best gas miser for under $10k?
 

I own a small business that does landscaping with native plants and natural areas restoration. With our growing crew we're finding a need for a second vehicle in addition to our small truck. So now I'm looking for a small "sales vehicle" that is very fuel efficient but won't cost us too much.

I am hoping to get something used and maybe even pay cash for it, thus my $10k price limit, but for a good value I could spend more and go with financing. We're looking for a small wagon or hatch back. Basically we need a vehicle that will carry two people and cargo, or 4 adults comfortably. I would like it to get in the neighborhood of 40mpg on the highway stock (then we'll see if we can do better with mods and hypermiling training for my staff).

Any thoughts? I really like the idea of the VW TDI models, but they seem expensive, and really hard to find.

Any Civic, Corolla, Focus, Yaris, Fit or other small car should get you upper 30s to lower 40s if you drive nicely. You can also find a used Prius out there for under $10k, and that'll get you 50 mpg if you drive nicely.

The first generation Scion xB has more headroom and legroom in front and back than most mid-size cars, and it's a foot shorter than a previous generation Civic. I get >40 mpg highway driving consistently if I keep the speed down.

Pontiac Vibe or Toyota Matrix. Several on here getting more than 40mpg.

You can get just about any car, even a first-generation Insight, for under $10k. However, if you need four seats and some cargo space, the Prius offers the best mileage. Plus, people recognize it as a "green" vehicle, which seems appropriate considering the nature of your business.

A used Mazda5 would fit the price, is available in stick or auto, and can carry 2/3/4/5/6 adults depending on cargo configuration needed. Small, yet lots of room. EPA 19/25 with 2.3L I-4 and 5MT. No idea about hypermiling performance, but I'm sure easy cruising at 55-60 MPH would yield well above 25 MPG - probably in the mid to high 30's range judging by my Mazda MPV (3.0L V6 and 5AT), which will cruise at 50 MPH getting 32 MPG.

40 highway stock, in a wagon-type vehicle? You'd have to already be hypermiling to achieve that in anything that size outside of diesel.

I am fond of Ebay "Completed" listings as these show what people have paid. Using your criteria:

$10,450 - 2006 Prius, 88,500 mi
$10,400 - 2004 Prius, 68,787 mi
$10,350 - 2007 Prius, 102,068 mi
$10,000 - 2006 Prius, 115,000 mi

This is a hatchback that seats up to five or the rear seats fold down:

96 ft{3} - passenger
16 ft{3} - luggage

It is not rated for towing but many of us have bought and installed receivers and I use it with a folding trailer for oversized loads.

2,932 lbs - curb weight
3,795 lbs - gross weight

To get less than 40 MPG on the highway, you have to drive faster than 75 mph (standard day, inflated tires, e.t.c.)

Bob Wilson

I might have an option to barter for a 2003 Prius (battery pack replaced in 2007), but do the rear seats in the 1st generation cars fold down or come out so it can act like a hatchback?

A Toyota Yaris hatchback seems like it would fit your needs almost perfectly if you added a trailer hitch, altho get one with the 5 speed because the automatic is pretty much the only thing people have had issues with and it kills your mileage, but the Yaris is nice because when you fold down the rear seat it's hard plastic back there instead of carpet and it folds down pretty flat, there are a few of the hatch backs that are 4 door vehicles as well, but they seem a bit rare.

Otherwise if you are ok with a vehicle that is a bit older, check out the Saturn Station Wagon, you get alot of space in the back, 4 doors and there is one for sale in Madison for $2,000 with an EPA rating of 34mpg 2000 Saturn Wagon SW2
I like to compare vehicles off the EPA numbers instead of off "joe over there gets 60mpg with his car" because you are going to be using this vehicle to haul people and stuff and people who are not slow careful drivers will most likely end up driving it as well so they will end up getting closer to the EPA mileage.

You can also look at the EPA's web site and use their Power Search to put in details about what kind of vehicle you need then compare them or sort them based on the MPG that they get.

