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

[Gasoline Fumes]

$1000 cars? That's crazy. My two Insights, the CRXFi, and the rust-free '94 Metro cost me $570.

OK, only one of them currently runs. But they all ran when I got them!

[Xist]

My brother likes to use my aluminum tape to fix a drawer in Mom's freezer.

Someday I will pull it, let it defrost, and use Gorilla Tape.

The stuff I put on his lantern reflects great, though!

[Xist]

They listed it for $1,200 three days ago, but the top line in the description is "$600," so hopefully they halved the price in 72 hours.

Of course, "In Living Color" fans know that half of $1,200 is $12.

$600
2004 Honda Civic Hybrid
IT'S A HYBRID
1.3 liter 4 Cylinder
Car is in good shape inside and out
Goes down road just fine
Needs shocks
Tires are good!
Engine light is on - throwing code U0110
Has no stereo but everything else works inside.
Windshield cracked
Battery light is on
Battery DOES NOT charge.
Paint is faded but has a straight body!

I don't know why they wrote "It's a hybrid" in all caps when the hybrid system seems faulty.

There was one in-town, but I believe that it finally sold. It goes down the road just fine, but will the 1.3L engine propel a 2,700-pound car 99 miles uphill?

Do they deliver?

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...2353401407884/

[Xist]

I asked "Will this go up the mountain to Show Low just fine?"

"No...Please read the ad carefully, we have disclosed as much as possible; we are a tow company and acquired this vehicle from the business."

I know they are a tow company and how they obtained the vehicle.

I read the ad.

I don't know why she repeated herself.

The ad doesn't give any reason to believe that it couldn't drive 99 miles, specifically the "Goes down road just fine." part.

I quoted that back to her and apparently she is finished communicating poorly.

Will someone else please try? For $600 it would be worth renting a truck and dolly to bring it home.

I guess that it doesn't matter if it can make the trip if the only way to buy it would be with a truck and trailer, but if they want to sell it they need to answer questions.

I only asked one!

[freebeard]

Flip a coin?

[Stubby79]

"Goes down the road just fine" might simply mean it rolls straight and doesn't try to fall apart.

"Battery does not charge" might be referring to the 12v battery.

These are similar to my insight. If my insight weighed a lot more and had a CVT. Anyway, the parameters for the DC converter to charge the 12v battery are a bit (seemingly) unpredictable. As far as they're concerned, it probably isn't charging at all...so it won't, in their estimation, make a long drive.

If I thought you could handle it, I'd say go for it...Or if you just wanted it for parts...buuuut...I have no faith!

You'll be in over your head...for a 40mpg car...the math for risk vs reward tells me it isn't worth it. Unless you're sleeping with a good mechanic?

I hummed and hawed over one of these just a couple of weeks before finding my insight. Same price. So cheap I could hardly pass on it...glad I did, though I wish I'd picked it up for parts now...

[Xist]

How long would it take to recover my money parting it out?

They also have a regular Insight of the same generation for $1,800.

By the way, their number is (928) 474-2009.

[Stubby79]

Forever, since it's dated and not much in demand. Major components on these are dirt cheap on ebay...don't ask me how I know.

What would be the point of parting it out, for you, other than money? You'd be better off getting a second job. You'd make more in less time with less effort.

What do you want it for? To have the "hybrid" badge on you car? 40ish MPG is only like 5MPGs better than my Echo...some mild mods and I'd be there. No temperamental, aged hybrid system to throw money at. And a temperamental, first-gen CVT.

The latter of those two is what was wrong with the one I hummed and hawed over. The 40mpgs made it pointless, to me.

Hey, man, I get it. I have a...chubby...for anything super economical. This car is almost that...but not quite.

Anyway, if you have the space, time, tools and at least moderate level of mechanical skill, and this is the right car for you, by all means, go for it...we'll support ya as best we can...as long as our patience holds out...

OTOH, I personally don't want anything to do with trying to walk someone through playing with high-voltage, essentially unlimited current circuits...that stuff will snuff someone with half-assed skills and precautions out in a heart-beat. You'd have to convince me that's not you, first.

So...sell me on your reasons why you want it, and on your skill level...or ignore my recommendations/view and chase your dreams regardless. I'm good either way.

[Xist]

Didn't I mention JR getting defeated by an HCH? He has far more skills and tools than I do, as well as friends with skills and tools. He isn't a mechanic, but he makes a living fixing up cars.

Not necessarily curbstoning them. Probably more the videos.

He's a shadetree mechanic and he plays one on TV?

The parts look nice.

Anyway:

[freebeard]

I saw my son buy a new (~$10) belt at Target two years in a row so I took him to the OCF and bough him a ($30) handmade belt in a booth on the infinite loop. It was still going strong when I checked a decade later. I have two that I trade off as they stretch and get thinner.

My EDC includes an Opinel I bought in ~1970.

https://www.quickcrop.co.uk/site/upl...knife-opin.jpg