How nice would 40 mpg be?

[dsa03cjj]

I have had numerous vehicles get their estimated fuel mileage - even a bit better. The most recent vehicles to do this were a 2001 Chevy S10 (metor exceeded), 2007 VW Jetta (met) and a 1995 Jeep Cherokee (met - gas guzzler). If you have a lead foot you will not meet the estimates - but I don't drive with a lead foot and in the same breath I don't drive like Grandma either.

The EPA has changed their estimates recently to account for more "real world" driving conditions including use of AC, colder climates, and faster acceleration. This has made the advertised mileage go down but some manufactures are still using the old estimates.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/ratings2008.shtml

Yes, a dyno is used but "real world" conditions can be factored in.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/how_tested.shtml

Turbo diesel would be nice but I'm in the market to buy now - not in up to a year. 15 mpg is killing me as a DD.

i completely agree . . . my wife's volvo said 17/21 and we are getting 30/32 . . . we only change dout the filters to k&n . . . and also we have a 1997 mountaineer which states 11/15 and we are getting about average 19/20 (nothing new involved other than regular oil/liquid changes, brakes, and tires)

 

[89s rule]

You should be able to get a 1Mid 90's or older Civic for $2K. For us (when I was commuting 1 hr each day) it didnt make sense to buy something that would cost us more every month. (It was a job I didnt want to stay at, amtough I did stay 2 yrs.) My goal and reasoning for the Civic or the like was saving $ every month not having another car that was going to cost me more.

Thats cool that it can get that MPG and not be a hybrid.

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

Steve Chuck has a mid 90's honda civic for sale........... he was using it for his commuter

 

[CandyPants]

Steve, don't discount that 4 door. If there is one thing I have learned over the past year, it's that things don't happen exactly when planned. A 2 door is really hard to get an infant carrier in and out of (and so is an FJ Cruiser, FYI).


I'm just sayin....

 

[Southeast Overland]

Steve Chuck has a mid 90's honda civic for sale........... he was using it for his commuter

Um...no thanks

And I hate new car dealers. Stopped by Toyota of Easley today just b/c I was passing through - damn sleezy car salesmen.

I've located a couple Civics for 2-3k...might be a good idea.

K9 - this 2dr would only be for a commuter - or at least that is the plan. We would still have Ali's Jetta.

 

[89s rule]

Just think how much $ you could save over a yr or 2 if you bought something the same price you sell the cherokee for. You would be able to fix up the 55 or get a 60 or 80 in short time and outfit it right. Also think fo the tax advantages on the vehicles. (Older than 15yrs are around $25 a yr in SC.)

 

[Southeast Overland]

Just think how much $ you could save over a yr or 2 if you bought something the same price you sell the cherokee for. You would be able to fix up the 55 or get a 60 or 80 in short time and outfit it right. Also think fo the tax advantages on the vehicles. (Older than 15yrs are around $25 a yr in SC.)

Yup - I'm going to look at a 92 Civic hatch manual w/ ~ 160k miles for $1900 tomorrow - has a few minor problems that I should be able to fix...and gets > 35 mpg!!!!

 

[CandyPants]

K9 - this 2dr would only be for a commuter - or at least that is the plan. We would still have Ali's Jetta.

Yep, we have Taylor's Honda. But let me tell you, the logistics that are involved with only one car that is baby friendly and 2 people that work is not good. I wouldn't have said this 5 months ago, but now...it's among the things I think about daily.

 

[Southeast Overland]

Spent about 5 hours car shopping today. Started out and ended up . I hate new car salesmen.

"Hi, I'm Schmuck Face."
"Hi, I'm Steve."
"Hi Bob, what kind of car are you looking for?"
"My name is Steve."
"What...excuse me - my phone is ringing"


and

"Hi, I'm Smuck Face's brother - I have the perfect car for you! A 14 mpg truck!"
"No - I want a fuel efficient car"
"I know - but this is perfect, an awesome deal!"


Young salesman at Toyota of Gville wasn't too bad. Friendly, helpful, not pushy.

Salesman at Toyota of Easley was pushy - won't do business with them.

Used car lot in TR had a 97 Civic, looked in awesome shape, 120k miles for 3k which is half of KBB...sounds good! Ends up its a salvage title. I looked it over and the body work is EXCELLENT but the car took a hit to the front passenger side. Much new equipment under the hood. Drove the car anyways - pulls a little to the right (I wonder why).

Looked at a Prius - nice mileage but I can't justify paying an extra 11k to get 10 more mpg over the Yaris. I'm having a hard time justifying buying a Yaris over a 3k Honda. Just, and I mean JUST, missed a $1900 Civic this afternoon. Some other guy bought it before I got to the seller's house...o well.

So now its between a 12k Yaris or a 3k used Honda (not any one in particular - just the price range I'm looking at if I go for a beater.)

I did locate a 97 red Civic hatch w/ 145,000 miles in A'ville for $2900...waiting to hear back from the owner...been emailing Q's....

time for a beer



ETA: anyone want to buy a Cherokee cheap?

 

[CruisinTiger]

Ok well since you're too good for my honda I aint gonna sell it to ya anyhow...If you want to go the cheap route buy a diesel truck and bring it over and I'll have my buddy come up and we'll convert it to run on Veggie oil. Then you'll spend about a 100 bucks a year on buying the diesel to start and shut off the truck and the rest of the time running it on the veggie oil. Now you ask how does this work...well my buddy drove from Green Pond SC(charleston) to Homer Alaska on veggie oil....got some kick ass fuel mileage and got all of the oil for free. He'd go up to restaurants and ask for their used oil and many were willing to give it for free. They have to pay someone to come haul it away so they are more than willing to give it away. A couple owners were like yeah you can buy it from me..he just turned around and started to walk out and they would change there tune real quick and he'd be filling his tanks up. Now there a process as far as having a tank to let the oil settle in..kinda like having your own gas station at your house. But it's the cheapest way to go....another option is you can buy an old mercedes diesel and you can run it off straight veggie oil...no diesel needed at all. Had a buddy who ran his VW Rabbit on 20 gallons of veggie oil from charleston to up above richmond VA. So buy a diesel and let's convert it. Cheap Bastard

 

[Trollhole]

Spent about 5 hours car shopping today.

Alright so you have a broken cruiser sitting needing attention. And your spending 5hrs out looking for another vehicle.

Cruisers come first. Get it fixed.

 

[CruisinTiger]

Spent some time on the 40 today...got the coil, ignition. choke all rewired....JP was supposed to show up and help me weld up the perches...but he had some foreign film to watch for school....wonder what kinda film it was.

 

[Southeast Overland]

Alright so you have a broken cruiser sitting needing attention. And your spending 5hrs out looking for another vehicle.

Cruisers come first. Get it fixed.

I would rather spend time on the Pig but my DD is bleeding me to death!

If anyone wants a lifted 80 w/ lockers the one I looked at a few weeks ago is still for sale and the seller is motivated.

Did manage to knock over my radiator last night - put a nice dent in the fill neck cap - hammered it back out and it seems to seal - will have to see...

 

[GXO]

If you are getting a commuter get a 4 door...keep it forever (pre-post kids, lunch runs, etc).

So you want to keep a 55, get a semi-built 80, keep the VW, AND get a commuter car...to save money?

umm....sure