Reliable, used gas-saver recommendations.

[Benzilla]

Hi guys,

I know I haven't been on here too much lately, and I have some PM's backed up (which I'll respond to when I have time to properly address them.) Basically, life got in the way.

Now to the matter at hand, since I sold my Sentra two months ago, I've split all of my driving up between my four Cadillacs, and my '84 Cutlass coupe... gas prices are KILLING me. I'm going to have to get another little grocery getter. So I'm looking for recommendations.

I got up to 37 mpg with my sentra, I'd like to come as close to that as possible. Basically the car will be doing all the mundane tasks & dirty work that the Caddies are just too distinguished for. It doesn't have to be fast, good looking or fun to drive. It just need to be tough as nails, reliable as sin, and cheaper than Pam Anderson in a tube top.... Speaking of which, it would be nice if the car could also fit five inside it. Probably I'd just keep it over the summer, and I don't want to make this into a sizable investment. So I'd probably end up going with something mid-'90s. I keep thinking Honda Accord, but how good are they on gas? That's the main requirement. I might even end up with another Sentra, the problem with my old one was that it started nickle & diming me to death. Annoying and - by comparison - trivial things like the headlight switch & window motors kept breaking. I just got sick of it all and let it go. All in all I still broke even, but wouldn't have if I'd kept it any longer.

So, I'd love to hear some feedback, I know everybody has their favorite brand of beater to offer up, lets hear it!

Yours truly,

Ben.

[dkozloski]

3.0L Ford Ranger pickup with an extended cab.

[Benzilla]

I actually thought about a truck. But I failed to mention that I'd like some interior room too. I've been looking at reviews of the 1992-1995 Civics, and they look like a solid choice. Anybody have first hand experience?

Ben

[gdwriter]

Ben, I had a '95 Accord coupe from 1995 to 1998 and a '99 Accord coupe from 1998 to 2005. Both 4-cylinder, automatics. In a mix of city and highway driving, I regularly averaged in the high 20s. On highway trips, I could get in the low to mid 30s, and this was with the cruise set at 75-80 MPH and usually with the A/C going full blast (this was when I lived in Phoenix).

Both cars were entirely trouble-free. I put 57,000 miles on the '95 and 75,000 on the '99. My niece has the '99 now, and it continues to run like a Swiss watch.

A Civic will give you better mileage, but I find the Accords more comfortable. Still, if you were comfortable in the Sentra, a Civic will be fine.

As used cars, they're not exactly cheap, and I would say it's worthwhile to pay a little extra for one that's been adult-driven and well cared for. These cars are popular with young drivers, and many are thoroughly trashed. Before I bought my Cadillac, I looked at an '87 Accord whose hood looked like it had been painted with Liquid Paper. Using the brush.

[Benzilla]

Thanks Gary, that's exactly the kind of feedback I need. A Civic seems like the right choice, comfort isn't important, that's what the Cadillacs are for.

Now, does anybody know anything about Corollas? ...Good God, never thought I'd ask that. lol.

Ben

[dkozloski]

Any Toyota with a 22RE engine. My Celica drove like a dream and got 30MPG without even trying.

[Benzilla]

Hmm, I hadn't even thought of something like a Celica. I like the styling of even the older generations, but never thought of them in a gas saving way. What all model years had that engine in them?

Ben

[Red_October_7000]

Any Toyota with the 4AGE mated to a manual. That motor is tough as nails (actually all the A series motors are) and you can easily get 35+ MPG from any such car. Also check Geo Prisms, they were once upon a time fitted with that motor (which is easily good for 250,000 miles) as Geo was a joint Chevy/Toyota venture. Perhaps the best car to choose from the very broad lineup of vehicles fitted with the 4AGE and its brothers, is the MR2. It's very light (about 2,100 pounds) very quick, loads of fun to drive, sips gas (can squeeze about 40 MPG from a well-tuned example), is easy to park, is safer in an accident than anything its size (except perhaps the rare and difficult to maintain Fiat X1/9, which was built to meet hypothetical safety standards that never came into being) and many larger cars (most Mazdas) due to its monocoque construction, and has a surprising amount of room in it for such a little car (a long rear trunk, designed to hold two golf bags, and a deep front trunk or "frunk" that can swallow surprising amounts of groceries), plus numerous interior storage places. Only downside at all really is that it's only a two-place roadster, so its out if you need to carry people, but as a commuter/errand car it simply can't be beat from a standpoint of ability to absorb abuse, cost (they run about $500-1,500), fuel economy, and enjoyment of the motoring experience. If you need to carry more people there are infinite combinations of Celicas, Corollas, Coronas, Prizms, and even the odd Nova or two, with the fuel injected A motors. One fellow purposely blew a motor that was of no value (had run some time with no oil by accident and its replacement was waiting in a crate), it took well over five minutes of running above redline with no oil before the motor finally gave up. Oh, and they're non-interferance motors, so will not be ruined by a snapped timing chain.

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

3800 powered GM. I won't get 37 MPG, but it may get 32-33 highway...mid 20s city.

Or are they just too big for you Ben? (never thought I'd say that)

[dirt_cheap_fleetwood]

I hate to say this, but if you want a reliable car that will drive forever, go with a jap car. A friend of my dad had a late 80's Toyota (forget what model, but it was a little thing) that ran for 400,000+ miles. Rusted to hell but it still ran.