Decent daily driver?

highrollintj

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2005
Location
Rolesville
I don't typically pay attention to cars that get good mpg because they tend to be ugly and I don't like driving slow, ugly cars but I bought a 2014 VW passat TDI a little over two years ago to drive back and forth to work (I drive roughly 120 miles per day). VW will be buying my car back in mid january and I will need to find something to replace it. I don't want to use the money to buy another new car as i will be taking that money and trading my truck in on a new diesel. I want to buy something cheap that gets good mpg and is reliable. Which cars are reliable, get decent mpg, and aren't hideous or boring to drive that I should consider? Mileage and year don't really matter. I don't want to spend more than $8K for something I'm just going to drive back and forth to work.
 
In for the discussion.

I bought a 2010 golf TDI from Chad on the board here about 9 months ago. It's been a great car, but VW offered me more money than I could refuse in the buybacks. I may or may not replace it immediately, but I have been keeping a lazy eye on the market.
 
I'm always an advocate of the FWD Lincoln MKZ's...2012-13 and older should keep you under that $8k mark. Entry level luxury, so it's a pretty nice ride, but cheap to wrench on since it shares quite a few parts with the fusion. Plenty of room up front for two big guys, can fit 3 kids in the back. 30mpg hwy, and it's just under the 300hp mark. I've DD'd a couple since 08, current one had 170k on it, bought it with 30k.

Otherwise, I'm always a fan of the late 90-early 2000's caddy's...but there was a batch of northstars in there that are notorious for head gasket issues.


Edit...benefit for both of these vehicles is, they're generally purchased by older folks, so low miles and well taken care of.
 
I've put 64k miles on mine in 26 months. I would be getting way more back if I hadn't driven so much, but it was essentially like having it for free during that time and just having to pay for fuel and regular maintenance. I made a pretty large down payment when I bought it new and currently owe less than $7k on it. Will get my entire down payment back, plus the payments that I've made during that time. One thing I'm not going to miss is the amount I had to pay for each service at the dealer. Bought it from southern states and they were giving lifetime power train warranties as long as I got it serviced every 10K miles there, plus they took $4600 off sticker. Best deal on a new one I was able to find in the Raleigh-Durham area.
 
Ever looked into the BMW 335d? They are pretty fast, deliver good around town mpg (28-29) and great highway mpg for a sporty car (35-36). They only made them for the US market from 2009-2011, but you can find them for $13k-20k with under 100k miles. Not under $8k, but a lot of car for the money in my opinion.
 
I'd get my 2002 Civic back if I could. Ex, 5 speed, coupe. Got 38 mpg no matter how I drove it ( over 40 before ethanol in everything ). I owned it from around 70,000 to over 150,000. Previous owner killed the clutch so it got replaced. Only other money spent on it was timing belt and an alternator other than routine maintenance.
 
LBarr2002 said:
I'd get my 2002 Civic back if I could. Ex, 5 speed, coupe. Got 38 mpg no matter how I drove it ( over 40 before ethanol in everything ). I owned it from around 70,000 to over 150,000. Previous owner killed the clutch so it got replaced. Only other money spent on it was timing belt and an alternator other than routine maintenance.
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I actually went from a 2003 Civic EX to the TDI that's up for replacement.

The civic was great... For me. I think most people would have thought the repairs to be a bit excessive. I got it at 168k with a blown head gasket from my sister. I sold it at 245k for $650 less than I payed for it. But in that time I did have to repair the head gasket of course, a fuel sender, a spark plug that failed and poisoned the catalyst, wheel bearing, suspension bushings, broken door handles on top of the normal maintenance items. All cheap stuff, but likely too much of an annoyance for someone that pays for their maintenance.

In the end I ended up selling it because the aesthetic condition was really deteriorating. My sister was a social worker that drove around special needs kids so the inside had seen just about every spill possible. When that was complimented with dull paint, clouded headlights and steel wheels sans covers it would turn most women's pants into the Sahara desert.
 
Been driving my wife's hand me down 2007 Yaris Sedan that we've had since it was new. 8x,xxx miles on it and the only thing I've had to do is put on a new set of tires. 40 mpg on the highway and 37 or so around town.

Comparable to a civic in looks I would say. You won't beat that wrx in a drag race either, but it's quick enough for what it is.
 
jeepinmatt said:
Ever looked into the BMW 335d? They are pretty fast, deliver good around town mpg (28-29) and great highway mpg for a sporty car (35-36). They only made them for the US market from 2009-2011, but you can find them for $13k-20k with under 100k miles. Not under $8k, but a lot of car for the money in my opinion.
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Yeah those are nice, but like I said earlier I'd rather put that extra money towards my new truck.
 
Falko said:
I actually went from a 2003 Civic EX to the TDI that's up for replacement.

The civic was great... For me. I think most people would have thought the repairs to be a bit excessive. I got it at 168k with a blown head gasket from my sister. I sold it at 245k for $650 less than I payed for it. But in that time I did have to repair the head gasket of course, a fuel sender, a spark plug that failed and poisoned the catalyst, wheel bearing, suspension bushings, broken door handles on top of the normal maintenance items. All cheap stuff, but likely too much of an annoyance for someone that pays for their maintenance.

In the end I ended up selling it because the aesthetic condition was really deteriorating. My sister was a social worker that drove around special needs kids so the inside had seen just about every spill possible. When that was complimented with dull paint, clouded headlights and steel wheels sans covers it would turn most women's pants into the Sahara desert.
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:lol: yeah that's a good reason not to get an old civic. Whatever I get will be driven minimum 5 days a week and that's what i'll be seen in the most. hard enough to pick up chicks as it is without driving around a beat up civic lol. Would be one thing if i was married or had a serious girlfriend. I'm not past driving a mid to late 2000's accord though.
 
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