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Old 11-06-2013, 02:23 AM   #1 (permalink)
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well my '01 civic just ate it....new ride time!

About me:

Full time college student and small business owner.

About the car:

lx, 5 speed.
Had it from 100k to 220k miles, original clutch was still feeling strong, exhaust manifold went and the timing belt needs to be done plus the tires were going and brakes could use some loving (i don't think i even changed them)....so i let her go fairly cheap.

My budget is around 2-5k. Obviously i'd like to spend the least amount possible.
I have no problem haggling prices down to the bone, kbb/nada values are always checked prior to making an offer.

The biggest question is what cars would be recommended around that? I'm not really a car guy although i've tried to read some of the stickies and search around google to help make a choice.

My rough criteria is:

Holds its value (i like making a worthy investment)
Reliability (no automatics, no first gen cars ect)
And of course, mpg. Driving very non-conservativly with basic coasting and engine braking i averaged around 38 city with this civic, and around that would be great.

Cars on my list so far:

04/05 Sunfire/Cavalier (i know they don't hold value, but for 3k for the same milage 5k honda does it matter?)

03-05 civic

various ford focuses

Corolla 2000-05

and possibly an older tdi.

I'm hoping to get something i can just drive into the ground for the next few years and allow me to buy a fr-s for the summer days up here in michigan (i commute around 60 miles a day for school and such)

any input or advice is appreciated!

thanks

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Old 11-06-2013, 08:40 AM   #2 (permalink)
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Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
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Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

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90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
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Going manual is the correct choice.

We really need a dedicated thread for this question. It comes up regularly...

The usual candidates in that price range are:

Corolla
Matrix
Echo
Yaris
XA
Civic
Fit (maybe not in that price range)
Cavalier
(find the "XFE" version")

At the low/older end...
Saturn SL1 (non-DOHC)
Metro/Swift

With some patience, you could also find a gen 1 Insight for that price and get 75 MPG all day long, even if the hybrid battery is dead.
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Old 11-06-2013, 04:37 PM   #3 (permalink)
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Appreciate the response

I searched the forum and couldn't find a dedicated thread so I wasn't sure if I'd take heat for posting this.

I've been searching the Detroit metro craigslist and have some potential candidates-but I'm caught between a Sixth or seventh gen civic mainly. The sixth gens can be had for half of what the seventh gens fetch but I'm not sure about their reliability.

Also I'd like to stay away from hybrids, I don't really trust the tech as much as tried and true standard autos
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Old 11-06-2013, 10:06 PM   #4 (permalink)
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If you weren't against first gens, I'd say Insight...but I think they did it right

Only real addition I can make, you seem like your goals are clear, and you know what you want/need.
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Old 11-07-2013, 12:36 AM   #5 (permalink)
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i need 5 posts to post links so some blanks are going up
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Old 11-07-2013, 12:37 AM   #6 (permalink)
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blah
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Old 11-07-2013, 12:37 AM   #7 (permalink)
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Old 11-07-2013, 12:38 AM   #8 (permalink)
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by first gens i'm just meaning the first few years of runs, but i wouldn't be opposed if it was truly an awesome car.

seems the 01 and 02 civic and 06-07 were both the first few runs and had issues with trans and engine block cracking and such

2000 Honda Insight - 145K Miles this is literally one of 3 insights i can find near me in my price range and is the only manual.

list of cars so far

2000 civic vp 114k miles, $3400 asking
2000 Honda Civic VP Sedan 4D

03 civic 140k miles 3300 asking ***2003 Honda Civic only 140k miles!

02 $2200 asking, 160k miles BUT it's an auto, one owner family
2002 Honda Civic LX

01 corolla 97k miles asking $2500 might be a rebuilt title looks like a dealer 01 sticker on windshield
2001 toyota corolla stick shift..gas saver

couldn't find hardly any of the yaris/xa/ect

cavalier 04 94k asking 3600 loaded but an automatic
★94k miles 2004 Chevy Cavalier LS VERY CLEAN Gas Saver $3600

04 cav 114k basic trim asking $2000, stick! Guess i could plasti dip it
2004 chevy cavalier (low miles/5 speed stick)

05 cav 106k moonroof and extra trim, stick. Asking 2800.
2005 cavalier

97 SL1 105k miles, sat for a year, one owner, manual trans, asking $2000
'97 Saturn SL1 105,000 Miles One Owner

I don't expect anyone to actually check these ads out, i'm just organizing them for me to go back to and start contacting tomorrow.

It's unbelievable how scarce manual trans cars are becoming, quite a few looked to be good deals but turn out to be automatics when i clicked on them.
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Old 11-07-2013, 08:02 AM   #9 (permalink)
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Turn ke 68mpg 7 gen civic

You civic could also be candidate for the retro sipping work done by a guy near you He posted up here about 6 months back as a buisness start up he is re flashing the ECU mostly but for a couple grand 68 mpg with no real efforts is pretty good.
Search older posts for the link if nobody pipes in with more specifics.
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Old 11-07-2013, 04:58 PM   #10 (permalink)
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near the detroit metro area? Yeah that'd be sweet i'll look around on the forum tonight and try to find him

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