[Cialug] OT: safe/reliable fuel-efficient cars.

[Nathan C. Smith]

If you were headed westbound on 235 after 5:00 PM last night and hit slow traffic because of an accident you can blame the guy that hit me.  (email me for his phone number).  We got rear-ended last night and my Hyundai Elantra is  probably not revivable.

Faced with the painful prospect of a new (at least to me) car, I'm looking at options.  My primary constraints are:
* manual transmission (because I feel it keeps me focused on driving - my mind tends to wander)
* reliable
* safe
* fuel-efficient (The hyundai was a commuter and I would go exactly 2 weeks between refuels 27 )

I realize this is a bit of a shot in the dark but is anyone driving something they are happy with or would recommend  that meets these constraints?

Thanks.

-Nate