Hey guys,

I'm possibly in the search for a vehicle that meets this list, to serve as a commuter vehicle - approximately 40 miles a day. Any models that I should look at?

1. Low maintenance (translated: routine)
2. Good gas mileage (at least 30 combined)
3. Smart maintenance items (such as a timing chain and not-sealed-for-life transmission)
4. $9-13k budget. Private sale or dealer.
5. Mid 2000 onward.
6. 5 or 6-speed manual. Required

I've been perusing the 9th generation Corolla's (they look to be quite good). I don't care for the latest generation Civic. Subura's look like a good option, but might be pricey and I haven't driven one, unlike the Corolla / Civic. I don't really need AWD, either.

Thoughts?

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1982 240D, sold 9/17/2008
1987 300D TurboW124.133 - 603.960, 722.317 - Smoke Silver Metallic / Medium Red (702/177), acquired 8/15/2009
262,715 and counting

Honda Fit?
Golf TDi?

If you can fudge on the mileage a bit, a 4-cyl Accord.

you'll never find a subaru that bests those MPG numbers for that price. Nice cars though.

-John

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2009 Kia Sedona
2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L
12006 Jetta Pumpe Duse
(insert Mercedes here)

Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)

Mazda 3 -series ?

Nissan Sentra ?

Both probably have timing belts - its gonna be tough to get away from those in a modern 4-cylinder.

-John

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2009 Kia Sedona
2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L
12006 Jetta Pumpe Duse
(insert Mercedes here)

Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)

Go for cost-per-mile.


find out when the next big airport near you holds an auction for cars that were abandoned at long term parking at the airport and are for sale.

Obviously they all ran when parked a few months ago.

I know this cause I used to work for the City of San Francisco and my landlady's b/f was a plumber for the SF airport and he told me about it.

it is pretty much kept a secret by City Workers who like to grab the cars for themselves but technically it is open to the public who can come and bid but the city workers try their hardest not to ever publicize it, they do a "sweep" for cars that were abandoned there.

I actually saw some of them, covered with dust, in a lot where they put them. it is on a frontage road, and they are "hiding in plain sight". It was amazing to see it..

He told me sometimes they even get a Roll Royce or a nice Mercedes Benz, the police, the IRS or the bad guyz are after the owner, and he had to leave the country FAST. Like right NOW, run for the airport and leave the country quick.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

From what you said with price, upkeep and MPG I would second the idea of a VW Golf GTI.

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2015 ML350 4Matic. Wifes DD
2015 GLK350 4Matic. My winter DD
2012 E350 4Matic. Road Trip car
2009 CLK350 Coupe Designo.Kleemann Tune For nice days/DD
2006 CL600. V12.Eurocharged Tune. Enough said
2005 CLK55 AMG Coupe.Kleemann Tune. For the sound and style
2004 CLK320 Cabriolet. 2005+ Interior swap. For the sunny Florida days & beach days

Given the Fit's size, I would wonder why it doesn't get better mileage (say, that the Civics)

How are the VW dealers with servicing the diesels?

What years do you recommend? I've driven a 2002 (mother's) and a 2004 or 2005 (grandmother's). I didn't particularly care for either. The newer one didn't seem to get very good mileage and is a huge car.

That's a shame. Is high 20's combine possible?

I keep hearing good things about the Mazda 3. Consumer reports rates their reliability as very good, too.

I'm not too familiar with Nissan's offerings, other than driving about 1500 miles in a Versa while on travel. The Versa is a little too much of a tin-can for me.

It's a shame about the timing belts. At least the Corolla's have gone to chains and I think some Subaru's chains as well.

Interesting...

Do the GTI's get that good mileage? I perused the Jetta 2.5's, but those were only high 20's.

Thanks for the comments!

__________________
1982 240D, sold 9/17/2008
1987 300D TurboW124.133 - 603.960, 722.317 - Smoke Silver Metallic / Medium Red (702/177), acquired 8/15/2009
262,715 and counting

yes, but verify it has records from day one. Those engines are finiky about the type of oil they get. Plus timing belt work.

It's not safe to assume that a modern 4-cylinder engine will have a timing belt; a number of them use chains. If one wants to know, then one has to do some research with respect to make/model/year/engine.

Now, whether those chains will all go a zillion miles with normal maintenance or not is another question...

GTIs have the 2.0 turbo now. My mixed average is 28-32 a tank depending on how aggressively I drive. It is the most fun car I have ever driven that wasn't near 6 figures new. For a car enthusiast there's really not more practical alternative that's this much fun, except maybe the mazdaspeed3. The 2.0 TSI has timing chain, not belt.

This is my car:



I purchased new for $22,500. For you budget I'd look at an 07-08. Low end of your budget would buy one with 100k miles, high end about 50k.



The only alternatives I can think of are convertibles. I don't think from a fun and durability standpoint the Honda S2000 cannot be beat.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

2.0TSI finicky? What timing belt?

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Hmm... S2000...

Yep, that'd be a lot of fun.

The roads are pretty rough around here, so I may shy away from the cars with very stiff suspensions.

Hmm, no Ford or Chevy recommendations?

__________________
1982 240D, sold 9/17/2008
1987 300D TurboW124.133 - 603.960, 722.317 - Smoke Silver Metallic / Medium Red (702/177), acquired 8/15/2009
262,715 and counting

You want 30MPG. Do you really want to drive a Focus or a Cobalt?

Also look at Acura RSX. Vtech motor with timing chain. Great looking, driving car and within your budget range.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

I've drivenn some of the earlier model Foci and thought they were remarkably fun for a wrong wheel drive car. I've seen some reviews of the new one and they all seem positive.

As for the other thing...

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.