Quote:
Originally Posted by sirhc
As much as I'd love a metro that gets 60mpg, I really want something that offers a significant level of crash protection. I don't want to turn this into a big vs. small car argument, but you can't get around physics. So, where do I find the perfect balance between efficiency (that 60mpg metro) and safety (my wife’s huge land cruiser)?
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Not really American (unless you count South America, many VWs are built in Brasil) but I feel safe in my TDI Golf (or Jetta). Is is bigger, heavier, more comfortable and more solidly built than a Metro. Lotsa airbags all around. Your commute sounds ideal for a diesel. With some hypermiling and a coolant heater you should be able to come close to 60 mpg at those speeds. TDI drivers are often big fans of these cars because they are powerful and fun to drive and very efficient at the same time. In your price range you will want an older one. But the TDI diesel often runs to 300 thousand miles with proper maintenance. The newest ones have more pollution control equipment equipment and drink more fuel and may have more costly upkeep anyway.