My advice to Eric would be to get whatever the Mrs wants.
Once we narrowed in on a Corolla, I got to choose the model(S) and my Mrs. got to choose the color.
MPG was tops on my list. My Mon-Fri my drive consists of a couple of blocks out of our small town, 65MPH Interstate for ~27 miles, and ~2 miles of city driving(mostly 45MPH) with about 3 stoplights. (Reverse it home)
Altima didn't make our list...I believe it was due to the price (with the options I wanted) and lower MPG.
BTW Scion poster- I did test drive the smaller Scion(xD?)...twice. I liked the price and options it came with...but I think they messed up when a moon/sun roof isn't available...I wanted one...been w/o a sun roof in one of my vehicles for numerous years and missed it. I also thought the Scion was a bit noiser(less foam/insulation in the panels), the wheelbase was a shorter and I believe narrower. At any rate, I was a bit nervous what winter driving might be like in the xD. I see enough Corollas around I wasn't as worried. I did like the riding position in the Scion, more like a truck/mini-van and super EASY to get in/out of. Unfortunately the seats seemed a bit stiff...I took a very long test drive in it (40+ miles on the HGWY) and my back was getting sore. Then we took out a Corolla, which has pretty stiff seats too, but it was like heaven after close to an hour in the Scion. The Scion was pretty spacious...had rear seats that recline...some other kind of unique stuff. Of course I liked the side skirts, or body kit, out there for that Scion...but waiting to get that was going to be way too stressful...not to mention that by the time you add that...you're now in the Corolla S price range.
I also have three kids, oldest a freshman this year...and we can fit in the new Corolla and have tons of room left in the trunk. (When I opened the trunk on one for the first time...I was mostly impressed. The Mrs. likes, and uses, the milk jug tray on the passenger side for groceries...when she gets to drive it.
Good luck with your decision Eric...I'd be interested to know what you do.
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