[fyrffytr1]

I may be in the market for a daily driver in the near future and would like some input on what to look for. It will be mostly driving to and from work and that is only a 10 minute ride on city streets. Currently I am driving my 06 GMC crewcab.
I want something good on gas, dependable and inexpensive. Also, I am not looking for a new car. I would really like to get a motorcycle but the wife has vetoed that idea.
What do Y'all suggest?

[goatless]

Geo Metro

[goatless]

I've heard that Honda Civics are good on gas too...

[The Boss]

You can't get a straight answer out of this guy can you?

Honda CRV - get one that's 10 years old with around 100k on the clock and it's only half way used up. Will get mid to upper 20's for mileage and still has enough room in the back that if you have to make a detour on the way home to pick up parts, you can fit them in.

[zeebo]

lol..love the replies..but honestly, the best advice i can give you is to buy the type of vehicle that old men drive....like buicks...they are usually well taken care of and get good mileage. i have on 01 PA and its been an excellent car..pushing 200k..no repairs other than the usual! i would however shy away from caddies---repair costs are too high.

[fyrffytr1]

Originally Posted by zeebo

lol..love the replies..but honestly, the best advice i can give you is to buy the type of vehicle that old men drive....like buicks...they are usually well taken care of and get good mileage. i have on 01 PA and its been an excellent car..pushing 200k..no repairs other than the usual! i would however shy away from caddies---repair costs are too high.

I am an old man! Turned 62 last Thursday. I don't want anything big and has to be good on gas.

[Blue '66]

How about a Chevy Prizm/Toyota/Corolla?We have had several Prizm over the years,good power and great gas milage.The only problem we had with them a replacing the starters on a couple.
They have a 1.8,make sure you get one with a 4 speed auto.They still made them with 3 speeds.We got 37 on long trips without the air on.

[form74]

Originally Posted by zeebo

lol..love the replies..but honestly, the best advice i can give you is to buy the type of vehicle that old men drive....like buicks...they are usually well taken care of and get good mileage. i have on 01 PA and its been an excellent car..pushing 200k..no repairs other than the usual! i would however shy away from caddies---repair costs are too high.

Originally Posted by fyrffytr1

I am an old man! Turned 62 last Thursday. I don't want anything big and has to be good on gas.

I'm driving a 2000 Buick Lesabre, it was Mom's Car then Dad's Car.

Get's 25 MPG AVG and I drive 80 miles roundtrip to work 70 of that on the highway.
Drives and Rides great. Straight Highway I've seen over 30 MPG

[fyrffytr1]

99% of my driving will be in town at speeds around 35 mph. I don't need anything fancy, just something to get me to work and back home. And that is a 10 mile round trip.

[zeebo]

Originally Posted by fyrffytr1

I am an old man! Turned 62 last Thursday. I don't want anything big and has to be good on gas.

well ill tell you that my park avenue with the 3800 gets about 27+mpg on the highway and my average is 24 mpg. and that it is a niiice car, too...lots of room.

[Simple Man]

My 2000 Ranger SC gets about 19 on the highway, 3.0/5 speed.

[fyrffytr1]

Originally Posted by Simple Man

My 2000 Ranger SC gets about 19 on the highway, 3.0/5 speed.

I drive a 2006 Ranger at work. I don't mean any disrespect but I don't want one. They get stuck in the morning dew!!

[65blackplate]

i just got this hhr panel 2.4 ecotech auto trans mostly in town trips average 27.5 mpg

[John V.]

Really depends on what you want to spend. For the driving you describe, I think it would be hard to beat a Prius. Never owned one but know a couple people who do.

I think you can get an '07 for under $10K.

I believe they'll get at least 45 mpg around town.

My wife has a short commute, she now drives a '12 Civic, but previously drove an '08 Civic (still have it) that gets a consistent 35 mpg on the highway at 78 mph w/ AC (will do better at 60 mph but I can't go that slow) and in mixed driving around a suburban town, never less than 30 mpg.

They made a hybrid but ours is std 1.8L gas engine. The Si is sporty but not as good on gas.

An '07 Civic sedan (same generation as the '08) might sell for about the same as the '07 Prius.

Make sure to do the math. Even at $4/gal, won't be easy to justify a $10K expense on fuel economy alone.

If you are selling the GMC and replacing with a car, that's a different story.

That was my rationale for getting the Civics. We were buying a new car anyway, my wife wanted a small car to replace the GMC Safari she had driven for a dozen years and the fuel economy helped defray the purchase cost.

Another tip. The real cost of a new car is depreciation, not the purchase price. A good used car has depreciation and likely a little more in maintenance expense (tires, battery, maybe brakes).

And another. Look at the insurance cost. Our experience is that the older car costs more to insure. You might pay more for a newer car, but give it back in insurance expense. If that is the case, why not get the newer car?

I think the Prius or Civic would be good choices. But it depends on your defintion of "inexpensive".

[PB]

98-03 Grand Prix. Good reliable engines, my 99 gtp gets 22 mpg city/hwy. I drive 15. Miles to work and it has 285k miles. You could easily find a lower mileage one for under 4k...GT or GTP

[77 TRASHCAN]

Zeebo's Buick is in the same body family as PB's Gran Prix.

I have a 98 Buick Lasabre, a ton on them were made, real reliable, except for the upper plastic intake peleum (it only screws up every 100,000 though). I see ton's of these cars in the pull a part yard, parts are plentiful. I've gotten 30 MPG once, 29 MPG can be had on the road, in decent conditions, and 28 in about any condition. It was my moms car, nobody wanted it when she passed, I was thrilled!!! rides great, takes me and my other 3 Pontiac fanatics to all the Pontiac events, in Okla., Tex. Kansas.....

Other cars get better MPG, but parts can bite you, when you least need it.....

[jusjay]

05 or 06 Pontiac GTO LS2 M6 400 hp. You get 18mpg around town and close to 26 open road. Plus when you want to you blow the doors off of everthing on the except the new CTS V and vert Z06.

[fyrffytr1]

I like the GTO option but I need a lot better gas mileage. For that I will keep driving the GMC. It gets 16 in town and 21 on the road.

[poncho-mike]

The most reliable car I've ever had is my 02 Saturn Vue with the 4-cylinder 5-spd manual. It gets 25 - 28 MPG and is roomy. Just be sure to stay away from the automatic cars. One of the nice things about the ECOTEC 4 is it has a timing chain, rather than a timing belt, so there are no expensive services at 100K mile intervals.

[Ben M.]

Originally Posted by poncho-mike

One of the nice things about the ECOTEC 4 is it has a timing chain, rather than a timing belt, so there are no expensive services at 100K mile intervals.

Yeah but if the chain gives out it's an interference engine and you've just ruined your valves or pistons. Got burned by one of those...