Reasonably fun, cheap 90's-00's cars with shockingly good gas mileage

I honestly really like Park Avenues (but not Lesabres! those taillights are hideous! ) and with the supercharged 3.8 they aren't even slow! They're reliable and easy to work on and very comfortable and don't cost much.

Saturn MP2 is 2390 RPM @ 70mph. The "short" geared MP3 transmission would be 2880

Yeah, even though you 'can' break 40 mpg with a sohc neon, I think in general sohc saturns (or dohc with the 5th gear swap) average several mpg higher than a neon. But, if you wanted n/a power without boost, the neon starts better and is relatively much easier to get more n/a power from. Depends what you care about.

All I have to offer is my Civic vx routinely gets 48-51 mpg pretty easily in the warm weather months. Cheapest dd I've ever had and the 5 spd makes it somewhat "fun".

Vigo wrote:

Saturn MP2 is 2390 RPM @ 70mph. The "short" geared MP3 transmission would be 2880

Yeah, even though you 'can' break 40 mpg with a sohc neon, I think in general sohc saturns (or dohc with the 5th gear swap) average several mpg higher than a neon. But, if you wanted n/a power without boost, the neon starts better and is relatively much easier to get more n/a power from. Depends what you care about.

Agreed. Neon is probably a better choice for almost any form of modding, especially anything involving more power.

The Saturn might be a better choice in the OP's area just because there isn't a metal body to rust. Also, wagon & 4x100.

drainoil wrote: All I have to offer is my Civic vx routinely gets 48-51 mpg pretty easily in the warm weather months. Cheapest dd I've ever had and the 5 spd makes it somewhat "fun".

(I think these look better than VW Golf.)

My dd is a 2000 Toyota Echo w/5 spd. Over 40 mpg during summer driving if driven responsibly. Winter in MN drops it to mid 30s which is the mileage I get driving hard. Parts are cheap, engines are reliable, very spacious for hauling, drive under the radar. Cornering leaves a bit to be desired.

Na miata is imagine this......the answer here.

An NA Miata would be a 90s car with shockingly LOW mileage.

sesto elemento wrote: Na miata is imagine this......the answer here.

It's still the answer- just takes a lot more work- https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/1994-miata-mpg-project-b3-stealth-mk-ii/61007/page1/

reported 40-45 mpg. Very impressive.

I like my wifes saturn for this. 04 ion with an automatic. It averages 31 for her. Best it ever got on a tank was 41. That was straight down the ohio turnpike though. Cruise control and very flat land. We have always gotten better mileage from it then its epa rating.

Already been mentioned of course, but I'll throw in my vote for the first gen Neon.

Coldsnap wrote:

drainoil wrote: All I have to offer is my Civic vx routinely gets 48-51 mpg pretty easily in the warm weather months. Cheapest dd I've ever had and the 5 spd makes it somewhat "fun".

(I think these look better than VW Golf.)

They do, but finding one will be a helluva hunt. Finding one with minimal rust will be difficult and a good one will easily run $3k now. In the last 5 years, a lot of EG hatches have finally given up the ghost around here. They're a much rarer sight these days. A clean VX would really leap out at me.

My recommendation is the W Body and stick shift Ions:

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/5161244174.html

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/5192969626.html

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/5175396959.html

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/5192376583.html

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/ctd/5167165093.html

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/5188791249.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/5173308053.html

Well, the BMW is now formally up for sale, so we'll see what's around if/when it sells. Also, I looked up the EPA rating out of curiosity...let's just say I feel no shame over my 19MPG returns. And they say it needs regular when it asks for premium right on the gas cap

Top contenders so far are Scion xA, Saturn Ion, and Pontiac Vibe. Not too into the W-bodies, I get the logic but a smaller car will leave me room to work in my garage with everything closed up, which is a huge boon for winter maintenance. I also like the more recent cars as Uber would be a possibility for extra income if work slows down.

