AWD or RWD with the best gas mileage?

Rules on this are pretty light: AWD or RWD, no SUV's or trucks, stick shift is a huge plus but not necessary, NOT A MIATA (this will be replacing a Miata) and the budget is $20,000.

My list right now would include a newish Mustang V6 and an older BMW 318. So, is there a pink hermaphrodite unicorn that poops rainbows out there?

Mitsubishi i-MiEV. Rear motor, rear drive, and something like 119MPGe. Used, prices are between $14k and $18k.

Mike wrote: Mitsubishi i-MiEV. Rear motor, rear drive, and something like 119MPGe. Used, prices are between $14k and $18k.

Less than that for me, I live where they make them--I can get a lease for $169 a month, and fill ups are "free" (they're coming out of the tax payers wallets!)

Smart Fortwo and eventually, Fortwo ED are RWD and would be candidates as well. If you look, grey market 1st Gen diesels appear on eBay. No idea on the legal status there.

Regular Impreza is AWD with the best mileage now. You can look for that little Suzuki hatch as well that was AWD. Fwd may want to look at a hyundai genesis turbo lightly used. Frs/bezel is likely a bit out of you proce unless you find a used one. A used base 1 series bmw?

Rebates on Mustangs right now mean you can get a new V6 Mustang with the Performance Pack right around $20k.

Has demand died down enough for the FRS/BRZ you can buy them used for $20k?

what are you going to do with it?

BMW X3 stick, it is a Sport Activity Vehicle or as I like to call it, the BMW 3 series Outback.

I get 28 highway and 20 in town.

sanman wrote: Regular Impreza is AWD with the best mileage now. You can look for that little Suzuki hatch as well that was AWD. Fwd may want to look at a hyundai genesis turbo lightly used. Frs/bezel is likely a bit out of you proce unless you find a used one. A used base 1 series bmw?

genesis is RWD

In reply to mad_machine:

I know, that was supposed to read for rwd, typing on the phone + autocorrect sucks.

Try the Power Search function on WWW.fueleconomy.gov

Are you looking for new? $20k would buy a lot of diesel Chevette or 70's Citicars.

older BMW was mentioned... with a light foot, I did once return almost 35mpg in my old 318ti.. usually I was around 30ish

C5 Z06

How can I be the first to say it:

S2000

even when wound out to 8000rpms?

In reply to mad_machine:

Well nothing is gonna get good milage if you wind it out to redline every gear. You don't need to go nuts to drive it around town.

Mr_Clutch42 wrote: C5 Z06

Lancer007 wrote: How can I be the first to say it: S2000

S2000s do not get good gas mileage. Nor does a C5 Z06.

Genesis, Mustang, BRZ, Smart, and Mitsu are the only cars in this thread actually rated above 30mpg highway.

ProDarwin wrote:

Mr_Clutch42 wrote: C5 Z06

Lancer007 wrote: How can I be the first to say it: S2000

S2000s do not get good gas mileage. Nor does a C5 Z06. Genesis, Mustang, BRZ, Smart, and Mitsu are the only cars in this thread actually rated above 30mpg highway.

C5 (non Z06) is pretty consistent at 30+ mpg. I clocked 32 mpg in pretty heavily modified C5 on a 400-mile jaunt. Many C5 and C6 owners report 30+.

Given the right mix of parts a 5.0 Fox could get decent mileage and still be fun and waaaaaaaay less than $20k.

Start with a 5.0, 5-speed LX then add underdrive pulleys, an offroad x-pipe, a 2.5" free-flowing cat back, an aluminum driveshaft and 3.08 or 3.27 gears then eliminate the smog pump and associated berkeleyery.

Slap on an Exploder intake with '81-'88 T-Bird or Cougar 5.0 injectors (15 lb/hr as opposed to the Mustang's 19 lb/hr) and install a 5.0 Exloder cam and an adjustable fuel pressure regulator. Do a bit of tuning and viola, you get about the same performance with better MPG for... I don't know a grand or two?

You know it to be true.

I'll go ahead and throw in the thunderbird turbo coupe, wont get thirty mpg, but who cares it's cool.

ProDarwin wrote:

Mr_Clutch42 wrote: C5 Z06

Lancer007 wrote: How can I be the first to say it: S2000

S2000s do not get good gas mileage. Nor does a C5 Z06. Genesis, Mustang, BRZ, Smart, and Mitsu are the only cars in this thread actually rated above 30mpg highway.

the 318ti is rated at 29.. pretty damn close

05+ CTS-V or GTO

The mr2 spyder will probably get you the best mpg of all mentioned.