Daily driver - the answer is not a miata

Unfortunately Miata is not the answer this time....

Looking for some advice on my next daily driver. My commute is about to go from 26 miles round trip to approximately 80 so my Yukon I bought in hopes of using as a tow vehicle will be a weekend driver.

The biggest catch is I need something big enough for 2 car seats in the back and safe/reliable enough that my wife doesn't think I am crazy. Also looking to average at least 30 mpgs with insurance that doesn't break the bank. Also want something that is decent to drive. If only there was a 4 door Miata. I am shooting to spend less than $5k preferably under $3k so it rules out the Fiesta ST, Focus ST or other new cars that fit the bill.

Are there options out there I am not considering by looking at the usual contenders for this (Civic, Corolla, Fiesta, Mini Cooper, TDI VW).

Any feedback on reliability of high mileage Mini Coppers, TDIs and Fiestas/Mazda2s?

Thanks for the input!

Consider the original focus? Still fun cars to drive plus 4 doors and reasonable space for your family. Bonus points if you find a 2.3l engine for the extra TQ.

Stock they are comfortable, but it's still got an aftermarket following if you chose to have fun with the daily.

Zetec and duratec engines will spin like a top. SPI are the ones to avoid.

In that price range I would definitely check out the Honda Fit.

We have an '08 and it has been rock solid for 150k miles now. We have had to replace only consumables like fluids, brakes and tires.

It's huge inside compared to the competition, reliable, economical, and still fun to drive in that wound-out older Honda kind of way. The only areas it is lacking are creature comforts and freeway civility - the engine is pretty high rpms and the wind and road noise tends to be a little loud.

All years have side curtain airbags standard for you and the kiddies. Two car seats fit great.

If you want to trade efficiency for a little more comfort, look at a Mazda5.

Just keep the Tahoe.

Gas is currently cheap. I went to Fueleconomy.gov and compared side by side a 2005 Tahoe to a 2005 Corolla.
Tahoe mpg 14/16/19
Corolla 28/31/37

The expected savings for 30,000 miles worth of driving is $2k per year. Does that $2k savings per year offset your additional vehicle purchase as well as additional insurance/registration and maintenance?

Edit:
Focus 2.3L is rated at 20/23/28 and would yield a $1,400 savings per year over the Tahoe for 30k miles. Just a little more than $100 per month.

In reply to JohnRW1621:

The other factor is I am hoping to keep the Yukon for weekends and hopefully towing my track car so there is an added insurance cost for the additional car.

I had considered new or something under a loan but that drives up insurance to full coverage and also a different spot in the depreciation curve. On the other hand the fuel savings could offset the cost of something nicer so it is a plan B.

The Fit and Focus sound like they could fit the bill (no pun intended). The input is all appreciated.

I just caution you to not take on a $300 per month car payment in an attempt to save $100 per month in fuel.

tripp wrote: Unfortunately Miata is not the answer this time.... looking to average at least 30 mpgs... want something that is decent to drive... If only there was a 4 door Miata. I am shooting to spend less than $5k preferably under $3k... Any feedback on reliability of high mileage Mini Coppers?

Mazda 3. Done.

Reliable high mileage MINI? You're a funny guy...

Think Korean. Spectra5 is a great car and reliable. Lots of room for everyone and everything.

JohnRW1621 wrote: I just caution you to not take on a $300 per month car payment in an attempt to save $100 per month in fuel.

Agreed

tripp wrote: Any feedback on reliability of high mileage Mini Coppers... Thanks for the input!

Are Toyota Prius in his price range yet?

Is your new commute highway or city driving?

05 Prius with 80k miles will cost about $6k but rated at 48/46/44 and expect to save about $3k per year in fuel over 30k miles compared to Tahoe.

I just bought one. It is dull but effective.

That should bring a fuel savings of about $250 per month. If he finances the purchase over 3 years he'll have about a $200 monthly payment and if $50 more per month to insure the extra car then he can be at break even.

Who knows, if bought at a lower price, he could maybe even save $50-$100 per month.

My Prius

Early 2nd gen cars (Prius) with some miles on them are starting to get into the sub- 3K range, especially now that gas is cheap. Not a bad route, though boring.

