here’s a picture of the interior. 1990 Impulse XS. Compared to anything out today, it looks properly simple but still nice and different.
PS: You could still claim to have a phone in your car (a Nokia to boot). No bluetooth needed!
Funny thing is, I likely wouldn’t have fitted into any of these cars. Compact cars were so damn… compact back then ) Being reasonably tall and not super-fat or something, I remember seating on Subaru Alcyone / SVX driver’s seat as a pretty torturous experience, and the same goes to 4th gen Mitsubishi Mirage 2-door, Toyota Cynos, etc. Those cars are just too cramped inside.
The decline of inexpensive (pseudo)sporty coupes is truly a sad thing, however, IMO, something was just wrong with the way they were designed. What I would prefer is a compact 2-seater with two full-sized seats, not a small car with a small (cramped !) 4-seat interior. Could be pretty cheap to produce, too. Opel GTC is pretty close to that, with it’s frontal interior area being sized pretty similar to the large Opel Insignia, but it’s still a 4-seater (rear seats are all but useless anyway, though) – and a hatchback, not a “true” coupe.
Another funny thing – in Europe it all seems to move in just the opposite direction in the past 10 years: more people buy (relatively) large cars so they are becoming cheaper and more basic. E.g., look at current gen Ford Mondeo or Skoda Superb – surely not something you could buy 10 years ago. 1994-2000 Mondeo was a downright small car, barely reaching 4.5 metres in length; and 2000 Mondeo, while a large car for it’s time, was much smaller than the car it was superceded by, which is almost 5 meter / 200″ long and still can be purchised with a tiny 1.6L engine for better fuel economy. 2014 Mondeo would be the same car as US market 2013 Ford Fusion. Cars of this size (the Scorpio, if we are speaking about Ford) were in the luxury car territory 15 years ago, and now they are relatively affordable and thus more popular.
If we’re talking just the cars in this video, I’d probably go for the Geo Storm – though I’d rather it be the strange “wagonback” model that was available during these years. I’ve always liked Isuzu’s small cars and think it’s a shame that they never really took off. I’m not crazy about the looks, but with a motor that will happily spin to 8k, a tight chassis and impressive fuel economy I could live with them. It doesn’t help that most Storms I’ve ever seen were painted some awful shade of fuchsia or turquoise. Black looks much better, as it does on most cars.
I like the Saturn S-series cars a lot, too – although I thought the sedan was much better looking. My girlfriend in high school had an early SC just like this one and it was a blast to drive. I always thought they had an extremely nice interior for a car of this caliber, but I know many people disagree. They were very light cars (~2,300lbs. empty) and a lot of fun to toss around. The twin-cam engine was loud and raspy, but was an excellent balance of power and economy, really a great match for these vehicles. The lesser engine was passable, but took a lot of fun out of the driving experience. Hers was an automatic (a fairly herky-jerky unit) and they’re infinitely more fun with a stick shift, although choosing the auto got you traction control – which was a pretty nifty feature on this kind of car back then. My mom also leased two later model SLs (a ’99 and ’02), the latter of which I ended up driving for about a year. I loved it and thought it was a real shame how things turned out for Saturn. They were something of a step down from their Japanese competition, but IMO they got the important parts right. It seems like they’ve proven fairly resilient over the years as well. I still see tons of SCs and SLs in an area that isn’t very domestic-friendly.
If we were talking about the cars in the video, I would choose the Saturn SC. The base engined version kinda howled at 70mph and it was slow as a dog with an auto and not really quick with stick but they were great on gas and not really bad as a highway commuter. Out of all the cars in the video this is the only one in my mind that still looks good today. I saw a red SC series the other day and it still looked like it would fit in today appearance wise(it certainly looks better and more sporty then that sheep mobile Corolla)
The fact that it was a dirt cheap brand new car with pop up headlights back in the day was a plus.
Had you asked about 1991 cars, I would have chosen the Storm since 1990-1991 models had the pop up headlights
Personally, I would have gladly took anything (in this video) other than the $#!+%¥ Scoupe.
None of the above. I would have purchased a ’92 Escort GT or a Mazda Protege’ (yes, I know they’re essentially the same car).
I leased a 1991 Tracer LTS, a 4 door Escort GT. Should have bought it at end of lease!
I looked up its VIN on Carfax and it showed car was not junked until 2004! 13 years.
Well in 1992 I was 16, I remember being interested in the Saturn program at GM, so I’d probably get the SC. Then the Geo, the rest… I’ll pass. Though in 1992 I was driving a 120,000 mile 1976 Chevelle sedan in powder blue that my parents gave me as a hand-me-down.
As a few others have already suggested, as a value-conscious individual I’d have bought used. As a matter of fact, what I did in 1990 was buy a like-new, base model, 5-speed, 1986 Chrysler Laser hatchback, a virtual twin of the Dodge Daytona. It was a great car. As a daily driver it was dependable, reliable and I did my own oil changes. It gave me between 30 and 40 mpg. It was smooth and comfortable on my trip from Ohio to Dallas, Texas then out to San Diego, CA before returning to Ohio. Bought it with 36K miles, and put an additional 100K + miles on it in 10 years.
Now were I to follow the directions and choose to buy one of those 5 cars new, I’ll saw I maybe kinda liked all of those cars. Back in the day I’d likely have chosen a Hyundai Scoupe. But with the benefit of hindsight, I’d choose between the Toyota, Nissan and the Saturn after test driving them. To this day, have never driven nor ridden in any of them. Oh, wait, actually rode in a Geo Storm once, briefly.
Guess I’m 20 years behind the times, as I’m daily driving a 92 Sentra 2 door Coupe. I have no idea if I would have bought it new back then, but being a toddler at the time would have been a slight problem. 20+ years later, I would say that the Sentra would be the reliable choice, almost 200k on it and its still on good shape.
No way I would have purchased the nx1600 vs the Sentra, they are UGLY