Commuter car?

bevi

New member
Jan 17, 2010
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Nh
I'm looking at a new job and I'll be commuting 100 miles a day. I wana keep the miles off my truck and get a car with good fuel milage. Anyone else have a commuter rig or any suggestions?
 

TheBac

Why do I keep doing this?
Staff member
Apr 19, 2008
15,683
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Mid Michigan
Anything in a little diesel car would be perfect for commuting. I personally couldnt stand an econobox. Gotta be a nice riding, driving car.

We recently helped our son buy an 01 Olds Aurora. 28mpg hiway. Holy shit is it a nice car. I told him if he didnt want it, Id drive it...its that nice.


(yeah yeah yeah...I know about the potential problems with the 3.5, but I put a stock turbo Dmax CC into the 12-teens. I can handle it.)
 
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TheBac

Why do I keep doing this?
Staff member
Apr 19, 2008
15,683
1,951
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Mid Michigan
Id rather drive a busted old Chevette than be caught in a Prius. Oh wait, I did that for a while way back in the '80s when my Cutlass was broke down. :roflmao:
 

mackthehack

DUH...
Apr 16, 2007
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hey don't take my statement out of context, i believe i had a :roflmao: in there at the end :D

i work for toyota and hate the prius, you cant own one and say your not gay.

i wear a ski mask when i drive them in case i see anyone i know :thumb:

I know bro, just messing with you! I worked for Toyota when they were first released. I hated them then and I still hate them now. Definitely a homo's car. I wish I burn every one of them to the ground...
 

gassux

Member
Mar 14, 2010
363
19
18
civic hybrid, subaru xv crosstek hybrid, TDI sportwagon/jetta if you can afford new.

if you want used:
buick century, chevy malibu, chevy cobalt/cavalier, ford escort 2000ish.

I love my 98 buick century. FWD so it's great in the snow. 200k on the clock and i still get 25mpg sitting in traffic most of the time.
 

03spoolindmax

New member
Nov 9, 2011
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I just picked an 98 s10 today while I work on my truck. Little 4 cyl 5 speed and I paid $1200. Gets 25-30mpg and I can still have a truck. I've owned 2 other s10s and loved them. Keeps me out of trouble too since there so slow :D
 

henery97

Member
Apr 4, 2011
206
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Nebraska
My dd is an 01 TDI 5 speed. Great little car. Easily pulls 40 in town and 50+ in the highway. REPLACE THE TIMING BELT ASAP!!!! I put nozzles and a rocketchip tune in mine after the belt let go on the second day I owned it. Now it's really fun to drive with the extra power, kinda gutless wonders stock
 

Darius6t9

I'm the Floater. Lurking.
Aug 23, 2008
574
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Rusk, Tx. Again
If you want a gas car, any of those are a good choice. Another option would be an 88 or 89 ford fiesta with manual tranny. Drove one for awhile years ago and it got a consistent 40 to 45 mpg. If I had to drive another gas sipper again, I would love to drive one of those.
 

bevi

New member
Jan 17, 2010
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I'm really thinking about a tdi. Found a 2004 for a little over 12k didn't have much for miles on it. What ever I get has to be good in the snow. I also found a few newer impalas and malibus with low miles and cheap.
 

ecc_33

Junior Member
Aug 10, 2006
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Amanda, Ohio
Toyota yaris. I put 80k on one that got a average of 43 mpg. The only thing i replaced in that time was a alternator and tires. Best vehicle I ever owned. It was a 4 door sadan not the hatch.
 

Max Attitude

11SIX
Mar 7, 2012
814
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16
Caledonia, MI
I may be in the minority here but I'd stay away from VW cars. We had an 06 Jetta tdi and the cam went out on it. I guess the '05-06 are notorious for that happening but I have also seen it in other models. Besides the cam issue I had many other small issues. I was so happy to see that car leave our driveway but at the same time felt bad for the new owner, lol.
We now have an Acura TL. Acura makes great low maintenance reliable cars (Honda engines). I would suggest a TL or TSX. The TSX will get better mileage. We average mid 20's. My friends have an 06 TSX with a manual trans and they get over 30mpg with it.
 

SmokeShow

Well-known member
Nov 30, 2006
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Lawrenceburg, KY
I rock out in my 02 Jetta TDI w/ 300k+ on the stock engine, clutch & trans. It has a rebuilt head & inj pump on it as well as slightly larger nozzles. Peppy but def no tuned Dmax. ;)

I get 40mpg no matter what I do. Best has been 42 & worst has been 39. Most get better mileage I think but it's still hard to complain about 40+ mpg.

I do have a rant though... Everyone wants to rag on domestic cars compared to foreign, especially German. Well, I can promise you none of the GM vehicles I've ever been in besides my plain jane 88 s10 and an older square body truck ever had more interior rattles n noises than my car. There's more in-cabin road noise, in-cabin engine noise, rattles, broken junk latches, crappy plastic etc in my Jetta & it's a fully loaded top of the line model. So, NO, IMO they are NOT superior to most domestics that I've been in. Especially of similar vintage/model yr. that's completely false testimony IMO.

Can't knock the little engine though.



My next one I'd like to think will be a chevy cruze diesel though. :)
 

bevi

New member
Jan 17, 2010
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Nh
I was thinking about a cruze or cruze diesel. Anything in the 30+mpg I'll be happy with.