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

[Snowy_Jeep]

Thanks for the insights. We're looking for something, anything to help. Our rides need replacing! So hearing that if we shop patiently we can make it happen is a big help!

[brucepick]

I'd like to take a minute to highlight the Civic HX series, produced from '96 to '05. It's EPA numbers were typically 10-20% higher than other similar Civics of the same years. As all HX's on the US market should have OBD-II, they are Scangauge capable.

The article mentions the Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.7 L, Man(5), LEAN-BURN 36/44 but I saw it on the list above only for '03 and '04. I believe this is the HX which had a long ten year production run.

The original EPA rating of 36/44 was recently revised to an estimated 30/39 to reflect the newer test procedure. Those numbers are for 5-spd standard transmission; various changes including the upsizing the engine from 1.6 liters to 1.7 caused slight shifts in the EPA mpg numbers.

Thanks again to Wayne for producing this very comprehensive guide!

[julianelischer]

I have a '91 Honda CRX that I dearly love. I have a 54 mile commute
(I try work from home when I can but it's not always possible) and even with 230,000 miles on it it's giving me 41Mpg when driven like a maniac.
I'd like to drive a bit more sensibly but traffic patterns at the times I need to drive
and the fact that I really don't like losing an entire 80 minutes of my day driving
means that I usually end up driving faster when I can, or in stop-n-go.
Still the CRX gives me lots of get-up-n-go and reat mileage. I'm really imporessed by it.

I'd love to get a nice new shiney hybrid, but you know, at 42 MPG teh CRX does ok, and
there is an ecological cost to making a new car. ESPECIALLY a hybrid.

Does anyone know how much fuel I'd have to save to make the purchase of a new hybrid a neutral event from the perspective of total energy usage?

[xcel]

Hi Julian:

___If your CRX is working fine, keep it. What you are giving up is the SMOG forming emissions, the creature comforts and safety features of a new hybrid/new car vs. your older CRX. If it is the CRX HF, you more then likely will only gain a few mpg’s given your 41 mpg now and what most pull in a Prius at 46 – 48 mpg while driving them in a fashion I will call “reckless”. Remember you are not averaging 80 even though you may see 80 as a top speed to work and back. 80 is up to you but I bet your CRX is probably worth 60 + mpg if you were to set her up a bit better, slow to between the limits and work on the basic techniques?

___Good Luck

___Wayne

[warthog1984]

Could somebody update the list? It's been a couple years and the used car market seems to have changed significantly.

Side Note: Stopped by 2 dealers yesterday. Absolutely packed with SUV/truck drivers looking at sedans. The only salesman I could find had to use the only open room with a CPU- the breakroom.

[xcel]

Hi Warthog:

___Since I have over 65 hours on CleanMPG this week and a never ending list of stories, articles, posts and threads to keep up with, I would be greatly appreciative if you would take care of the update for me? It should not take over 3 or 4 hours to cross reference the vehicles with today’s KBB data using the original criteria.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

[yellowtail3]

Here's your on-the-cheap list:

1. 91-94 Sentra. Get the 1.6 engine with a four- or five-speed
2. mid-early 90s Corolla or Prizm - be sure to get the five-speed
3. 91-99 Ford Escort. 91-96 best MPG, 97 and on a little more refined. Get a five-speed wagon - MPG as good or better than anything listed above, with FAR MORE SPACE.

I've got two of them.

[BillLin]

re: updating the list

I can help with some of the "legwork..." Same years with increased miles, or same/similar models from 2006 back? (which would probably require more knowledge of the various models, e.g. lean burn) If all conditions remained the same, I don't know how useful the kbb values would be with unrealistically low miles. I didn't see where the default miles for given years came from, but I haven't looked that closely at the kbb site yet. Even the default miles for the older models seemed impossibly low, with only 3000 miles difference from year to year toward the end of the list.

Thanks for guidance/suggestions.

Cheers,
Bill (not likely to get to this tonight)

[yellowtail3]

Here's a thought: look at a few Craigslist and Ebay ads. 'watch' the ebay auctions, see what cars of a model & year actually sell for.

here you go http://tinyurl.com/2kp2wm

[xcel]

Hi Bill:

___I will work with you in the morning on this if you are able?

___Yellowtail, not a chance. For one, an exact vehicle matching the criteria will never sell for the same price on E-Bay and second, to catch every vehicle on the list with a similar miles and condition would not be practical vs. KBB with the criteria spelled out.

___Good Luck

___Wayne