ID2500Ram

I'm thinking of getting a second vehicle for commuting and just general driving when I don't need the truck. Here's my list of cars I've considered.......any suggestions. I don't want to get a $1,500 piece of junk that I'll be embarrassed to drive. I'm thinking of spending $4,000 to $7,000 on something halfway decent.

VW Jetta or Passat (after talking to owners, they sound too spendy for maintenance)
VW Jetta or Passat TDI (these things are worth the price of gold but maybe worth it in the long run)
Kia (Just found out the warranty is only 5 yr/60K for the second owner)
Honda Civic or Accord (almost worth the price of gold)
Mazda 3 (don't know much about them)
Toyota (haven't looked at many---Corolla too small, Camry kinda boring)
Hyundai (some are too small)

vzdude

Everything TDI ( VW) has been bringing top $$ , like it sounds like you have already figured out! I bought one cheap, and put a few bucks into it, and could dang near double my money right now, going by the sale prices on Ebay! Think of it as an investment. I bought mine for mileage. With current prices it will pay for itself in 16 months with just the savings of fuel costs alone! I drive 4-500 miles a week easily, so add maintenance and insurance, and it will pay for itself in about 20 months. That, and I now have a car to teach the kids ( and wife! ) how to drive a manual transmission! As soon as the TDI minivans come out, the wife will be driving one of those too. ( Sounds like a joint venture between Chrysler and VW ) I plan on buying a biodiesel processor and making a huge dent in the fuel costs too. Just my plan in my head........we'll see how it actually turns out!

nonford

I had a 94 Accord with 170K on, it was clean and very reliable. I was geting 25mpg no matter what I was doing in town. On the highway I got 34. It was the 4 cylindar Vtech (and this is 94 technology). The VW TDI's are stellar vehicles and sip diesel very well (40 - 45mpg), but they hold their value too. If you don't want to worry much, I'd get a Honda. It's only my opinion though. Lately, I've seen the used Honda's and Toyata cars going up in price since prices at pumps been going up.

DBLR

At 7k you best hope the car you get gets great MPG to pay back the cost of it (plus interest if you don't have the cash on hand to buy it) and the insurance payment. So why worry about the looks if all you want to do is save $$ on fuel cost? I've seen some late 90's Chev's that cost under $1500. and get darn good mpg. You need to decide what is more important, looks or good fuel mileage from a so so looking car.

Busboy

2001-2006 Honda Civic Auto no ABS....... just bite the bullet and buy one. They are virtually bullet proof and get great gas mileage. Gas is cheaper than diesel.

roughstock

I can buy a lot of diesel for $4-7K, or more bombing.

SOhappy

Not sure of your location, but out west CNG is going for about $0.73/gallon (adjusted for efficiency) and stations seem to be plentiful enough. If I had a longer commute I'd sure look into it. Many people are flying back east and buying CNG cars/SUVs and driving them out here to keep or sell.

Hunter11

I just bought a 94 Honda Accord with 165k on it. It has new paint, tires and in great shape and I paid $2k for it. It is getting about the mileage nonford mentioned above. It beats $4.09 a gallon for diesel on my daily commute and keeps the mileage down on my truck.

blownsmoke

here's what I got for less than the parts on my truck

cairo glenn

I've got a civic - 35 mpg gas, automatic, easy commuter vehicle. It's not flashy or quick, but gets me from A-B and back.

sdaly

I was considering buying a commuter too recently. I did a breakeven analysis on a used ($4000) Civic, a new Yaris ($12,000) vs my truck. I found it would take (depending on driving habits) 60,000-70,000 miles to break even with a the used Civic, and 130,000-200,000 miles to break even with a new Yaris. Bottom line: not worth it. Put the money into diesel for your truck instead.

Also maybe consider a motorcycle. I alternate between commuting with my truck and my motorcycle. My motorcycle A) I already own and is paid for, B) gets better gas mileage than any car, and C) is faster and more fun, D) motorcycles are cool; civics and yaris are not cool.

Busboy

I'm not trying to sell you one of mine I had four until my son just wrote one off now it's three so I know how good they are. In 60-70000km all you are going to put in to the civic is oil/filter and gas. You won't even change the tires. I get about 20-25000 km on a set of Michelin's on my truck at around $225 each. Tires for the civic are around $100 for Michelin's and you wouldn't need to change them. I changed my shocks at 80,000 km, one of my civics is at 345,000 km, same engine/trans/struts. Ok I did change the fuel pump at 320,000km and I have changed the tires... The Dodge lift pump lasts until the VP44 dies (unless you have gauges and monitor). I have a 2001 civic that has never had anything except oil/air filters and I will do the timing belt at around 110,000 km coming up. The cars cool in the summer because of separate condenser fan for the AC and they warm up fast in the winter separate rad fan.

I just need to replace the one he wrote off as I'm driving the cummins around town and it never warms up in the winter. (thermostats OK) Did I mention I did the evaporator core last year???

03RAMBUNCTIOUS

honda or nissan is my vote, i have an 88 sentra that is in the process of dying. but at 243k HARD miles.. she has stood the test of time.

bkrukow

Ive got a 93 Cavalier with a 3.1 and 5 speed. It has 172,000 miles on it and runs so-so. It gets mid 20s but Ive never realy figured it out exactly, probobly would do much better if I put the new coil pacs on I have for it. It could use a little work but I only paid $400 for it 2 years ago. If ya want a comuter car dont wory abought looks just get a chaep fuel eficent bomber. The more expensive cars will basicaly never pay for themselves unless you just have money to burn in wich case you realy dont need a comuter car.

Having said that I have my eye on a 98 Olds Arora for $4800 that is ultra clean but its way outa my price range for a daily driver.

tristan21

I spent 10 hours test driving junk in springfield, mo and the surrounding area yesterday in the 2-3000 dollar price range. Never found anything that didnt feel like it would hold up or looked worth driving. Just bought a 2000 mustang 6cyl, for $6000 with 80,000 miles on it. Gets 26 on the highway at 75mph.

Not so much for mileage but as a cheap car to run around in. Not what you mileage guys are expecting but its a little fun for when im not in the truck.