Cheap car?

[busypaws]

I'd recomend an Hyundia Accent. 3K for something 02-04 with 80K miles. In my mind the Hyundia and Kia are just as reliable as Toyota and Honda but they don't have the cost premium. Also since they are percieved as the cheap car more are sold without power/air/auto. So you can get one without all the extras that you would just have to remove. That's my vote.

[Ford Man]

Depending on how much money you want to spend and what kind of gas mileage you are looking for. I own a fleet of Escorts, 2-1988's one with 502,000 miles on the original 1.9L 4 speed that has a lifetime average since I started my fuel log of over 43 MPG, one with a 1.9L automatic with a lifetime average of 31.5 MPG, a 1997 station wagon with a 2.0L 5 speed with a lifetime average of over 44 MPG, but about 90% of that is highway trips and I've got a 2002 with a 2.0L automatic that my 18 year old son drives most of the time and he usually gets between 29-32 MPG in mixed driving. If you're interested in an Escort and don't mind SLOW and basic transportation, I'd suggest trying to find a good late '80's or early '90's Escort Pony. No bells and whistles, just a basic car.

[Johnny Mullet]

A Geo Metro would be a good choice for fuel economy, but be prepared to invest some time and money into it to make it right. Just like any other used car, you need to do research before buying.

Geo Metro Buyer's Guide

[justjohn]

Thanks for all the input!

Looks like the accent doesn't get quite the gas mileage, but they do seem cheap. Still keeping the civic in mind with all those votes. Are there any other korean civic equivalents I should be looking at?

Here is the range of my first few offers:

1990 Honda Civic - 150k asking $700
It is a 4 speed manual with around 150,000. It has rust in front of rear wheels and a wrinkle/dent in drivers door. The hatchback door leaks when it rains hard but I suspect that is easily fixable. The baffles in the muffler are rusted out, I think(not loud but rattles some). Uses a quart of oil every1500-2000 as I recall. Light brown color but I don't have a picture. Drove it to north central North Dakota last summer and got 50mpg going 60mph. Typically gets 40-45.

2002 Hyundai Accent - 85k asking $1700
Very clean inside and out, no dents or rust. Averages 30 MPG on the highway. New tires 2008, new battery August 2009. Needs some exhaust work and windshield wiper fluid motor repaired, otherwise runs great.

Thoughts?

[basslover911]

Honestly keep in mind the Focus... I didn't look at it much but its getting me 42mpg highway and 36mpg city STOCK! And its newer so it doesn't have so many things you have to fix down the road.

[justjohn]

Yeah, trying to look at the focus and saturn s series as well, thanks.

[basslover911]

Well I just speak from your perspective because I was there literally 3 months ago (I actually made a thread just like this one). I looked at the accent (which get HORRIBLE gas mileage for some reason), I didn't want all the problems that older cars bring like those old Hondas, I wanted something that also looked "decent".

Now if I had the money I would have gone with a Yaris, but thsoe are like $5k or 6k. So I ended up with the Focus zx3 and its been nothing but GREAT (a lot of aftermarket support as well so easy tuning for mpg). I would have also gotten a TDI but then again those are a little more.

[Bicycle Bob]

I have a friend in Minnesota who buys rust-free Metros in California, etc. but I found one up here. It gets too cold for salt. :-) The very most desireable to my mind is the '93 XFI coupe, but they are all real easy to work on, swap parts, etc. The 96 is bigger and heavier; you could put a later engine in if you really want OBD II in the small body.
For years, I got great value from old Toyotas, and thought 3 cylinders were too odd, but now I think they are great. Only one piston stops at a time, instead of four, and they have a growl all their own.

[Christ]

I like the 120* rotation thing, as well. It makes for a smoother engine, I think (not necessarily more balanced, but smoother power, it seems, even at lower RPM.)

[SentraSE-R]

If you do consider a Focus, get a 2003 or newer. The first year or two they were out, Focuses were absolute dogs for reliability.

Accents are crude compared to Japanese cars. They don't have DFCO, for instance. All the little crudenesses of the Accent add up to very poor mileage results for a subcompact.

I'd avoid used Civics unless you find a super great deal. Most reasonably priced ones have >150,000 miles on them, and you can pick up an Elantra or Echo for a lot less.