Update: Could you recommend a smaller type car with good gas

[Gate Opener]

mileage? Lord willing we are going to move to the place further out which means a longer drive to work. This will be husbands car since he has to drive a lot farther than me and we want to preserve his truck which he has been driving and only use it when we need a truck since trucks nowdays cost as much as a small house. :shock:

So do you know of one that is dependable, rides good, has some power to it, looks decent and of course the mileage per gallon. From what I hear on the news the auto makers fib on the gas mileage so if you know personally that would be great.

Thanks!

 

[Beefy]

honda accords are hard to beat.

 

[bigbull338]

mileage? Lord willing we are going to move to the place further out which means a longer drive to work. This will be husbands car since he has to drive a lot farther than me and we want to preserve his truck which he has been driving and only use it when we need a truck since trucks nowdays cost as much as a small house. :shock:

So do you know of one that is dependable, rides good, has some power to it, looks decent and of course the mileage per gallon. From what I hear on the news the auto makers fib on the gas mileage so if you know personally that would be great.

Thanks!

you can look at toyotas they have cars that get 35 to to 40 mpg.they will either be a 4 or 6 cyd.motor.

 

[mdmdogs3]

back before my farm days - I drove lots of miles a day
I still have my 97 Ford Escort station wagon - 120,000 miles, one wreck and it still gets over 30 miles per gallon - and doesn't cost a dime more than gas and tires to drive.... 8)
have never been able to complain about that little car - although I'm very diligent about 3000 mile oil changes

(dealer did a great job fixing after being T-boned - tough car! 8) )

they aren't making Escorts anymore but I'd be willing to look at the new version if I needed an economy car.

 

[rkm]

I have a Chevy Impala, paid 13k for it when it had 13k miles. I get 35 mpg on a trip and 30 around town. It is not a small car, but it is the most economical car I ever owned. And its not like driving a box.

 

[Workinonit Farm]

I've got a '96 Mercury Tracer, 5 speed, that gets 38 mpg. Bought it last may and it has paid for itself 2 times over. Compared to what my old '88 Chevy 2500 gets for mileage. Now I save the truck for hauling, heavy work and bad weather.

Commute to the farm where I work is about 27-30 miles, and that little car has saved me from lots of trips to "the pump".

Katherine

 

[cattleluvr18]

nissans get good gas mileage.my mom has a pathfinder and it has good mileage for bein a SUV, but trust me DONT get a suburban like i got...

 

[Victoria]

Go Toyota, they are safe, gas friendly and have high resale values because they last longest.

 

[backhoeboogie]

Many good people have died through the years trying to save a few nickels. I can name six right off the top of my head.

When my daughters turned 17, I bought them new pick-up trucks. Nothing fancy, just plain jane 6 cylinder full size trucks. About 8 months after buying my eldest the truck, she had a head on with a van who was in her lane. My younger daughter was a passenger.

What an argument it was when she had to drive a truck. I heard about gas mileage from everyone you could imagine including immediate and distant family. I was buying the gas and it was my nickels and I would spend them as I see fit. Funny after they both walked away from that terrible wreck, no one ever said anything.

Personally, I think I would give up just about anything for the safety and welfare of my family. Change the setting on the house thermostat or something. I would never allow my wife or family to drive or ride in one of those tiny cars. That would be totally embarrassing. Especially knowing the friends who have died in those little things through the years. I'd sell my guns and practically all my toys to keep from putting my family or myself in that much danger.

 

[Gate Opener]

Many good people have died through the years trying to save a few nickels. I can name six right off the top of my head.

When my daughters turned 17, I bought them new pick-up trucks. Nothing fancy, just plain jane 6 cylinder full size trucks. About 8 months after buying my eldest the truck, she had a head on with a van who was in her lane. My younger daughter was a passenger.

What an argument it was when she had to drive a truck. I heard about gas mileage from everyone you could imagine including immediate and distant family. I was buying the gas and it was my nickels and I would spend them as I see fit. Funny after they both walked away from that terrible wreck, no one ever said anything.

