Low Road Noise Vehicles
- Thread starter supton
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I'd look at a third generation ES300. 99' and up to 01' will be in your price range. They run forever, there is one person who has over a million miles on his. Highway will get to around 27-30 mpg. Not more.
My 4th generation ES300 is tomb stone quiet, much quieter than my RX300. It's like a mini-LS. Might be a bit over your budget, but it'll get 30+ on the highway if you drive it right!
My 4th generation ES300 is tomb stone quiet, much quieter than my RX300. It's like a mini-LS. Might be a bit over your budget, but it'll get 30+ on the highway if you drive it right!
Once I nick wind (and maybe tire) noise I find most cars quiet enough.
Your challenge is finding a car with about three layers of weatherstripping so when one layer is kinda worn out the other two take over.
It hasn't yet been said... grand marquis.
Your challenge is finding a car with about three layers of weatherstripping so when one layer is kinda worn out the other two take over.
It hasn't yet been said... grand marquis.
Town Car.
The problem with smaller cars is they are loud. My moms Rav4 is very loud on the highway as is my sisters Corolla. My truck is quieter than the Rav4 they are horrible on the open road.
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What was the last year of accord with double a arm front suspension?
Try a Sebring?
Try a Sebring?
If you don't like TDI maintenance i would bet you will hate high mileage Chrysler maintenance.
Might be able to find a cream puff Buick of low miles. Quiet, comfortable, slushbox, 3800 is reliable. I only say Buick since often Toyota is so expensive used that its not even funny.
Might be able to find a cream puff Buick of low miles. Quiet, comfortable, slushbox, 3800 is reliable. I only say Buick since often Toyota is so expensive used that its not even funny.
ls1mike
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I was going to suggest a reasonable mileage 3800 powered Buick as well, not exactly what you are looking for, but decent MPG's, good power when needed and very quiet.
ls1mike
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Intake gaskets. I had to do mine on my current Buick. Felpro problem solvers and forget it, but by now anything you look atin that price range should have been done. If affects 04 and prior.
Transmissions 02 and prior, make sure the were maintained properly. They will last along time but the 02 up got a bunch of updates. Stock daily driver stuff they are very good, once you start modifying the S/C ones you need to upgrade the transmission.
Other stuff that fails on every car like perhaps an alternator or power pump. My two previous 3800 had no issues. I did have to do the alternator on the Buick recently. 99 dollars and about a 1/2 an hour.
Grand Prix is the same car, mine was just as quiet as the Buick.
Transmissions 02 and prior, make sure the were maintained properly. They will last along time but the 02 up got a bunch of updates. Stock daily driver stuff they are very good, once you start modifying the S/C ones you need to upgrade the transmission.
Other stuff that fails on every car like perhaps an alternator or power pump. My two previous 3800 had no issues. I did have to do the alternator on the Buick recently. 99 dollars and about a 1/2 an hour.
Grand Prix is the same car, mine was just as quiet as the Buick.
Originally Posted By: dareo
If you don't like TDI maintenance i would bet you will hate high mileage Chrysler maintenance.
I always thought this too, but my Neon was almost like an anvil once it got a good head gasket. So many original parts still on it and survived lots of autocross and a couple track days on r-compound tires, which is the hardest thrashing you can imagine on a daily driver.
Anyways, a 2.4l manual cloud car cream puff car might be better than $5k Camry that already has 200+k miles, IMHO at this price point, condition and care by the previous owner is pretty important. It is the only common early 2000's car with double arms all round 4cyl and a manual trans. I would atleast look at a nice one to see if I liked it.
If you don't like TDI maintenance i would bet you will hate high mileage Chrysler maintenance.
I always thought this too, but my Neon was almost like an anvil once it got a good head gasket. So many original parts still on it and survived lots of autocross and a couple track days on r-compound tires, which is the hardest thrashing you can imagine on a daily driver.
Anyways, a 2.4l manual cloud car cream puff car might be better than $5k Camry that already has 200+k miles, IMHO at this price point, condition and care by the previous owner is pretty important. It is the only common early 2000's car with double arms all round 4cyl and a manual trans. I would atleast look at a nice one to see if I liked it.
A mid 90s Lexus LS should be a quiet and reliable car in the price range you're looking at.
Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
A mid 90s Lexus LS should be a quiet and reliable car in the price range you're looking at.
Fuel economy won't be near what Supton wants. The newer 400's (1998 - towards the end of the generation) had an extra gear that got better fuel economy, but that would be out of budget. Rated only 25 mpg on hwy, but many get 30+ with the 5 spd. 4spd is rated at something like 23 mpg.
In under $5k, he's looking at early 90's.
A mid 90s Lexus LS should be a quiet and reliable car in the price range you're looking at.
Fuel economy won't be near what Supton wants. The newer 400's (1998 - towards the end of the generation) had an extra gear that got better fuel economy, but that would be out of budget. Rated only 25 mpg on hwy, but many get 30+ with the 5 spd. 4spd is rated at something like 23 mpg.
In under $5k, he's looking at early 90's.
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Originally Posted By: dareo
If you don't like TDI maintenance i would bet you will hate high mileage Chrysler maintenance.
I always thought this too, but my Neon was almost like an anvil once it got a good head gasket. So many original parts still on it and survived lots of autocross and a couple track days on r-compound tires, which is the hardest thrashing you can imagine on a daily driver.
Anyways, a 2.4l manual cloud car cream puff car might be better than $5k Camry that already has 200+k miles, IMHO at this price point, condition and care by the previous owner is pretty important. It is the only common early 2000's car with double arms all round 4cyl and a manual trans. I would atleast look at a nice one to see if I liked it.
The neon is super basic, therefore easier to be reliable, easily the most reliable of their cars. Their more featured stuff with bigger engines is where the gambling begins.
Originally Posted By: dareo
If you don't like TDI maintenance i would bet you will hate high mileage Chrysler maintenance.
I always thought this too, but my Neon was almost like an anvil once it got a good head gasket. So many original parts still on it and survived lots of autocross and a couple track days on r-compound tires, which is the hardest thrashing you can imagine on a daily driver.
Anyways, a 2.4l manual cloud car cream puff car might be better than $5k Camry that already has 200+k miles, IMHO at this price point, condition and care by the previous owner is pretty important. It is the only common early 2000's car with double arms all round 4cyl and a manual trans. I would atleast look at a nice one to see if I liked it.
The neon is super basic, therefore easier to be reliable, easily the most reliable of their cars. Their more featured stuff with bigger engines is where the gambling begins.
I'll echo what a couple other folks have said: buy what you want, then make it quiet. With $250-$400 and a couple of evenings and one weekend, you can make any car really quiet. Get some good-quality tires and then you're done.
Any fuel-efficient economy car is going to be low on sound proofing, so I think this is the way to go.
Any fuel-efficient economy car is going to be low on sound proofing, so I think this is the way to go.
If the Camry still comes loaded with sound deadening materials, I'd go with one of those and some super-quiet tires. Should be hard to beat.
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