Buying a Car what to get? 94-96 or so. Need 25+ MPG

JonBoy

Active Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Hampstead NC
Ok i might be changing jobs and buying a car for the commute. Have really considered a Miata since at one point in my life I wanted one. Would like something I would enjoy the ride in. Ave also considered a Civic but nothing really great about them other than 30+ MPG. Sugestions welcome.

let me add I currently drive a 98 chevy K1500 and this will be a second car not a replacement. Drive is 25 Miles each way.

If anyone knows much about civics please let me know what motor I should be looking for if there is more than one and what years motors changed,
 
I had a '95 Mercurcy Tracer for awhile and absolutely loved it. It's a clone of an Escort, but 4 doors. Definitely get a 5 speed, the box lasts forever, the a/t not so. In 2 years of hard abuse, I never got < 30 mpg, ave 32. Will cost about $100-1500 max, and parts are everywhere cheap. If you can find a Tracer LTS or Escort EX, it has a mazda-made 1.8L DOHC that is supposed to be very fast.
I don't know what your price you're looking, but my humble opinion is that while Civics are great cars, their cost has exceeeded the actual value.
 
I would have to go with the Honda. My preference would be the 4 cylinder. For the over all performance I don't see them being beat JMHO.
We have a 89 220+K and I would buy another.
 
i had a vw GTI for about a year as a dd, really enjoyed it, good econemy, still fun to drive
 
My opinion... :rolleyes:

'97-'99 Camry sedan... w/ 4banger & auto. Not only does mine regularly get 35+ mpg (37mpg on long highway trips with cruise set) with little maintenance along the way (seems the timing belt, head gasket, & valve work @ 85K... now @ 125K), but it's decently functional to haul other people & equipment (welders, various parts, etc.)

They should be old enough to be under $3K and under 100K miles. Most are in decent shape cause they were owned by moms & grandma's (who typically haul it to the dealer for the slightest reason).

I also agree that Honda's are great cars, but the prices have risen to the point of diminishing returns! Having said that, my old '86 Accord Lxi had 285,000 on it when passed to the Columbian waving Benjamins. Several timing belts (check with GT Imports in Clemmons for a list of "good" engines = NON-interference heads), a junkyard tranny @ 158K, and regular oil changes were all I ever did...

My mom bought a new "Chevy" Aveo (called the "Piece O'Car") and was pissed to find that my near 10 year old mid sized Camry gets MUCH better MPG (33-50% better!) & has double the space/size of her crackerjackmobile...
 
i second the camry


my dad has to drive 30 miles each day to work and well his fullsize truck wasnt cutting it lol. He picked up a 90 ford bronco ll, 2.9 5speed 4x4 and it gets 25mpg or better on his long hauls everyday. oh yea and it was only like 400 bucks lol. theres a ton of options out there for ya.
 
Yeah my DD is a 98 camry 4cyl auto and I consistantly get 34 mpg on the hwy. and that is with added air resistance via huge dent in the pass side rear quarter (PO clipped a hydrant in the snow). it's a very comfortable ride and my only problem right now is the rack is leaking. so I have to buy a quart of atf every so often, big whoop. another plus is a decent sized gas tank (16 or so gallons) so I don't have to stop on long trips.
 
The Camry LX models have a few "sport" features that I'd love to have on my POS... sunroof, leather, CD...

Mine's an LE = AM/FM :rolleyes:, power everything, tilt, & crappy light colored cloth/carpet (read VERY easily stained) :shaking:
 
I have a 96 pontiac grand prix and I get about 25+ MPG. Its a great car but it will be gone soon getting ready to sell it.
 
My brother had a '97 Integra GSR. That thing was a blast to drive. Really had some get up and go, and still had very good fuel economy. Plus they really aren't expensive.
 
Wife has an 02 grand prix....
More room than you would think, peppy enough...
gets 25-30.

and they are cheap.
We have hers in the auto trader at 4500....
 
i have a 96 honda accord 4 door in wilmington... just went through every little thing on it, runs like a dream... $2000 cash by this friday before i trade it for a 4runner...
 
Civic is a 40 mpg machine on the road. The EX has the VTEC motor which puts out great power for what it is and still gets 40 mpg. The Accord will get close to 35 mpg on the highway. I would go with the Accord for the better ride that won't feel like your butt is dragging the pavement.

My $0.02 :beer:
 
I would get a Saturn 95 and up the SOHC get close to 40MPG and th DOHC get around 35. I use to have a used car dealership and that was all we sold. I have had hundreds of them and never one uhappy customer.
They do not drive or handl like a Honda but then they also to not have a Stupid Timing belt that can break and have to be replaced every 60k miles like a honda or accura. They have a Timing Chain.
I you get one then the first thing you should do is replace the Temp sensor for the electric fan these all ways go bad. but besides that change your oil and you will easly get 250k
 
SkyHiK5 said:
Wife has an 02 grand prix....
More room than you would think, peppy enough...
gets 25-30.
and they are cheap.
We have hers in the auto trader at 4500....
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I'm with you on that one. My DD is an 02 Grand Prix GTP (supercharged) and I'm getting 25/26 mpg on the backroad commute from North Charlotte to Kannapolis every day. On the long trips up to NY, I'm getting 29/30 mpg. It's roomy, inexpensive, and hauls ass with the blower. It's got 92K miles on it now with zero problems. Great car. I may look into getting another used GTP after I rack up the miles on this one.

Here it is a few days after I bought it back in 04...
awww.supermotors.net_getfile_164356_fullsize_dscn0428.jpg
 
x2 on 95+ saturns, they are pretty decent, just check the tranny really well.. i have seen a few around 100K about to shit the bed
 
Only issue w/ Saturns is that they eat oil. Don't really burn it, something about a valve clearance issue. Nothing tragic. But if you own one with the DHOC, you must continually check the oil, very normal to lose a quart every 1000+ miles. This means if you buy one, ask about the timing chain and get a good feel for whether the PO stayed on top of this.
Good cheap cars though, and an SL1 with manual tranny can get 35 mpg.
 
RatLabGuy said:
Only issue w/ Saturns is that they eat oil. Don't really burn it, something about a valve clearance issue. Nothing tragic. But if you own one with the DHOC, you must continually check the oil, very normal to lose a quart every 1000+ miles.
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My wife's SL2 was notorious for that. That, and the fact that I could sprint the 1/4 mile faster than that car, are reasons why she's now driving a Maxima.
 
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