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

[M_a_t_t]

It sounds like there is a problem with the connector on the fuel pump. So you could fix it with a new pump or you might be able to just skip the connector by adding a crimp connector for the broke pin.

The tank is held in by like 4 14 mm (15?) bolts. I didn't undo the lines as I had already cut the lines running from the front to back of the car. The filler neck has 2 connections. A vent and the larger filler neck hose. A pick or small screwdriver is very useful to get stuck hoses off. I didn't bother and just cut the hose (scrapping the car). Unplug the fuel pump from the car. Then the 6 bolts that hold the fuel pump sender in.

Hopefully that helped. I didn't look through all the links you posted.

[freebeard]

I'm making payments on a mechanic's 1990 XFI. IIRC I drove it to my brother's house for the 2016 eclipse. No, that was the Dasher; maybe earlier.

I could pay it off with the leftover plague money, but I don't have parking space.

Gonna be part of the [boat-tailed] Metro tribe.

[MetroMPG]

Buy it for the patina! Keep it for the MPG's!

[Xist]

You don't know anyone who knows where your Metro buying guide is?

I found this: Things to look at when buying a Geo Metro - Fuelly Forums

This isn't bad: https://geometroforum.com/buyer-39-s-info-t1412.html

[Xist]

Remember the silver Civic EX from #902? I never heard back from the owner, but today he updated the ad. The original one said:

Doesn’t run. Needs a tow. Needs either starter or starter switch.
Clutch is good but won’t shift into gears.
Just had an oil change. Brand new oil/ fuel and air filters. Brand new spark plugs and all new belts. New front breaks. Brand new distributor and cap. Bluetooth radio. New floor mats, steering cover and locking club. I bought it for 12, put allot of work into it. Shifter and starter went out so I’m looking to sell it for $800

Now it says:

NEED GONE ASAP. 500$
Doesn’t run. ❌
Needs a tow. ❌
Needs either starter or starter switch. ❌
Bad clutch/pressure plate.❌
Just had an oil change. ✔
Brand new oil/ fuel and air filters. ✔
Brand new spark plugs all new belts. ✔
New front breaks. ✔
Brand new distributor and cap. ✔
Bluetooth radio. ✔

The clutch diagnosis dropped the perceived value $300 or was it not selling for ten days?

Updating the ad seems like far more work than responding to my generous offer. Now I want to offer $300, but he wouldn't respond, so I guess that I need to offer $500 and then find reasons to bring it down.

[Xist]

The Metro Ascended!

How to replace a Honda clutch:

Step 1
Remove the negative (black) battery cable.

Step 2
Raise the car using the floor jack and support it with jack stands. Remove the floor jack when you have the car safely supported with the jack stands.

Step 3
Place the floor jack under the transaxle, but don't raise the transaxle, raise the jack enough so that the transaxle is supported. Remove the bolts that hold the transaxle to the engine. You will need to use both wrenches and a ratchet and sockets.

Step 4
Move the transaxle just enough so that you can have easy access to the clutch.

Step 5
Use your scratching awl on the pressure plate to mark the clutch alignments. Although changing the pressure plate when you're changing the clutch will save you a lot of time and effort in the long run.

Step 6
Turn the pressure plate bolts two turns counterclockwise going in a crisscross pattern until you can remove the bolts by hand. Removing the bolts this way keeps the pressure plate from warping. When you go to remove the clutch from the car make sure you have a good grip on it because it does have some weight to it, which makes it awkward to move.

Step 7
Clean off the surface of the flywheel with brake cleaner. Then put on the clutch and pressure plate, make sure that the friction side of the clutch is facing the pressure plate. Line up the pressure plates dowel holes with the dowels on the flywheel. Reinsert the clutch bolts and screw them in finger-tight.

Step 8
Put the clutch disc alignment tool into the center hole of the clutch. Tighten the clutch bolts two turns at a time, working in a crisscross pattern. Tighten the bolts to 19 foot pounds of torque.

Step 9
Move the transaxle so that it is aligned with the clutch disc splines. Align the transaxle case to the engine block and push it into place against the cylinder block.

Step 10
Install and tighten the transaxle bolts to the engine.

Step 11
Put the vehicle on the ground and reconnect the battery cable.

Take the car for a short test drive to make sure that the clutch is working properly.

Tip
Keep all the bolts and parts together so that it is easier to reinstall everything.
Items you will need
Floor jack
Two jack stands
Wrenches, different sizes
Ratchet
Sockets, different sizes
Scratch awl
Screwdriver
Clutch disc alignment tool

https://itstillruns.com/change-clutc...a-7948476.html

I think those are the most complicated instructions that I have ever seen on that site! Considering 9 steps on ISR take me months, I am excited!

[Xist]

I pushed the Make an Offer button for the Civic, which just messaged the seller "I would like to buy your Honda civic ex coupe for $500.00." That was two days ago and he has not responded.

[Xist]

The Civic is still on OfferUp, but the owner still has not responded to me offering the asking price. The 2001 autotragic Corolla with 250,000 miles is still on Craigslist for $1,600, but someone just posted a 2002 manual Corolla with "over 200,000 miles" for $600 (268,819 miles).

Here is the 2001 with bad hubcaps and value-increasing patina:

Here is the 2002 with original hubcaps [on this side]. Is it me or does the paint on this third of the car look good?!

The owner just says:

Its 18 years old and has 200k plus miles. It runs. Clutch is good. Ac is cold. Leaks oil.

For some reason I felt that I needed to clarify that it runs and drives. The owner says that it did, so at least she is responsive!
Value-increasing patina, clear headlights, and a small dent in the bumper:

The paint looks good, although that bumper has seen better days. How do you thnk it would look with a grill block and air dam?! One headlight is cloudier than the other:

A little dirty and I wonder what happened to the window control:

That looks annoying. That is also cheap. $68.49 shipped from eBay [Amazon has it for $60.40:

Pioneer CD player?

I asked how much it leaked and what else was wrong with it. The owner just responded:

It's just high mileage and older. Clutch is good. Ac is good. Might need brakes and tires soon.

I asked if it was safe to drive to Phoenix and back. She responded to my first two messages within ten minutes, but it has been over thirty since the third. I demand the truth Katie!

The interior and trunk look good: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...6143830390917/

[Xist]

She posted in three different Facebook groups and several people asked to look at it.

I still have not heard back.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Xist, your dedication to posting cheap cars sent me back to looking at Insights again, I found a few cheap ones within a few hours drive.

I could get an Insight for a few hundred dollars that just needs a windshield, dash piece replacement (cracked) and an HCH1 trans for a few hundred bucks (severe grinding in 1st and 2nd gears). Dead battery ofc.

I need to stop or I'll end up getting an Insight that I don't need! I can't drive more than one!