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

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1415981979

We often get people signing up on the forum saying they're looking for a cheap, economical beater. The purpose of this thread is to go beyond the hypothetical, and post actual ads of cheap, efficient cars. Something you'd actually consider getting.

Cars like Old Mech's $300 1992 Nissan Sentra (~38 mpg in actual use), or Daox's $1200 1999 Chevy Metro .

When I started looking for a winter beater to give the Firefly a break from the annual salt bath in eastern Ontario, I found a fair number of diamonds in the rough out there. And even though I already picked up a 2007 Civic, I still find myself looking at the ads once in a while, just to see what's available.

Do you ever browse your local ads? Post the candidates here.

Posting guidelines:

1) $1500 or under asking price
2) something you'd seriously consider looking at/buying
3) 35 mpg US EPA highway rating or better (yes, our Euro friends can laugh at this)
4) list the car's EPA ratings ---> search EPA ratings here
5) post a link to the ad
6) copy the pertinent details from the ad into your post (for posterity, because the actual ad itself is going to expire/disappear)

BONUS POINTS for posting a photo.

UPDATE: View a SUMMARY of the results so far. See post #220 for a round-up. Below are pics from some of the actual ads.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1426700925



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$900 -- 1998 Suzuki Swift - 1.3L, 5-speed with 60,000 km (~40k mi.)
 

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1415979991

EPA: 31 city / 38 hwy / 34 combined
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find....n=sbs&id=15724

The ad's in French, but the main points are:

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-autos-camions...ationFlag=true

Actually, I've been watching this car - it was originally listed for around $2k a month or so ago. But even with those super low miles, I wouldn't pay $2k for one of these that has already had underbody rust issues. But at a $900 asking price, it's tempting.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1415981023

1992 toyota tercel

$1500 - 1992 Toyota Tercel
- 4spd manual
- 164k miles
- timing belt and clutch replaced this summer

Ooo! 1500 -- just squeaked in under the wire. 4-speed manual!

2000 Toyota Echo 5-speed for $1000
 

I will see your $1500 Tercel and raise you a 2000 Echo for $1000

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1415982262

EPA: 29 city / 37 hwy / 32 combined - Compare Side-by-Side

2000 Toyota Echo Sedan | cars & trucks | Ottawa | Kijiji

2000 HONDA INSIGHT HYBRID

Needs an engine but tbh, you can find used engines on IC or out on the web for right around 150-300$.

EPA: 49 city / 61 hwy / 53 combined

1994 honda civic hatchbach 5 speed - $1150

190000 miles

http://images.craigslist.org/00t0t_5...JT_600x450.jpg

Edit:
Forgot the EPA ratings! They don't say if it has the 1.5 or 1.6, but one of the pics shows a decal reading LX or EX. The EPA page doesn't mention trim levels or body styles.
1.5 liter
29/36 (32)
33/41 (36)
35/41 (38)
1.6 liter
25/32 (28)

And in NH, that would be relatively rust-free, no?

Then again, look at the stonking big snow tire on the front wheel...

The title is not needed?

Humm... You know, skimming through the last couple of days of the local Craigslist, there is NOTHING I would consider even close to an economy car for under $1500. Lots of '80s & '90s Ford, Chevy, & Dodge pickups, some large cars from the same era...

But then there's this: And an '84 Cadillac Eldorado, '79 T-bird, '53 Buick, '79 AMC Pacer...

PS: I didn't really mean for the video link to get posted as a link.

I see I misread the OP- I was weeding out cars with under 35 combined ratings.

But my overall point is that a lot of these cars that I could have jumped at for gas mileage are actually dogs on the EPA test, with combined ratings in the 20s.

I arbitrarily picked 35 highway. 35 combined would narrow the field pretty drastically.

1993 Honda Civic Hatchback

regards
mech

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1415996490

1997 honda civic ex 5 speed manual reduced price

EPA: 30 Combined, 28 Cit, 35 Highway

regards
mech

1995 Honda Civic CX hatchback

regards
mech

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1415997939

1992 FORD FESTIVA W/ LESS THAN 100 K MI!!

You can't go wrong with this one! I may be a little biased about the Festivas, but mine never let me down!

EPA average is 33 mpg, for actual average check out Black Widow's page

EPA! Post the EPA!

4) list the car's EPA ratings ---> search EPA ratings here

I'd rock a Festiva for the right price if it weren't for the fact they don't exist around here anymore.

It would almost be fun bringing that faded blue paint back to life. The body looks good!

EPA fixed!

I'm sure Dirty Dave will be interested!

How have you not jumped on that Firefly? That looks like a deal if the bottom and the mounts aren't swiss cheese

Not much under that price here...a few Civics, but all autos, so nothing I would be interested in buying.

yall know me too well. email sent! ;) I offered $500.

FORD FESTIVA! I would love to pick this up!

.

Those Fiesta's make a great little pick-up.

http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/f...ps823357c5.jpg

I have a friend that has built a few. He's a welder and carries a small gas arc welder, tanks, cutting torches and related tools with it.

He says they're the best and that they can handle the weight with no problem. Added plus, they will still get 40-50mpg.


>

I had no idea you could get good cars this cheap.
Of course they are never around when your car breaks down !
I found a couple of good deals right here in Austin.
Almost makes me want to buy one to store at my parents place.

Oh - I found a black 1972 Road Runner with a 440 and an 800 cfm carb- NOT going to make it to the 35 MPG club !