Yes and no.

The NHW11 (2001-03) is a sedan body and there is an opening behind the rear seat:

http://hiwaay.net/~bzwilson/prius/pri_batt_730.jpg

http://hiwaay.net/~bzwilson/prius/pri_batt_750.jpg

That is where the traction battery is located, a significant hump. The rear seat back is normally released by two bolts at the bottom and then lifted up. In Europe and Japan, they had a folding rear seat option but I've not been able to find one in North America.

Bob Wilson

GoodOak -

I think any compact wagon would fit the bill. The Vibe/Matrix has great "fold down rear seats" cargo ergonomics.

For compact mini-wagons, my minimum cargo capacity is 50 cubic feet. For family sized wagons, my minimum is 70 cubic feet. The Chevy Malibu Maxx is a family sized wagon, but is classified as "hatchback" on Autotrader.

CarloSW2

You may be able to find a TDI Golf 4 Door or Jetta Wagon for under $10K. The diesel engines last for ever.

As long as you change the timing belt every 80,000 miles and install it correctly so it doesn't destroy the injector pump, there is a reason why used VW TDI engines cost as much as they do and why you can hardly give away other car engines.

Lots of good suggestions so far, I like the Fit, the Matrix/Vibe, and the Focus wagon. The Focus would be the cheapest of the three, get a 5 speed and enjoy the fact that being a domestic the Focus has already taken the biggest hit in depreciation, so you don't have to spend all of your $10k to get a nice one.

Fit. It also actually pleasant to drive, compared to some others that have been nominated.

x2 on the VW TDI. You can get a little larger car and still be in the upper 40's pretty easy! Best bang for the buck if you dont get a TDI IMHO is a 92-96 Toyota Camry LE. Cheap, easy to maintain, 30+mpg, fits 4 adults if needed, a huge trunk, and you still have something comfortable with long life!

I got 42 mpg hypermiling an automatic Yaris, so the stick should get what you're looking for. One note though: I'm not particularly long-legged and I couldn't get the driver's seat back far enough for a 100% comfortable driving position, and with the seat back all the way, only kids could sit in the back.

Thanks everyone for this thread - I *JUST* had a friend ask about cars, and their budget is 8-10k!

Thanks for all the input guys. After a lot of reserach I think I have got my heart set on the Jetta Wagon diesel. Mid-sized cargo capacity with better than sub-compact fuel economy! I just wish I could find a used one!

From what I can find on AutoTrader (and CarSoup), not a single one available within a 100 mile radius of here. Does anyone know of other good sources for reseaching used cars? I might have to pony up for a new one :-/

You can always go for 2k mile radius. Then cross check and see if there are any cheap plane tickets to where the decent cars are.

Also, auto trader is lame. Search tempest is where it's at. :)

Found 2 in a 300 mile radius... not sure if its worth a trip to St. Louis or Indianapolis. Buying a car site-unseen is a bit more of a risk than I would like to take! I would feel a lot more comfortable if there were 2 or 3 in a single metro area, yeah even if it was a flight there and epic drive back.

The nice thing about a 100 mile radius is that its a distance I could easily ride my bike in a single day.

I bought my girlfriend a 2006 chevy cobalt ls 4 door sedan back in 09 for $7000 with 35K miles on it. I would look into getting 1. It will fit perfectly for what you want. I bought it at a dealership to and could have gotten 1 cheaper from a private owner. The one I bought my lady is an auto. I changed to all synthetic fluids and put K&N intake and exhaust on it. So total cost around $7700. This is well below your 10K mark with some extra money you could put signs on the car or make it how you want for your business. On the freeway with those mods she consistently gets 44 MPG with ac on and going 68 MPH. in the city if she babies it she gets 30 MPG. They are great cars. They are very reliable and insurance is cheap. They don`t require much service to keep them on the road.

It might be worth the cost of the flight to pick one up out west, just because the body will be in better shape. I have a 21-year-old Honda with nary a fleck of structural rust.

