[lnanek2]

I bought a Yaris as my first car to go as cheap as possible. Even electrics were more expensive despite the tax breaks. My Dad felt like a new one would break down less than a used one too which is why we avoided used.

Yaris worked well in general. I'm not surprised it's popular with college kids. It was pretty bothersome, though, how at the lowest trim level they even disabled things like cruise control. I'm three times older than any college kid and it made my ankle ache on long drives.

[mgkimsal]

One of my first cars was a geo metro hatchback - probably an equivalent. It was $6500 - a fortune (for me) at the time. But I did get around 50mpg. I took a long road trip across the country and averaged 64mpg.

[LAC-Tech]

I've never in my life driven a car with cruise control. Including rentals.

I'm not even 100% sure how they work...

[EvanAnderson]

Assuming you drive any significant distance once you have it you'll never want to go back.

[LAC-Tech]

I'm willing to believe that.

At the same time here in New Zealand long journeys are 99% on two lane roads, with lots of corners and hills. Not sure how useful cruise control is for that.

[EvanAnderson]

That kind of driving (which, incidentally, is my favorite kind) wouldn't be helped at all.