WTB your fuel miser! <$2,000

[uRabbit]

My wife and I may be buying a home, changing my commute from 0 miles to ~35 one-way. Our Focus just isn't efficient enough for that commute.

Mainly looking at Metros and Civics, but I will entertain other vehicles. Manual transmission is a must. I am located in Renton, WA; willing to travel a couple hours.

Thank you!

edit: I am expanding my horizons. Basically, anything that will get me over 40 MPG on the highway. I am including Volkswagen diesels in my search, especially the Caddy pickup.

[HydroJim]

Glad you're looking for an efficient ride. I can't help you get one, but I can help you with the process.

The metros and civics are both great cars but in your price range, I think you're much better off getting a metro. Quality civics are just hard to find under $2000.

Lucky for you, Rust should not be an issue up where you live since they don't use road salt in the winter. Being from Cleveland, I hate you for that.

now, go to geometroforum.com and read up about geos. there is a list of buyer tips and things to look out for and there may even be someone with a car in your area. It's a great community as is ecomodder.

In your area, there is a guy by the name of Geo Jeff. I'd avoid his metros and his services.

Now, you should contact ecomodder forum member War Wagon. He's from across the border in vancouver but he always has nice looking economy cars for sale.

Let me know if you have any more questions and good luck in your search.

[Frank Lee]

A FOCUS isn't economical enough??? You need an electric motorcycle then.

[War_Wagon]

So HydroJim, did you want your promo money in cash or cheque? ha ha. And Frank Lee is totally right, it's one thing if you needed a second car because there were now two commuters, or if you were going to sell your current one and buy a much cheaper car to get rid of a car payment etc, but if you are keeping the Focus and want another car just to save more money on gas, then you really need to crunch the numbers on how much fuel you'd actually be saving.

Your Focus will yield improvements similar to just about any small car you could get under $2000 just by adjusting your driving habits, and it's not a bad starting point at all. So you'd have to figure out what a few MPG saved here or there would save you in a month, and then figure out how long that would take to pay for the $2000 car, the additional maintenance, insurance, etc. A Metro would offer a bump in MPG right out of the box over a Focus, but something like a Civic or Tercel I don't think you'd notice much of a difference. There are exceptions of course, Civic VX, CRX HF etc, but finding a decent one of those in your price range is unlikely. A first gen Insight with a dead IMA pack would work too, but again, good luck with finding one that cheap.

So for $2000, a car that would do something you couldn't do with your Focus? My opinion is it'd pretty much have to be a Metro if you don't want a project car or a total beater. There are lots of good starting points for good FE cars out there for $2000 or less, but not a lot that are significantly better than what you already have. As for Metros, I only have one left, and it ain't worth crossing the border for ha ha. I stopped saving those things a while back, I always seem to have bad luck with them! Good luck in your search.

[uRabbit]

Thanks for the replies! I will check out our northerly neighbour.

I currently practice just about every behaviour modification I know that I have learned from CleanMPG, for the past 2.5 years. Top tank on Focus was 42; averaging 35 (dropped from 36 when we moved from Boise, ID to Renton, WA). I do not P&G - I cannot seem to perform it without being dangerously harassed by other drivers on the road, and I always have the wife and kiddo in there. Maybe I will give P&G another try when it is just me, but it just seems so dramatic when people almost run you off the road for it.

Also, at nights I cannot switch off the ICE in our Focus, because the headlights turn off (manually lights, no auto running lights). So I have to perform ICE-On.

Yes, I think a Metro would be a wonderful addition. And if I pay ~$1,500, it will take roughly two years to pay for itself in gas savings, I suppose. However, the wife will be home schooling our kiddo, and the little one is starting ballet this coming year as well. Plus they like to get out and explore. And that was originally her car anyway - great story of how she bought it, 9 months pregnant, while I was away in the Army. Haha!

Edit: by the way, why avoid Geo Jeff? I have my suspicions, but I'd like to hear.

[HydroJim]

Originally Posted by uRabbit

Edit: by the way, why avoid Geo Jeff? I have my suspicions, but I'd like to hear.

Jeff's Geo Metro - Jeffs Geo Metro Welcome Page

It's nothing but a bunch of overpriced mumbo jumbo. Reading the website shows the guy can't write and he's crazy. All his expensive services are bull****.

Example: His $300 lightweight flywheel is a $50 G13 flywheel

don't buy any of his cars. I've heard nothing but bad things.

[radioranger]

Well happil my 98 Escort has been averages 41 + mpg , with more that a few 50 mpg highway runs, just switched to the redline MTL and lost a bit but not sure how much, a bit more drag than the atf and also the tranny is so much quieter I'm going faster ! seems a bad input bearing can save gas since you coast more often to baby it . and restrict the torgue inpput.

[War_Wagon]

Whoa whoa whoa...I just looked at that Jeff guys site - $4000 for a Metro with a "refurbished" drivetrain, body damage and cheap seat covers? And he sells them?? I am totally living on the wrong side of the border, that thing would be $400 up here!

[uRabbit]

Originally Posted by radioranger

Well happil my 98 Escort has been averages 41 + mpg , with more that a few 50 mpg highway runs, just switched to the redline MTL and lost a bit but not sure how much, a bit more drag than the atf and also the tranny is so much quieter I'm going faster ! seems a bad input bearing can save gas since you coast more often to baby it . and restrict the torgue inpput.

In your Escort, eh? I have considered getting another Ford, but haven't seen many as fuel efficient as current gens.

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Also, I am adding diesel Volkswagens to my search, including the Caddy pickup. Having a pickup would be great when we buy a house (hauling in appliances and all).

[UltArc]

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...uck-25485.html