Efficient, cheap beaters! Used car ads: 35 mpg highway or more for $1500 or less
 

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1415981979

We often get people signing up on the forum saying they're looking for a cheap, economical beater. The purpose of this thread is to go beyond the hypothetical, and post actual ads of cheap, efficient cars. Something you'd actually consider getting.

Cars like Old Mech's $300 1992 Nissan Sentra (~38 mpg in actual use), or Daox's $1200 1999 Chevy Metro .

When I started looking for a winter beater to give the Firefly a break from the annual salt bath in eastern Ontario, I found a fair number of diamonds in the rough out there. And even though I already picked up a 2007 Civic, I still find myself looking at the ads once in a while, just to see what's available.

Do you ever browse your local ads? Post the candidates here.

Posting guidelines:

1) $1500 or under asking price
2) something you'd seriously consider looking at/buying
3) 35 mpg US EPA highway rating or better (yes, our Euro friends can laugh at this)
4) list the car's EPA ratings ---> search EPA ratings here
5) post a link to the ad
6) copy the pertinent details from the ad into your post (for posterity, because the actual ad itself is going to expire/disappear)

BONUS POINTS for posting a photo.

UPDATE: View a SUMMARY of the results so far. See post #220 for a round-up. Below are pics from some of the actual ads.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1426700925



.

$900 -- 1998 Suzuki Swift - 1.3L, 5-speed with 60,000 km (~40k mi.)
 

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1415979991

EPA: 31 city / 38 hwy / 34 combined
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find....n=sbs&id=15724

The ad's in French, but the main points are:

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-autos-camions...ationFlag=true

Actually, I've been watching this car - it was originally listed for around $2k a month or so ago. But even with those super low miles, I wouldn't pay $2k for one of these that has already had underbody rust issues. But at a $900 asking price, it's tempting.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1415981023

1992 toyota tercel

$1500 - 1992 Toyota Tercel
- 4spd manual
- 164k miles
- timing belt and clutch replaced this summer

Ooo! 1500 -- just squeaked in under the wire. 4-speed manual!

2000 Toyota Echo 5-speed for $1000
 

I will see your $1500 Tercel and raise you a 2000 Echo for $1000

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1415982262

EPA: 29 city / 37 hwy / 32 combined - Compare Side-by-Side

2000 Toyota Echo Sedan | cars & trucks | Ottawa | Kijiji

2000 HONDA INSIGHT HYBRID

Needs an engine but tbh, you can find used engines on IC or out on the web for right around 150-300$.

EPA: 49 city / 61 hwy / 53 combined

1994 honda civic hatchbach 5 speed - $1150

190000 miles

http://images.craigslist.org/00t0t_5...JT_600x450.jpg

Edit:
Forgot the EPA ratings! They don't say if it has the 1.5 or 1.6, but one of the pics shows a decal reading LX or EX. The EPA page doesn't mention trim levels or body styles.
1.5 liter
29/36 (32)
33/41 (36)
35/41 (38)
1.6 liter
25/32 (28)

And in NH, that would be relatively rust-free, no?

Then again, look at the stonking big snow tire on the front wheel...

The title is not needed?

Humm... You know, skimming through the last couple of days of the local Craigslist, there is NOTHING I would consider even close to an economy car for under $1500. Lots of '80s & '90s Ford, Chevy, & Dodge pickups, some large cars from the same era...

But then there's this: And an '84 Cadillac Eldorado, '79 T-bird, '53 Buick, '79 AMC Pacer...

PS: I didn't really mean for the video link to get posted as a link.