First Gen Kia Soul.
No, really. I swear. Stop laughing and Hear me out.
They’re like 2500 bucks for a decently clean example, actually pretty damned reliable(NON GDI ones), the tail will slide out on gravel roads in a playful way. They handle well enough, good visibility, plenty of room even for a bigger build. Radio works better than most cheap bailout era shitboxes. Heater cranks. Stock headlights are pretty good. Brakes feel like they’re unasissted but light as a feather, and work suprisingly well. They use the 5×4.5 bolt pattern. But the BEST part is the 5 speed manual is a gem of a transmission. Clutch is perfect, has a short final drive and is geared PERFECTLY.
The engine isn’t strong, but has a very balanced powerband.
5th gear at 55 mph has the engine humming along happily at 2500 rpm, completely erasing the need to downshift for any hills. If you never go below 30 mph, 5th gear is set it and forget it.
1st gear and reverse are so low that you don’t need any throttle, just let the clutch out and it goes. It’s like a lawn tractor. It’s the PERFECT car to teach someone how to drive a manual.
You can start off in 2nd gear, and skip straight to 5th. It’s hilarious.
In a lot of ways, they feel like a good 90’s-2000’s honda or toyota product, but without the crazy pricing to pick one up.
I slept on these the whole time, and then we took in a 2010 manual on trade, and just for giggles I took it to lunch. I was completely blown away at how much it didn’t suck, and for $2000 bucks all in I immediately bought it.
I don’t like Kia/Hyundais as a general rule, but dammit if I don’t love this little shitbox!