Y87bird00

iTrader: (6)

Coming this January I will be starting classes at the School of Automotive Machinists. It is a 166 mi round trip for me to make every day from college station to Houston. Mostly open highway except about 10 miles of traffic. I need a new car because I don't want to tear up my firebird.

Requirements:
1. MUST be a manual transmission
2. Be under $4000
3. Get as close to 30mpg on 87 octane
4. Be somewhat 'cool' or something clean.

Ideas would be like a 06 Scion tC. Under 5k all day, sporty 4cyl with a 5 speed. 30 hwy mpg. Any other ideas from car guys? I just wanted to find more things to search.

Slash8915

iTrader: (21)

I got a manual '07 Mazda 3 as a DD. Gets great gas mileage, drives great, and looks a lot better than most cheaper sedans of it's time.

01WS6/tamu

iTrader: (37)

Honestly man the smarter move is to just move close to SAM. That drive is a killer it sounds easy now but after doing it a while between wear and tear on you and any vehicle you buy it's just not worth it in the long run. Been there done that drove hour one way to work every day for 3 years it's sucks.

If you must do it though Honda accord or civic, Toyota corolla, avalon Nissan Altima or a stone stock no mods Fbody or mustang.

JC316

iTrader: (1)

Kia Spectra5. My sister daily drives one. 32mpg highway, decent power, excellent build quality, and stupid reliable. When I first got hers, was one owner, 250K miles. Original timing belt, original drive belts, original accessories, original spark plugs, original transmission. The oil looked like chocolate syrup and it had 3 rod bearings spun, I still drove it home.

Besides that, I would say a newer Cavalier. Ecotec is a beast and the cars just drive nice.

AGRV8D

iTrader: (19)

VW Golf TDI 1999-2003 with the ALH motors.... they get great mileage and if you can find a decent one it will run forever with only minorish repairs...

PRO5OHHO

I made a thread about a month ago saying that my 04 Acura TL was like the best daily driver ever, and then my transmission went out last week @ 132k miles, so... ANYTHING BUT an Acura TL.

Y87bird00

iTrader: (6)

These are great cars I haven't looked into yet guys, thanks. I'm having problems finding good examples of each tho. Craigslist, autotrader, and other resources for local used cars? I might try dealerships this week.

Squeaky192

iTrader: (1)

I'm a weird Volvo wagon guy, so I think this is awesome. 236 hp so it wouldn't be a total turd, and should net you higher 20's highway driving: http://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/4812757507.html

I have a non-turbo one currently with 272k miles, no issues. Had a turbo V70R (same thing as that one, but AWD and auto) with 280k+ miles on it.

JC316

iTrader: (1)

I am not a fan of newer VW's or the TDI's. Had a TDI beetle for a while, the turbo was leaking and the egr pipes were rusted in two. Even rebuilding the turbo myself and doing all the labor, it ran me $700. Then when you have to change the timing belt, you have to get VW to tune the injection pump. Cant change the radio or you'll risk pissing off the electronics.

I also wont touch a full size honda product made after 97. The 98-04 accords are DIRT CHEAP and plentiful at auction, they all have valve body failure.

Y87bird00

iTrader: (6)

Found a 04 mini S and a 08 Tiburon se local, the mini is in rough shape and the Hyundai is the v6 that gets worse mileage than my 5.3

whatsa347

iTrader: (6)

Our 03 Honda has 256k and hasn't missed a beat with minimal maintainence.

Y87bird00

iTrader: (6)

4th built 4l60e is slipping 3-4 this afternoon... I can't fix the trans and buy a car. Should I t56 swap my bird and tune it for 87 octane fuel? I get 26hwy mpg already.. Just the 93 that would hurt me.

7beast

iTrader: (30)

88-2000 Honda civic any model wether it's 2door sedan or hatchback u can't go wrong with the reliability and gas mileage! I'm a Honda guy all the way when it comes to daily drivers.. my wife also drives a 2008 Honda Fit and its bullet proof lol. Lol @ all these cats driving 40+ miles one way in a big gas gussler truck just to say they do

427zm

iTrader: (9)

Picked this up today for $500:



97 Acura CL 2.2 5spd 261k. Real clean. Craigslist brotha! Get after it!

JC316

iTrader: (1)

Civic or accord? I rarely see failure on the civic, but the accords are turds.

whatsa347

iTrader: (6)

Accord, we've owned 4 accords and one civic, they'd still be here if they weren't wrecked or flooded. The biggest problems with Hondas are transmissions, especially the V6 models like in the newer TL's and accords.

JC316

iTrader: (1)

Guessing yall changed the transmission fluid at the proper times? The problem with those cars are no filters for the transmissions. Most people never bother changing the fluid and the valve bodies get all gummed up. The piston that allows fluid to the torque converter gets clogged, the converter overheats and your tranny is toast.

90% of the ones I see at auction are bad.

Tuskyz28

That's one clean ride for 500 bucks!!

whatsa347

iTrader: (6)

Nope, it's been almost 200k miles without a change. Car runs and drives fine. All of the accords in our family our like that. I don't know what the hell people do to destroy them, but it's not easy haha.

Texfinn

iTrader: (39)

I guess... If you don't count the front end damage. Then again, for 500 bucks you can't get everything.