So What's A Bargain Car Now?
- Thread starter MrCritical
- Start date
- Status
Just about anything with a GM 3800 under the hood.
It isn't going to get 40mpg on the highway, but you'll still be able to put 5 people in it.
Took a trip in the folks 1999 Park Avenue (non-supercharged 3800). 4 people in the car, 62 miles per hour, 31 miles per gallon....and everyone was comfortable.
Cars of this vintage (including the slightly smaller LeSabre) are everywhere, and low mileage versions can still be found.
I bought their '99 Park Avenue with just 46,000 miles on the odometer a little over a year ago.
It isn't going to get 40mpg on the highway, but you'll still be able to put 5 people in it.
Took a trip in the folks 1999 Park Avenue (non-supercharged 3800). 4 people in the car, 62 miles per hour, 31 miles per gallon....and everyone was comfortable.
Cars of this vintage (including the slightly smaller LeSabre) are everywhere, and low mileage versions can still be found.
I bought their '99 Park Avenue with just 46,000 miles on the odometer a little over a year ago.
Toyota IS putting more hybrids in their lineup...as is Honda...
Quote:
I do pretty well all things considering. We also have a 2008 Yaris that gets 40mpg with barely trying so thats the mpg car. Picked it up for 11k OTD with 1,400 barely used miles from a Chrysler dealership. Bare bones with 5 speed and the convenience package.
From: http://www.gassavers.org/showthread.php?t=6929&highlight=yaris
and:
Quote:
Welcome to GasSavers. My last tank was 50.5, and I expect to do much better in 2008 than 2007. Inflate the tires to the max. pressure, that really helps you get better mileage. Also, get a ScanGuage ASAP.
From: http://www.gassavers.org/showthread.php?t=6595&highlight=yaris
Those were two quick hits on the first page of ONE hypermiler site. 40 and 50 mpg respectively.
Quote:
I do pretty well all things considering. We also have a 2008 Yaris that gets 40mpg with barely trying so thats the mpg car. Picked it up for 11k OTD with 1,400 barely used miles from a Chrysler dealership. Bare bones with 5 speed and the convenience package.
From: http://www.gassavers.org/showthread.php?t=6929&highlight=yaris
and:
Quote:
Welcome to GasSavers. My last tank was 50.5, and I expect to do much better in 2008 than 2007. Inflate the tires to the max. pressure, that really helps you get better mileage. Also, get a ScanGuage ASAP.
From: http://www.gassavers.org/showthread.php?t=6595&highlight=yaris
Those were two quick hits on the first page of ONE hypermiler site. 40 and 50 mpg respectively.
Last edited:
Two ways to look at it IMHO: either you buy the slightly-used luxury car or SUV you've always wanted now that their becoming the albatrosses of the used car world, or you look for high MPG cars that have exceptionally high depreciation. In the first case the bargain is in the purchase price, while in the second the bargain is in both purchase price and operating costs.
Anything with lousy mileage and high perceived status seems to be a screaming deal at the moment, with few exceptions. If you ever wanted an Escalade (though I'm not sure I can fathom exactly why), now's the time. Sure, it seems crazy to buy a guzzler when prices are heading up, but the guys who picked up Hemi Superbirds for a song in 1973 after they'd been gathering dust on dealer lots for two years made out pretty well if they sat on them for a few decades.
In the other case, there are some deals as well, even among fairly new cars. Saabs depreciate at alarmingly high rates, yet the current 9-3 seems to be easily capable of mid to high 30s, this in a well-equipped four door sports sedan. I'm sure there are other examples of this that I'm not thinking of at the moment (Hyundai? Suzuki?) but you get the idea.
Anything with lousy mileage and high perceived status seems to be a screaming deal at the moment, with few exceptions. If you ever wanted an Escalade (though I'm not sure I can fathom exactly why), now's the time. Sure, it seems crazy to buy a guzzler when prices are heading up, but the guys who picked up Hemi Superbirds for a song in 1973 after they'd been gathering dust on dealer lots for two years made out pretty well if they sat on them for a few decades.
In the other case, there are some deals as well, even among fairly new cars. Saabs depreciate at alarmingly high rates, yet the current 9-3 seems to be easily capable of mid to high 30s, this in a well-equipped four door sports sedan. I'm sure there are other examples of this that I'm not thinking of at the moment (Hyundai? Suzuki?) but you get the idea.
In the $3000 to $7000 price range:
Get a 5 speed Civic HX that will get high 40's, possible 50 MPG if you were to drive 50-55 MPH.
This car can be found on Craigslist, auto trader, Ebay.....etc all the time.
Get a 5 speed Civic HX that will get high 40's, possible 50 MPG if you were to drive 50-55 MPH.
