by "mkbruin, Atlas VP" (mkbruin)
Published 09/12/2017 at 08:15
by "mkbruin, Atlas VP" (mkbruin)
Published 09/12/2017 at 08:15
No Tags
STARS: 1
I may be changing jobs soon, and the new job will change from 10 minutes on back roads to an hour in congestion. 15mpg’s in the Tundra won’t cut it.
I want something nice. Like date night with friends nice. I want the lowest possible miles, 130k max, prefer 60-80k. I will be dealing with snow and ice, so as much as I want RWD it’s probably not practical. I prefer a manual, but commute. I want something engaging to drive. Newer than 2005. Cost: $5-10k. And most of all, I want 30+ mpg.
I’ve seen Regals and Lacrosse in that range, but want to see what reasonable suggestions Oppo has for the best commuter cars...
"random001" (random001)
09/12/2017 at 08:20, STARS: 0
Abarth.
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
09/12/2017 at 08:23, STARS: 3
Prius?
*dons multiple flame suits*
"arl" (arl1968)
09/12/2017 at 08:23, STARS: 0
There’s a nice 2006 Lexus es350 with 111k for 10k at Carmax. Green with wood and tan leather interior. City 17mpg, highway 27mph.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
09/12/2017 at 08:24, STARS: 0
Subaru?
"KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs" (kusabisensei)
09/12/2017 at 08:24, STARS: 1
Buy my Mini. No, seriously. ‘13 Clubman S with 6 speed manual. Normally gets 30MPG combined. 41K miles. Still has maintenance paid for through 100K miles.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
09/12/2017 at 08:27, STARS: 0
I bought a ‘12 Nissan Versa this summer for very cheap from a friend at church and replaced the engine and transmission. I am surprised at how much I like it. Ugly as sin and this one is in a terrible color. But it drives very nicely and it’s comfortable. No frills on this one. They’re out there in quantities at $5-6k. Mine gets 30 mpg at 80 mph and three adults in the car with the A/C running.
"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
09/12/2017 at 08:27, STARS: 2
4 cylinder Camry XLE. Because obviously.
Or a Fusion/Milan, I’ve also seen a few Kia Optimas in that range but I’ve never driven one so I can’t say much about it.
If you want more cargo space there’s the Pontiac Vibe/Matrix same driveline as a Camry but higher seating, and a big hatch.
"Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom" (will-alib)
09/12/2017 at 08:33, STARS: 0
Your answer is Jetta.
"Nibby" (nibby68)
09/12/2017 at 08:33, STARS: 1
2006 kia rio
"Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle" (1500sand535)
09/12/2017 at 08:46, STARS: 0
Jettas with the 1.8t and a manual and under 50,000 miles might be around the 10k mark. Probably be CPO too.
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
09/12/2017 at 08:49, STARS: 0
Mazda 6?
"Tripper" (tripe46)
09/12/2017 at 08:52, STARS: 2
That is a tall order. I found a Lexus Prius (CT200h) for 10k with 113k miles. Engaging to drive? I don’t know, but it meets your cost a fuel econ requirement.
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
09/12/2017 at 08:53, STARS: 2
How about a 2013 Acura ILX for $10k? 24/35 MPG, should be somewhat interesting to drive, definitely has the comfort and tech thing covered, FWD for your winters, Honda reliability and definitely date night nice. This one has 90k miles and I don’t think it’s near you, but there are other ILX’s listed on AutoTrader in the $11-12k range that have much lower mileage that you could probably negiotiate down to $10k.
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
09/12/2017 at 09:02, STARS: 3
I literally can’t get my 04 Cooper to do anything other than 30.5 MPG around town. Drive carefully and don’t hoon? 30.5 MPG. Run it out to 6k in every gear? 30.5 MPG. Floor it everywhere, all the time? 30.5 MPG. Autocross it? 30.5 MPG. On the highway I can get up to 36 MPG but in normal driving it is always 30.5 MPG. Thought the display was wrong until I started doing the math.
"random001" (random001)
09/12/2017 at 09:04, STARS: 1
Seriously, consider the Abarth. Very low cost of entry, very engaging to drive, easy car to commute in because it’s so small, FWD, efficient, and that sound....
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
09/12/2017 at 09:09, STARS: 1
Chevy Cruze Eco.
