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

[hayden55]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Honestly, I'm not shopping...



$1k asking price for 368k kms = 229k mi

Wonder what's up with the AC - it seems to be a common busted item on this generation of Civic.

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/...-is/1551035321

Hondarust included! (I've actually seen a couple of this generation of Civic with the rear rockers completely blown open with rust.)

I have a soft spot for this gen Civic. It's the same year & trim that I had - and that car was the most "grown-up/normal" car I've ever owned.

But honestly, I'm not shopping (though I still haven't cancelled my email alert). Just posting this for entertainment value. As I said before, cheap Mirages mean no more winter beater roulette for me.

Seems like on the bulletproof japanese cars the only thing that goes out is: starters, alternators, and AC pumps. Maybe denso slacked off that decade.

[Piotrsko]

What I've seen: alternator brushes last about 150k miles but that's related to how much power they use recharging the battery trying to start them after grinding on the starter for like 5 minutes. Most of the A/C failures were low freon, just 1 failed mag clutch. A/c system is full of lube oil.

Everything else gets replaced because the car won't work.

[Xist]

Eric!
https://youtu.be/Fbce8m2KykU

[Xist]

I was trying to write notes when I received the notification and now I need to leave to see my one client. It looks like there is damage above each rear wheel. The driver's side has unpainted bondo. It looks like there is a dent on the passenger's. There are other scraps and scuffs, but honestly, this looks better than my Civic--and my Accord.

I am not a fan of aftermarket wheels, but these don't look bad, although they seem idiotic with the driving conditions out here.

What is going on under the hood?!

It is missing the resonator, it is wired for an amplifier, the exhaust manifold is cracked, and what is that big red hose by the firewall?

The original picture is slightly larger, but not enough for me to do anything about it.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...0667112144872/

[Xist]

My CarFax says that it had 262,115 miles on 01/08/2015.

[Xist]

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...5504582886756/

[MetroMPG]

I saw an ad for a Mirage the same year and trim as mine (that's my pic above), so, 2014 top trim 5-speed.

200k kms on it = 124k miles.

The bad: dents on the passenger side. The good: winter & summer tires/wheels, owner claimed to have followed the maintenance book, oil changes every 10k kms = 6k mi.

$1500 asking price!

It sold before the day was done. Which is no surprise - that's one of the lowest prices I've seen for one of these.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Xist

Audi All-road for sale! What could possibly go wrong?!

How tempted were you? You would have had one of the most stylish, unreliable $1500 cars here!

[Fat Charlie]

It'd look classier torn to pieces in front of his place than the usual Honda or Subaru.

[MetroMPG]

I remember reading an olden days car magazine article that argued a guy without a lot of money would do better to get one nice suit and a crappy but desirable marque. The message being: you may have to push start your clapped out Maserati, but you'll be the picture of style doing it.