Best Gas Mileage Vehicle for 2008 Model Year?
- Thread starter Analog
- Start date
- Oct 28, 1999
- 62,484
- 8,344
- 126
Regular old auto civic gets better milage than the Fit.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm
Really though, the best milage car will likely be the new Diesel offerings from VW.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm
Really though, the best milage car will likely be the new Diesel offerings from VW.
VW plans on releasing its new diesel engine for 2008, so 40 city / 60 highway. The best gas would probably be a Corolla, Yaris, Fit or Civic. Their actually is all mid-to-high 30s, although if you go by EPA numbers, I believe Toyota wins.
I went with the Nissan Versa because I do a lot of highway driving too.
If your going to spend some time in a car on the HW the Fit and the Yaris aren't as nice.
I would have chose the Fit if I did more city driving and the Yaris doesn't even compare to a Fit or Versa in any aspect of driving dynamic or cabin quality.
A distant 3rd
In fact the Yaris is last in any subcompact comparison I've ever seen. Usually beaten out by a Kia Rio 5
It category it wins is in fuel economy, but for an xtra 10-20 bucks a months in gas I'd rather my time behind the wheel be more comfortable
Another comparo
"The Versa offers a solid blend of ride and handling; power, refinement, and fuel economy; price and interior quality; and interior space and comfort. Also, it is the only subcompact to earn the highest NHTSA side-impact crash score. There are others here that are more fun to drive, more comfortable, more fuel efficient, more powerful, or most anything else, but the Versa succeeds by a lack of failure. Rarely does it find itself outside of the top half of the group, and nowhere does it come up completely short. If you are looking for a subcompact hatchback, the Versa will have some measure of what you are looking for, no matter what that is. It?s the most complete package of this group. "
If your going to spend some time in a car on the HW the Fit and the Yaris aren't as nice.
I would have chose the Fit if I did more city driving and the Yaris doesn't even compare to a Fit or Versa in any aspect of driving dynamic or cabin quality.
A distant 3rd
In fact the Yaris is last in any subcompact comparison I've ever seen. Usually beaten out by a Kia Rio 5
It category it wins is in fuel economy, but for an xtra 10-20 bucks a months in gas I'd rather my time behind the wheel be more comfortable
Another comparo
"The Versa offers a solid blend of ride and handling; power, refinement, and fuel economy; price and interior quality; and interior space and comfort. Also, it is the only subcompact to earn the highest NHTSA side-impact crash score. There are others here that are more fun to drive, more comfortable, more fuel efficient, more powerful, or most anything else, but the Versa succeeds by a lack of failure. Rarely does it find itself outside of the top half of the group, and nowhere does it come up completely short. If you are looking for a subcompact hatchback, the Versa will have some measure of what you are looking for, no matter what that is. It?s the most complete package of this group. "
Pliablemoose
Lifer
- Oct 11, 1999
- 25,195
- 0
- 56
Sigh...
I've owned 2 diesel VW's. I wouldn't touch a new engine from them with a 10 foot pole.
They'll need at least a year of sales (beta testing) to iron out all the bugs, and by then you'll have some other options as far as passenger diesels.
Not exactly a Japanese fanboi here. but I'd buy a Honda/Toyota diesel over a VW any day.
If you want something right now, I'd get a Honda Civic, it's a much better all around car. Or buy a Chevy Cobalt for 1/2 the money & put 200K on it, re evaluate the market at that time, and I promise it'll be much more mature.
I've owned 2 diesel VW's. I wouldn't touch a new engine from them with a 10 foot pole.
They'll need at least a year of sales (beta testing) to iron out all the bugs, and by then you'll have some other options as far as passenger diesels.
Not exactly a Japanese fanboi here. but I'd buy a Honda/Toyota diesel over a VW any day.
If you want something right now, I'd get a Honda Civic, it's a much better all around car. Or buy a Chevy Cobalt for 1/2 the money & put 200K on it, re evaluate the market at that time, and I promise it'll be much more mature.
I looked at the diesel thing too and a couple of issues
A You have to buy a VW, not known for a good dealer network or cheap to repair
B filling stations, ever notice at the pumps the slick on the ground, now on your matts?
C Even though the engine is supposed to last a long time, these are not the same quality of diesel engines in trucks where diesel gets its reputation.
Pros
Cheaper by 40-50 cents a gallon around here although sometimes it cycles as high as gas, and 30% better fuel economy
A You have to buy a VW, not known for a good dealer network or cheap to repair
B filling stations, ever notice at the pumps the slick on the ground, now on your matts?
C Even though the engine is supposed to last a long time, these are not the same quality of diesel engines in trucks where diesel gets its reputation.
Pros
Cheaper by 40-50 cents a gallon around here although sometimes it cycles as high as gas, and 30% better fuel economy
seen over 200K on an old VW Rabbit with the diesel. In case you haven't noticed, that slick is at every pump at the gas station. It's from the Harleys.
My comment directed at the engine is more along like Big Rigs where they get several hundreds of thousands of miles and engine rebuilds occur with cylinder sleeve replacments and the like cause they were built to do that. I have no doubt a car diesel will last like a regular gas engineand maybe more, my old 94 Corsica has over 200K as well and still going strong.
It was more of a comment that the premium you pay in engine tech to get a diesel you would expect it to last 2X as long as a gas engine and I think the rest of the car would be long done by then for most people unless you do an insane amount of driving.
