What Non-Hybrid Car gets the Best Gas Milage....?

[masmdu]

Looking for a good used car. Up to 7 years old or so. Prefer Honda or Toyota...not interested in the little tin cars that fall apart and are destroyed in crashes.

What Honda or Toyota gets the best milage and what is it? (No hybrids please)

Small cars are ok...

Please give milage figures in your replies. Thanks!

[wuushew]

1. No small cars?

are you looking for a midsize? Do you prefer a 2 or 4 door?

[toddzilla]

2. probably the smallest civic 3 door..

not sure, but i don't like toyotas, honda for me.

[madrchsod]

3. honda

one of the best cars ever made

[XNASA]

4. Toyota Echo?

Maybe a Honda Civic. Or maybe a VW Golf Diesel?

[mhr]

5. VW TDI Diesel - Roughly 50 Miles Per Gallon With A Manual Transmission

pretty amazing - available today!

[wuushew]

7. Older models have reliability issues

http://www.consumerreports.org/main/content/display_car.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=404043&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=333137&bmUID=1082480512322

[mhr]

15. Link Requires Subscription - The TDI Is A New Engine

eom

[benburch]

6. Why no hybrids?

You can get a used 2000-2003 Prius quite reasonably!

I drive a 2002 Prius, and now have 27,000 miles on it with ZERO problems. And it is a no-compromise car. I am 6'2", and #290, and I fit it quite comfortably. It accelerates well, can maintain highway speed with no problems, pollutes less than ANY non-electric car on the road, and I get (real world) 44 miles per gallon.

When looking at mileage numbers on cars, please do understand that they are totally artificial government tests. NOBODY drives like that, and hence, nobody gets the mileage that the EPA numbers claim!!! They serve as a rough basis for comparison, no more.

So, I ask again, why do you rule out hybrids?

[masmdu]

9. Because I'm poor and only have 3-4k as my budget

If i could afford a hybrid i would get one.

[benburch]

12. Good reason!

At that price, I would look more at finding a reliable car than a fuel efficient car.

Also, at that price you are talking a high odometer mileage car.

My previous car was a 1994 Pontiac Grand Am that I got for $3200. It had 102K miles on it when I got it, but it was in great condition. All of the accessories worked, the maintenance record showed it had been taken care of, the brakes were good, and the alignment was such that the car would steer straight for a number of seconds with hands off. I got another 44,000 miles on it before I traded it in for the Prius.

If you do not understand cars (I worked as a mechanic when I was a young man) bring a friend who DOES when you go shopping. The last thing you want is to spend your limited money on a lemon.

Good luck!

[IronLionZion]

10. gas four-bangers will give similar real-world mileage

and superior performance

[IronLionZion]

8. Corolla, Echo, Matrix or Civic manual

I heard VW diesels are good. Just about an four-banger with a stick will give you better performance and value than a hybrid. Also Ford Focus, Saturn, Chevy Aveo, etc.

It will take more than 7 years of driving a Prius before you justify the extra cost. And that's if you only drive in the city. If you take a Prius on the highway you will never justify the cost.

[wuushew]

11. The government has a fuel economy comparision site

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/byMPG.htm


quite useful

[deadeye]

13. my wife's 96 Saab 9000 CSE gets

30-35 mpg and also goes 150 mph, and is also a good looking car (if I do say so). Would cost you $6K - $8K dollars for a similar one. Is not maintenance free, however.

[Kurt Remarque]

14. my 1991 civic still gets 38/city, 44/highway

[CO Liberal]

16. The VW Jetta Gets Close to 50 MPG

I believe that's with the diesel engine.