RWD cars with good MPG? (Looking for a highway commuter)

[jcp123]

Oh, wait a minute...how about a Hyundai Genesis? Not entirely refined, but might check enough boxes for you to consider...

[Grinder74]

I guess I should mention, I don't want to spend more than $3k. It will see all year round Ohio commuting and I'm guessing 25k mile a year. I like the mr2 and 240, not sure about a fiero...whatever I get, it will die in my hands!

[ksa8907]

Originally Posted by Grinder74

I guess I should mention, I don't want to spend more than $3k. It will see all year round Ohio commuting and I'm guessing 25k mile a year. I like the mr2 and 240, not sure about a fiero...whatever I get, it will die in my hands!

You might find others, my top pick would be a caprice with a super-low gear ratio and manual trans. Or you could go with a crown Vic with the same idea.

Or you could have 10x more options and get fwd.

[jcp123]

You won't like any 240sx you find for $3k. Drifters have eaten those cars up.

That's the exact price point I was shopping for, and there's not much out there. A beater Miata can be done with ease, and I think that's your only choice, although I'm not up on the Mister Two market. I'm not the world's biggest FWD fan, but as a compromise I do have to agree it's something you should be open to. I don't know about up there in saltland, but down here I was finding Saabs, a stick V6 Mazda6 wagon, etc. If I could have gotten away with the lack of space, I think I'd have done Miata myself, but my Civic 2-dr is about as small as I can get away with. BMW could be a dark horse here, as I was finding the occasional E46 3-series within that budget, but I can't promise you won't be writing lots of checks afterwards. Fuel economy isn't quite there either, although I gather with careful driving you won't be wide of the mark if you miss it at all.

One side note: I've heard Subarus can be "tricked" into running straight RWD. I never chased that rumor down, but if it's true, I see Subarus everywhere, and for cheap. And more frequently with stick than almost any other car I can think of.

[rmay635703]

The RWD 1970 Subaru 360 gets about 50mpg at 70ish MPH,
but you gotta run it right on the floorboards.

At more reasonable speeds it will turn in Mid 60's MPGs

You can find them for free if your willing to do a restoration.

Good Luck

[19bonestock88]

I don’t know why nobody has mentioned the Ford Mustang... I’m talking specifically about the 79-93 generation or the “Fox body”... those were available with a 2.3 liter engine and manual trans... I’m sure the EPA figure isn’t great but Rangers with that trans can get 30s... subtract a few hundred pounds and a little off the CdA and I think it could be done easy

[Jez77]

Your just making it hard for yourself looking at RWDs, you've already got a fun rear driver for the weekends, why not just get a cheap comfortable hatchback with cruise control for the commute?
On the highway FWD vs RWD is no different and on a long drive home driver comfort is highest priory more than handling.

[redpoint5]

I've always wondered what this could do if properly hypermiled. It was on my list for consideration 8 years ago when I bought my TSX.

[Stubby79]

I think that's a bit out of his price range.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by jcp123

...older BMWs weren't bad on fuel for what you got in return.

Like really, really high maintenance costs?