Daily driver idea

[CamaroZGuy]

so, im starting to thing about getting a read DD when i get back from Afghanistan in Nov. the average of 12.5-13 mpg in my truck hurts with a 30 mile commute each day. so...i think i know what the majority of people will say since this is a fbody board but.....

what im thinking is first option if i can find one in a good price range is a 2011-2013 Ford Focus 2.0l 5-speed manual (30-40mpg)
great cars, real nice interiors.

second option would be a 98-02 3.8L 5-speed camaro (fun to drive better MPG then what i have now)
problem is finding a clean good running camaro. it will be a DD NOT a project

this in the main vehicle ill be driving unless i have to drive my truck. so 1800 mile trips to and from IL

opinions? other options?

[firebird_1995]

My .02, forget about the v6 Camaro. If you're a ford guy, pop for the focus. They are sharp as hell and get the gas mileage you're looking for. I'm personally a cruze type of guy, and under normal circumstances I would highly recommend them but seeing as they are no longer being offered for sale due to life threatening ignition switch failure, it would do me no good.

[popo8]

I agree on no fbody did if mpg is what u want... But with that said...wait till u get back... Who knows what will be around then.

Just an LTXtech addict

[CamaroZGuy]

ill be waiting until i get back, but since i not looking to get any thing new i look at cars and prices when i get board.

[popo8]

Lol... Ok

Just an LTXtech addict

[Fastbird]

My recommendation. Find a TDI Vw.......golf or Jetta. The ALH series motors take some abuse, and when Ben and I ran to Cedar Point last year, he drove at 90 MPH most of the way there and STILL got 45 MPG. Plus they'll run forever.

[CamaroZGuy]

My recommendation. Find a TDI Vw.......golf or Jetta. The ALH series motors take some abuse, and when Ben and I ran to Cedar Point last year, he drove at 90 MPH most of the way there and STILL got 45 MPG. Plus they'll run forever.

I have looked at tdi but a littleore then i want to spend...

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[Fastbird]

For what you're going to pay for a 11-13 Focus, you can get a perfect condition reasonably miled 06-08 Jetta TDI or a really low mile 01-05 Golf or Jetta TDI.

[Sahara54]

I think the new Focus RS's are really cool little cars. My first car was a lil' hatch so I'm still kinda partial.

[spikester7878]

I personally have been looking for a new DD as well. I hate my sentra. I have been looking alot into GM vehicles that came with the 3800 series, simply because they are a great mix of power(with the supercharger) and fuel efficiency, plus I get to stay in GM or even pontiac. I also thought about the TDI jetta or golf, they get crazy good fuel efficiency and are pretty fun to drive.

[Nocturnal Z]

I commute 20 miles one way to work, i used to drive trucks and jeeps also, but they were killing me in gas mileage. So now my DD is a 2013 focus ST. I love it, decent mileage + turbo + 6spd manual + Recaro seats = happy car guy commuting :-)

[harner]

3800 w-body. Grand Prix GTP or Regal GS would be my vote and are DIRT cheap, easy to work on, decent gas mpg, and lots of aftermarket. I have a 98 GP GT that I bought to do a top swap and DD, but uncovered all kinds of gremlins after buying it and eventually popped a head gasket. The motors go for ~$200+ so it's an easy fix lol, just need to make the time to do it lol. When it was running, I saw low 20's all day with NO fourth gear (bad trans). It's a big car and a lot of GTPs had some nice features like HUD, boost gauge (meh), dual climate, etc.

I have a 13 Cruze Eco that I bought due to a 100 mile round trip commute to work. It's not needed anymore since I have a WFH job now. It averages around mid 30's.
http://badges.fuelly.com/images/sig-us/231164.png (http://www.fuelly.com/driver/bloodspray/cruze)

Working on paying about 1.5x the payments right now and eventually trading it in on something more ignorant as a DD, like an 09+ CTS-V or Vette. Don't get something you'll just be bored with. Stock v8 fbodies are better on gas than your truck if you want to go that route.

[shownomercy]

I have another two years before truck is paid off then, getting myself a diesel cruze. Or maybe, just maybe GM will be nice and give us a minimax 1500/Colorado

[popo8]

Get a smart car...

LTXtech.com is my DRUG!

[SS RRR]

Might be able to find a Cobalt for cheap these days. ;)

[popo8]

Fastbird hows that dd u just got on fuel?

LTXtech.com is my DRUG!

[Fastbird]

My corolla? I'm averaging right at 30 MPG between all the in town running around I do coupled with my mostly rural road 17 mile commute to work.

[popo8]

Thats great.. bet they can be pretty abundant Tony.

LTXtech.com is my DRUG!

[2010ucf_z28]

My wife drives a POS corolla as well.. Commuting 60+ miles a day in that thing.. Gets great gas mileage.. I hate the friggin car but just turned 200k on it and it literally in teh 110,000 miles we've pounded on it since we've been married I've had to fix absolutely nothing.. Battery, tires, oil, filter, brakes and a serpentine belt... Oh and it's still worth a few grand as stupid as that is...

Believe I hate that friggin car but considering all that if you can tolerate having leg room adequate for japanese midgets and looking like a dufus driving it (cause they do suck) then that is a terrific option..

