New Guy! Recommendations for a Pre-1996 fuel efficient car?
 

I've been lurking for the last few days, and was wondering what cars you guys recommending?
I'm in the market for something under $3500.00. I kind of have a soft spot for older cars, also the car recommended should have engine rebuild kits easily available. (I notice on eBay there are tons of Metro 1.0 liter kits for under $300)

I currently drive a 86 Toyota MR2 that gets 35mpg, if I drive 55mph, and 32mpg if I drive like a nut.

Hope to hear from ya!

Thanks,
Ryan

1988-1991 CRX HF 1-2k,
 

1988-1991 CRX HF 1-2k, 1992-1995 Civic VX (or CX, less cool though) 2-3k.

They're def whooping some ***, right there. I vote for CRX HF if you wanna do tons of work and come out with a better result or Civic VX if you're not so into engine swaps and wiring.

I say a non-CA Civic VX.
 

I say a non-CA Civic VX. Try to find a 95.

What's so good about a 95?
 

What's so good about a 95?

Re: What's so good about a 95?
 

95 is newer and is driven 3 years less than a 92. Just saying that if they're all about the same price, get the newest.

Yes, well, I spose so, then.
 

Yes, well, I spose so, then. I wonder if the 95s are heavier though.

Re: Yes, well, I spose so, then.
 

I think I remember researching that once, and the VX is the only model (maybe CX too, dunno) that didn't increase in weight as the years progressed. The CRX HF gained around 150ish pounds between 1988 and 1991, but the VX stayed at right around 2000lbs from beginning to end.

Honda Del Sol S. Sweeeeeet!
 

Honda Del Sol S. Sweeeeeet!

Re: Yes, well, I spose so, then.
 

<em>[SVOboy]&quot;Yes, well, I spose so, then. I wonder if the 95s are heavier though.&quot;</em>

some data on CXs :
<table border="1">
<tr width="100">
<th>Year</th>
<th>Wt, lb.</th>
<th>Tank, gal.</th>
<th>city mpg</th>
<th>hwy mpg</th>
<th>city range, mi.</th>
<th>hwy range, mi.</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1992</td>
<td>2094</td>
<td>11.9</td>
<td>42</td>
<td>46</td>
<td>499.8</td>
<td>547.4</td>
<tr>
<tr>
<td>1993</td>
<td>2094</td>
<td>11.9</td>
<td>42</td>
<td>46</td>
<td>499.8</td>
<td>547.4</td>
<tr>
<tr>
<td>1994</td>
<td>2108</td>
<td>11.9</td>
<td>42</td>
<td>46</td>
<td>499.8</td>
<td>547.4</td>
<tr>
<tr>
<td>1995</td>
<td>2108</td>
<td>11.9</td>
<td>42</td>
<td>46</td>
<td>499.8</td>
<td>547.4</td>
<tr>
<tr>
<td>1996</td>
<td>2238</td>
<td>11.9</td>
<td>33</td>
<td>38</td>
<td>392.7</td>
<td>452.2</td>
<tr>
<tr>
<td>1997</td>
<td>2238</td>
<td>11.9</td>
<td>33</td>
<td>38</td>
<td>392.7</td>
<td>452.2</td>
<tr>
<tr>
<td>1998</td>
<td>2295</td>
<td>11.9</td>
<td>32</td>
<td>37</td>
<td>380.8</td>
<td>440.3</td>
<tr>
<tr>
<td>1999</td>
<td>2359</td>
<td>11.9</td>
<td>32</td>
<td>37</td>
<td>380.8</td>
<td>440.3</td>
<tr>
</table>

I love my civic vx, and if
 

I love my civic vx, and if you can find one without rust, then get it, all of them around here rust out around the rear fenders, even tho the rest of the underbody is perfectly clean, just did some suspention work, and it came appart so easly, but rear fender rust is not pretty.
I got the VX because I drive distances, and wanted something with a back seat, as it has enough head room for me, at 6' tall to sit in the back comfertably, I also have a 1985 crx hf, and love that car as well, but they are hard to find in good shape, and unless you are in to fixing stuff, their carburator gaskets, and 56 rubber vacuum hoses, and handfuls of diaphrams after 20+ years tend to need checking/replacing, the 2nd generation of crx 88-91 will be heavier, built like a tank, and with fuel injection, get simaler mileage as their older lighter sibing, also there are alot more aftermarket parts for the 2nd generation of crx, weight saving parts like carbon fiber hoods and fenders, but they also tend to be abbused by people who think they need the largest engine you can fit.

Built like a tank? You know
 

Built like a tank? You know the 88 hf only weighed 100 pounds more than the 85 and only a few pounds more than the 87? They didn't even come with sound proofing material and they had low duty aluminum bumper reinforcements.

this is just what I have
 

this is just what I have been told by people who owned them and ran them in to things, or had them run in to, one friends was run in to at least 6 times, once totaling the other car, and is still on the road and looks pretty good for it's history.

Haha, that's the first time
 

Haha, that's the first time I've ever heard of a crx being involved in any accident and not getting totalled. I hope I get that lucky. Personally I except to die in my first wreck, but I guess that's all for the best.

