Real Data needed on commuter vehicles

RalphVa · Jul 1, 2016

I think you can get a good car and still get the 40+ mpg.

Ralph

Omega Woods · Jul 1, 2016

I will also vote for a straight-up Honda Civic. We've had all varieties of cars over the years. The only brand I'd recommend to anyone who is looking for a bulletproof car is Honda. We've got a 2007 Civic Hybrid which is on its second battery. My son drives the crap out of it and it's still running strong at 175k miles. My other son has a 97 Accord with 190+k on it. It just keeps rolling along. He's put about 100 dollars in it over the past three years that he's owned it. Once I get a little closer to retirement in five years or so, I'm going to buy another Civic and we'll see which one of us makes it to our grave first. I'd be inclined to bet on the Honda.

skylarkguy · Jul 5, 2016

Well folks thanks for the feedback. Here's what we ended up with... (drum roll) ...a 2011 Ford Fiesta ...i think it represents a pretty good value in the used car market. It is a 5 speed not the trouble prone auto trans. 50k on the odometer. It should get 40mpg or more...epa rating is 38 combined.

For the same money a honda fit would be 3 years older and have 30k more miles.

Prius prices were kinda stupid inflated in this area...imho.

It's reasonably zippy when it needs to be and i like the "Lime squeeze" paint...

Time will tell i guess.

IslandTractor · Jul 5, 2016

We just bought a couple of 2013 Ford CMax Energi off lease. One had 15,000 miles and the other 23,000. About $16K from dealer and still under warranty. MPG is a bit hard to calculate as they are EV and hybrid. Around town when we don't charge them we get 44mpg. Highway under 65mph about 41mpg. Highway at 75mph about 39mpg. Can do 20 miles on electric alone (22 in summer, 18 in winter). Lots of bells and whistles. Nice cars. Not much luggage space but very comfortable for 4 and has 5 seat belts.

I was originally looking for a used Prius V but prices were high. I saw a youtube comparison of the Prius V to the CMax and was impressed so checked out the Ford. Took it home. My wife liked mine so much we got her one a month later. Great little city/suburban cars. Happy on the highway too. I've taken mine from Boston to DC RT about four times in the past year. Very comfortable and takes only 10 gallons of gas each way.

Diamondpilot · Jul 5, 2016

dodge man said:
Just me thinking out loud, but I wouldn't focus on cars getting more than 40 mpg. I'd focus on getting the best car for the money, and if it gets 35 mpg, I wouldn't rule it out.

This is exactly what I said. The Civic turns in respectable numbers but better yet you can buy a brand new nicely optioned one for 18K then after 5 years and 100,000 miles still sell it for 12K

It's the cheapest price per mile going.

Chris