Personally, I think I would give up just about anything for the safety and welfare of my family. Change the setting on the house thermostat or something. I would never allow my wife or family to drive or ride in one of those tiny cars. That would be totally embarrassing. Especially knowing the friends who have died in those little things through the years. I'd sell my guns and practically all my toys to keep from putting my family or myself in that much danger.

You make good sense. That is the reason why we have never had a small car. I can't believe I forgot to put safety on there as that is the main thing we look at in buying a vehicle. I drive a really large car. When people comment on it I tell them I'm not driving it to be snotty (pretentious) I wanted a big car to be safer.

Hubby read your post and agreed. He drives into Dallas and it is like being on a race track. He really does need something big and safe. Is there any such thing that will get better than 18 mpg highway?

Were you concerned about rollovers with the trucks? I would think that would be slim if the kid was a careful driver.

 

[Ryan]

Volvos and Volkswagons are very safe vehicles and get really good gas mileage. the diesel Volvos can get near 50mpg. and i know a rescue fireman that says he has never had to pull anyone dead out of a Volkswagon.

If you want something that gets good mileage and is bigger you might look into the Ford Escape Hybrid. I hear good things about them, but i dont personally know much about them first hand.

 

[Cowboy 2.0]

Is there any such thing that will get better than 18 mpg highway?

Our '03 1-ton Cummins with a manual tranny, straight pipe, and Bully Dog Power Pup programmer averages 22 MPG.

 

[backhoeboogie]

Hubby read your post and agreed. He drives into Dallas and it is like being on a race track. He really does need something big and safe. Is there any such thing that will get better than 18 mpg highway?

Were you concerned about rollovers with the trucks? I would think that would be slim if the kid was a careful driver.

I don't know of anyone who has died in a roll-over truck incident. I do indeed remember a peer in high school rolling his pick-up. He walked away tho. I can name several folks who have died in car (itty bitty foreign cars) accidents who were not at fault.

Your other question about 18 mpg; could this be a "city" truck? You were asking about a car, originally. Dodge puts diesel engines in their half ton trucks and they'll get 22 mpg and upwards. Or atleast they were. I would not buy a Dodge since I drive through very rough terrain and their front ends can't hold up. But if you are mostly putting the vehicle on pavement, it is a viable option for you, especially if you were considering a tiny car since it obviously won't be in pastures.

Tell your hubby that I have drug a few G/N trailers up 75. I've been on 635 a few times too. He has my sympathy. I can completely understand "road rage". There are times watching idiots jump 4 lanes, putting everyone at risk, that I'd like to jack and shell in the winchester.

 

[Lammie]

My husband drove a 1992 Geo Metro to work, 65 miles each way, to Waco for a year. Got 50 miles per gallon. Not much to look at, though.

Honda makes a car called a Fit and it is supposed to get good mileage. Toyota makes a little car, the Yaris, that is supposed to do that well. Scion A is good, too. He ended up getting a VW Beetle and doesn't really like it all that well. I don't like it cause it isn't very comfortable. And it is make of plastic and is already falling apart.

Whatever it is, if you live on a gravel road, try it out there first. I know from experience that the Vdubb doesn't do well on those.

Sadder but wiser! :shock:

 

[Lammie]

back before my farm days - I drove lots of miles a day
I still have my 97 Ford Escort station wagon - 120,000 miles, one wreck and it still gets over 30 miles per gallon - and doesn't cost a dime more than gas and tires to drive.... 8)
have never been able to complain about that little car - although I'm very diligent about 3000 mile oil changes

(dealer did a great job fixing after being T-boned - tough car! 8) )

they aren't making Escorts anymore but I'd be willing to look at the new version if I needed an economy car.

I had a Ford Escort station wagon, a 1993, I think. It was a good little car. I had a Hyundai Excel when they first made them. I drove it for 5 years and never did anything but change the oil. No a/c, no radio. I think we paid 4,999 for it new. It was what we could afford at the time. I also had a Honda Civic and we just drove the crap outa of that car. Had over 200, 000 miles on it when we traded it and we never did anything but routine stuff. Still had the same clutch and the wheel barings were just starting to go when we sold it.

