What the hell, brain?

"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno)
09/11/2015 at 21:19 • Filed to: None

For some reason lately I’ve had the constant thought in the back of my head that in less than a year, I’ll be commuting to and from downtown for tech college and that I really don’t want to put all those miles on an already high-mileage M3. Plus the fact that I’m only averaging 16.6 MPG. And that I’m still not totally sold on it being 100% reliable enough to get down there everyday. I keep thinking I need to get something I won’t care about putting on the miles on and gets stellar gas mileage, like a Cobalt (and not an SS). I don’t know why the hell this is such an issue to me all the sudden. I don’t like it.

DISCUSSION (37)

bob and john > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/11/2015 at 21:22

thats a hell of a lot of traffic to be avging 16.6

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > bob and john
09/11/2015 at 21:24

I’m starting to think there’s something wrong with the car because most of my driving right now is highway and the car’s rated for 27.

jkm7680 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/11/2015 at 21:26

You may have a bad cat. Scan for codes, sometimes they won’t throw a CEL.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/11/2015 at 21:26

I’ll trade you my Versa.

LongbowMkII > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/11/2015 at 21:26

look for an XFE. rated high 30s highway mpg iirc. being a standard n/a engine epa ratings aren’t as optimistic.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > jkm7680
09/11/2015 at 21:27

I have, nothing shows up. I’ve checked both with the OBDII port inside the car and with the BMW-specific ports under the hood.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/11/2015 at 21:27

Cobalt XFE, or maybe a Saturn Astra?

16.6 is pretty bad though... I still get 21 in heavy traffic on this thing,

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
09/11/2015 at 21:28

Sure, just drive it down to STL and find a manual gearbox along the way :)

bob and john > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/11/2015 at 21:29

lead foot?

if the computer isnt throwing any codes, pull the plugs and see what they look like. might give you a good place to start from.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
09/11/2015 at 21:30

I’d lovelovelovelove to get an Astra. Manual 3 doors are hard to come by though.

jkm7680 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/11/2015 at 21:30

Huh, I can’t explain it. Maybe the Germany Gods are trying to send you a message?

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > bob and john
09/11/2015 at 21:31

Kinda hard to have lead feet on the highway without getting in trouble. Happened once already and would rather not do it again.

Plugs have less than 1,000 miles on them. Same with the oil.

Funktheduck > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/11/2015 at 21:31

Get a corolla. They're great commuter cars. They're softer than the civic for ride so it's more comfortable and they have a massive trunk. Can be had in manual. Plus you blend in so cops don't pay attention.

Under_Score > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/11/2015 at 21:32

Tech college? What are you gonna major in?

As for the car, Corolla or Civic is always the answer.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > jkm7680
09/11/2015 at 21:33

Neither can I and it pisses me off. I’m pretty sure my dad’s Silverado is better on the fuel economy front right now.

“Get the fuck out of our car you american loving pleb.”?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/11/2015 at 21:33

Also, also, also, again, I thought you were selling the M3 anyway? I mean it really sounds like it hasn’t been much of an enjoyable experience overall. And you have doubts about it being reliable for ho-hum commutes. Personally, I think the MPGs bother you this much because it’s just adding insult to injury. You would care much less if you loved the car.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Under_Score
09/11/2015 at 21:35

Automotive technician. The GM ASEP program more specifically.

Civic maybe, Corolla hell no. There are plenty of other cars out there that get good MPG that don’t make me drive a Corolla.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/11/2015 at 21:38

As the New Slobalt, I will tell you that if you are looking for a cheap beater that gets good mileage and is realiable, a Slobalt can be a great choice.

Back in 2009 I was sadled with a beat up old Dodge Ram 3500 with a Cummins. It was a badass truck, but I was driving from Norfolk, VA to Washington, DC every single weekend to see my girlfriend (now wife). It was killing me in fuel mileage, and it was the height of the Carpocalypse, and cash-for-clunkers was going on. Long story short, I traded my Ram in for a 2009 Cobalt. It was a base model, LS, 5 speed, with crank windows and manual locks. Brand new, off the lot, for $11k. I rolled in $5k of negative equity on the truck, and in 2011 it got hit, totaled, and I still cleared $500 off it after paying off the loan. Only car that’s ever made me money.