Other option:

(not mine, but it's what I drive around 90 miles per day)

I bought my daughter a 2005 Hyundai Accent in cherry condition for $2500. She's had it a year now, and it's never let her down. It's rated at 24/33 mpg.

The only issues we've had with it are brittle, broken plastic pieces, mainly because it's left out in the Florida sun all the time.

What about a protege? Ive been using them in this exact application for years. Not quite a miata, but i sold the miata and kept the protege5.

Comfortable, cheap, easy to maintain, and pretty nimble. I have averaged 27 over 5 of them and 300k.

Usually able to find a 100k, rust free car for around 3k.

6 speed maxima. Cheap, lots of room, fun to drive

In reply to dean1484:

Combination. I don't know if I should fear the potential of a battery failure with a prius. The hybrid system is harder to fix than an engine in my book.

Some,new ideas from this thank you everyone. Keep the ideas flowing.

tripp wrote: In reply to dean1484: Combination. I don't know if I should fear the potential of a battery failure with a prius. The hybrid system is harder to fix than an engine in my book.

I too feared the battery. Mostly I feared the unknown-ness; my own personal lack of knowledge on the topic. I have found that the Internet support out there for Prius is incredible. I would say that it surpasses the level of Volvo knowledge that was out there when I owned my 850 wagon from '06-'10.

See my thread linked above about my Prius. In there is a link to easy software to read the battery. I can read each on of the 14 cells and tell if one is lower voltage than the others.

The original stories were fears of $3k battery replacement from the dealership but the aftermarket has caught up. If you do have battery trouble you will likely have 1 or 2 bad cells. You can buy a tested, used cell for $200. The hardest part seems to be removing all the trim in the rear cargo area to get to the battery. I would guess an hour of dealing mostly with plastic trim fasteners.

Once the battery is out it really doesnt seem any harder than take off metal lid, unplug your 2 bad cells and plug in 2 fresh ones. From there, installation is the reverse of removal.

Dont like that? Rock auto will sell you an entire refurb'ed battery pack for $1k with $1k core.
Don't like that, look up Prius on CL under auto parts. You will find ads like this offering Prius battery service. This one is $400 + install. I expect they will do the one or two cell replacement plus 2 hours of time = $600.

Here is a typical Youtube video of DIY replacement

In summary: The knowledge is out there. As I learn more, I see no reason to fear the battery.

Kia_Racer wrote: Think Korean. Spectra5 is a great car and reliable. Lots of room for everyone and everything.

the 11-up elantra as well. Those will knock down close to 40mpg and are cheap on the used car market.

For fun-to-drive factor, I'm throwing another vote on the Mazda3.. The wife's car was a fine for 4 of us, but we got a 5 now that it's 5 of us :)

In reply to Bobzilla:

I'll also 2nd the '11 and newer Elantra.
Available in manual trans with low luxury (but still very nice) and auto only with high luxury like leather and climate control.

I highly considered one before my Prius purchase.

Others seem to like the sporty nature of the Chevy Sonic 1.4L turbo too but I have not tried.

For fun to drive, under 3K, four-door, somewhat reliable and not too hard on gas, I would suggest:

1st gen Mazda3
Sentra SE-R SPEC-V B15 or B16
Focus ST

JohnRW1621 wrote: In reply to Bobzilla: I'll also 2nd the '11 and newer Elantra. Available in manual trans with low luxury (but still very nice) and auto only with high luxury like leather and climate control.

That's what I have for a DD. But OP said he was looking for a 4 door Miata. I'm very fond of my Elantra Coupe, but a Miata it ain't...

Mid 2000s Accord sedan? I have an 05, 4 cylinder, auto, and it gets high 20s, kissing 30, on the highway, is a pleasant place to spend time, sporty enough when you want it to be, though it'd be better with a stick. Plenty of room for car seats (we had 2 in car seats and 1 in a booster for a while) and can still fit 2 teens and a 9 year old with little complaining. They are probably at the top end of your budget, but in nearly 10 years of ownership and right around 150,000 miles, all it's needed is basic maintenance. 4 cylinders have timing chains plus a ton of room in the bay. TDI would be a good choice if you can get one before they're all traded in.