What if you cannot afford a “new” fuel efficient automobile?

[Earthling]

I can vouch for Civics making excellent used cars. My son is driving my old '98 Civic DX and we still have a '99 Civic LX as a second car.

Get an owner's manual and keep up the maintenance, including having the valves adjusted, and those cars will last forever.

My '99 still feels solid and new, with 140,000 miles on it.

Harry

[yab13e]

I would also add the 1991-1994 Nissan Sentra to the list, those cars get 29 city and 38 hwy and have a more powerful 110 hp 1.6 engine. (my 94E mdl 5spd was neck and neck with a 94 Integra GS 5spd) If you want the best mileage get the E model which is stripped down and has the least weight so its the fastest and most economical mdl. BTW Sentras are easier to find unmodified too. I really miss my Sentra, Katrina took it from me

Good Luck.

[desdemona]

Thanks for your list!! It may come in quite handy to me. Otoh, I agree that the Hybrid prices might not be quite right. In fact, I am thinking blue book is saying higher. Btw, I loved my old Honda Civic hatchback (year??) but it was never the same by getting hit by a truck, so I had to sell it/or maybe it was junk it. Anyway I looked for one this time around and didn't find one so that's why I have the Toyota (I had to find if fast I was driving a rental car).


--des

[phoebeisis]

A couple of other cars come to mind.The pre 2006 Aveo isn't a great car,and maybe isn't even a good car.The MPG isn't very good for auch a light-about 2400 lbs,I think-car.However the mpg is much better than the average car or SUV,and they are CHEAP.Some Aveos sold for as little as $8000 new.Now since 2006 they got a slightly more efficient motor,and side airbags(not side curtain unfortunately),so they are even better(relatively speaking-I would prefer a 2000 5 speed Civic with 80K to a 2003 Aveo with 40k, but the civic would cost you more because everyone prefers the Civic).
The Focus isn't such a bad car either,and once again it is real life cheap.You can easily find a 2001 or newer-70K miles for about $4500.I particularly like the little wagon,and the hatchback.The Focus also got s significant engine upgrade(Mazda I think) in about 2005,so they are even better.These USA badged(Aveo is made in Korea,the Focus is made in the USA I think) cars have typically poor resale,so they are bargains if you are short of $$.
A big aside;I have found KBB greatly overestimates private sale value for USA and Japanese cars.It is a bit closer to the mark with Honda and Toyota.
Thanks,
Charlie

[aca2983]

This is a "dark-horse" candidate for sure, but I had a 1997 Dodge Stratus that gave me the best everyday MPG of all cars I've had short of the 83 Civic. The 2.0 engine and 5-speed is a rare combo. Since the engine is that same as the Neon, I would imagine the Neon would be capable of better MPG #s because of it's weight. I got low 30's in my short urban commute, and high 30's on the highway, frequently exceeding 40. (My record was 45). It was a great handling car, comparable to Accords of the period, and had tons of back seat and trunk room. It was always the car of choice on roadtrips when we had more than 2 people because it was so roomy and cheap on gas. That car also had the best A/C of any car I've had. All my Japanese cars (Honda, Mazda, Subaru) have had lousy A/C output even when new. Except for the Subie, it also handled in snow better than any other.

[desdemona]

Somehow the 83 Civic rings a bell. I'm guessing it was my old Civic. It must have been in your sig line as I don't see it here. The Hatchback is also, imo, one fo the nicest designs for carrying anything (the kinds of things people tend to really carry-- groceries, misc from home depot, trips to the mall, bikes, etc vs large game carcuses, off roader equipment, mountain climber gear, etc.).

--des

Originally Posted by aca2983

This is a "dark-horse" candidate for sure, but I had a 1997 Dodge Stratus that gave me the best everyday MPG of all cars I've had short of the 83 Civic. The 2.0 engine and 5-speed is a rare combo. Since the engine is that same as the Neon, I would imagine the Neon would be capable of better MPG #s because of it's weight. I got low 30's in my short urban commute, and high 30's on the highway, frequently exceeding 40. (My record was 45). It was a great handling car, comparable to Accords of the period, and had tons of back seat and trunk room. It was always the car of choice on roadtrips when we had more than 2 people because it was so roomy and cheap on gas. That car also had the best A/C of any car I've had. All my Japanese cars (Honda, Mazda, Subaru) have had lousy A/C output even when new. Except for the Subie, it also handled in snow better than any other.

[2TonJellyBean]

If you regularly can and do fill six seats, I'd toss in Buick's LeSabre or even Park Ave if you can find a low miler that isn't supercharged. With the NA 3800 either of these cars gets very good highway mileage. For example, I'm not sure a slushbox Protegé could beat it at highway speeds and if so by very much, especially with a few seats filled and a trunk of stuff you need.

Consider the MPG per person - not quite at 40 passenger highway coach level but nice dependable comfortable quiet transportation.

[aca2983]

Des,
The 80 thru 83 Civics were the 2nd Generation Civics.
All years had 1.3 or 1.5 engines ("1300" or "1500"). Base models had 4-speed manual trans, and upper models had 5-speed or an automatic. 80-81's had round headlights and were available in 2-door hatch or a wagon.

82-83's had square headlights, updated dash, and were also available in a 4-door sedan besides the hatch and wagon. In 1982 there was a hatchback model called the "1300FE". It was the highest MPG car of it's day. My parents bought a new 1982 1300FE in a yukky brown color. They wanted the car and it was late in the year and there was no choice. It had a plain AM/FM radio with one speaker, and in 1982, A/C was not available on the 1300FE. The equipment in the car was similar to other models. I think the key mechanical difference that contributed to the MPG was taller gearing in the 5-speed.

