Looking for a used car and need suggestions
 

Hello all,

I think this is my first post, I'm not sure :-/ But I've been a member for quite a number of years. I stayed a member cause you include the bicycle and other forms of moving around and don't strictly rely on being a cager.

When I first joined I was doing ~hypermiling. I had a Mazda Protege that I was getting 40 mpg city or hwy driving. I was cool with those figures. I got into a car accident with the car a long while ago (6yrs), and I'm thinking about getting behind the wheel again. BTW, the accident wasn't my fault and no one got hurt, but the cars were totaled. I decided at that point to give using my bicycle and public transportation a shoot. I live 2 miles from downtown and the light rail station is a 1/2 mile away. That's worked good and really I wouldn't mind keeping at it, but I do want to somewhat be on top of my homework.

I'd like to find out what is available out there with these parameters. I got to be able to get 40 mpg or better, I got to have a manual tranny, a station wagon or hatchback is a plus, and it needs to be fairly reliable. I'm thinking something in the $3k area? I'm pretty patient and really can afford to wait for the right one at the right time. Really I'd like to just start exploring.

Thanks for reading this and I hope I posted this in the correct forum.

Manual, 34 mpg hwy EPA, reliable, and old enough to maybe be available at a price point near $3k, a Honda Fit from '08:

http://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/ho..._oem_1_500.jpg

Mild hypermiling and low key mods will get you over 40mpg.
James

Fits are great, but I'm not sure if any are in the $3k range yet. I'd be looking for a Civic or Corolla.

2003 toyota echo

A 3k Fit? Wouldn't be much left of that.

regards
mech

Honda Civic Hx 2000

Civic 92-2000

A Vibe or a Focus would probably the most common at that price.

Something like a Vibe, Fit or Mazda5 would fit nicely for what I'm looking for. Finding a Mazda5 that's manual is like trying to find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

Any tips on what to look for or ask when you see a car that has a salvage title?

Anyone on the site here with a Mazda5? Getting anywhere near 40 mpg? Anyone getting 40 mpg with a Vibe? With a Fit for that matter?

(BTW, I'm not getting any notices of post on this thread, so sorry for the late reply.)

The Matrix and Vibe will not get 40 mpg just cruising. They'll get mid and possibly upper 30s under ideal conditions. If you P&G you'll get more. Same with the Fit (booo short gearing).

Your best bet is probably a Civic HX or Insight. The Echo is probably another one that would work well.

I've seen the term P&G mentioned a few times here. What is P&G? Pedal and gravity? :confused:

BTW, I threw out offers I was seeing on the Fits on CL and there were no nimbles or anything! I was just offering 3k for anything up to 4.8k. It's a good mark to shoot for, but we'll see.