The Sharks Are Circling

This isn't mine but it looks just like it, I'm just too lazy to go out
and take its picture

I need a new car, not today, not tomorrow but sometime in the next 8-10 months.  I love my old car, it's a Mazda MX3, and they don't make it any more.  It looks great, but it is now 17 years old and  has about 80,000 miles on it.  But unfortunately is has begun to do a Joe Cocker imitation when I start it up and then lug down the road like it's dragging an anchor behind it.  After awhile it settles down, but when I'm out in it alone I get worried.  We've had it tuned up recently, but  I just can't see the value into putting any more money into a vehicle that old.  Yes it has low mileage, but parts fatigue, I figure in dog years it's really a 149 years old.
So I decided to start looking at new cars.  Sunday I looked on-line and then yesterday coming back from the eye doctor we stopped and looked at a couple  more.  I'm looking for a small car, hatchback, manuel shift (yes I said manuel I have never driven an automatic) that I can use like a little truck.  I'm probably going to lease and then down the line decide if I want to keep it.
And because you've got to give information to get information a number of car dealers now have my telephone number and e-mail address.  Since Sunday I've received around 100 e-mails and more phone calls (starting around 8 in the morning, long before I get up) than I can keep track of.  I won't answer any of them but I will be keeping track of 3 cars:
Mazda 2

Honda Fit

Honda Fit
Hyundai Accent
I'm leaning towards the Mazda, but we'll see, as I said, I'm not in a hurry and we'll see who'll give me the best deal.
And then I'm donating my old car to whoever will take it.

Hyundai Accent

Mazda 2