Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > General Efficiency Discussion
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 05-26-2008, 04:44 PM   #1 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 1
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
fuel efficient, reliable used cars under $3k

I'm in the market for a used car that's fuel efficient (40+ mpg), reliable, and under $3,000. i know of geo metro's, honda civic VX... any others people could recommend for me to look at would be appreciated... thanks!

  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 05-26-2008, 08:56 PM   #2 (permalink)
Hi-Tech Redneck
 
Johnny Mullet's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Ashtabula, Ohio
Posts: 1,436
Thanks: 6
Thanked 49 Times in 42 Posts
Send a message via AIM to Johnny Mullet Send a message via MSN to Johnny Mullet
Ford Tempo/Mercury Tracer 2.3L with a stick.
Ford Aspire
Ford Festiva
Ford Escort/Mercury Tracer
Ford Focus with 5 Speed
Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon
Dodge 2.2 Charger/Plymouth Turismo
Dodge Caravan/Plymouth Voyager 2.2 or 2.2 Turbo
Chevy Cavalier/Pontiac Sunfire 4cyl 5 speed
Mazda 323
Volkswagon Rabbit/Jetta/Golf with 5 speed
Nissan Sentra
Toyota Tercel
Saturn SC1
Isuzu I-mark

Need more?
__________________

GeoMetroforum.com - got mpg?
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-26-2008, 10:05 PM   #3 (permalink)
EcoModding Minded
 
Chris D.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Eagan, MN
Posts: 667

Lunar Mist - '02 Toyota Tacoma SR5
90 day: 25.31 mpg (US)

Silver Streak - '08 Toyota Corolla S
90 day: 38.25 mpg (US)
Thanks: 67
Thanked 25 Times in 12 Posts
Send a message via AIM to Chris D.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnny Mullet View Post
Ford Tempo/Mercury Tracer 2.3L with a stick.
Ford Aspire
Ford Festiva
Ford Escort/Mercury Tracer
Ford Focus with 5 Speed
Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon
Dodge 2.2 Charger/Plymouth Turismo
Dodge Caravan/Plymouth Voyager 2.2 or 2.2 Turbo

Chevy Cavalier/Pontiac Sunfire 4cyl 5 speed
Mazda 323
Volkswagon Rabbit/Jetta/Golf with 5 speed
Nissan Sentra
Toyota Tercel
Saturn SC1
Isuzu I-mark

Need more?
The 2.2/2.5 family of vehicles bolded out above wotn get you anywhere near 40mpg..

About the only one that gets you close to 40mpg was a 1982-1984 Dodge Rampage or Plymouth Scamp pickup 1983 only (Based on the Omni/Charger platform)
The lightest front wheel drive Chrysler vehicle ever made..

I saw 36mpg max out of it and drove it very light to the peddle..



As Chrysler loving as I am, they are not very reliable..

Get the newest Geo Metro you can and you'll be set
__________________


  Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2008, 08:53 AM   #4 (permalink)
Depends on the Day
 
RH77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Kansas City Area
Posts: 1,761

Teggy - '98 Acura Integra LS
Sports Cars
90 day: 32.74 mpg (US)

IMA - '10 Honda Insight EX
Team Honda
90 day: 34.76 mpg (US)

Tessie - '06 Acura TSX Base
90 day: 28.2 mpg (US)
Thanks: 31
Thanked 41 Times in 35 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris D. View Post
The 2.2/2.5 family of vehicles bolded out above wotn get you anywhere near 40mpg..

About the only one that gets you close to 40mpg was a 1982-1984 Dodge Rampage or Plymouth Scamp pickup 1983 only (Based on the Omni/Charger platform)
The lightest front wheel drive Chrysler vehicle ever made..
That is by far the sharpest looking Rampage I've ever seen! Not that I come across many. About 4 years ago, on the commute home from work, I'd often come across the same one -- it looked like it just rolled off the showroom floor. Just a stock 2.2. Interesting that it was the lightest FWD vehicle they made...

Back to topic, 40 from an oldie is going to cost you a lot up front, now that there's a run on older, efficient vehicles. That's a tough benchmark out of the box.