This car can be found on Craigslist, auto trader, Ebay.....etc all the time.
Last edited by a moderator:
I'm thinking of selling my 2007 ION. Put it on the market about six months ago without a bit of interest. I'm wondering if the current mania would help me sell the thing without losing a fortune. I'd actually like a Yaris. Doesn't really make sense financially unless the ION has gained some value recently.
The ION's lose value tremendously fast so they are actually a very good used car deal, or at least they used to be.
The ION's lose value tremendously fast so they are actually a very good used car deal, or at least they used to be.
Last edited:
In good shape with reasonable mileage you should get close to clean book value. If you paid very little down, were upside down in a trade, or financed it 6 years, you're stuck.
Originally Posted By: MrCritical
In good shape with reasonable mileage you should get close to clean book value. If you paid very little down, were upside down in a trade, or financed it 6 years, you're stuck.
I actually have a clean title since I paid the car off when I last tried to sell it. Originally it was financed for three years after a good sized down payment. I'm proud to say that I have never participated in the materialistic, debt-happy American way lifestyle. Doesn't mean I still don't feel rather foolish for paying full price for a new ION. Thought I was going to drive it into the ground so resale didn't matter. Unfortunately, have discovered that I don't much enjoy driving it which is a difficult prospect to contemplate for the next fifteen years. Driving my manual transmissions cars has always been one of the small pleasures that are worth alot to me.
In good shape with reasonable mileage you should get close to clean book value. If you paid very little down, were upside down in a trade, or financed it 6 years, you're stuck.
I actually have a clean title since I paid the car off when I last tried to sell it. Originally it was financed for three years after a good sized down payment. I'm proud to say that I have never participated in the materialistic, debt-happy American way lifestyle. Doesn't mean I still don't feel rather foolish for paying full price for a new ION. Thought I was going to drive it into the ground so resale didn't matter. Unfortunately, have discovered that I don't much enjoy driving it which is a difficult prospect to contemplate for the next fifteen years. Driving my manual transmissions cars has always been one of the small pleasures that are worth alot to me.
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: lovcom
Brand new 2008 Toyota Yaris Hatch Back, for $10,941 in southern California. It gets the best MPG of any gasser sold new in the USA, and it gets the highest marks for reliability, and for a cheap car it has great fit, finish, and at 6,000 RPMs, the engie is smooth as silk. It has more then enough pep to get you on the freeway or around slow traffic, and if you drive it with the help of a ScanGaugeII, you will get 47-48 MPG highway. Also, the cost of 5 year ownership of this car is the lowest in it's class, even lower then Honda's Fit.
agree 100% . We have '08 sedan (auto ) that's averaging near 43 for 1st 600 miles and a '08 Liftback w/ 5 speed that averages about 38 m.p.g. since NOV. of '07 .
Brand new 2008 Toyota Yaris Hatch Back, for $10,941 in southern California. It gets the best MPG of any gasser sold new in the USA, and it gets the highest marks for reliability, and for a cheap car it has great fit, finish, and at 6,000 RPMs, the engie is smooth as silk. It has more then enough pep to get you on the freeway or around slow traffic, and if you drive it with the help of a ScanGaugeII, you will get 47-48 MPG highway. Also, the cost of 5 year ownership of this car is the lowest in it's class, even lower then Honda's Fit.
agree 100% . We have '08 sedan (auto ) that's averaging near 43 for 1st 600 miles and a '08 Liftback w/ 5 speed that averages about 38 m.p.g. since NOV. of '07 .
Originally Posted By: ekpolk
Originally Posted By: lovcom
...if you drive it with the help of a ScanGaugeII, you will get 47-48 MPG highway. ...
Not a snowball's chance in you-know-where of averaging 47-48 highway with a Yaris, unless MAYBE you're crawling along at 45-50 mph, and even then, I doubt it. New EPA on this car is 29 city, 35 highway.
{forgot I wasn't in the Hybrid thread...
} But the first part still applies. That said, for an ultra-low, up-front cost car, the Yaris is hard to beat, so long as you can live with its tiny size.
the posted mileage is less than what the YARIS can actually accomplish . Depends on weather , lead foot , etc.. Plus you can get a YARIS at 1/2 the price of a PRIUS , especially these days , we oughtta know , we had an '07 PRIUS and got quite high trade for it . The YARIS that took it's place got 45 , 43 , and 39 for 1st 3 fills for 1st 600 miles . That's an average of 43 m.p.g. for automatic that consists of 2 passengers for 80% , many steep hills , and around 40% city and 60% Hwy . The average speed is about 53 . Not to shabby . That's no baloney either , keep very close attention to mileage , thanks to the PRIUS , use pulse and glide for YARIS as well .
Originally Posted By: lovcom
...if you drive it with the help of a ScanGaugeII, you will get 47-48 MPG highway. ...
