Cheap, highway MPG Monsters out there? - Fuelly Forums

Click here to see important news regarding the aCar App

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 09-24-2010, 05:05 PM   #1
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 336
Country: United States
Cheap, highway MPG Monsters out there?

i'm looking for a cheap japanese car that gets 50mpg highway, costs around 1000, and reliable. I used to have a 94 civic stick that got 47 mpg highway, and now im low on money, and need a car that saves me gas. i need it for a year or so, then hopefully i can sell it without loosing much money.

so far, from what i know, a 88-91 crx hf can get 60mpg?
a 92-95 civic vx 55? but the price would be high
a regular 92-95 civic cx/dx hatch that can get 50?


I'm considering corollas but they cant get up as high mpg in the earlier years of the 90's

a toyota tercel?
__________________

civic94 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2010, 05:33 PM   #2
Registered Member
 
IndyFetch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 628
Country: United States
Location: Ohio
Re: Cheap, highway MPG Monsters out there?

I like the Japanese econoboxes, but you have to remember that reliability will probably diminish with the age and # of miles on the vehicle. I'm a Honda guy, and I will admit that it is tough to find a good used one for that price unless it is really used. I was really lucky and found a rust-free VX for $1,300, but it needed an input shaft bearing. My wife and I drove it for 40,000 miles and sold it for $3,000.

I'd look at 125,000-mile mid-90s Cavaliers and Saturns. Several people on this forum have achieved up to 40 mpg with the Cavaliers and into the mid 40s with SOHC and DOHC Saturns. They are inexpensive to own, too, if you find a well-maintained one.

Of course, if you happen to find a good used Civic or Corolla 5-speed for $1,000, I'd be all over it.
__________________

IndyFetch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-25-2010, 12:29 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 138
Country: United States
Re: Cheap, highway MPG Monsters out there?

im all about the cheap saturns. very easy to fix, great mileage and they always look new with all the plastic covering them. try to get a 95 or above sohc for the best mileage. should be around 45mpg if driven nicely.
kit352 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-25-2010, 04:55 PM   #4
DRW
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 615
Country: United States
Re: Cheap, highway MPG Monsters out there?

Wasn't the Corrolla a twin of the Geo Metro? I've seen 1996-1999 Metro's on Craigslist selling in your price range. They seem to be cheaper than their Toyota counterpart.
__________________
Dave W.
DRW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-25-2010, 05:48 PM   #5
Registered Member
 
theholycow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 6,624
Country: United States
Send a message via ICQ to theholycow Send a message via AIM to theholycow Send a message via MSN to theholycow Send a message via Yahoo to theholycow
Re: Cheap, highway MPG Monsters out there?

I think it was the Prism that was a badge-engineered Corolla.
__________________
This sig may return, some day.
theholycow is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-25-2010, 08:57 PM   #6
DRW
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 615
Country: United States
Re: Cheap, highway MPG Monsters out there?

Yup you're right, Corolla is a twin of the Prizm, not the Metro. It's been a while since I searched craigslist for a cheap car with good FE.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/1969496575.html
__________________
Dave W.
DRW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-25-2010, 10:32 PM   #7
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 336
Country: United States
Re: Cheap, highway MPG Monsters out there?

i'm just looking for a cheap car that i can resell in a year or so, while driving mostly highway miles.

I also thought about a 90+ integra might work...
civic94 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-26-2010, 03:09 AM   #8
Registered Member
 
theholycow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 6,624
Country: United States
Send a message via ICQ to theholycow Send a message via AIM to theholycow Send a message via MSN to theholycow Send a message via Yahoo to theholycow
Re: Cheap, highway MPG Monsters out there?

There is a link in my sig to a "hypermile sleepers" thread which may have some useful suggestions.
__________________
This sig may return, some day.
theholycow is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-26-2010, 05:19 AM   #9
Registered Member
 
GasSavers_Erik's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,027
Country: United States
Re: Cheap, highway MPG Monsters out there?

Quote:
Originally Posted by civic94 View Post

I also thought about a 90+ integra might work...
I had an 87 Integra with a 1.6 and 5 speed that did pretty well. It got around 36-37mpg on the interstate at 70mph. It could have done much better, but the Integra transmissions are geared for performance, so it was running about 3500 rpms at 70mph.
__________________

GasSavers_Erik is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
My experience with Airtabs JudithGordon Experiments, Modifications and DIY 10 01-13-2019 08:32 AM
Not very precise mpg calculation larjerr Fuelly Web Support and Community News 4 08-20-2012 01:03 AM
Top 10 predictions zpiloto General Fuel Topics 22 06-29-2007 04:52 AM
MID Install SVOboy Experiments, Modifications and DIY 33 06-04-2007 10:27 AM
YAY! The fit is here! Matt Timion General Discussion (Off-Topic) 45 10-21-2006 01:43 PM

» Fuelly iOS Apps
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:37 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.