The other brother finally got a car!

[the Teuton]

So we got my one brother into a 2001 Taurus, and that's exactly what he needed.  Now the other brother, with 193,000 miles on his Contour as of today, is in need of a new car.  He'll be shopping for it at the end of the summer.

Here's the criteria:

-Around 30 mpg city
-Manual
-Reliable
-Around $4,000-$5,000
-Newer than 1998
-Sporty would be a plus, but it's not necessary

He looked at a Lancer OZ Rally Edition the other day and said that the whole undercarriage was rusted out on it.  I told him that unless it's an Evo he should avoid Mitsubishis as much as he can.  He seems to be leaning towards a Civic, but he wanted all options on the table.  Suggestions?

[The Pirate]

Mazda Proteg?

City economy will be a bit less than 30 mpg, otherwise it fulfills all the criteria.

[the Teuton]

Reliable and cheap to run?  Really?

[Eye of the Tiger]

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/car/717282036.html

[ifcar]

He should be looking at Focuses, Escorts, Proteges, and Saturns. Used Civics are ridiculously overpriced. Also, just a preemptive warning, tell him to avoid the 00-06 Sentra, which is known for being unreliable and is mediocre anyway.

[The Pirate]

Reliable and cheap to run?  Really?

Mine has 108K miles.  I drive this car very hard (redline at least a few times a day, lots of WOT, and lots of late braking and quick turns).  I've replaced an oxygen sensor and two rear brake calipers.  I also cleaned out the EGR passage, via a walkthrough on another forum.  This cured a rough idle/stumbling problem it had.  Model year 2001 had an issue with rear brake calipers, though not all cars are problematic.  Other than that, it really only has normal wear and tear fitting a 7 year old car (needs a bit of suspension work, and I'm due for brakes and tires).  The auto tranny seems to be a bit weak, but that's irrelevant for your bro's search.  Parts are very expensive from the dealer; you can do much better at NAPA.  I shy away from Autozone type places for anything more than basic stuff (air filters, wipers, spark plugs, etc.). 

It's decently torquey, has positively frigid A/C, has a shocking amount of passenger space, and is a blast to zip through traffic with.

It has an oddball tire size, and the oil filter is a bit of a PITA to get to, but that's about it.  Honestly, I'm just bored with the car, and want something different - RWD and about twice the horsepower.  But kept in second or third gear, this car is brilliant in traffic.  Point and shoot, really.

[the Teuton]

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/car/717282036.html

Besides the gas mileage and the oil leak -- I'll run it by him.  I'd hit it.

But I don't think he would, to be honest.  He has a V6 car and believe it or not, it's pretty powerful and somewhat thirsty.  When we went to Kentucky, his car averaged about 27 mpg for the trip -- not bad, but gas was only $2.50 or so back then.  He's going to be graduating next year and might be as far away as Virginia for grad school.  That could eat a lot of gas to get back to Ohio.

So around 30 mpg city and around 35-45 highway are almost musts at this point.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Besides the gas mileage and the oil leak -- I'll run it by him.  I'd hit it.

But I don't think he would, to be honest.  He has a V6 car and believe it or not, it's pretty powerful and somewhat thirsty.  When we went to Kentucky, his car averaged about 27 mpg for the trip -- not bad, but gas was only $2.50 or so back then.  He's going to be graduating next year and might be as far away as Virginia for grad school.  That could eat a lot of gas to get back to Ohio.

So around 30 mpg city and around 35-45 highway are almost musts at this point.

The Jetta doesn't even get 30mpg on the highway. That's really not that bad for a V6. Expecting 30 city and 35-45mpg highway will limit your choices a lot... Corolla, Civic, SL1, Esteem, Metro/Swift, TDI... there aren't many cars that can get that kind of mileage, and demand for those few cars is growing, so it will be harder to get a good deal on one.

[CALL_911]

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/car/717282036.html

+10 bazillion

[Cookie Monster]

Jetta TDI if you want the kind of mileage... but diesel is really expensive.

If it doesn't need to be '98+ you can get a 5th gen Accord.

[the Teuton]

Jetta TDI if you want the kind of mileage... but diesel is really expensive.

If it doesn't need to be '98+ you can get a 5th gen Accord.