Not a snowball's chance in you-know-where of averaging 47-48 highway with a Yaris, unless MAYBE you're crawling along at 45-50 mph, and even then, I doubt it. New EPA on this car is 29 city, 35 highway.
{forgot I wasn't in the Hybrid thread...
the posted mileage is less than what the YARIS can actually accomplish . Depends on weather , lead foot , etc.. Plus you can get a YARIS at 1/2 the price of a PRIUS , especially these days , we oughtta know , we had an '07 PRIUS and got quite high trade for it . The YARIS that took it's place got 45 , 43 , and 39 for 1st 3 fills for 1st 600 miles . That's an average of 43 m.p.g. for automatic that consists of 2 passengers for 80% , many steep hills , and around 40% city and 60% Hwy . The average speed is about 53 . Not to shabby . That's no baloney either , keep very close attention to mileage , thanks to the PRIUS , use pulse and glide for YARIS as well .
Last edited:
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Joel
Last edited:
I own all my vehicles. Buying a new one (should say panic buy) seems abit drastic to me. I don't have have high car payments/insurance rates. With other items also going up in cost...it will be the want and need question prior to any purchase. I'll start using better driving habits, car pooling, and make sure all my vehicles are tuned-up. Heck, instead of driving 4 blocks to the store....I'm walking.
Originally Posted By: JTK
We're getting all kinds of Yaris numbers now; 47-48mpg, 43, 38... At least they are getting more realistic. Now this is average MPG per tank? Gallons pumped into tank / miles driven on that tank?
Joel
if you go to POST YOUR CURRENT MILEAGE ( page 2 ) here in the AUTOMOTIVE GENERAL TOPICS you'll find my figures for the YARIS . Keep a book in each YARIS for reference . Figure you'll just find fault , so not worth the effort to post all the numbers again .
Joel
if you go to POST YOUR CURRENT MILEAGE ( page 2 ) here in the AUTOMOTIVE GENERAL TOPICS you'll find my figures for the YARIS . Keep a book in each YARIS for reference . Figure you'll just find fault , so not worth the effort to post all the numbers again .
Saturn s-cars are getting slightly harder to find but are still available for
Neons are also good on fuel, a dime a dozen, and can be had, with flaws, cheaply.
I think of these as "daddy-buys" cars, where a 20-something, usually female, on their own, needs a car but can't/won't get financing, is a grad student, "good kid" etc. So daddy buys an econobox with cash and the kid gets the car and title. It will usually be an American or Korean econobox, too, not something Japanese or VW like the kid wants. Since they're not making payments they attach no value to the car so when it gets some modest repair need, they dump it on craigslist. Someone like myself will show up and offer half of what they're asking and they accept it, for fear of conflict, or of belief that it's all they would get.
I just sold a 12-year old cutlass ciera wagon for more than I thought it would get, and it's only good for 27-30 MPG. So modest midsize cars like the taurus mentioned above are also in demand, to some degree. This may not really mean an increase in price but good examples should sell more quickly.
The flaw with the idea of SUVs being sold at fire sale prices is most owners are upside-down on the loans... so they stagnate like, oh, houses in Vegas.
Neons are also good on fuel, a dime a dozen, and can be had, with flaws, cheaply.
I think of these as "daddy-buys" cars, where a 20-something, usually female, on their own, needs a car but can't/won't get financing, is a grad student, "good kid" etc. So daddy buys an econobox with cash and the kid gets the car and title. It will usually be an American or Korean econobox, too, not something Japanese or VW like the kid wants. Since they're not making payments they attach no value to the car so when it gets some modest repair need, they dump it on craigslist. Someone like myself will show up and offer half of what they're asking and they accept it, for fear of conflict, or of belief that it's all they would get.
I just sold a 12-year old cutlass ciera wagon for more than I thought it would get, and it's only good for 27-30 MPG. So modest midsize cars like the taurus mentioned above are also in demand, to some degree. This may not really mean an increase in price but good examples should sell more quickly.
The flaw with the idea of SUVs being sold at fire sale prices is most owners are upside-down on the loans... so they stagnate like, oh, houses in Vegas.
Now is not the time to buy a car when all the other idiots are paying top dollar for a car they should't have to buy.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Saturn s-cars are getting slightly harder to find but are still available for
Neons are also good on fuel, a dime a dozen, and can be had, with flaws, cheaply.
I think of these as "daddy-buys" cars, where a 20-something, usually female, on their own, needs a car but can't/won't get financing, is a grad student, "good kid" etc. So daddy buys an econobox with cash and the kid gets the car and title. It will usually be an American or Korean econobox, too, not something Japanese or VW like the kid wants. Since they're not making payments they attach no value to the car so when it gets some modest repair need, they dump it on craigslist. Someone like myself will show up and offer half of what they're asking and they accept it, for fear of conflict, or of belief that it's all they would get.