It depends on how much mod and technique effort you're willing to put into it. Baseline figures for Johnny's list (except maybe any Diesels) should be in the hi 20's/ low 30's combined (except again for the minivans). With some effort, 40 can be likely be cracked.

RH77
__________________
“If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research” ― Albert Einstein

_
_
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2008, 08:57 AM   #5 (permalink)
ECO-Evolution
 
Lazarus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 1,482

Iron Horse (retired) - '97 Iron horse Intrepid

Ninja - '08 Kawasaki 250R
90 day: 76.23 mpg (US)
Thanks: 17
Thanked 44 Times in 33 Posts
Welcome to the site. What you driving now? No way to streach it up to 30-40 mpg?
__________________
"Judge a person by their questions rather than their answers."

  Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2008, 11:09 AM   #6 (permalink)
Veggiedynamics
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Alexandria, MN
Posts: 684

Volt12 - '12 Chevy Volt base
Thanks: 0
Thanked 12 Times in 10 Posts

dang I saw that thing and first thing that came to mind is ... that angle is nearly perfect for a nice long boattail bed cover.

I had a turizmo, same car esentually, but at hatch back not a truck.. it had a 1.6 and a 5 speed in it and got just about 40mpg on longer trips was a great little car.
__________________

  Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2008, 11:16 PM   #7 (permalink)
EcoModding Minded
 
Chris D.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Eagan, MN
Posts: 667

Lunar Mist - '02 Toyota Tacoma SR5
90 day: 25.31 mpg (US)

Silver Streak - '08 Toyota Corolla S
90 day: 38.25 mpg (US)
Thanks: 67
Thanked 25 Times in 12 Posts
Send a message via AIM to Chris D.
What year was your Tourismo?

I used to have the same basic car,
mine was a Shelby Automobile modified Charger GLH-S #0058 of 1,000 made





Did your Tourismo have the same front end as this..


or this?
__________________


  Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2008, 11:37 PM   #8 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Earth
Posts: 303

Pushrod - '02 Chevrolet Cavalier
Thanks: 0
Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts
1994 Honda Civic 1.5L 5spd. Mid 40's MPG combined. Every year after that they chunked up and MPG took a nosedive.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2008, 10:18 AM   #9 (permalink)
Veggiedynamics
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Alexandria, MN
Posts: 684

Volt12 - '12 Chevy Volt base
Thanks: 0
Thanked 12 Times in 10 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris D. View Post
What year was your Tourismo?

Did your Tourismo have the same front end as this..
cant remember the year but it had the same front as the rampage photo.. except I covered the holes for the headlights with plexi, to look cool.. probably helped a bit on MPG but i was a kid and it was cool to have headlight covers .. lol

I also chopped the springs on it to lower it too.. again to be cool.. i wasnt a mpg hunter back then.. but it may have helped too..
__________________

  Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2008, 10:56 AM   #10 (permalink)
Bicycle Junky
 
NoCO2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 464

Putsaround - '96 Toyota Camry LE
90 day: 32.74 mpg (US)

The Commuter - '07 Trek 1000SL
90 day: 617.28 mpg (US)

Zippy - '91 Honda Civic DX
90 day: 33.29 mpg (US)
Thanks: 0
Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts
How on EARTH can you manage to get 40MPG out of those vehicles?

I have a 2.2L Camry and can just BARELY manage 36mpg on the highway, around town, forget it, 32-34mpg is the best I get ever.

__________________
  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread




Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Fuel Economy related papers tasdrouille General Efficiency Discussion 41 03-19-2021 06:31 PM
Article: Want cars to eat less? Put 'em on a diet MetroMPG General Efficiency Discussion 34 07-14-2013 01:38 AM
Looking for a fuel efficient solution. I've got a few ideas. CuriousOne EcoModding Central 41 03-28-2009 02:46 PM
Emissions Standards - "Good For Fuel Efficiency," Consumption Data Says trebuchet03 General Efficiency Discussion 11 04-18-2008 01:15 AM
Weak dollar kills fuel efficient models once bound for US market SVOboy General Efficiency Discussion 7 04-05-2008 01:45 AM



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com