Best affordable commuter car

[LD1]

Well I just started my new job this week after being laid off for 4 months.

The only problem is that it is 90 miles round trip instead of the 40 I am used to and 17mpg out of my truck that has 100,000miles on it just ain't gonna work. So I am looking for a commuter car in the $3000 price range that gets good MPG's

I want to keep the price low as to not have to take out a loan that would require full coverage insurance and negate the savings by paying the higher premium.

So..........I am just wondering what all you guy's experiences are good or bad.
I have had good luck with the two saturns that I have owned. One a 97 and one a 2000, both SL models with the single cam motor and std tranny. I got between 40 and 45mpg highway. But was wondering what experiences anyone has had with others like Neons, Civics, etc.

I would really like a jetta TDI, but they command a pretty good premium even used with higher miles. Like 6-7000, which is just a little too high.

I would prefer a std car, as they usually get better milage. So what kind of mileage are you guys getting and how reliable are your commuter cars???

Thanks to all

 

[Bird]

The so called "economy" cars I've had didn't do as well as your Saturn on mileage. I considered a Saturn in 1993 when I was looking for something to tow behind a motorhome, but the seats were uncomfortable to me. So I bought a new 1993 Ford Escort station wagon with the 5-spd manual transmission. In 106k miles, the overall average was 32.585 mpg, when my wife totalled it. So I bought her a new 1999 Escort 4 dr. sedan with an automatic transmission. We only put 38.8k miles on it before trading for a bigger vehicle (Windstar), but it averaged 32.982 mpg. Now those were mixed city/hwy driving and using the air-conditioning a great deal. For individual tanks of gas on highway trips, I've gotten over 38 mpg with the '93.

No personal experience with the others you mentioned, although I would expect any of them to be pretty good. Of course, because of my prior experience, I'd probably be looking for an Escort or a Focus.

And congratulations on rejoining the ranks of the employed. Hope you enjoy the new job.

 

[dex3361]

My son drives a 98 ford escort sedan and it is a standard shift and it has about 155k on it and has been problem free other than maintenance and a planned change out on the timing belt milage was about 34 highway.

 

[texasjohn]

I'm a Toyota Camry believer... have had 5 in the family ... still have all but the one that son totaled when he rolled it at 100k and one my MIL killed at 296K when the engine went. Station wagons and sedans. Typically they get 30 to 34 MPG...and mine have all been bullet proof...I mean I've replaced starters, consumables, mufflers, etc all at mileage FAR beyond what I anticipated the normal life to be. They have been my commuter vehicle for past 35 years.

I'd look on Craig's list, not be afraid of one that is older than 8 years old if it is currently in reasonable shape. Listen to the engine. I prefer standard transmission, IMHO all automatics go out some time or other although around 160K has been my experience.

 

[coobie]

Well I just started my new job this week after being laid off for 4 months.

The only problem is that it is 90 miles round trip instead of the 40 I am used to and 17mpg out of my truck that has 100,000miles on it just ain't gonna work. So I am looking for a commuter car in the $3000 price range that gets good MPG's

I want to keep the price low as to not have to take out a loan that would require full coverage insurance and negate the savings by paying the higher premium.

So..........I am just wondering what all you guy's experiences are good or bad.
I have had good luck with the two saturns that I have owned. One a 97 and one a 2000, both SL models with the single cam motor and std tranny. I got between 40 and 45mpg highway. But was wondering what experiences anyone has had with others like Neons, Civics, etc.

I would really like a jetta TDI, but they command a pretty good premium even used with higher miles. Like 6-7000, which is just a little too high.

I would prefer a std car, as they usually get better milage. So what kind of mileage are you guys getting and how reliable are your commuter cars???

Thanks to all

IMHO,the buick lesabre with the 3.8 motor gets great mileage(28-30mpg) on the highway .I have had 4 of them.I currently own a 2000 buick lesabre,I bought it last year with 105,000 miles on the OD for $3,000 bucks.coobie

 

[splunk]

Toyota Echo I get 37-40 on my std transmission with 145,000 miles.

 

[windy acers]

FORD TARUS 3.0 ENGINE FORD FOCUS 33-36 MPG

 

[George2615]

In your price range a lot of people in my area look for used Honda Civics and Accords, or Toyota Camry or Corolla. The people I know who have them get 30 plus MPG.

I don't have far to drive to work (17 miles each way) and I get 27 MPG with an 07 Chevy Impala (I get 32 MPG on longer trips) but that's way above your price range.

I use my truck in winter since its a 4x4. It stays parked most of the summer unless I need to tow something. It also only gets 15-16 MPG.

 

[Tom_H]

My 1983 Corolla was still going strong at 248,000 when I sold it in 2002 (wife insisted that I needed something with air bags). I bought a 1997 Corolla at the same time with 83,000 miles for $7900. It also just runs and runs with nothing but routine maintenance ever needed. You almost cannot kill the things if you try. My own suggestion for your situation would be to look for a Corolla of that same year (97), as that's when anti-lock brakes became std. I'd look for a clean title vehicle with under 150K mi. and have a mechanic look it over before purchase.

 

[Alan L.]

I drove a 1989 toyota corolla 240,000, replaced the radiator and cv joints in that time. I only got about 30mpg back then however.

I bought my daughter a 1992 Honda Accord when it had 40K miles on it. She sold it to my brother with 110k on it, gave to his son with 180k on it, went to another family member and now has about 300k miles. Looks terrible but runs.

I have a 2006 Honda Accord with 100k on it and it gets an average of about 31mpg, mostly highway. I went from a truck to the car and I actually like driving it much better than I thought I would. Drove it 5500 miles on vacation last summer when gas was $4 a gallon.

For $3000 I'm not sure what I'd get. Probably either an older Camry or Accord or little newer Ford Focus.

The reason I bought new when I got the Accord was the fact that it has both side and side curtain airbags which the older models don't have. If not for that I would have probably bought used for commuting. Well, its used now - 100K in 3 years. No mechanical problems other than tires and battery.