Shrinking numbers: (Clockwise from top left) The Honda Accord is one of two Front-wheel-drive midsize coupes; the Nissan Versa is a rare car priced under $10,000; the Mazda5 is one of two petite vans; the Volkswagen Pass is one of a handful of midsize station wagons.
Most of us start the car-buying journey expecting a lot of choices.
When it comes to some types of cars, though, you might be surprised by the lack of choices. Want a midsize station wagon that starts at less than $30,000? There are two. Want a car with a bench seat? There are five, but soon only three will be available. And for an affordable two-seat roadster, you'll find just the Mazda MX-5 Miata.
With that in mind, here's a look at some rare makes and styles.
The Cadillac DTS is one of three new cars with bench seats still available.
Cars with bench seats
Your choices: With the Lincoln Town Car and Mercury Grand Marquis ending production, the Chevrolet Impala, Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS will be your only choices. The Buick Lucerne is a bargain. It costs significantly less than the Cadillac DTS yet shares virtually all of its running gear and options.
Midsize station wagons
Your choices: Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo offer midsize wagons. But if you want one that's affordable, there are two: the Kia Rondo and Volkswagen Passat. If you can afford to spend 40 percent more for the Passat, go for it. It offers great handling and good utility.
Midsize coupes
Your choices: Front-wheel-drive midsize coupes used to be plentiful. Now there are two: the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima. Both sacrifice some practicality for style. They're both good-looking and perform well, but the Honda Accord holds the edge in quality.
New cars under $10,000
Your choices: With the Accent hatchback, Hyundai has long been a part of this class. Nissan has joined the fray with the Versa, a car designed for the Chinese market. These cars are so stripped that even air conditioning is an option. The Nissan does, however, have antilock brakes with brake assist.
Petite vans
Your choices: If most minivans aren't mini enough, you can opt for one that's slightly smaller. Both the Mazda5 and Ford Transit Connect offer an impressive amount of space in a maneuverable package. For families, the Mazda5 is hard to beat. For small businesses, the Ford is a good bet.
Compact pickups
Your choices: The Ford Ranger is the only true compact. Larger, newer designs include the Toyota Tacoma, the Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon twins, the Nissan Frontier and the mechanically identical Suzuki Equator. The Nissan and Toyota both offer refinement and utility, but a base-model, full-size pickup may be a better buy.
The Ford Mustang is one of three muscle cars and comes as a convertible.
Muscle cars
Your choices: Wait -- is it 1970? You can still buy a Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger or Ford Mustang. They are quite American, look great and offer gobs of power, even in base trim. The original is still the greatest: The 2011 Mustang is the proper size, boasts high-tech options and comes as a convertible.
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