A CRX ! - ehhh. It's been molested though. Rated at 37 Highway, but we all know that this car wouldn't be getting that ! : http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/4760211643.html

http://images.craigslist.org/00d0d_2...Fn_600x450.jpg

nice Crx si with 194xxx miles on body and about 75xxx on engine d16z6. i purchased the car about 1 1/2 yr ago and honestly drove it about 10 times. I wanted to keep it as a project car but i don't have the time and money for it. car does run. i have clean title and clean CAR-FAX for it. This car has never left San Antonio until i bought it.

what i have done since bought

mugen bumpers
new cv joint
new idle air control valve
new springs
new map sensor
new spark plugs and wires
new gas filter
new gas pump
and engine and transmission oil but did it awhile ago.
and there is more but really cant remember at the time.

its a good car but need its TLC. and doesn't have a/c since previous owner swap engine.
Reason for selling I don't have any need for it plus its taking up space. haven't drove the car since 2 months ago but does start and u may test drive it. car is dusty and will be coming with steelies not the white rims.

I found this one amusing :1993 honda civic dx
http://images.craigslist.org/00l0l_a...Cz_600x450.jpg

QUOTE : "White Honda civic dx(1993) for sale, stick shift. I don't know how to drive it so I'm just selling it."

EPA is 34 city / 40 highway

They are asking $ 1,100 .

2002 Toyota Prius 41MPG HWY

http://images.craigslist.org/00a0a_2...zy_600x450.jpg

2002 Toyota Prius hybrid

power windows, power steering, 190k miles, AC ,heat,engine and transmission 100% car is in good condition $1400 obo

1996 Honda Civic 35MPG HWY

http://images.craigslist.org/00Q0Q_b...6u_600x450.jpg

96 Honda Civic 5spd

strong clutch and motor. Clean in out. Great running car. Great on Gas. Must sell. Clean title in hand. 120K miles $1500

A friend of mine at work did this a couple years ago to another one of his buddies at work. I don't have the actual ad, but this is a copy of the original. He couldn't understand why all of these random people were calling him about his car until one guy told him about the ad. It was on there for weeks! I have to keep checking CL every once in a while to make sure my car doesn't show up on there. At least they are still friends.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-ob...6496-photo.jpg

I'll probably be getting another one next year. Too much going on this fall!

Believe it or not, a super low miles Swift/Metro/Firefly 5-speed comes up for sale every couple of months. I'll nab one for next winter. Low miles automatics come up about twice as often... but then I'd have to do a trans swap.

Dirtydave: I'd jump at a 1st gen Prius too for that kind of money. It's great nerdy fun driving the Toyota style hybrid systems.

1995 Honda Civic for sale - $1200 (Ixonia)

Just went up an hour ago.

1995 Honda Civic for sale

already deleted!!!

I offered $800. It has a serious dent on every corner.

Guess some people haven't gotten the 'cheap gas' message yet. The 2 2001 Insights that show up (both >100 miles from here) are listed at $4200 and $5400.

'04 Civic 5-speed, 262k km / 163k mi $1500
 

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1416236227

EPA: 31 city / 39 highway / 34 combined

$1500 asking

2004 HONDA CIVIC "REDUCED!" $1500 obo AS IS!!! Not safetied. | cars & trucks | Kingston | Kijiji

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Yeah, I saw another car that doesn't strictly qualify on EPA highway MPG: a 4-cylinder 2000 Toyota Camry 5-speed for $1200. The ad went up on Sat, and it's gone already, so it probaby sold.

If there was to be a Honda in Mad Max, this may have been it.

The irony in Mad Max was that they were fighting over gasoline, yet driving supercharged muscle cars with terrible aerodynamics and some even had DUAL rear wheels.

http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger...u_Carscoop.jpg

The real smart guys in that movie headed west with all the eco cars - i guess the CRX above could be one of those :D.

http://images.craigslist.org/00A0A_6...65_600x450.jpg

$900

manual - 210,000 miles

needs brake work windows won't roll down and a new muffler. 35 mpg highway

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1416408785

EPA: 25/29/36

2002 Saturn SL1 Manual

Its amazing how most people can't even take a halfway decent picture of a car they're selling... Seriously, just back up a few steps!

If he had enough room to back up a few steps, he'd probably be keeping the car!

At least he did not back up a few steps and then hide part of the car with his finger.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1416502031

Here is another one (back up buddy, or turn your camera 90 degrees).

But, its a good mpg car for cheap. Pretty low miles too. EPA is 25/29/35 if it has the 1.6L.

1997 Nissan 200SX 5 Speed Manual 30+ MPG

This whole post makes me sad. For years I thought it would be cool to have a car lot that just sold eco-cars / alternative fuel vehicles etc, but then came to realize that they are totally worthless around my neck of the woods, and the cost to get them anywhere else negates how cheap they can be found here. For example:

Today is Sunday, and I still get phone calls from wholesalers etc wondering if I am interested in cars they have taken in over the weekend. '98 VW Golf, sunroof, power everything, 2.0L 5 speed, 250k KMs for $300, '97 VW Cabriolet, 210k KMs, black, $1500 etc. I say no because that's really all they are worth here. If only I could email cars to people then I could make this work haha :snail:

So where the #$%$@# was this thing a year ago???? I ended up buying a brand new car!

1996 Saturn SL1 Two Owner Reliable - $1250 (Concord)

EPA 25/36 (29) or 22/32 (26), I don't know why they list two ratings for what's probably different trim levels without telling you what the levels are. The old time EPA ratings were 29/40 (33) and 25/35 (29).


http://images.craigslist.org/00L0L_8...n6_600x450.jpg

The two ratings are SL1 (sohc engine) and SL2 (dohc engine). The SOHC has less power, better mileage.