I just sold a 12-year old cutlass ciera wagon for more than I thought it would get, and it's only good for 27-30 MPG. So modest midsize cars like the taurus mentioned above are also in demand, to some degree. This may not really mean an increase in price but good examples should sell more quickly.
The flaw with the idea of SUVs being sold at fire sale prices is most owners are upside-down on the loans... so they stagnate like, oh, houses in Vegas.
I was looking at fuel economy ratings for Neon's and the 1998 with manual was rated 29/41 by the old system. Seems like the Neons varied in rating almost every year and that was the best I looked at.
Any opinions on how dependable Neon's are for owners with reasonable ability to maintain and repair things themselves?
My ideal would be to find something for quite a bit less than I could get for my ION that I could drive for five years while getting better mpg than the ION. It must also be more fun to drive than the ION which shouldn't be hard. Drove a 1993 Tercel for a few months with four speed manual and considered it much more fun to drive than the ION. Wish I had held on to that one!
Saturn s-cars are getting slightly harder to find but are still available for
Neons are also good on fuel, a dime a dozen, and can be had, with flaws, cheaply.
I think of these as "daddy-buys" cars, where a 20-something, usually female, on their own, needs a car but can't/won't get financing, is a grad student, "good kid" etc. So daddy buys an econobox with cash and the kid gets the car and title. It will usually be an American or Korean econobox, too, not something Japanese or VW like the kid wants. Since they're not making payments they attach no value to the car so when it gets some modest repair need, they dump it on craigslist. Someone like myself will show up and offer half of what they're asking and they accept it, for fear of conflict, or of belief that it's all they would get.
I just sold a 12-year old cutlass ciera wagon for more than I thought it would get, and it's only good for 27-30 MPG. So modest midsize cars like the taurus mentioned above are also in demand, to some degree. This may not really mean an increase in price but good examples should sell more quickly.
The flaw with the idea of SUVs being sold at fire sale prices is most owners are upside-down on the loans... so they stagnate like, oh, houses in Vegas.
I was looking at fuel economy ratings for Neon's and the 1998 with manual was rated 29/41 by the old system. Seems like the Neons varied in rating almost every year and that was the best I looked at.
Any opinions on how dependable Neon's are for owners with reasonable ability to maintain and repair things themselves?
My ideal would be to find something for quite a bit less than I could get for my ION that I could drive for five years while getting better mpg than the ION. It must also be more fun to drive than the ION which shouldn't be hard. Drove a 1993 Tercel for a few months with four speed manual and considered it much more fun to drive than the ION. Wish I had held on to that one!
I bought a '89 Accord LXi from a guy in the next door office 5 years ago. It had 160k at purchase and now has 215k. Routine maintenance except new main relay at purchase and got a timing belt, water pump and new half shafts/cv joints at around 200k. Just did a tune-up, filter, plugs, distributor cap and rotor and an oil/filter change as well as tranny drain and fill.
Car runs perfect.
Car runs perfect.
Originally Posted By: Diesel_Clatter
It must also be more fun to drive than the ION which shouldn't be hard. Drove a 1993 Tercel for a few months with four speed manual and considered it much more fun to drive than the ION. Wish I had held on to that one!
This proves the axiom, "It is more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow."
It must also be more fun to drive than the ION which shouldn't be hard. Drove a 1993 Tercel for a few months with four speed manual and considered it much more fun to drive than the ION. Wish I had held on to that one!
This proves the axiom, "It is more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow."
So true. To my way of thinking, until recently, "economy" cars like the Civic, Corolla, etc had become sufficiently bloated that they'd lost the fun-to-drive qualities of the much older ones. Earlier Civics, Tercels, Sentras and the like were quite fun cars IMO.
Now we have the Yaris, Fit etc. and I'm sure those are fun to drive too.
Now we have the Yaris, Fit etc. and I'm sure those are fun to drive too.
Quote:
Not a snowball's chance in you-know-where of averaging 47-48 highway with a Yaris, unless MAYBE you're crawling along at 45-50 mph, and even then, I doubt it
50.16 mpg
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...true#Post902480
Echo is not a Yaris, but very close; Echo was old rated 43mpg. My "routine" summer driving is 44-46mpg.
Not a snowball's chance in you-know-where of averaging 47-48 highway with a Yaris, unless MAYBE you're crawling along at 45-50 mph, and even then, I doubt it
50.16 mpg
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...true#Post902480
Echo is not a Yaris, but very close; Echo was old rated 43mpg. My "routine" summer driving is 44-46mpg.
Last edited:
- Status
Similar threads
