Travis_K wrote:
BoxheadTim wrote:
I'd recommend a Mercedes W123 Turbodiesel - you can find the 300CD coupe, but the 300D sedan is more plentiful.
+1 The automatic isnt even that bad (the best of any I have driven) and they can be manual swapped with junkyard parts (if you dont mind having a 4 speed). It would meet all of your other requirements.
Actually on those the 4 speed is the preferred gearbox, the 5 speed just added another longer gear to the same ratios as the 4 speed and as a result, 5th is almost unusable if you're not crossing the Great Plains.
Vigo
Dork
8/30/11 2:37 p.m.
2r and seats 3 adults comfortably is sort of a trick.
I used to have a Dodge Avenger that would qualify. It's a stretched DSM. You can get them with a 2.0/manual that will go low 16s stock and get ~30mpg.
They handle decently stock (same as eclipse more or less) and can be upgraded with any DSM suspension parts. It's a good suspension design too imo.
2.0/5spd is basically a neon bottom end and trans, the head has the intake and exhaust sides swapped relative to a dohc neon, but basically speaking it has the same potential, and imo is easier to turbo because the exhaust is on the front.
You can get a nice one for <$3k, or get one of the cheaper ones and a decent amount of mods done to it for <$3k.
I was just about to install the coilovers i bought and put the thing to a proper ride height before i decided to let it go with the ex i was breaking up with. I still miss the car..
No, no trick. Just had to weed out getting a Miata. 
I'm just surprised nobody mentioned the overly polished turd, Mustang, yet.
Go get the nicest '91-'96 Escort GT you can find (because they should ALL be under $3K). I haven't had a GT but have driven that generation of escorts and they're neat.
My current, preferred DD is also great and just hits all your criteria...but good luck finding one. It's a '90 Mazda 323. Plenty fun and great mileage (30+ driving it like it's stolen). A Protege would be similar fun in 4 door trim.
I also am a huge fan of Escort wagons from this era. Mucho utility and good mileage.
Clem
Ranger50 wrote:
I'm just surprised nobody mentioned the overly polished turd, Mustang, yet.
Probably because you want good fuel mileage. I don't know if you mentioned a particular threshold, but 30 mpg would be my comfort level for your commute. Actually I commute similar (~30 miles each way) and I don't drive the Subaru unless I have to (it has working A/C) or more acurately "want" to because it's hot out side. For fuel economy reasons, I drive the 323 if it's going to be 90 degrees or less for a high temperature.
Clem
Vigo
Dork
8/30/11 5:01 p.m.
I'm just surprised nobody mentioned the overly polished turd, Mustang, yet.
I guess you really DONT mean 3 adults comfortably then. A mustang sure as hell doesnt qualify. There are very few 2drs that do. I mentioned one of them.
Having owned a Fox body Mustang with a V8, I normally got 24mpg rolling down the freeway@70mph, even with 4.10's and 26" tall tires. So, I don't know where they get "bad" mileage, unless they are city driving the piss out of them and getting 15mpg.
25mpg is my limit as of right now, I got 21.77mpg as of the last tank. But to get it, I had to literally putt along at 60mph. Going that slow around here WILL get you killed, normally from a coal truck not paying attention. A Rustang will get 25mpg, even with a craptastic slutomatic.
Javelin wrote:
Turbo Coupe....
Turbo Coupe...
If you could find one.......................
In reply to Ranger50:
Neon. Has to be pre 2000 for 2 doors though.
Vigo
Dork
8/30/11 9:00 p.m.
All the turbo coupes ive ever seen have been well under $3k. Usually in the 1.5K region.
Javelin wrote:
93EXCivic wrote:
Ranger50 wrote:
I won't do "imports". I've had my fill of attempting to repair them over the years. No thanks.
This does not compute. I can honestly say that both of my Civics are a million times easier to work on then a Focus or most any other car I have touched.