I always had little cars and never felt particularly unsafe. I just drove defensively. Still do.

 

[aplusmnt]

My next car will be a Chevy Impala over 30 mpg and a full size car, American made to boot.

Other cars to consider for mileage.

Toyota Camry

Toyota Avalon (wife's current car gets 26 mpg and larger than most)

Toyota Echo....small small...but might push 40 mpg as a non hybrid

Toyota Corolla smaller pushes close to 40 mpg

Ford Focus.....inexpensive car good mileage

Pontiac Vibe, small but roomy, sister has one and gets mileage around 30 mpg and has lots of room for small car. Made by Toyota same as the Toyota Matrix.

Chevy Malibu

Besides a Hybrid the Diesel VW's get best of the bunch but I am afraid they might be costly in repairs and purchase price.

Wife drives about 3,000 miles a week for work and after weighing all things I will be replacing the Toyota Avalon in future with a Chevy Impala, large car with great mileage. She will be safer and not give up much in regards mileage. Also they can be had used for a decent price.

 

[Bama]

I bought a little chev. Aveo to drive when I don't have to have the truck. It gets 32 city and 38 interstate. I'll admit I don't look sexy in it. On the other hand I wouldn't look sexy driving a lamborghini towing a porsche.
Its a ugly little sucker. I drive 60 miles per day to my day job. Truck gets 15 mpg, car gets 34. I reconed at $11,000 new it would pay for itself and keep the miles off of my truck. Its a hatchback with the rear seats folded up I still can get a few supplies in there. Just don't try to cross a muddy pasture with it. It don't sit as bad as some of the other compacts, but it is ugly. Heck I don't care, expecially while passing the pumps.

 

[Txwalt]

I would recommend buying a consumer reports book on auto's. Its atleast an inch thick. It will tell you everything you need to know about gas mileage, saftey rating, and dependability. It usually goes back several years on every model. To me its the taller vehicles being safer in a metro enviroment. Its a lot easier to navigate traffic if you can see over the other vehicles.

Walt

 

[Lammie]

I bought a little chev. Aveo to drive when I don't have to have the truck. It gets 32 city and 38 interstate. I'll admit I don't look sexy in it. On the other hand I wouldn't look sexy driving a lamborghini towing a porsche.
Its a ugly little sucker. I drive 60 miles per day to my day job. Truck gets 15 mpg, car gets 34. I reconed at $11,000 new it would pay for itself and keep the miles off of my truck. Its a hatchback with the rear seats folded up I still can get a few supplies in there. Just don't try to cross a muddy pasture with it. It don't sit as bad as some of the other compacts, but it is ugly. Heck I don't care, expecially while passing the pumps.

My step-daughter has one of those. You are right, it is UGLY, but then again, so was the Metro. What matters is passing those other cars when they are stopped to fill up. Very satisfying.

 

[aplusmnt]

I bought a little chev. Aveo to drive when I don't have to have the truck. It gets 32 city and 38 interstate. I'll admit I don't look sexy in it. On the other hand I wouldn't look sexy driving a lamborghini towing a porsche.
Its a ugly little sucker. I drive 60 miles per day to my day job. Truck gets 15 mpg, car gets 34. I reconed at $11,000 new it would pay for itself and keep the miles off of my truck. Its a hatchback with the rear seats folded up I still can get a few supplies in there. Just don't try to cross a muddy pasture with it. It don't sit as bad as some of the other compacts, but it is ugly. Heck I don't care, expecially while passing the pumps.

My step-daughter has one of those. You are right, it is UGLY, but then again, so was the Metro. What matters is passing those other cars when they are stopped to fill up. Very satisfying.

Personally I would take Backhoeboogies advice and give thought to some measure of safety. There is a bunch of cars out there that you give up just a little bit of gas mileage but gain lots more safety say over a car like Aveo or Metro. Like say a Toyota Camry. Also with some of these slightly larger cars you will most times gain a higher degree of dependability and repair cost over some of the small more throw away type cars.