Looking at a longer commute, best MPG vs Performance car

[alkemyst]

I really want a Charger SRT8, but I am thinking it's going to be a bad choice looking at a 31.5 mile commute soon (was only about 4 miles to my current office).

I am looking for something that's fun, a bit unique, and quick. Something 5-6 sec 0-60 definitely.

I may just end up with the Charger anyway...I am figuring gas with it is going to hit $350 a month...and even the best above that will still be around $250, maybe $225ish.

Don't know, I really want to avoid FWD though. There are so many nice looking cars with it. I hate torque steer and even the pretty built 97 GTI VR6 I had (bought and built new) really showed it's limitations in corners on throttle.

Other requirements are fitting two dogs. Having a fold down rear seat so I can get the occasional wood or pvc or etc into it. Most of my 'fun' is at red lights and in corners.

I am willing to give up a manual trans even....haven't had an automatic since my first car 20+ years ago.

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[Greenman]

So get the charger. Or get a bike if you really want acceleration on a budget. 0 to 60 in under 4 seconds is a rush.

 

[vshah]

v6 mustang?

 

[alkemyst]

So get the charger. Or get a bike if you really want acceleration on a budget. 0 to 60 in under 4 seconds is a rush.

South Florida. You get lucky, but in a car I know many people that are rather good bikers and drivers that have gotten nailed just at a red light.

I was broadsided at a red light by an old lady in 1989...the same year a guy at my gym lost his lower leg due to another driver deciding to pass him on his bike because he stopped and already had his foot down at a red light.

Today here you will probably be passed by the next two vehicles if you stop ahead of time on a yellow.

The new trick here is to drive up the right side of a right turn only lane and then cut off the rest of the turn lane.

in the end I am not going to be able to make a run on the way home for a home improvement project.

Also another variable, I need to be a bit low to the ground as I have a little old three legged dog that needs to jump in and out.

 

[zerocool84]

v6 mustang?

He said a bit unique, plus wanted room in the back for wood.

How big are your dogs?

Any SRT-8 isn't going to get good MPG obviously. Only one that would fit your bill is the Magnum which is a wagon with tons of rear room so you could fits dogs and tons of building supplies but they stopped making those in 08.

I don't know if the rear seats fold down but there's the Pontiac G8 GT or GXP which are plenty quick.

 

[alkemyst]

v6 mustang?

I started my life with a 66 GT in the late 80's. Any new Mustang is way too common for me.

The GT500 is awesome. Just don't like the crowd.

 

[LTC8K6]

Challenger SRT8 6.4L has MDS and is rated 23 highway...

Presumably the new Charger SRT8 will also.

Considerably better than the 6.1 with a 19 rating...

 

[vshah]

cts wagon?

 

[alkemyst]

He said a bit unique, plus wanted room in the back for wood.

How big are your dogs?

Any SRT-8 isn't going to get good MPG obviously. Only one that would fit your bill is the Magnum which is a wagon with tons of rear room so you could fits dogs and tons of building supplies but they stopped making those in 08.

I don't know if the rear seats fold down but there's the Pontiac G8 GT or GXP which are plenty quick.

 

[Throckmorton]

You already have a 240sx, so get a purpose-built economy car. Like maybe a Yaris. Put the money saved into the 240sx, and have the satisfaction of knowing that on your long commute you are using exactly the right machine for the job, rather than wasting the performance of a sportscar.

 

[Castiel]

Charger and a cheap beater for dd

 

[Kroze]

i vote for having 2 different cars, a daily beater and a weekend car. This is because it is nearly impossible to find a car that does everything (performance, cargo space, good mpg, rwd)

My 2011 civic si keeps me pretty happy though. it's very sporty to drive, great cargo room, excellent 29mpg average, but it isn't rwd.

 

[alkemyst]

You already have a 240sx, so get a purpose-built economy car. Like maybe a Yaris. Put the money saved into the 240sx, and have the satisfaction of knowing that on your long commute you are using exactly the right machine for the job, rather than wasting the performance of a sportscar.

i don't want two cars for myself. My wife has a decent non-performance car.

My commutes are going to be most of my drives. I want to enjoy them, not looking to be the most miserly.

 

[Throckmorton]

What happened to the 240sx??

 

[alkemyst]

What happened to the 240sx??

50% raise.

 

[alkalinetaupehat]

50% raise.

Should we expect to see the 240sx for sale soon?

 

[kornphlake]

I vote for getting something comfortable whatever vehicle that may be. I had a 70 mile commute one way for a while and after about a week my econobox became a burden to drive before or after a long day of work, I hated driving anywhere on the weekends or in the evening after work, a bigger engine wouldn't have changed that but a more comfortable car would have. 30 miles isn't a terrible commute, but it represents about 1 hour of actual drive time if it involves city driving and/or rush hour slowing on freeways. Some comfortable seats, a good climate control and nice stereo are worth more than a few ponies under the hood or a few dollars saved at the pump IMO. I hate the seats in Hondas, they don't fit my body right, I've sat in everything from an S2000 to a Ridgeline and they all feel wrong, put me in a Buick and I feel like I've melted to the seat.

 

[CraigRT]

Get a commuter car......
I drive 90 miles a day and when I found out that was happening I got rid of my Maxima and got another Saturn (this time a wagon) these cars can get 40mpg.

 

[punjabiplaya]

hot hatches? or are they too small?

 

[Throckmorton]

 

[angry hampster]

How about a used Pontiac G8?

 

[chin311]

s2000??

 

[thedarkwolf]

s2000??

yes. Use the wife's car for the dogs and other crap.

 

[SandEagle]

Honda anything

 

[JulesMaximus]

So get the charger. Or get a bike if you really want acceleration on a budget. 0 to 60 in under 4 seconds is a rush.

And 35mpg to boot. Hell, I can rush to 60mph in 4 seconds flat on my bike and get 45mpg while doing so.

The OP lives in Florida though, the land of the idiot, where nobody knows how to drive so perhaps getting a motorcycle isn't such a good idea.