In 1983 the 1300FE gained an upshift indicator light on the dashboard, and you could order it with dealer installed A/C. I bought a used 1983 1300FE around 1988 or 89. It had 105k miles on it and was previously owned by a teacher. My folks and I were wary of buying a car with that many miles, but we did. My car was rather posh. It had the A/C, a 4-speaker stereo with cassette, AND an aftermarket but stock-looking cruise control. The original seat fabric was worn out (a common issue) and I paid $175 to have a local shop reupholster it in plush dark blue velour fabric. The car was metallic light blue. "Normal" everyday MPG for me was low to mid 40's. On highway trips it easily got mid-50's. My mileage probably took a slight hit because I had wider than stock tires on it (175 vs 165) and let's just say I didn't drive it "easy", although with only about 50hp, you couldn't really drive it too "hard". I kept it until about 1995 when it had about 205k miles on it and I traded it for a used 1991 Civic DX hatchback. That car was crappy. The 83 was and is the best car I've every owned. I dutifully changed the oil myself every 3500 miles. It only had to be towed once, and that was due to unusual circumstances (long story, but it went for a swim...). At 205k it still ran and looked great, just a tiny bit of blue smoke on startup due to worn valve seals, and some tiny patches of rust in the back. I guess I got nervous and decided to trade, plus I was living alone on my own in the city and didn't want to have to deal with potential problems, and didn't have my folks nearby to fall back on if needed.

The 2nd Generation Civics are not widely written about or remembered. In most climates, they eventually rusted, so you don't see them too much anymore. They did raise the bar though- the refinement was way better than a lot of other small cars of the period (we had also had a Chevette) The 1300FE deserves a special place in FE history though, because it was the Prius of it's day, the best MPG car you could buy if I recall correctly. It was bested in 84 (or 85?) by the CRX HF, which had more power, better FE, but only 2 seats. The later VX was pretty good too, especially considering it was much roomier.

I was proud to own such a fun to drive, satisfying, and well-made car, and I dream of finding one someday to restore it.

[xcel]

Hi Aca2983:

___That was a great personal history lesson on fuel efficient vehicles of an era long forgotten by most. Thank you!

___Good Luck

___Wayne

[desdemona]

Thanks. I looked it up on Wikipedia. It must have been it, though somehow I remember something a little smaller or compact looking-- but it was a compact, so maybe the pictures are a little deceptive.

I do recall rust being a problem (wouldn't be here in NM). I had an automatic, as it is all I can drive.

But I enjoyed the little ride thru memory lane.

--des

Originally Posted by aca2983

Des,
The 80 thru 83 Civics were the 2nd Generation Civics.
All years had 1.3 or 1.5 engines ("1300" or "1500"). Base models had 4-speed manual trans, and upper models had 5-speed or an automatic. 80-81's had round headlights and were available in 2-door hatch or a wagon.

82-83's had square headlights, updated dash, and were also available in a 4-door sedan besides the hatch and wagon. In 1982 there was a hatchback model called the "1300FE". It was the highest MPG car of it's day. My parents bought a new 1982 1300FE in a yukky brown color. They wanted the car and it was late in the year and there was no choice. It had a plain AM/FM radio with one speaker, and in 1982, A/C was not available on the 1300FE. The equipment in the car was similar to other models. I think the key mechanical difference that contributed to the MPG was taller gearing in the 5-speed.

In 1983 the 1300FE gained an upshift indicator light on the dashboard, and you could order it with dealer installed A/C. I bought a used 1983 1300FE around 1988 or 89. It had 105k miles on it and was previously owned by a teacher. My folks and I were wary of buying a car with that many miles, but we did. My car was rather posh. It had the A/C, a 4-speaker stereo with cassette, AND an aftermarket but stock-looking cruise control. The original seat fabric was worn out (a common issue) and I paid $175 to have a local shop reupholster it in plush dark blue velour fabric. The car was metallic light blue. "Normal" everyday MPG for me was low to mid 40's. On highway trips it easily got mid-50's. My mileage probably took a slight hit because I had wider than stock tires on it (175 vs 165) and let's just say I didn't drive it "easy", although with only about 50hp, you couldn't really drive it too "hard". I kept it until about 1995 when it had about 205k miles on it and I traded it for a used 1991 Civic DX hatchback. That car was crappy. The 83 was and is the best car I've every owned. I dutifully changed the oil myself every 3500 miles. It only had to be towed once, and that was due to unusual circumstances (long story, but it went for a swim...). At 205k it still ran and looked great, just a tiny bit of blue smoke on startup due to worn valve seals, and some tiny patches of rust in the back. I guess I got nervous and decided to trade, plus I was living alone on my own in the city and didn't want to have to deal with potential problems, and didn't have my folks nearby to fall back on if needed.

The 2nd Generation Civics are not widely written about or remembered. In most climates, they eventually rusted, so you don't see them too much anymore. They did raise the bar though- the refinement was way better than a lot of other small cars of the period (we had also had a Chevette) The 1300FE deserves a special place in FE history though, because it was the Prius of it's day, the best MPG car you could buy if I recall correctly. It was bested in 84 (or 85?) by the CRX HF, which had more power, better FE, but only 2 seats. The later VX was pretty good too, especially considering it was much roomier.

I was proud to own such a fun to drive, satisfying, and well-made car, and I dream of finding one someday to restore it.