Am I the only one that was having fun with oldeskewltoys last post? I was paging down while staring at the bottom of the screen and morphing the cars into different bodystyles "flipcard cartoon style
Love Escorts, Love my Protege5 (but its got some light mods), dont know why but I love Cavaliers though my friends calls them "chick cars". I like the Geo Tracker idea. Mine was bulletproof, so were my Samurais but thats for a different forum.
fast_eddie_72 wrote: http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/3122643537.html Why do I look?
This sounds like the deal of the century! Maybe I need to fly out and visit my buddy in Pueblo...
I am a Nissan (now Infiniti) mechanic, so Nissan's are my thing. I am enjoying reading everyone's ideas, it is great to hear some first hand info on mileage figures! A newer Swift/Metro would be sweet, I have read up a little on those. I think my 1st choices would be SE-R, then Protege LX, but I wanted to try to broaden my horizons a little and see what else you guys liked. Now I have plenty to hunt for on Craigslist!
Keep 'em coming!
SE-R
Early MX6 (weird, I know, but fun and torquey.)
Mk2 Jetta or GTI
If you don't care about reliability and you have a huge repair budget, the 1.8T VWs are a blast.
ZX2, esp. the SR. Not exactly GRM but my 2011 Fiesta is fun to drive.
ST_ZX2 wrote:1998-2003 ZX2s are almost free and readily found. Have a big aftermarket (as well as stuff like 4-wheel disc brake swaps) thanks to the BG Mazdas that it is derived from (Protege/MX3), and disposable parts like brake rotors/pads are available at any corner car parts store for peanuts. Ford Zetec engines are stout and have lots of go-fast stuff... Makes a very capable autocross/HPDE car.
This......and the zx3/5 focus.
The whole bag of tricks is open for this one......literally for peanuts, but just not for "We stole an integra, so take this stuff" pricing you'd get from a honda.....
although, I am still likely to beta-swap my 2000 Accent anyway. 150hp into 2200lbs with 140tq, a solid midrange, cold AC and some semblance of comfort is very intriguing.
This is still on the table as we'll likely be getting rid of my dead nuts reliable 02 Elantra because of cancer so we can get her a new '13 Elantra GT 6-spd. Now THERE is a fun-to-drive new car.
The AE86 was an econo-car but it isn't now...It has the advantage of being RWD over most of the competition.
GameboyRMH wrote: The AE86 was an econo-car but it isn't now...It has the advantage of being RWD over most of the competition.
RA64 = AE86 with origami body and different engine. And no drift tax.
Celica would be a great choice.
So would an '87-'88 Corolla FX16 GT-S, if you can find one.
Celicas are also cool... far less costly... 22R engine is just a truck motor though... swap in a 3RZ would make a fun car
<---- I already have mine. 2001 Focus, city mileage is ~24mpg, highway can get as high as 33mpg. This is even with the supercharger. And the 223whp and 187 lb/ft makes it a fun car when I want to push it.
Man you guys have brought up some awesome choices I hadnt even thought about. Im glad my competition didnt know about the mazda connection back when he was campaining his zx-2 in autocross. he was always complaining about the lack of an aftermarket for it.
Ive got to throw in for the ae-110 chassis corolla. yes its fwd but throw a set of koni yellows on there and it goes from grandma-mobile to more fun than an A2 GTI. buy a high mileage one to keep the price down, I autocrossed mine for four years and Im still on the original clutch at 190,000 miles, and its strong. Plus its got more horsepower than the earlier corollas without searching for a special color top engine. 125 bhp/ 125 ft-lbs. its not fast but its fun by just replacing the struts. It even has a bit of an aftermarket. check tire rack and also monkey wrench racing.
Not a loser in the bunch though. Good luck with your decision!
Here is mine:
Might only have came with a 4spd, but a regular old 4cyl T5 from a Mustang fits. All the old mini-stock parts are still floating around for cheap....
What the heck is that?!
Pinto!
Pinto Cruising Wagon to be exact from the 79-80 model years. Might only have 88hp, but everything T-bird Turbo Coupe or SVO bolts on for a "small" bump in HP. 
If you want a nearly unbreakable drivetrain, find an old 8" from a 65-66 stang. IIRC, the perches are close enuff and the width is just right.
My most fun econocar? My '78 Fiesta. Exactly like his one, same baby poop brown with the two tone stripes etc. I paid $200 for it, replaced the Duraspark module for ~$35, then drove the snot out of it for about a year. It's what I started autocrossing in, even with the dinky little Sears cheapie radials it was a lot of fun. Got fantastic gas mileage and was reliable as a rock. Tossable, quick, lots of upgrades available, the Kent motor was basically the same as the Pinto/Capri vrsion (but there were some important differences), just a fun little car. Light as a feather, the doors had no sound deadener so would go 'bong' when closed. 
It got nailed from behind by some dumbass in a Park Avenue; when he hit me it knocked me into the back of the Toyota Celica in front of me. Poor thing was accordioned, broke both the aluminum bumpers, broke the seat back, the driver's side was pinched so tight the door wouldn't open.
In reply to Vigo: Run away Forrest
I do not have a favorite "econo" car.
That label is reserved for the worst of the worst cars. Econo in the us means "cheap to make" not "cheap to operate" or "cheap to buy". It is synonymous with E36 M3. Not E36 M3 like BMW E36 M3 but absolute E36 M3.
My favorite economic car is a motorcycle.
My next favorite is a diesel Jetta but I hate VWs and their E36 M3ty electronics so I bought a 1990 911 C2. 27mpg is pretty sweet. RWD and low driveline losses are pretty sweet. It cost less than a new Kia.
berkeley the econo car. I revel in excess.
In reply to Vigo: Run away Forrest
I had to dig all the way back to first page to find my post.. you mean about the eclipse? I only held onto it for 2 weeks. the next guy snapped an axle, popped the radiator, and blew the headgasket within 2 weeks of getting it. To be fair we both knew about the radiator. lol
Well the only car I can write about is my all trac.
Nice st185s can be found for under $5k, and while some maintenance parts are a pain the ass, it hasn't been too bad. I get about 25-27mpg on the freeway and 20 mpg in town. I have about 160k miles on my engine with stock boost.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: I bought a 1990 911 C2. 27mpg is pretty sweet. RWD and low driveline losses are pretty sweet. It cost less than a new Kia.
I'll trade you a new Kia for it.
I've enjoyed Saturns as entertaining beaters. They can be found dirt cheap and the twin cam motors aren't bad if you keep oil in them. Great gas mileage too.
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