Difference is I'm stradled over the Harley slick, but the spill over from fill-ups is right where you walk
My neighbor bought a Passat TDI 'to save money' but a Civic at half the price would have saved a lot more. Just say you wanted the Passat cause you wanted one!
It was more of a comment that the premium you pay in engine tech to get a diesel you would expect it to last 2X as long as a gas engine and I think the rest of the car would be long done by then for most people unless you do an insane amount of driving.
Difference is I'm stradled over the Harley slick, but the spill over from fill-ups is right where you walk
My neighbor bought a Passat TDI 'to save money' but a Civic at half the price would have saved a lot more. Just say you wanted the Passat cause you wanted one!
Pliablemoose
Lifer
- Oct 11, 1999
- 25,195
- 0
- 56
If you want an exercise in pain try to dicker on the price of a new TDI in the next year
The dealers are taking advantage of their scarcity TDI CLub
An 06' TDI Jetta:
Also, the legendary durability of diesels is a thing of the past, with the next generation of engine controls and emissions on the next TDI you'll be getting to know a VW dealer intimately keeping it on the road for 200K miles.
It's just as easy & I suspect cheaper to keep a gasoline powered car running that long, especially if you consider having an independent shop doing the maintenance.
It's been a couple of years but my local oil change places won't touch the TDI's so it's off to the dealer for even oil changes and they're $60 a whack.
The dealers are taking advantage of their scarcity TDI CLub
An 06' TDI Jetta:
Also, the legendary durability of diesels is a thing of the past, with the next generation of engine controls and emissions on the next TDI you'll be getting to know a VW dealer intimately keeping it on the road for 200K miles.
It's just as easy & I suspect cheaper to keep a gasoline powered car running that long, especially if you consider having an independent shop doing the maintenance.
It's been a couple of years but my local oil change places won't touch the TDI's so it's off to the dealer for even oil changes and they're $60 a whack.
- Jan 7, 2002
- 12,755
- 3
- 0
Thanks for the responses...
Funny that with the revised EPA mileage, the 1988 CRX-HF gets 45 mpgs, (56 mpgs old) and the 1986 Chevy Sprint gets 48 mpgs (3 cyl engine).
Today's best cars don't even come close - the Prius hybrid gets a revised 45 mpgs. What gives? Why can't they make cars like those?
Funny that with the revised EPA mileage, the 1988 CRX-HF gets 45 mpgs, (56 mpgs old) and the 1986 Chevy Sprint gets 48 mpgs (3 cyl engine).
Today's best cars don't even come close - the Prius hybrid gets a revised 45 mpgs. What gives? Why can't they make cars like those?
The new 2007 Kia Rio's are advertised as getting up to 44mpg, but they will do anything to get that. They probably just put the car in neutral going down a hill for a few miles and saw that they got over 40mpgs and are advertising it. But on average it will get 37mpg
Those cars had no air no PL no PW no air bags no PS no elctric mirrors weighed 1000 lb less. No HP and gawd awfull acceleration. 13" wheels
My 95 Civic 2 dr hatch got awsome mileage but the Versa rides like a Caddy next to it.
My 95 Civic 2 dr hatch got awsome mileage but the Versa rides like a Caddy next to it.
try getting in an old mid 80's civic and see if you feel safe on the highway at 75 - not a comfortable feeling. Safety devices (eg airbags) notwithstanding, the added weight of modern cars gives us more comfortable and safe vehicles.
Drove both an 01 Civic and a 06 Corolla. On long interstate trips, I never managed to get better than 33MPG @ ~79MPH. Meh
There's diff'rent ways of looking at diesel. The initial cost is higher but the engine should last longer (diesel simply must be designed more robustly to begin with). Maintenance varies. Fuel cost varies generally opposite seasonally to petrol but generally should be lower. However, even if everything else is equal, there is no debate that a diesel will have more low-end torque and thus be peppier than the equivalent displacement petrol engine in the same market segment and also cruise at significantly lower RPM and thus be quieter (louder idle is hardly worth mentioning). Of course the requisite turbo charger also adds to the driveability and, if you like, safety when it comes to merging and such. With mods, fuel could potentially be free of cost other than a li'l of your time.
iamwiz82
Lifer
- Jan 10, 2001
- 30,772
- 13
- 81
I would suspect that the number of cars scrapped solely because of an engine failure is lower than cars scrapped for other reasons. Engines can and do outlive many many cars out there, so a diesel having a longer life won't mean that much when the transmission is on the highway behind you and the doors rust off.
I had an 05 Corolla, that I drove back in Georgia, I managed to get 39mpg out of it doing 80 to Atlanta and back to Warner Robins, of course that was with 93 octane gas...
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
I would suspect that the number of cars scrapped solely because of an engine failure is lower than cars scrapped for other reasons. Engines can and do outlive many many cars out there, so a diesel having a longer life won't mean that much when the transmission is on the highway behind you and the doors rust off.
True, but general quality and durability is much better these days so it comes down to the individual driver and maintenance. If the car is not driven often and/or is disposed of quickly (for instance some volks just like to have a new car every few years for no practical reason) then the diesel cannot pay for itself in longevity nor likely in higher cost versus fuel economy -though depreciation is likely significantly less. Heck, if a car was scrapped/parted out for other reasons I bet a diesel engine (VW or otherwise) could readily sell and recoup beaucoup deutschmarks. Afterall, they are desirable for custom projects and even marine and industrial applications.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 24K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 19K
-
-
-
Facebook
Twitter