Not a bad suggestion at all.  I wonder what kind of MPGs it gets.

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/car/751400146.html

[280Z Turbo]

He should be looking at Focuses, Escorts, Proteges, and Saturns. Used Civics are ridiculously overpriced. Also, just a preemptive warning, tell him to avoid the 00-06 Sentra, which is known for being unreliable and is mediocre anyway.

+1

When I was shopping for my car it was a matter of:

-Slightly rusted 1996 Honda Civic hatch with 140,000 miles
-2002 Ford Focus ZX3 in excellent shape with 80,000 miles

Hmmm...let me think about that one.

[CALL_911]

+1

When I was shopping for my car it was a matter of:

-Slightly rusted 1996 Honda Civic hatch with 140,000 miles
-2002 Ford Focus ZX3 in excellent shape with 80,000 miles

Hmmm...let me think about that one.

Civic.
VTAK>>>>>>>>all.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Civic.
VTAK>>>>>>>>all.

If it was a Civic hatch, it propllt\y didnt has a VTAK

[The Pirate]

+1

When I was shopping for my car it was a matter of:

-Slightly rusted 1996 Honda Civic hatch with 140,000 miles
-2002 Ford Focus ZX3 in excellent shape with 80,000 miles

Hmmm...let me think about that one.

So why did you pick the Focus?

[2o6]

Focus. Lancer in non-Evo is Ok, but nothing special. The 2nd Gen Neon is Ok as well. The PT is very useful (and being neon based, is rather fun to drive), but Gas milage is So-So at best. The A4 would be great from a preformance perspective, but Audi/VW is known for Electrical Gremlins. However, if you had to have one, Passat 1.8T's are usually cheaper than their Jetta, Golf and A4 counterparts. Beetles are also cheap to buy, but I don't think he'd want a Beetle.

[The Pirate]

Not a bad suggestion at all.  I wonder what kind of MPGs it gets.

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/car/751400146.html

About 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway.

[CALL_911]

If it was a Civic hatch, it propllt\y didnt has a VTAK

BLASPHEMY. ALL HONDAZ HAVE VTAK. WHY DO YOU THINK THE OLD 3.5RL WAS SUCH A PWN? IT HAD VTAK!!!!!!!!

VTAK FTMFW.

[Eye of the Tiger]

BLASPHEMY. ALL HONDAZ HAVE VTAK. WHY DO YOU THINK THE OLD 3.5RL WAS SUCH A PWN? IT HAD VTAK!!!!!!!!

VTAK FTMFW.

[2o6]

BLASPHEMY. ALL HONDAZ HAVE VTAK. WHY DO YOU THINK THE OLD 3.5RL WAS SUCH A PWN? IT HAD VTAK!!!!!!!!

VTAK FTMFW.

The 3.5RL was a pwner. It Pwned itself on numerous occations.








Legend FTW.  

[Soup DeVille]

If it was a Civic hatch, it propllt\y didnt has a VTAK

My hatches has VTAK.

[2o6]

Better yet:

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/car/751074843.html

[CALL_911]

[Eye of the Tiger]

My hatches has VTAK.

7th gens r teh suk. i know cuz i had one

[Cookie Monster]

Not a bad suggestion at all.  I wonder what kind of MPGs it gets.

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/car/751400146.html

Wow, that looks like a great deal... an Accord like that would go for about $6k over here.

[the Teuton]

Wow, that looks like a great deal... an Accord like that would go for about $6k over here.

The more I look at it, the more I think that given that I think he's going to keep his next car 'til 200k, too, probably, that's a fantastic deal.  I don't know how much he'd be willing to compromise in space, either.  That Accord might be the thing for him.

I'm sure I could find him a better deal than that, though.

[Soup DeVille]

7th gens r teh suk. i know cuz i had one

You are teh suk.

[Eye of the Tiger]

You are teh suk.

I don't even know what a teh suk is.

[The Pirate]

I like that Accord a lot too.  I'd be tempted to buy it, actually. 

[The Pirate]

I'm sure I could find him a better deal than that, though.

2001 Proteg? ES
107K miles
timing belt done 25K miles ago (non interference engine)

$4750


Hehehe