Which car would you get?

[UltArc]

Originally Posted by renault_megane_dci

trying to hijack th thread :

which car should you favor for best FE :

a car that is light

a car that is aerodinamically efficient

or a car with an efficient small engine ?

(in this exercise you are not allowed to swap the engine later on)

I would not suggest a Fiat...all the problems of a new car, mixed with that ofna chrysler...bad genes, from my experience.

I want to hear about what he gets, if its none of these, I would expect a bargain or something we didn't realize.

[niky]

I believe the old Aveo is proof positive that light and small-engined don't always mean good FE. Avoid like the plague, especially with an automatic.

I'd pick a car with good EPA city mileage. Because you can fix highway mileage by simply, you know, driving a little slower... Or aeromodding.

[UltArc]

My two favorite cars right now for everyday Joes are both available for them.

If you want fun first, then eco -2011+ Ford Mustang.
If you are more eco conscious - Honda CRZ

One is FR, the other FF. Both have a manual and auto/cvt transmission available. Option under 16, under 15, even as low as 11!

But thats me. Plus, huge amounts of after market for each. These two are my favorites right now, lol, as you might able to tell from my excitement.

[Xist]

Honestly, I wish that I could afford a Prius, but when I really drive, I do hills, with some big ones. Coasting all of the way down (and possibly back up) in neutral would be more efficient, but I can accelerate 50 MPH doing that. If I could DFCO, at least I would not use any fuel going down, but my car does not do that.

It really does come down to what he would do with the car. Is he also in high school?

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Xist

Honestly, I wish that I could afford a Prius, but when I really drive, I do hills, with some big ones.

I might be one of the few Prius-haters here

Altough its aerodynamics are good, I'll always prefer a Diesel, such as the VW Golf/Rabbit/Jetta, over a hybrid.

[mechman600]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

I might be one of the few Prius-haters here

Altough its aerodynamics are good, I'll always prefer a Diesel, such as the VW Golf/Rabbit/Jetta, over a hybrid.

I will agree that Priuses are ugly ugly, but I can understand why they are shaped the way they are. But I do admire the technology underneath the ugliness. It is quite amazing what they can achieve.

[Xist]

I do not doubt that a TDI is more fun to drive than a hybrid, but it seems like the Toyota-owning experience is generally more pleasant than that of a Volkswagon.

I mentioned the one specific reason that I want a hybrid: Going down big hills.

How would a TDI help with that?

[UltArc]

Lease a VW, buy a Toyota lol.

[ChazInMT]

I was all lustin after diesels till I did the math, they cost 7 thousand more, and I'd need to get 45 MPG to Equal the fuel cost of my 37 MPG car just due to the more expensive diesel fuel. For a VW even after 60,000 miles the fuel cost would be about $5,500 dollars for a gas engine @ 33mpg, I mean really, break even would never happen.

I love the idea of diesels, but the premium price for the engine and fuel, and from a few folks in the Ecomodder forum who have said repair costs and problems associated with diesels can't be over stated, pretty much leave me wanting to avoid anything that would have me reaching for the green fuel handle pump.

[Xist]

According to Do Diesel Cars And Trucks Save You Money? Not Always - Forbes, diesel vehicles generally cost more, but there are exceptions, two Mercedes luxury vehicles, "the diesel versions of the Audi A3, the BMW X5, the Ford F-350, and the Volkswagen Touareg. The other Mercedes diesels on the list are the E-Class, the M-Class and the R-Class."

They also say that new diesels are cleaner than gasoline engines. I thought that I read a recent post here stating otherwise.

I only "know" what I find when looking into ideas that I had not considered. Meanwhile, I have a budget consisting of Monopoly money.