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

[nemo]

Driven 20,000 miles. The rest of the time it was pushed.

[MetroMPG]

Friends of mine own a used car lot... and this is currently on their lot!

2008 5-speed with 255k kms = 158k miles. Accident-free. Asking $995 as-is [not mechanically inspected, which is needed in Ontario for the new owner to get plates].



They get many of their cars from the local new car dealers -- usually trade-ins that are older or have higher kms. This is one of those.


It's the trim with power windows & locks, so maybe also has AC and cruise? I dunno my Fits.

They say it drives fine - they've been using it as their errand car for a few weeks.

But I just said to someone yesterday: I have to start getting rid of cars. Not buying more! Far too many projects.

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Friends of mine own a used car lot... and this is currently on their lot!

2008 5-speed with 255k kms = 158k miles. Accident-free. Asking $995 as-is [not mechanically inspected, which is needed in Ontario for the new owner to get plates].



They get many of their cars from the local new car dealers -- usually trade-ins that are older or have higher kms. This is one of those.


It's the trim with power windows & locks, so maybe also has AC and cruise? I dunno my Fits.

They say it drives fine - they've been using it as their errand car for a few weeks.

But I just said to someone yesterday: I have to start getting rid of cars. Not buying more! Far too many projects.

In the US there are two Fit trims. The Sport trim (off the top of my head) gets cruise control, 15" wheels (vs 14), fog lights, and a rear spoiler. I don't keep an updated fuel log but my partner consistently gets low 40's in winter and high 40's in summer. Some trips are in excess or 50. It has the aerodynamics of a brick and short gearing, but it's light and has as extremely efficient engine. They're also absurdly reliable and regularly go 300k+ miles with virtually zero maintenance, other than perhaps the occasional coil pack. Low hanging fruit would be putting an Insight or Civic hybrid gearbox in it, or maybe just 5th gear or the final drive from these.

[MetroMPG]

I think we had a basic, no AC, wind-up-windows trim in Canada. So 3 levels.

If I did get it, it would just be to use for as a winter beater for a season, then tidy up and sell for a wee profit. It'd be easy to sell this for ~$2k, at least, with a current provincial mechanical inspection.

I didn't know about the 5th gear swap - plug 'n' play? That'd be fantastic.

What do you know about these cars spitting spark plugs out of the head, damaging the threads in the process? I've seen more than a couple of ads over the past few years where the car only has 3 plugs still in it.

[Xist]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

But I just said to someone yesterday: I have to start getting rid of cars. Not buying more! Far too many projects.

For some reason Mom insists that I have four cars. No, I have three, we have four, and I don't have any idea where I could put a fifth, even temporarily.

When I bought my Camry I committed to selling my Accord and since things are going well with my girlfriend, assuming she doesn't hit an elk in the next hour, I need to sell my Civic.

She is a professor in Idaho and owns her own house. The local school district called me back about a full-time job opening. Even if I could maintain my caseload and work there I doubt that it would compare with what she earns.

I swear she works less than me as it is!

Anyway, I haven't turned off notifications for cars yet. There is an $1,100 Accord in Payson and a $600 one with nice rims n Phoenix.

That one probably already sold.

[MetroMPG]

Not turning off alerts when you KNOW you shouldn't be car shopping is a sign of weakness, I think. I am guilty!

[Xist]

Is this being an ecomodder or just a car guy?

[MetroMPG]

Is "car hoarder" an option?

I only buy the eco cars, but I often look at ads for all kinds of fuel hogs.

--

Speaking of fuel hogs, I just bought that Fit. $800 + tax!

That's the first time I've ever bought I car I haven't laid eyes on, never mind test-driven. It's 200 km away, and I'm taking my friends' word that it's a fine little beater.

Main issues: AC doesn't work [don't care] and the driver's side rear wheel arch is pretty crusty, but he says it would pass inspection:





I'm not going to pick it up for a few weeks. I'll start a thread when I do. Winter beater 2021/22!

[Gasoline Fumes]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

I have to start getting rid of cars. Not buying more! Far too many projects.

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

I just bought that Fit.

I'm really glad you came to the only reasonable conclusion!

[Xist]

I promised my girlfriend that I would make room in the garage for my Accord, but I just didn't have the time, so I moved the Camries, parked the Accord sideways in front of the garage, blocked it in with the Camries, and my girlfriend parked on the new gravel next to the driveway.

Clearly I had room for a $1,000 Accord!

Mom's first words were that she was going to punch me. She parked her car blocking two-thirds of the sidewalk, was furious when I moved it forward, and when she insisted on going to Church (I had not attended in-person since last March), I had my girlfriend get her vehicle ready, but Mom insisted on taking her car.

I raced Mom back, parked in her spot, opened the hatch, and started loading my girlfriend's stuff. My girlfriend said that Mom would be furious and would yell at me, but apparently Mom didn't want to give me the satisfaction.

Well, time to actually work on a car! My genuine Toyota gas cap arrived in the mail!