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
09/12/2017 at 09:10, STARS: 0
R50 Mini. Not much power so you get to hoon it everywhere. Around town I get 30.5MPG everywhere all the time no matter what I do (I thought the display was broken until I started doing the math, I got 30.5MPG autocrossing it) and I get 35-36 MPG highway. Interior isn’t great (it’s a cheap BMW) but nobody has ever complained about it to me (they have however complained about my broken AC but that’s a different thing). You can get a really nice R50 for $5k (mine is cosmetically rough but mechanically perfect at 135k mi and cost me $3k and 2 old kayaks). You could also get a R53 Cooper S for under $10k. They are much faster than an R50 and can get ~28 MPG if you are super careful. Get into boost at all though and they burn fuel at an alarming rate for a 1.6L hatchback.
"KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs" (kusabisensei)
09/12/2017 at 09:15, STARS: 0
Mine is 29.5 if you have the A/C on, 30.5 if you have the A/C off. I have gotten it up to 38MPG once .
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
09/12/2017 at 09:17, STARS: 1
The time I got 36 MPG it was straight highway driving for the entire tank. These cars are too fun to drive carefully all the time.
"e36Jeff now drives a ZHP" (e36jeff)
09/12/2017 at 09:20, STARS: 0
If you have somewhere to put a set of snow tires during the summer, RWD cars do just fine in snow/ice. How you drive in that weather and having a good set of snow tires is far more important than what wheels are driven. I’ve been DD’ing RWD BMWs for the last 19 years through all the storms MD, DE, and NJ threw at me and the only time I’ve spun out was because I was doing something stupid. I’ve watched SUVs, trucks and FWD cars spin out on patches of road that I traversed safely and easily, including last year when I watched a Range Rover nearly get t-boned by an 18 wheeler attempting to follow the exact lane change I had just made.
"promoted by the color red" (whenindoubtflatout)
09/12/2017 at 09:21, STARS: 0
Mazda3 Skyactiv
Subaru Legacy 2.5GT
"KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs" (kusabisensei)
09/12/2017 at 09:27, STARS: 0
Although I’m only being offered $10K in trade value at the Chevy dealer... That’s about the only downside, but I don’t really care about that.
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
09/12/2017 at 09:29, STARS: 0
Sounds like typical dealer procedure when they are planning to send it straight to auction instead of selling it themselves.
"David Baker" (mark7lsc1)
09/12/2017 at 09:31, STARS: 0
2012+ manual standard focus
"KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs" (kusabisensei)
09/12/2017 at 09:32, STARS: 0
Yup. Exactly. So if anyone wants to buy it, then I’m all ears.
"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
09/12/2017 at 09:35, STARS: 0
Acura TSX. The automatic isn’t horrible but there are plenty of manuals. Just find a decent one and drive the wheels off of it.
"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
09/12/2017 at 09:59, STARS: 0
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/711635593/overview/
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
09/12/2017 at 10:04, STARS: 1
Buy a boringly reliable beige car and use the savings to build up the Trans Am.
Hey, somebody has to say it.
"diplodicus" (diplodicus)
09/12/2017 at 10:41, STARS: 1
This doesn’t meet 2 criteria but its dope af.
https://www.panjo.com/buy/e39-2002-540i-touring-wagon-368861
"carcrazydan738" (carcrazydan738)
09/12/2017 at 11:21, STARS: 0
What about a Sporty Subaru?
"carcrazydan738" (carcrazydan738)
09/12/2017 at 11:37, STARS: 1
what about something made by Infinity, Honda, or Lexus, Acura? Since snow and ice are going to be issues I’m thinking all wheel drive or something along those lines.
"Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection" (itsalwayssteve)
09/13/2017 at 09:25, STARS: 0
One of the Versas at work is a 12 hatchback with the conventional automatic. It’s huge inside for what it is, has French-soft seats (important for a fat boy like me) and has been dead-on reliable.
The other 9 Versas are CVT sedans. I flog them without mercy.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
09/13/2017 at 09:32, STARS: 0
Flog. CVT. Yes, huge inside for what it is. And with the Alpine speakers the factor radio sounds quite good.
I worry about French-soft and how they will hold up.
My ‘12 has 70k on the chassis and 32k on the engine/trans and my labor. Total monetary investment on my part is about $3700.
"Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection" (itsalwayssteve)
09/13/2017 at 09:33, STARS: 0
"2Fast2Furious: Rotary Powered" (2fast2furiousfc3s)
09/13/2017 at 20:05, STARS: 1
Regal ts are around that price at that mileage, and I can confirm they are fun and luxurious for what they are