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

[mwilliamshs]

1993 Festiva $1,400 1993 Ford Festiva L

[mwilliamshs]

Two ford festivas

92 manual
runs great but with low compression
will need rebuild as piston rings are worn.
Body is great with just some very small dents
Interior is clean all intact
Tires are good
240k with motor rebuild about 40k ago

93 manual
not running, parts car 99% intact.
Has brand new transmission
Has parts to replace piston rings
Body is straight, pinned hood with custom grill
Interior Is clean and all intact
Tires are worn
255k new tranny 50k ago

Well maintained by single owner for last 10 years
Motivated seller, need gone asap

$950 OBO

[mwilliamshs]

2001 Suzuki Swift

2001 Suzuki Swift $1,400

[elhigh]

Originally Posted by mwilliamshs

My consideration for the diesel Rabbits is two-fold: 35+ mpg and burning waste motor oil means driving for CHEAP

35+ mpg is terrible on one of those, you must have been flogging it hard.

Granted, if you wanted to get anywhere on the same day as you started, you did have to flog it. I think PopSci quoted the power as about 55hp, something modest (very modest) like that.

[elhigh]

"Needs a new transmission," but aside from that it's an awfully nice car for $1400.
2004 Honda Civic Hybrid

[mwilliamshs]

Originally Posted by elhigh

35+ mpg is terrible on one of those, you must have been flogging it hard...

Was citing their qualification for this thread (>35 mpg) not actual results which I'm certain could top 50 easily in capable hands.

There were two naturally-aspirated diesels in the early rabbits, a 1.5L and a 1.6L with power ratings from 50 to 54 hp. A turbo 1.6 boosted that (pun intended) to 68.

[BabyDiesel]

Around the Raleigh area - $1500 Honda Insight, 2003, 200,000 miles

2003 Honda Insight Hybrid-For parts or repair 3 cyl-5 speed manual

[Xist]

Some guy just offered me a thousand dollars for my car. What was I supposed to do with a thousand dollars and no car? Had he offered it for the Forester, I would have negotiated. I just started taking apart the car to replace the head gasket, but the one that has been reliable, fun and economical? I ended that conversation immediately!

I got on Craigslist. I was surprised to see drivable Civics for under two thousand dollars, especially this one: 1999 Honda Civic

I have this great Honda Civic is a very reliable and will not last long at this price call me today at

Very reliable. It has a number on the windshield, so this is from an auction. That is all that you can really tell. If I did not have my money tied up in Bacon, I would look into it!

I hope that someone calls, I want to know more!

[OBD1Kenobi]

MMMMMM.........Bacon

[cosmic_kid]

Bid-2-Buy.com Online Auctions
Auction for a 2001 Honda Insight, 182809 miles. Bid is at $1000, probably go up plus taxes/fees.