I love my '08 Fit Sport. Got 39 mpg on the way from Los Angeles to Denver. Kind of high interior noise level, kind of low power, but it has the quickest steering I have ever experienced, and can out corner ANYTHING on the way down a curvy mountain road.
Two Jeep Wranglers? If you drive them easy they can get 20 mpg, 20mpg + 20mpg = 40 mpg, right? Is my math off 
Travis_K wrote: TDIs arent that hard to make a lot faster, but it would be hard to get one with less than 200k miles and catch up with the maintenance for less than $7500. They are very expensive in California.
I bought mine with lots of maintenance records no defferred maintenance (timing belt good for another 20k) (that is to say the timing belt was a 100k mile kit done at 95k miles when I bought it) for 6k in 2008 with 129k miles on it. I don't even consider it a super amazing find or anything and I bought that car in Los Angeles
Acceleration wise I am really curious to drive one with chip/injectors because stock it sucks but hustling down some backroads you can leave it in 3rd and make good time usually.
The fit seems like a potentially good option breaking 40 mpg regularly is the hard part without going hybrid or TDI. I get 40mpg when I am caning it with the A/C on
Agreed on the fit, but good luck finding one for $5k that doesn't have a salvage title or 300,000 miles.
Jaynen wrote:Travis_K wrote: TDIs arent that hard to make a lot faster, but it would be hard to get one with less than 200k miles and catch up with the maintenance for less than $7500. They are very expensive in California.I bought mine with lots of maintenance records no defferred maintenance (timing belt good for another 20k) (that is to say the timing belt was a 100k mile kit done at 95k miles when I bought it) for 6k in 2008 with 129k miles on it. I don't even consider it a super amazing find or anything and I bought that car in Los Angeles Acceleration wise I am really curious to drive one with chip/injectors because stock it sucks but hustling down some backroads you can leave it in 3rd and make good time usually. The fit seems like a potentially good option breaking 40 mpg regularly is the hard part without going hybrid or TDI. I get 40mpg when I am caning it with the A/C on
Although, if he can get mid 30s mileage out of the miata or something the price difference on diesel out here in CA might not be worth the mpg improvement?
Saturn SC2. You'll hit the mileage at those speeds, I get 37-38 at 70mph.
handing is pretty good for an econocar if you get good tires. the motors are good for 200K but will use oil. They like to rev and parts are damn near free. Plastic body is a dent free bonus! You can get a 4-door or even a wagon if that would better suit your needs.
amg_rx7 wrote: Mazda Protege / 323 aka the 4 door, FWD Miata
Had a '91 Protege DX. Surprisingly fun to drive. I'm still keeping my eyes open for an LX with the DOHC 1.8. The DX will not get 40mpg, but it'll probably get 35. The Escort GT is essentially a hatchback 2-door protege with the hot motor, as well, but they're starting to get thin on the ground. They will be plenty cheap if you find one, though.
amg_rx7 wrote: Hyundai Elantra GT w/ 5 speed manual
Have one now. Fun(ish) to drive, but mine's always having stupid little E36 M3 break. Will NOT crack 40mpg no matter how you drive it, but 30 is cake and 35 possible at lower speeds. Super-practical, as well.
Jaynen wrote:Travis_K wrote: TDIs arent that hard to make a lot faster, but it would be hard to get one with less than 200k miles and catch up with the maintenance for less than $7500. They are very expensive in California.I bought mine with lots of maintenance records no defferred maintenance (timing belt good for another 20k) (that is to say the timing belt was a 100k mile kit done at 95k miles when I bought it) for 6k in 2008 with 129k miles on it. I don't even consider it a super amazing find or anything and I bought that car in Los Angeles Acceleration wise I am really curious to drive one with chip/injectors because stock it sucks but hustling down some backroads you can leave it in 3rd and make good time usually. The fit seems like a potentially good option breaking 40 mpg regularly is the hard part without going hybrid or TDI. I get 40mpg when I am caning it with the A/C on
I would say thats unusually low mileage, but other than that yeah its not hard to find deals like that. Southern CA may not be quite as expensive either, here a $6k TDI would more often have 200k, and need a timing belt, tires and struts. Still not bad, but not all that cheap either.
OK, so it looks like if I want a meaningful improvement in mpg I'm probably looking at either a 1st gen Insight or a TDI. Around here both come in at roughly similar prices and both are a little over my budget. Hmmm. As an added downside (especially with the Insight) it would make sense to get a car with a slushbox so the wife could also drive it. Taking an Insight to the shops has to be cheaper than taking a Cherokee, and not only because you can't stuff as many purchases in the back 
.
Overall I think the point is well made that I probably want something a little newer anyway as a reliable commuter.
I guess I should concentrate on getting the Miata back on the road but that's not going to happen for 2-3 months.
BTW, I did have an Elantra as a rental when I was in the UK. I actually kinda liked in an appliance way, but of course you can't get it with the same engine over here (1.6L 115hp turbodiesel). I managed to squeeze 60mpg UK out of that one on a 450 mile roundtrip to see a friend of mine.
I would not buy a TDI with an auto. They are very expensive to fix. I bought mine as a stick with rollup windows etc to avoid a lot of the known issues.
You bring up a good point which is I think the newer Hyundai's are impressive and get good mileage but definitely above your original budget
Obviously prius is auto and gets the mpg but I am unsure if it can be made fun
pinto
Jaynen wrote: I would not buy a TDI with an auto. They are very expensive to fix. I bought mine as a stick with rollup windows etc to avoid a lot of the known issues.
Good point, that means I can scratch that off the list then.
Jaynen wrote: You bring up a good point which is I think the newer Hyundai's are impressive and get good mileage but definitely above your original budget
Plus I can't get the engine I'd want over here anyway by the looks of it.
Jaynen wrote: Obviously prius is auto and gets the mpg but I am unsure if it can be made fun
We had one as a rental once, I was not impressed. I don't think I'd want one even though it seemed to work very well as a pure appliance.
plance1 wrote: pinto
No.
96-00 honda civic HX. The d16y5 is a great motor, and the HX is dismissed and overlooked by nearly everybody that otherwise likes Hondas. Unlike the choked, low rpm, low power, leanburn motor in the VX, the HX has makes real (relatively...) power above 3200 rpm and will return 40 mpg. All the civic suspension bits fit, they have the A arm suspension, and they sell for much less than the EX coupes and all the hatches. They are cheap until gas spikes, then they get a little dear. right now is good.
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