It computes to me. Go work on a 1970's American boat with no emissions equipment, no electronic doo-dads, and an engine bay you can stand in. I'd much rather work on actual old-school domestic stuff than the import-style cars with the cramped FWD bays, metric fasteners, and electronics. And yes, I have owned a Civic (and an Integra, and a MX6, and a few DSM's, etc).
But a '70s American boat won't meet the requirements of the gas mileage more then likely. And if you want anything built in the '90s or after I haven't worked on a car easier then an EG or EK Civic.
What is the price range?
In reply to Javelin:
Gee, thanks for the "push". {note sarcasm}
Vigo
Dork
8/31/11 2:28 a.m.
We're just trying to help you NOT be all talk.
Whitey wrote:
In reply to Ranger50:
Neon. Has to be pre 2000 for 2 doors though.
I'd have to say that a 2 door neon is the most comfortable small 2 door for back seat room, and not too hard for in and out of the back.
When I looked at a ZX3 a few years ago, the rear seat was useless, PITA to get in and out of and once you are in there, legroom sucked. The back of an ion QuadCoupe felt equally cramped.
Ranger50 wrote:
No, no trick. Just had to weed out getting a Miata.
I'm just surprised nobody mentioned the overly polished turd, Mustang, yet.
Like DSMs, the back seat is mostly a pretense to get lower insurance rates.
Vigo
Dork
8/31/11 12:54 p.m.
Yup, and just as you can get a stretched dsm with a usable back seat and all the same suspension and power potential (Avenger), you can also get a Thunderbird. Except im pretty sure the thunderbird back seat is highly inferior to the Avenger one.
No offense, but the FJ-chassis Avengers and similar Eclipses are horrible in my past experiences. I have never had any luck with them.
Ranger50 wrote:
Having owned a Fox body Mustang with a V8, I normally got 24mpg rolling down the freeway@70mph, even with 4.10's and 26" tall tires. So, I don't know where they get "bad" mileage, unless they are city driving the piss out of them and getting 15mpg.
25mpg is my limit as of right now, I got 21.77mpg as of the last tank. But to get it, I had to literally putt along at 60mph. Going that slow around here WILL get you killed, normally from a coal truck not paying attention. A Rustang will get 25mpg, even with a craptastic slutomatic.
I'll take your word for it on the fuel mileage of a 5.0 mustang. I've never had a fuel injected one...and when I had a carbed one, keeping my foot out of it was NOT on my agenda (I was young...though I still don't think I could drive one and get good fuel mileage...too much fun to step on it). The difference between 25 mpg and 30 mph is only $7 a week for your commute with gas prices as they are this week in my area...so probably worth it for someone who likes the extra torque.
I think I'll save up about $3K and see if I can find me a 25mpg 5.0 mustang!
Clem
Vigo wrote:
Yup, and just as you can get a stretched dsm with a usable back seat and all the same suspension and power potential (Avenger), you can also get a Thunderbird. Except im pretty sure the thunderbird back seat is highly inferior to the Avenger one.
Myself and my former girlfriend will tell you otherwise. 
The backseat in a fox TBird is very roomy. Also, mine was bright red leather. 
In reply to ClemSparks:
One trip before the mods and gears, I got 28mpg once. Oh and that was WITHOUT cruise control.
Price difference for me is closer to $30, based on my mileage and prices, per week, based on my 20mpg Dakota to a "Brand XYZ" 30 mpg-mobile. 30 vs 25 is closer at $16.
SVTF
Reader
9/1/11 8:47 a.m.
Another vote for the Focus - especially the SVT. I've tracked mine, and it does quite well in factory form.
I also get over 33 mpg on the highway, trunk loaded with Macs and my two college students in the seats. At 75 MPH...............
Add two more data points to 5.0 Mustangs getting 25 MPG on the highway, I've owned two '92s that did it. Both were relatively stock with the higher (numerically) 3.08 rear axle. I'm sure the ones with the 2.73s could do even better.
My dad has gotten 28 MPG out of his '01 GT, but he can beat the EPA numbers in any vehicle he drives.
