Fuel Mileage (Help me find a new car! :( )
JScharF
09-10-2010, 02:09 AM
Hello everyone,
The clutch went out in my '95 eclipse, it might be a minor problem as it didn't burn up like our pickup's did... but with the amount of other work that needs to be done to the car, I plan on parking it regardless. I drive 45 miles each way to class every day. It's mostly freeway. I will also be moving to Rhode Island in April, driving there from Minnesota and driving back to MN in october (Internship). NOTE: My moms boyfriend is able to go to the dealer auction to get it at dealer price, rather than pay the 2-3k increase dealers make you pay for their profit. (He got my mom's malibu for 8k with only 25k miles on it.)
I am currently looking for a vehicle that has even better gas mileage. I know this will be a bit difficult considering I get about 31-33 mpg as it is.
My best option would obviously be a hybrid such as a Prius or Civic hybrid, but as my mom stated, it might not be worth the 8-11k for a used one vs 5-8k for a normal technology vehicle.
So obviously if I could get a deal on a Hybrid I would like to do that, but if that's not an option, what should I look at next?
My first thoughts were a Chevy Cobalt or Ford Focus or possibly a camry or corolla, but they are still both in the 10k range for the most part and I can't afford that with average gas mileage.
So Cobalts and Focus are still high on my list, but then I thought of one of my friends who said his mom had bought a 07 Impala with DOD (Displacement on Demand). He said she gets roughly 30 mpg with a 3.8 v6 i think?
So my major questions to you waffles are these:
1) What cars would you suggest? What do you own, how many MPG do you get?
2) What cars all have DOD? (ford/chevy anything that uses the technology, whatever they may call it) I can't find a compiled list for the life of me. And don't know what kind of mileage they get after the fact...
3) Do you have any other tips? (Insurance rates etc...)
One of the price efficient things I've been suggested from some people has been Honda Civic, decent base price, great mileage, and pretty reliable... But what else is out there?
The clutch went out in my '95 eclipse, it might be a minor problem as it didn't burn up like our pickup's did... but with the amount of other work that needs to be done to the car, I plan on parking it regardless. I drive 45 miles each way to class every day. It's mostly freeway. I will also be moving to Rhode Island in April, driving there from Minnesota and driving back to MN in october (Internship). NOTE: My moms boyfriend is able to go to the dealer auction to get it at dealer price, rather than pay the 2-3k increase dealers make you pay for their profit. (He got my mom's malibu for 8k with only 25k miles on it.)
I am currently looking for a vehicle that has even better gas mileage. I know this will be a bit difficult considering I get about 31-33 mpg as it is.
My best option would obviously be a hybrid such as a Prius or Civic hybrid, but as my mom stated, it might not be worth the 8-11k for a used one vs 5-8k for a normal technology vehicle.
So obviously if I could get a deal on a Hybrid I would like to do that, but if that's not an option, what should I look at next?
My first thoughts were a Chevy Cobalt or Ford Focus or possibly a camry or corolla, but they are still both in the 10k range for the most part and I can't afford that with average gas mileage.
So Cobalts and Focus are still high on my list, but then I thought of one of my friends who said his mom had bought a 07 Impala with DOD (Displacement on Demand). He said she gets roughly 30 mpg with a 3.8 v6 i think?
So my major questions to you waffles are these:
1) What cars would you suggest? What do you own, how many MPG do you get?
2) What cars all have DOD? (ford/chevy anything that uses the technology, whatever they may call it) I can't find a compiled list for the life of me. And don't know what kind of mileage they get after the fact...
3) Do you have any other tips? (Insurance rates etc...)
One of the price efficient things I've been suggested from some people has been Honda Civic, decent base price, great mileage, and pretty reliable... But what else is out there?
vanilla gorilla
09-13-2010, 12:10 AM
Im a supporter of the civic..
cantgo2fast
09-15-2010, 01:47 AM
Honestly its how you drive not what you drive. Get a new fiesta and drive it real grandma like. asking for more than 30mpg is asking a lot
AutoService101
09-15-2010, 11:33 AM
Just about any sub compact will get you over 30 miles to the gallon if you drive normal (no street racing, LOL). Guees it ultimatly comes down to person taste age of vehicle interested in and ultimately how much cash your are going to spend. Honda civic is always a good reliable choice. What have you been looking at?
Here is a good resource for finding out MPG ratings for just about any vehicle, has a lot of good information..... (http://www.fueleconomy.gov/) :naughty:
Here is a good resource for finding out MPG ratings for just about any vehicle, has a lot of good information..... (http://www.fueleconomy.gov/) :naughty:
JScharF
09-21-2010, 01:01 AM
I just found out I have more to work with than i thought, my school isnt financially raping me as much as I thought they would, so I am in the $10000 ball park range. I would like that to include tax+liscence+buyer fee but doesn't necessarily have to.
I am looking at cobalts that are coming off lease, but my #1 choice is a Mazda 3. I love the look and feel of them, considering getting a 05 Mazda3 with 75000 miles vs a ~09 cobalt with 30-50k miles (might stop at the dealer that has it on wednesday after class and offer him ~ 5.8k and see if he'll go to ~6.5k). I love the Mazda3 and 6s, but they're so much more expensive and are rarely at the manheim auctions compared to cobalts which are very common there. Civics are pretty rare on them atm too.
I'll probably end up with a 09 cobalt unless I can get a student loan to cover the car, then I would end up with a any year with as low of miles as I can get. (my bank's interest rates are 5.9 over 5 years if I get something less 3 years old or newer... if older its gonna cost me a lot more which I'm not sure I can handle with my internship coming up in April and moving to Rhode Island for the summer (housing is paid though so it shouldn't be too bad).
This car needs to make it 45 miles each way to class every day, and to and from rhode island next year.
What are some of the tips for improving gas mileage? I drive slow for the most part (I don't over-accelerate but when im on the highway i usually am around 65-70.. still hit 31-33mpg with my eclipse). Certain tire pressure, filters, anything along those lines that I should look into as soon as I do pick up a new vehicle?
I am looking at cobalts that are coming off lease, but my #1 choice is a Mazda 3. I love the look and feel of them, considering getting a 05 Mazda3 with 75000 miles vs a ~09 cobalt with 30-50k miles (might stop at the dealer that has it on wednesday after class and offer him ~ 5.8k and see if he'll go to ~6.5k). I love the Mazda3 and 6s, but they're so much more expensive and are rarely at the manheim auctions compared to cobalts which are very common there. Civics are pretty rare on them atm too.
I'll probably end up with a 09 cobalt unless I can get a student loan to cover the car, then I would end up with a any year with as low of miles as I can get. (my bank's interest rates are 5.9 over 5 years if I get something less 3 years old or newer... if older its gonna cost me a lot more which I'm not sure I can handle with my internship coming up in April and moving to Rhode Island for the summer (housing is paid though so it shouldn't be too bad).
This car needs to make it 45 miles each way to class every day, and to and from rhode island next year.
What are some of the tips for improving gas mileage? I drive slow for the most part (I don't over-accelerate but when im on the highway i usually am around 65-70.. still hit 31-33mpg with my eclipse). Certain tire pressure, filters, anything along those lines that I should look into as soon as I do pick up a new vehicle?
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2025