How about a late 1960s
 

How about a late 1960s Triumph Spitfire? You'll get upwards of 40 mpg, and they're quite sexy.

i left my '99 metro for a
 

i left my '99 metro for a '94 vx
more power, better economy,much more fun...safer...
she still calls me sometimes...i just put them on the phone with each other and let them duke it out...
i'm not getting in the middle of all that nonsense

Thanks Guys for all the
 

Thanks Guys for all the responses! Now that I have an idea on what to look for, I found the following info on the Civic CX/VX/DX/SI model specifications and differences. I posted it in case it may be valuable to anybody else.

Re: 1988-1991 CRX HF 1-2k,
 

What does the Tons of Work include? And what advantage will the end result of 88-91 CRX HF have over a 92-95 Civic VX?

Re: Thanks Guys for all the
 

OK, there is some conflicting info here. I have two links that show that the CX and VX have the same FD of 3.25.

https://www.knology.net/~jediklc/

and

https://thenew.gamesbbs.com/~dmoore/tranny.htm

The info provided above shows the CX as 3.88 FD, which according to my linked sources was for the Si, not the CX. Can someone tell me which is correct? I'm not interested in a CX tranny swap if Im only going to go from 4.06 to 3.88 FD.

Re: 1988-1991 CRX HF 1-2k,
 

Older CRX HF's are usually in worse shape and require a little bit more work. To make it a real gas mileage monster you'll need to swap out the engine and swap in a d15z1 engine. This includes the ECU, distributor, etc. This isn't totally needed toget you over 50mpg, but it will get you over 60mpg.

The CRX HF is also smaller, lighter (the 88 CRX HF was in the range of 1800lbs), and only has two seats. The VX is a four seater and has a more modern interior.

Also, the crx has a much
 

Also, the crx has a much lower coefficient of drag than other hondas.

Dan, 3.25 is correct for the cx final drive, the final drive for my 5 speed will be 2.95, :)

Re: Also, the crx has a much
 

Relieved, but still jealous of yours.

Did you see the D15B8 torque peak was at 2000 RPM? :jawdrop:

switch hf fd?
 

Are you taking a 2.95 fd and putting it in an hf trans? I like it.

Re: Thanks Guys for all the
 

Don't underestimate the hypermiling potential of a ****box. :)

Re: switch hf fd?
 

No, the 88-91 CRX HF's came with 2.95 FD. They differ from the 92-95 trannys because the clutch is cable activated instead of hydraulically activated.

They also differ in
 

They also differ in mounting. That ****box engine will be my new engine, :p

Re: They also differ in
 

And the next one you find will be mine.

Re: 1988-1991 CRX HF 1-2k,
 

I'm trying to way out all my options, I can regularly buy 88-91 CRXs locally for under $2500, and even $900-1500 for some that need work.

With a little reseach I just realized that the CRX HF is geared for better fuel economy. If I do the engine swap, I assume I will not need that model, except for maybe some of the other HF Options (Like light wheels???)?

Without getting into engine swap details (I'm sure it is well documented on the internet), what advantage does the 92-95 Civic VX d15z1 engine have over the stock 88-91 CRX HF engine? (Let's say both are running at their peak efficency).

Great Info Guys!
Keep it coming!

The z1 has a bit of interior
 

The z1 has a bit of interior design but also has vtec, which virtually shuts off 4 intake valves under 3k rpms. It can also run much leaner and has things like roller rockers to reduce friction.

SVOBoy is right. The d15z1
 

SVOBoy is right. The d15z1 (civic VX engine) has a unique design that actually can allow for air fuel ratios of 20:1. Below 3000 RPM one of the valves is only slightly open which actually causes a "swirling" action that helps promote leaner AFRs as well.

The d15z1 also has a 5-wire wideband oxygen sensor which can give better feedback and help achieve high AFR.

Oh, and it gets better power than the stock crx hf engine, so it won't seem so slow.

If you put a d15z1 engine into a civic/crx/etc made between 1988 and 1991 you'll need to get a transmission from a 1988-1991 car. (the 1988 is unique, the 1989-1991 are interchangeable)

I have a CRX HF transmission from a 1991 and will be mounting it to my d15z1 sometime soon. It will work in my 1989 civic sedan with no problems.

Plus, the d15z1 is obd1 and is a little cooler. :)

the crx hf engine is just an 8-valve engine.

as far as I've been able to
 

as far as I've been able to tell, the crx hf only came with steel rims, not sure what alloy of steel they used, but the steel rims from my crx hf are a few pounds lighter then the stock steel rims from my civic.
the popular answer you are going to get for rims is going to be civic vx, hx, or honda insight rims, there was also one modle of Miata rim that weighed around 12 pounds, and had the same bolt pattern, but I'm not sure about wheel offset.

If I had the time, and money ($3000 should defently be enough) and didn't need a back seat, and could find any crx's around here (there is maybe one for sale per month) I would get one, and swap a vx engine in to it, and just like the civic modles, the si is heaviest and base modle is lighter, and fuel effiecent modle is lightest.

one of the other things that both the crx hf and civic vx don't have that make them lighter, is a sway bar, and if you live in Nebraska or other windy states, you might notice that it's a little harder to handle in crose winds.

88-91 crx hf has a front
 

88-91 crx hf has a front sway bar, it's smaller, but it's there. I'm considering upgrading to it, :p

I stand corrected
 

ok, my mistake, the early 85-87 crx-hf doesn't have a sway bar, not sure about the 84 crx 1.3 (no hf that first year, just the 1.3litter engine) and the vx, at least the 92 that I have, is listed on the factory parts list as not having a sway bar.