Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > EcoModding Central
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 09-17-2009, 03:14 PM   #1 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: portland, OR
Posts: 5
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Best car to start with...

Hello everyone. I have been lurking on the forum lately as I recently took a job that requires 130 miles of commuting each day and I'm fully committed to buying and modding a dedicated commuter car. I will for sure being completing the "lower hanging fruits".. removing mirrors, wheel skirts, underpan, and I am also excited about constructing a nice boat tail.

Anywho.. I am interested in finding out which car is a great place to start. I am a huge fan of hondas as they have excellent motors (in my experience anyways). I see allot of talk about the civic VX but there are not allot of them available for sale. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am cleaning out my garage for work space and will be buying a car in the next two weeks.

Cheers,
Brian

  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 09-17-2009, 03:28 PM   #2 (permalink)
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 11,203

CM400E - '81 Honda CM400E
90 day: 51.49 mpg (US)

Daox's Grey Prius - '04 Toyota Prius
Team Toyota
90 day: 49.53 mpg (US)

Daox's Insight - '00 Honda Insight
90 day: 64.33 mpg (US)

Swarthy - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage DE
Mitsubishi
90 day: 56.69 mpg (US)

Daox's Volt - '13 Chevrolet Volt
Thanks: 2,501
Thanked 2,588 Times in 1,555 Posts
Welcome to the site.

I'd have to suggest a 1st gen Insight. Nothing else comes close to the mileage it can crank out.
__________________
Current project: A better alternator delete
  Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2009, 05:16 PM   #3 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: portland, OR
Posts: 5
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanks for the welcome. I guess I should have also stated that I want to stay in the 2k range in terms of purchase price. Which puts the insight out of my range (besides the fact that I need back seats)
  Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2009, 05:22 PM   #4 (permalink)
eco....something or other
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Colfax, WI
Posts: 724

wood hauler - '91 Ford F-250
Team Pontiac
90 day: 26.69 mpg (US)

Rav - '06 Toyota Rav4 Base
90 day: 26.52 mpg (US)
Thanks: 39
Thanked 67 Times in 50 Posts
What kind of car are you looking for?

Will you need to carry other people? Will you ever need to pull a trailer? Will you need trunk space? How much do you want to spend on parts? I think an O2 sensor for a 98-00 Honda Civic runs like $340!!!!! do some parts cost research before you buy. Just giving some friendly advice.
__________________



1991 F-250:
4.9L, Mazda 5 speed, 4.10 10.25" rear
  Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2009, 06:00 PM   #5 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
chuckm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Monroe, LA
Posts: 308

Exploder - '02 Ford Explorer xlt

Rolla - '02 Toyota Corolla ce
Team Toyota
90 day: 44.43 mpg (US)
Thanks: 11
Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts
IsaacCarlson is asking the right question here; what you need will define what is a good car. I consider my Corolla, currently getting ~45mpg, good. But one of my "needs" was an automatic tranny (my wife has never driven a stick and has no real desire to do so). I'm pretty sure I'd be in the ~50mpg range if I had the manual tranny. Are you mechanically savvy? If so, that greatly increases your possibilities.
When I search the garage for gasoline cars over 45mpg lifetime, I find a wide assortment of vehicles. (And that doesn't include diesels!) Yes, you see a lot of Civics and Metros, but also a fairly broad assortment of others.
You can find a bunch of great mpg machines for ~$2k. You have to do a lot of looking, but they are out there. Craigslist in my area had me drooling over two listings: a civic vtec engine and a miata that I'd love to do a "Jack McCornack" on.
__________________
"Jesus didn't bring 'Natty Lite' to the party. He brought the good stuff."
  Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2009, 06:55 PM   #6 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Madison AL
Posts: 1,123

The Geo - '93 Geo Metro
Team Metro
90 day: 45.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 30
Thanked 40 Times in 37 Posts
2k? Maybe a CRX HF
  Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2009, 07:42 PM   #7 (permalink)
Dartmouth 2010
 
SVOboy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hanover, NH
Posts: 6,447

Vegan Powa! - '91 Honda CRX DX
Team Honda
90 day: 66.52 mpg (US)
Thanks: 92
Thanked 124 Times in 91 Posts
Send a message via AIM to SVOboy Send a message via MSN to SVOboy Send a message via Yahoo to SVOboy
I would say a CRX is one of the best to start with if you're interested in ecomodding it. Low beginning cd but still some easy improvements and a plethora of engine swap options.
  Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2009, 09:56 PM   #8 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Ryland's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 3,903

honda cb125 - '74 Honda CB 125 S1
90 day: 79.71 mpg (US)

green wedge - '81 Commuter Vehicles Inc. Commuti-Car

Blue VX - '93 Honda Civic VX
Thanks: 867
Thanked 434 Times in 354 Posts
move, it will be cheaper, save you time, stress, gas.
you might look at an old VW rabbit 55-60mpg and simple once you figure them out.
I love my civic VX and my CRX HF either of those would be great but with wear and tear I figure I average 16-26 cents per mile depending on the car and I do all of my own work that comes out to $21-33 per day for car ownership... $400-675 per month, just to drive that's $5,000 to $8,000 per year in tires, oil changes, exhaust replacement, spark plugs transmission replacement, drive shaft replacement, air filters, fuel filters, oil filters, brake pads, brake rotors, wiper blades, timing belts, alternator belts.
  Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2009, 10:54 PM   #9 (permalink)
In Lean Burn Mode
 
pgfpro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 1,553

MisFit Talon - '91 Eagle Talon TSi
Team Turbocharged!
90 day: 63.95 mpg (US)

Warlock - '71 Chevy Camaro

Fe Eclipse - '97 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS
Thanks: 1,315
Thanked 602 Times in 391 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by pdxmonkeyboy View Post
Thanks for the welcome. I guess I should have also stated that I want to stay in the 2k range in terms of purchase price. Which puts the insight out of my range (besides the fact that I need back seats)
If you need a back seat I vote for a Honda Civic. You should be able to pick one up for around 2k.
__________________
Pressure Gradient Force
The Positive Side of the Number Line

  Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2009, 11:25 PM   #10 (permalink)
Left Lane Ecodriver
 
RobertSmalls's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA
Posts: 2,257

Prius C - '12 Toyota Prius C
Thanks: 79
Thanked 287 Times in 200 Posts
Your "has rear seats" requirement is directly in conflict with your "dedicated commuter car" statement. The more requirements you drop, the better your MPG. The two-seat CRX is probably the most economical car in your stated price range.

Don't overlook the Toyota Echo, Saturn S-series, Geo Metro, and Mazda Protege/323/3 which may be in your price range.

You're going to be spending >10 hours a week in the car, and like Ryland says, at least $5000/yr on fuel and upkeep. If you see a nicer, lower-mantainence, less thirsty car for $4000-6000, I'd buy it.

Buy this car to drive to work, drive to work to pay for this car.

But seriously, welcome, and I look forward to seeing your mods.

  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread




Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Electric car conversion: Project ForkenSwift MetroMPG Fossil Fuel Free 1056 12-14-2024 01:21 AM
DIY: Push Button Start SVOboy DIY / How-to 20 07-10-2014 10:43 AM
EcoModding for Beginners: Getting great gas mileage. SVOboy EcoModding Central 55 08-21-2012 12:34 AM
How to Build an Electric Car DVDs for sale! bennelson Fossil Fuel Free 52 01-10-2011 02:52 PM
Compressed Air Car 88CRX Fossil Fuel Free 42 10-08-2010 07:34 AM



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com