Economy Car Recommendations

[Shorty]

I'm liking my 2012 Versa. CVT trans yields 39 mpg on cheap gas. NOT a powerhouse.  If it lasts like my other Nissan products have, I'm well served.

[bigbikerrick]

Yeah.  We don't know if the F150 is paid for, how old it is, or if it will be sold to help offset the price of the economy car.

My Sons Pickup is a 2012 Raptor. He plans to keep it, its paid for. He uses it mostly for recreation on weekends, scuba trips down into Mexico where they have to travel on some crazy roads to get to the water. It gets pretty bad gas mileage, but is one heck of a nice truck.
Rick.

[Kev m]

Ha ha, the Raptor isn't just a truck, it's a muscle car/truck with the worst mileage they make. So yeah, this makes sense.

Rated at 11/16, wouldn't surprise me if it easily got less. Plus maintenance costs are likely higher as well.

[segesta]

For $9000, check out a used Mazda 3. I have had my bottom-of-the-line version* for 3 years, and it is perfectly boring, and perfectly reliable. I really like it.

*my motorcycle has cruise control and heated seats; my car doesn't. Go figure.

[Arizona Wayne]

:1:

And the Fiesta with the dual clutch trans. We have several in my family and all have had problems.

I recently rented a new Ford Fiesta SE w/dual clutch auto tranny and drove it 600 miles non-stop when my 750 Breva clutch blew    It was like driving a sports car and got 36 mpg but the clutch felt odd like it was a belt drive tranny at times.  Otherwise I was impressed w/the car.  Why would an auto. tranny need a dual clutch? 

[bigbikerrick]

Im really surprised someone has not come out with a comment about any of the Korean cars. In Arizona, I see a ton of Kia, Hyundai, etc. out on the road.  They cant all be that bad, or are they?
Ive heard some people comment that they are at the quality level of Toyota/ Datsun back in the 70s-80s.
Rick.

[Lannis]

Im really surprised someone has not come out with a comment about any of the Korean cars. In Arizona, I see a ton of Kia, Hyundai, etc. out on the road.  They cant all be that bad, or are they?
Ive heard some people comment that they are at the quality level of Toyota/ Datsun back in the 70s-80s.
Rick.

Never had a new one.   I've had three Ford/Kia/Mazda "Festivas" from 1989 - 1993 and they're nice cars, built by Kia.

The ones I've rented have been good solid-feeling cars.    But no real-world experience.

Fay put 200,000+ on a former Avis rental Buick 3.6L.    Best-riding, nicest car we've ever owned.   Totalled by a stupid woman in a parking lot.

Lannis

[bigbikerrick]

Ha ha, the Raptor isn't just a truck, it's a muscle car/truck with the worst mileage they make. So yeah, this makes sense.

Rated at 11/16, wouldn't surprise me if it easily got less. Plus maintenance costs are likely higher as well.

He usually gets 12 MPG no matter how he drives it. One time I drove it on a 100 mile round trip of pure highway. I tried to drive it like an old lady, to get the best fuel economy, kept it at 65mph, on cruise control, had the tailgate open, etc. Best I could get was 17.
That beast is one thirsty truck!
Rick.

[Kev m]

Never had a new one.   I've had three Ford/Kia/Mazda "Festivas" from 1989 - 1993 and they're nice cars, built by Kia.

The ones I've rented have been good solid-feeling cars.    But no real-world experience.

Fay put 200,000+ on a former Avis rental Buick 3.6L.    Best-riding, nicest car we've ever owned.   Totalled by a stupid woman in a parking lot.

Lannis

I thought that era Festiva was a Daewoo (later bought up by Kia or Hyundai). At least that's what Jenn's 89 said on the under hood and door jamb badges.

It was cheap, but tough and reliable, and very efficient.

I've gotten the impression that Kia and Hyundai overall reliability has come WAY UP and are decent enough vehicles these days.

I absolutely don't believe the Toyota and Honda myths anymore.

All four companies make multi-hundred thousand mile vehicles, and all four make some lemons.

[rocker59]

Now that we know he's keeping his truck, that makes the story different.

Do you want to put the money in the fuel tank, or into a car ?

I'm still of the mind that spending $9,000 on a car to save a few thousand $$$ in gasoline over three years doesn't make purely economic sense. 

But, I do know that some people really don't like giving money to oil companies.  My dad, for instance, will drive across town to save a nickel a gallon.  Even with the big 42-galllon tank on his Super Duty Ford, the difference is only $2.10 on a tank of fuel.  And he'll burn that savings on the round-trip drive to the station.  But it's his money, and his point to make, I guess.