[Blackbird96WS6]

if you can tolerate having leg room adequate for japanese midgets

Hey, this might fit you perfectly, Tony. ;) jk

[Fastbird]

Hey, this might fit you perfectly, Tony. ;) jk


Bwahahahahaha!!!!! Just FYI I'm 6'3" and no lightweight, and I'm comfy driving my 01 Corolla. Only paid $1650 for it also with 150K miles. Rough around the edges but a $45 junkyard hood fixed most of the cosmetic unsightliness up:

Before:
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i177/Fastbird93/Corolla/0401141553_zpsdc829597.jpg (http://s72.photobucket.com/user/Fastbird93/media/Corolla/0401141553_zpsdc829597.jpg.html)

After:
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i177/Fastbird93/Corolla/0401141635_zpsff3131af.jpg (http://s72.photobucket.com/user/Fastbird93/media/Corolla/0401141635_zpsff3131af.jpg.html)

[harner]

FWIW - I'm 6'3" 300# and if I put my seat all the way back in the Cruze, I can't press the clutch all the way in. Also, I had more leg room in my Grand Prix than I did my '08 Caddy STS, but neither compare to how far back the Cruze goes for being a much smaller car.

[firebird_1995]

You won't be able to touch the brake pedal with the seat all the way back at 6'4" either.
Huge trunk too. Love my cruze, just wish they weren't killing people. Its like a modern day pinto.

[CamaroZGuy]

Leg room is not a problem for me....usually the seat is almost all the way foreword... im 5'4"

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[spikester7878]

Leg room is not a problem for me....usually the seat is almost all the way foreword... im 5'4"

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I know the struggle. Im 5'6" haha. does make buying cars a hell of alot easier

[popo8]

Leg room is not a problem for me....usually the seat is almost all the way foreword... im 5'4"

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I giggled. I didnt wanna be the guy to say it above. lol

LTXtech.com is my DRUG!

[harner]

You won't be able to touch the brake pedal with the seat all the way back at 6'4" either.
Huge trunk too. Love my cruze, just wish they weren't killing people. Its like a modern day pinto.

Ha I know, I can't believe all the recalls! My girlfriend and I both both Cruze Eco's last year a couple months apart (gay, right? LOL). I got a '13 model and she got a '14. However, she was not allowed to pick it up due to a recall (pass. side axle), so after a week of heehawing around, the dealer picked up an out of state car with the same color and options and threw in some all weather mats for the same price. I got the same axle recall on my '13 and had it fixed. Isn't that one of the major recalls out now? I thought that was old news?

I love how deep the trunk is. Hers has a cover over the spare tire well and mine is just open. Both are M6 cars but I always tell her that mine is faster lol.

[harner]

Leg room is not a problem for me....usually the seat is almost all the way foreword... im 5'4"

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I know the struggle. Im 5'6" haha. does make buying cars a hell of alot easier


Must be nice! It is going to be a major adjustment for me to drive the T/A again. I'll have to get used to the whole "tuck and roll" thing to get out of the damn thing lol.

[firebird_1995]

Ha I know, I can't believe all the recalls! My girlfriend and I both both Cruze Eco's last year a couple months apart (gay, right? LOL). I got a '13 model and she got a '14. However, she was not allowed to pick it up due to a recall (pass. side axle), so after a week of heehawing around, the dealer picked up an out of state car with the same color and options and threw in some all weather mats for the same price. I got the same axle recall on my '13 and had it fixed. Isn't that one of the major recalls out now? I thought that was old news?

I love how deep the trunk is. Hers has a cover over the spare tire well and mine is just open. Both are M6 cars but I always tell her that mine is faster lol.

Mines a '12 eco m6 and the only recall I've had is the oil filter one that was burning cars down after oil changes. Other than that, the only (I say only but cmon) recall I've heard of is the new one that people with extra keys dangling off the ignition key is causing them to shut off while driving. Horrible shame too because they really are nice cars. I've got a scangauge 2 in mine and if I get up to 65 and hold the tps at 40% I can get 45-50 mpg. No kidding

[CamaroZGuy]

Tonight i did some looking at VWs....dam them little cars hold value! I do miss my old 92 mkiii golf gl i had in Germany, little 1.6l 5 speed

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[CamaroZGuy]

And since my last oil change my truck is avg 12.3 mpg....

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[shownomercy]

Get a diesel.

Summer fuel = 20mpg land

[95albinobird]

we had a 2012 fiesta got it brand new it only got like 30-34 mpg and the interior was shit. traded it in on a 2112 Prius 4 months ago I hate to say it but the Prius is kind of sweet. Way better fit and finish quieter all around better.it beats the hell out of that ford.

[popo8]

Maybe we should know price range Tony... it will help us from aiming to low/high or new/old...

LTXtech.com is my DRUG!

[CamaroZGuy]

Price range really hasn't been set. Depends on what i get payed off over the next 6 months.

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[SJx408]

Darn you guys. Lol all of the established adults in families have the ability to purchase newer and nicer DD cars. Im 21 and stuck with a choice of beater 90's Honda civics and Toyota corollas and Nissan maximas sentras etc. I ended up getting a '93 Toyota Pickup 2WD with the venerable I4 2.4L 22RE. This thing can't be killed (see BBC's Top Gear: To kill a Toyota) with all 83 RWHP and 400k on the clock. Its a decent fit for me (6'5 235#) and the 5 speed still makes it pretty fun. It is functional definitely, I can do pickup truck activities while retaining a passenger car driving experience. Such a small truck that is low to the ground (lol 4inch drop all around) it drives like a car. Getting some decent jdm type old school wheels, with the drop its actually pretty sweet. All the highschoolers in this area can't get enough of it. Of course they roll with stupid stanced Hondas with fart cannons and negative camber on ridiculously stretched tires. I will NEVER do that with this truck, guess its a thing to "stance" Toyota pickups and Nissan trucks. Anyways end rant lol I'd much rather drive something newer but at least I can keep my 96 Z off the street.

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