03-22-2015, 12:45 AM
|
#1 (permalink)
|
EcoModding Lurker
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 36
Thanks: 1
Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts
|
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.
|
|
|
Today
|
|
|
Other popular topics in this forum...
|
|
|
03-22-2015, 01:35 AM
|
#2 (permalink)
|
Cyborg ECU
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Coastal Southern California
Posts: 6,299
Thanks: 2,373
Thanked 2,174 Times in 1,470 Posts
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Allan Alessio
... 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. ...
|
Manual, 34 mpg hwy EPA, reliable, and old enough to maybe be available at a price point near $3k, a Honda Fit from '08:
Mild hypermiling and low key mods will get you over 40mpg.
James
__________________
See my car's mod & maintenance thread and my electric bicycle's thread for ongoing projects. I will rebuild Black and Green over decades as parts die, until it becomes a different car of roughly the same shape and color. My minimum fuel economy goal is 55 mpg while averaging posted speed limits. I generally top 60 mpg. See also my Honda manual transmission specs thread.
|
|
|
03-22-2015, 02:46 AM
|
#3 (permalink)
|
Too many cars
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: New York State
Posts: 1,610
Thanks: 1,360
Thanked 811 Times in 482 Posts
|
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.
__________________
2000 Honda Insight
2000 Honda Insight
2000 Honda Insight
2006 Honda Insight (parts car)
1988 Honda CRXFi
1994 Geo Metro
|
|
|
03-22-2015, 09:57 AM
|
#4 (permalink)
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,927
Thanks: 877
Thanked 2,024 Times in 1,304 Posts
|
2003 toyota echo
A 3k Fit? Wouldn't be much left of that.
regards
mech
|
|
|
03-22-2015, 04:37 PM
|
#5 (permalink)
|
5 pin sensor
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Dallas
Posts: 350
Thanks: 38
Thanked 73 Times in 56 Posts
|
__________________
Current: 1997 civic lx
Past: 1998hx/1996hx/1997lx/1997hx Cali/1997hx
OG lean burn member
My civic thread
|
|
|
03-22-2015, 05:54 PM
|
#6 (permalink)
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Missoula, MT
Posts: 2,668
Thanks: 305
Thanked 1,187 Times in 813 Posts
|
A Vibe or a Focus would probably the most common at that price.
|
|
|
03-24-2015, 02:45 PM
|
#7 (permalink)
|
EcoModding Lurker
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 36
Thanks: 1
Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts
|
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.)
|
|
|
03-24-2015, 03:19 PM
|
#8 (permalink)
|
Administrator
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 11,203
Thanks: 2,501
Thanked 2,588 Times in 1,555 Posts
|
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.
|
|
|
03-25-2015, 01:54 PM
|
#9 (permalink)
|
EcoModding Lurker
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 36
Thanks: 1
Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Daox
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?
|
|
|
03-25-2015, 01:59 PM
|
#10 (permalink)
|
EcoModding Lurker
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 36
Thanks: 1
Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Mechanic
|
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.
|
|
|
|