To maximize savings, and fun, I'm still in the Mazda Miata camp.  But, since he's holding the truck, I'd get an even older Miata.  Something 15 years old for $4,000 to $5000.   There are lots of garage-queen Miatas out there with low miles, which have spent their lives as 2nd and 3rd cars.

I bought my 1991 Miata with only 39,000 miles on the clock.  It returned 24 mpg in town and 32 mpg on the highway.  Combined was 26 - 28 mpg.  And, it was fun.  I prefer trucks, so for me, a car has to be fun.   The car didn't have a lot of power, but it was a convertible that handled great, and returned decent fuel economy numbers for me.  I sold it with 125,000 on the odometer, and I still see it on the road occasionally.  Cam Belt, a window regulator, a brake job, and a Battery were my only maintenance in seven years and 86,000 miles.

[nunzio]

my 2007 Hyundai Sonata has 175000 ish miles on it.
A tractor trailor hit my wife (35mph)and drug his front wheel lugs down the side of it...Think Ben Hur Chariot race.

It was totaled and I got it for 1800.00 and a salvage title..
She got a new Honda Civic.
That was 75000 miles ago and it's still running great.
I'll drive it till it drops!!

 I don't have as many people parking near me on the left side of the car in parking lots anymore!!!!

I have had good luck with mine.

[Kev m]

Now that we know he's keeping his truck, that makes the story different.

Do you want to put the money in the fuel tank, or into a car ?

I'm still of the mind that spending $9,000 on a car to save a few thousand $$$ in gasoline over three years doesn't make purely economic sense. 

It's not that simple a question.

It's a Raptor, so it's a specialty truck.

Maybe he wants to save IT for playtime and not commute time.

Maybe the ride is more harsh than he wants for commuting.

Maybe the parking is limited and tight, or in a crappy neighborhood.

Maybe he's looking at more than just gas expenses (wear/tear, tires, brakes, etc.).

But what does it matter, he's got a father to ask those questions of him.

His dad came here asking for info about brands and models, not the economics of buying a commuter car.

[rocker59]

His dad came here asking for info about brands and models, not the economics of buying a commuter car.

And I have offered my suggestion on a great car that would fill the bill...

...with just a little bit of sideways discussion about the economics of it.

[Kev m]

And I have offered my suggestion on a great car that would fill the bill...

...with just a little bit of sideways discussion about the economics of it.

No I know, and I'm the last guy to complain about a tangent, but that was last page. This page it was answered. I think it was the way you said in one sentence that now we know he's keeping his truck, but in the next asked the question again, do you want to put the money into the tank or car... Well, he answered that as did you in the first question... No biggie.

[rocker59]

No I know, and I'm the last guy to complain about a tangent, but that was last page. This page it was answered. I think it was the way you said in one sentence that now we know he's keeping his truck, but in the next asked the question again, do you want to put the money into the tank or car... Well, he answered that as did you in the first question... No biggie.

Yeah.  He's saving his nice truck from the drudgery of the weekly commute.  Nothing in the world wrong with that.

[bigbikerrick]

It's not that simple a question.

It's a Raptor, so it's a specialty truck.

Maybe he wants to save IT for playtime and not commute time.

Maybe the ride is more harsh than he wants for commuting.

Maybe the parking is limited and tight, or in a crappy neighborhood.

Maybe he's looking at more than just gas expenses (wear/tear, tires, brakes, etc.).

But what does it matter, he's got a father to ask those questions of him.

His dad came here asking for info about brands and models, not the economics of buying a commuter car.

Alot of those things are true, Kev. He wants that truck to last him, its more of a toy, the car is going to be a workhorse /commuter.
Rick

[threebrits]

I'd go for fun too.  The math against him - it just going to cost him a new Stelvio to save a running El Dorado in gas.  Maybe a Honda S2000 or an early Audi TT.  He might as well get laid in process.

[bigbikerrick]

Miatas are a great value, but he needs something with a back seat, as sometimes, he needs to take his girlfriend, and her son along.
Rick.

[LowRyter]

Now that we know he's keeping his truck, that makes the story different.

Do you want to put the money in the fuel tank, or into a car ?

I'm still of the mind that spending $9,000 on a car to save a few thousand $$$ in gasoline over three years doesn't make purely economic sense. 

But, I do know that some people really don't like giving money to oil companies.  My dad, for instance, will drive across town to save a nickel a gallon.  Even with the big 42-galllon tank on his Super Duty Ford, the difference is only $2.10 on a tank of fuel.  And he'll burn that savings on the round-trip drive to the station.  But it's his money, and his point to make, I guess.

To maximize savings, and fun, I'm still in the Mazda Miata camp.  But, since he's holding the truck, I'd get an even older Miata.  Something 15 years old for $4,000 to $5000.   There are lots of garage-queen Miatas out there with low miles, which have spent their lives as 2nd and 3rd cars.

