Good on gas - what is there?

[Nick1994]

With the cost of college and other expenses, my beloved chevy truck is just not very economical. I've spent $600 in gas the last 2 months and its getting a little ridiculous cost-wise. It's very reliable and I hate to part with it but a 350 is not too good on gas.

I figure I can get $2500-$3000 for it, for that price range what can I get that's good on gas and reliable?

Absolutely no Hondas, I wouldn't mind owning one but there is about a 0.0001% chance of finding one in Phoenix that hasn't had a carbon fiber wanna-be hood, eBay cold air intake, lowered, and with a coffee can exhaust put on it, so they're out of the question.

Also I was looking at Corollas and Camrys in that price range and most are spray painted or something wrong with them that they don't know the problem. I need to be able to drive 12-15k miles a year and the thing fall apart.

What do you think? I can't afford the gas for the truck.

 

[ram_man]

you are in a perfect position for a clean low mileage s series Saturn!

 

[dareo]

Toyota cars are priced high, sometimes with good reason.

A nissan 200sx 1.6l is very fuel efficient, lightweight, reliable. It came in a harder to find 2.0 SE-R model but that will only get about 30 mpg instead of 40 mpg highway. SR20DE is a lot of fun though so it could be worth the mileage hit. Infiniti G20 could be a good one to search for too. These are some cars the honda ricers don't know about and ruin before you can own it.

 

[Nick1994]

I came across this:

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/4157091141.html

 

[Bandito440]

I vote for a Chevy Prizm.

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/ctd/4171688108.html

 

[Nick1994]

I meant to say I need to drive 12-15k a year and it NOT fall apart

 

[Nick1994]

But would a Prizm be really reliable? I know nothing about them.

 

[Quest]

A Chev prizm is a rebadged Corolla, built in Cali by GM/Toy joint venture.

So, basically, it's a corolla.

Q.

 

[gregk24]

How about this...
https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/ctd/4165881423.html

 

[tig1]

Ford Focus. Good cars. Reliable.

 

[racer12306]

2003+ Dodge Neon SE or SXT, manual trans.

Great gas mileage and reliable when taken care of. My 04 can get near 40mpg on a pure highway trip. After Thursday I'll have a full tank of my commute driving and so far it's looking really good.

If it has near 100k, it needs a timing belt.

 

[morepwr]

Ford Escort. Super cheap and very easy to work on if something goes wrong.

 

[FutureDoc]

look for "bad badge" cars as many good cars might have teamed up with another manufacturer and so mechanically it is the same but people thing the badge matters. The Geo Prizm is a good one.

Pontiac Vibe - Same as the Toyota Matrix (aka Corolla)
Geo Prizm - Same as the Toyota Corolla but with a GM radio
Isuzu Trooper - Honda Passport (actually the
Saab 92x - Subaru Imprezza


Cars to avoid: Small Auto. Chryslers, Suzukis ... most had 3 speed trannies and are hard pressed to get above 30mpg despite small displacement. Nothing like have a 2.0 and only getting 27mpg highway. Eek.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: ram_man
you are in a perfect position for a clean low mileage s series Saturn!


This!

Just keep putting oil in it...

 

[ram_man]

Originally Posted By: daves87rs
Originally Posted By: ram_man
you are in a perfect position for a clean low mileage s series Saturn!


This!

Just keep putting oil in it...


my 02 has surprisingly not used a drop of oil. wonder if its broke?

 

[Nick1994]

I'm sorry but, my mom had a ford focus, biggest piece of garbage, alternator died at 35k and rattled like crazy. Starter started to die at 45k but the car was totaled when someone pulled out infront of her, the Focus was demolished, very very soft car in a wreck.

 

[FutureDoc]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
I'm sorry but, my mom had a ford focus, biggest piece of garbage, alternator died at 35k and rattled like crazy. Starter started to die at 45k but the car was totaled when someone pulled out infront of her, the Focus was demolished, very very soft car in a wreck.


Well, in that case, that was the same story with a Neon that I experienced a few years ago. I want to say that the Neons made the Focus look like a fortress.

However, most small cars are absolute rubbish in wrecks, especially those old than 5 years old.

 

[ram_man]

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/cto/4153345314.html

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/4164158112.html

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/4169471118.html

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/cto/4167104398.html

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/4100825857.html

here is a few Saturn I found with a quick cl search.
these are much better cars and safer than a neon or a focus. they have good safety ratings excellent fuel mileage. easy and pretty cheap to repair. and they have great online support.

 

[Nick1994]

Thanks for that list, makes me feel a lot better about Saturns

 

[ram_man]

I love them. they're very good little cars