Try Ebay and as I mentioned before, use the 'completed' listings to get an idea of prices. Look at the ones found a dealers and you're likely to be OK and possibly get a 30 day warranty. Just setup an Ebay alert and you'll get a notice when one comes available.

You might also want to look at the Golf diesels. A little smaller than the wagon, they have a rear hatch and might meet your needs. Sorry the Prius doesn't fit your needs but you've got options.

GOOD LUCK!
Bob Wilson

here is an ebay search to get you started
http://motors.shop.ebay.com/Cars-Tru...&_udhi=9%2C999

When you're looking for something rare and specific, you'll need to increase your search radius and be willing to wait for a good example to come along. It's worth it.

Any S series Saturn would be a good choice I have gotten over 40 in an sw2 and my current sc1.

Get an 80's VW diesel
I am getting almost 50 mpg in mine and I have put on 8000 miles on it so far. I could have gotten a front yard full for 10 grand.

I would second the idea of a ford focus wagon. They're really cheap and great on fuel 06-07 are rated 37mpg on freeway. Bought a nice 06 with 60k on odo for 5k$.

Tons of cargo space and you can comfortably fit 5 person.

I agree w Varn! Why do you want to spend that much $$$$$$$$$$$$$ ? My total fleet of diesel Suburban, 62mpg CRX, Isuzu Diesel powered '75 Monza fastback, plus 4 motorcycles are way below 10K. I realize where you live is salt country, plus older VW's mostly unseen in mid America; but my choice would be an "82-84 Quantum Diesel wagon. A mint one might be 4,ooo. Its roughly the size of an older Volvo wagon... the driver can have the seat set for a 6,5" person, w a 6,5" person behind in total comfort... my low in combined city/highway daily was 46mpg.. got 53-57mpg on any trips (50-55mph)... it can tow bolt together trailers..still got 32mpg...a twin sized mattress fits perfectly... large enough to get some respect/crash protection... generous space on sides for your advertising... and low tech enough that when the economics collapse; it can still run on almost anything!

Buy my xB! :)

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...mpg-17281.html

I hardly ever log in here any more but I got the email and I'm in the market for a new car; I'm getting right shoulder surgery and I'm going to need an auto. I love the idea of a TDI; I heard they can easily burn 10% used motor oil in a tank of diesel. Can you get these for under $5k?

Great suggestions, sorry if this is a hijack.

FWIW I live in the DC area and I buy exclusively from craigslist.

My TDI
 

Here's 2 cents about my VW current/recent experiences:

1. That timing belt is critical. If you buy a Jetta/Golf and they can't show you a receipt where the belt, belt tensoner, and idler pulley were all replaced then spend the money & do it again. Even if it costs $6-800.00. Much cheaper than hunting down a serviceable motor when something breaks. Spoken from sad personal experience....
2. I own and drive a 2002 manual trans Jetta. My daily commute is primarily rural where anything over 60mph is unusual. Two lanes mostly where every opportunity to pass must be taken. So, while I'm not SpeedRacer, I'm not Granny either. The car always, always gets 45+ mpg. And when I keep my foot out of it I can get it up into the low 60's.
3. The car has 256000 miles on it. It doesn't show. And before the above referenced sad day, the original engine was strong, willing and used about 1 quart of oil between 6-7000 mile changes. I was looking forward to bragging about the 300K motor, but....
3. VW built a funky automatic transmission for the Golf/Jetta, called 01M. High mileage cars can be expected to have trans problems that'll set you back at least $2500. My wife drives an 01 TDI Jetta automatic so, again, I'm speaking from experience. But we were warned so it wasn't a surprise. If memory serves they put it in 99.5 to 03 cars.
4. I know of 2 sites that cater to the TDI enthusiast. Both can teach you something and there are "Cars for Sale" pages that might help you find a car. www tdiclub com and www myturbodiesel com. Some members have posted useful troubleshooting & how-to documents.
5. I really like my car. Even looking for another for my son. Stickshift though....

Good luck shopping.