I bought my 1991 Miata with only 39,000 miles on the clock.  It returned 24 mpg in town and 32 mpg on the highway.  Combined was 26 - 28 mpg.  And, it was fun.  I prefer trucks, so for me, a car has to be fun.   The car didn't have a lot of power, but it was a convertible that handled great, and returned decent fuel economy numbers for me.  I sold it with 125,000 on the odometer, and I still see it on the road occasionally.  Cam Belt, a window regulator, a brake job, and a Battery were my only maintenance in seven years and 86,000 miles.

My cousin Mary and her husband Rick are part of the Miata Club up there.  They live in Bela Vista.  Don't know if you've crossed paths.  Small world.

[Offcamber1]

I recently rented a new Ford Fiesta SE w/dual clutch auto tranny and drove it 600 miles non-stop when my 750 Breva clutch blew    It was like driving a sports car and got 36 mpg but the clutch felt odd like it was a belt drive tranny at times.  Otherwise I was impressed w/the car.  Why would an auto. tranny need a dual clutch? 

Because it is not a true automatic.  Actually a standard shift with two alternating gear stacks in the trans, hence the two clutches.  So what you really have is an efficiently programmed and shifted manual trans that acts like an auto.   They did this to pick up about 9% better mpg.

They may have done a final workable fix for the problem since this time last year.  It's been a year since I have had any direct knowledge.  But since the OP was talking used I believe it would apply.

FWIW, my wife drives an 07 Edge (loves it) and I just negotiated a deal on a 2010 Fusion for my 88 year old mom.  I've  not got a problem with FMC, just that particular transmission in the late model Focus/Fiesta.

[Arizona Wayne]

Because it is not a true automatic.  Actually a standard shift with two alternating gear stacks in the trans, hence the two clutches.  So what you really have is an efficiently programmed and shifted manual trans that acts like an auto.   They did this to pick up about 9% better mpg.

They may have done a final workable fix for the problem since this time last year.  It's been a year since I have had any direct knowledge.  But since the OP was talking used I believe it would apply.

FWIW, my wife drives an 07 Edge (loves it) and I just negotiated a deal on a 2010 Fusion for my 88 year old mom.  I've  not got a problem with FMC, just that particular transmission in the late model Focus/Fiesta.

Maybe that's because it was a 6 speed?  The funky shifting was just at certain times.  I will say going up grades it had no issues. 

Anyone here driven a car with auto tranny w/belts yet?

[Kev m]

Anyone here driven a car with auto tranny w/belts yet?

Do you mean a CVT?

 I've driven a couple, including the Juke I own.

[Rough Edge racing]

 After reading the replies ,and it has been mentioned,what is the point of spending near 10 grand for an economy car when the "gas guzzler" truck won't be sold? How long is the payback between 12 MPG compared to 35 MPG? And the extra cost of insurance,license, required maintenance....It's not like a young man starting off needs two vehicles....unless one is a bike 

[Kiwi_Roy]

Come on guys, the boy needs a chick magnet, not  a grocery hauler.

Rockers Miata would be cool but no back seat 

[vstevens]

A Fiat 500 a couple years old will run like a top, get great mileage, maintenance is cheap, it's built and sold all over the world so parts are ubiquitous.  The hatch is huge and swallows up far more than many larger cars or small SUV.  Insurance and registration is cheap.  Engine is built in Detroit, body is designed in Italy and it's put together in Mexico.  I've had one for three years, bought it new, and it's been a great car. 

[rocker59]

Come on guys, the boy needs a chick magnet, not  a grocery hauler.

Rockers Miata would be cool but no back seat 

Scion TC

A nice little "sports coupe" with decent economy and a back seat.

[Kev m]

Scion TC

A nice little "sports coupe" with decent economy and a back seat.

That ain't gonna get him laid... unless maybe he's into guys... 

[Lannis]

That ain't gonna get him laid... unless maybe he's into guys... 

It's a bit scary that you're so sure of that .... ?        

[Kev m]

It's a bit scary that you're so sure of that .... ?      

What's the Jack Nicholson line in As Good As It Gets - he plays a misogynist romance author (Melvin Udall):

Receptionist: How do you write women so well?

Melvin Udall: I think of a man, and I take away reason and accountability.

 

[Lannis]

What's the Jack Nicholson line in As Good As It Gets - he plays a misogynist romance author (Melvin Udall):

Quote
Receptionist: How do you write women so well?

Melvin Udall: I think of a man, and I take away reason and accountability.

Whew!   Good thing there's no women that ever look over WG posts!   (I SAID, IT'S A GOOD THING THERE'S NO WOMEN READING THIS!)       

Lannis