I put 73k miles on it in 2 years and a few months, and it never gave me a second’s trouble, and pulled a consistent 35 mpg. The only thing I ever did was put a K&N drop in filter in it. It also had the best stock shifter I’ve ever tried. The seats were decent but got a little uncomfortable on really long trips (I’m talking 6 hour car trips and such). The rest of the interior is meh - cheap cloth, hard plastics, etc. Not bad, but, well it’s a cheap, entry level car.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
09/11/2015 at 21:39

I was going to, but finding someone who wants a high mileage, specialty 90s German car is near impossible it seems. I love the car, I really do. I love driving it, I love the power, I love the noise. It’s just not a great daily. I’m hoping to be able to keep it as a project and weekend toy but I dunno.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/11/2015 at 21:40

When I had to sell my Tercel, I found out the only person on the planet that loved them was actually me.

Autofixation > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/11/2015 at 21:41

A few common sense things to check, air filter, plugs, wires, leaks in the exhaust (would mess with O2 sensor), battery terminal corrosion (would cause poor spark and extra drag on alternator), resistance check on your coils, they may be on their way out.

These things can add up to the engine running poorly but they may not be to the point that they would cause a code.

Autofixation > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
09/11/2015 at 21:43

Love the car or not, 16 mpg will eat a hole in you wallet.

jkm7680 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/11/2015 at 21:44

Huh, maybe try an Indie shop or BMW forums?

boxrocket > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/11/2015 at 21:45

Of all the cars to consider when wanting better gas mileage, a cobalt would never have entered my head. I'd rather have a new/used Mirage or i-MiEV.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > LongbowMkII
09/11/2015 at 21:48

I had an XFE, 5 spd. The only thing I did was drop in a K&N panel filter. Used to average 35 mpg all the time, and I could routinely pull over 40 on the highways. Frankly, my Cruze with the 6 speed, 1.4 turbo, with the tune in economy mode barely does any better.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > boxrocket
09/11/2015 at 21:51

See but a Cobalt I can buy for like $3k and run it to the ground without feeling bad.

boxrocket > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/11/2015 at 21:56

Fair enough, but I just find the interiors and overall driving (and passenger) experience to be so depressingly miserable.

I have a line on a couple of Civic sedans for under $3K, fellow STL resident. One’s a 1993 stick shift, the other an early-2000s base model, I don’t remember the transmission.

bob and john > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/11/2015 at 21:59

i didnt say change them. pull them and read them. might give you some insight as to whats happening

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Autofixation
09/11/2015 at 22:10

Hah. I lust for 16mpg. Fuel effecient plebs.

ShiroZ31 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/11/2015 at 22:25

My V8 4Runner gets 17-18, you’ve either got a fuel leak or you’re running pig rich. Have you checked for puddles under the car?

Birddog > Snuze: Needs another Swede
09/11/2015 at 23:06

As a former Cavalier owner and occasional Cobalt passenger I thank you.

These cars get more criticism Crap than they deserve.

M54B30 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/12/2015 at 00:11

I’ve driven a friend’s cobalt, it was actually a pretty nice car

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/12/2015 at 00:42

well im DD a f350 powerstroke that get 16. Id rather do that than any fwd cavalier older brother. worth it to pay more to not drive a crappy car

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > bob and john
09/12/2015 at 01:47

THIS. My plugs are supposed to be gapped at 0.054”, when I pulled my old ones out and replaced them with NGK Iridiums, the gap was at ).09..... I have no idea, my gauge didnt go that big. After the spark plug and wire replacement, I gained 2mpg.

Sam > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/12/2015 at 07:57

2 words.

Manual. Corolla.

We have one and it averages about 38 MPG. You could also get a Miata, which also averages about 30-35 MPG.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/12/2015 at 20:35

Drove a used cobalt for 6 years. interior is cheap, and so was the price. Put 95k on it and the only thing I had to change (other than basic wearable items) was a wheel bearing, and a $60MFA. Routinely got 35mpg (75 highway, 25 city). If I had to buy it again, I would.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Snuze: Needs another Swede
09/14/2015 at 22:52

This is a very good, honest look at cheap cars. I thank you, as a cheap car owner.