I like the xA a lot but it seems to be holding its value a little too well. I like the Vibe GT 2zz/6spd combo, regular Vibe does about nothing for me. I'd rather have my Prius than a 1zz Vibe/Matrix. Same weight, same suspension, only a little slower, and way better mpg for similar money.

In reply to Vigo:

Around here xA's are around $4000 or less all day long. Vibes too. Priuses (Priii?) are still $6k+. I get the mileage argument but I also like the appear of something I can conceivably maintain myself for the next 100k without worry about expensive battery failures, etc. That said if a proper deal on one showed up I could probably be swayed...

It looks like Cobalts are pretty cheap in my area. Here are a couple Cobalt 5 speed coupes: http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/5176899395.html

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/5180303724.html

Back on topic, how about Cavaliers/Sunfires?: http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/5196365548.html

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/5158326460.html

Cobalt in your neck of the woods: http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/5189493799.html

SlickDizzy wrote: In reply to Vigo: Around here xA's are around $4000 or less all day long. Vibes too. Priuses (Priii?) are still $6k+. I get the mileage argument but I also like the appear of something I can conceivably maintain myself for the next 100k without worry about expensive battery failures, etc. That said if a proper deal on one showed up I could probably be swayed...

You can easily maintain one yourself and not worry about expensive battery failures.

In reply to ProDarwin:

What do you do when the battery starts to go south? I can't find anything in my price range without 250k on it or issues. Also, quite frankly, I'd like to keep driving a manual if at all possible...no fun car for me for a while, so I'd like to have a tangentially interesting DD if at all possible.

SlickDizzy wrote: In reply to ProDarwin: What do you do when the battery starts to go south? I can't find anything in my price range without 250k on it or issues. Also, quite frankly, I'd like to keep driving a manual if at all possible...no fun car for me for a while, so I'd like to have a tangentially interesting DD if at all possible.

Understood. By all means, drive the car you want to drive.

Just pointing out that Priuses are not difficult to maintain, nor are they unreliable. The risk of battery failure is very low. If I owned one with enough mileage/use that the battery started to go south, I'd get a refurb for $1300 an enjoy another 1/4 million + miles of use.

I would be FAR more scared to own a '99 5 Series than a 2nd gen Prius.

ProDarwin wrote: I would be FAR more scared to own a '99 5 Series than a 2nd gen Prius.

Mark my words: I should have been more afraid. Sometimes, you learn the hard way.

Would a stick shift Mercury Milan work?: http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/cto/5189792732.html

Around here xA's are around $4000 or less all day long. Vibes too. Priuses (Priii?) are still $6k+. I get the mileage argument but I also like the appear of something I can conceivably maintain myself for the next 100k without worry about expensive battery failures, etc. That said if a proper deal on one showed up I could probably be swayed...

I'll recheck xA prices since they may have come down recently. I like them! My 07 prius was bought for $4500 with 217k and now has 244k, still on original battery and serp belt and water pump and struts/balljoints/bushings/window motors/etc/etc and the stock 12v battery just failed but it doesn't keep the car from 'starting' so i havent felt the need to replace it. It does NOT have the original alternator or starter, however, since they were never there to break to begin with. If you don't want one, by all means don't get one! A vibe GT is basically the same thing with twice the high rpm power and infinitely more manual transmission. I totally get that.

I can touch 37mpg with my Volvo. Normally I drive like a dickweed and I only get about 27-30mpg. Since turning the boost up, I can get that as low as 15mpg highway depending on how often I brake-torque pre-downshift/pre-boost for a pass or a Hail Mary lanechange. Which is probably why my front tires are worn like sawblades and my rotors are interesting shades of blue and purple.

But set the cruise to 65-68mph, I've seen trip averages of shockingly close to 40mpg... not bad for a 3200lb luxobarge.

cliff's notes: If you want fuel economy, get a Euro car since they tend to pay a lot more attention to aerodynamics than Japanese or especially American makes. But with great power use comes great fuel consumption...