Looking at a longer commute, best MPG vs Performance car

[JulesMaximus]

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.

I hate Buicks. We got one as a rental a couple years ago and my son got car sick in it because of the floaty ride...I felt kind of quesy myself to tell you the truth.

It's a fat old white man's car.

 

[mmntech]

Ford Focus ST? Supposedly coming out later this year.

Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart, Kia Forte Koup, Honda Civic Si, Mazda 3 Sport GT.

Too bad Chevy doesn't have an SS Cruze. Yeah, you could get a used Cobalt SS, but the Cobalt is a piece of crap.

 

[VinylxScratches]

Hey, I'm in the same boat except I don't really have requirements. I just want a Charger R/T, Challenger R/T, or a 300C or the SRT8 in any of them lol.

 

[VinylxScratches]

Another problem is that there is a lot of speculation that gas will continue to rise and we'll be @ $5.00 again...

 

[ShawnD1]

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)

Indeed! I shall have my daily driver and my weekend driver. My wife shall keep the royce for going to the shops then use the benz to go to the ball. We shall park these vehicles in our 20 car garage!

OP should get a minivan. I think he should get a Chrysler Town & Country because Chrysler has shown America nothing but rock solid reliability for the past 30 years. It's the one American car company left that isn't owned by Germans or Italians.

 

[IcePickFreak]

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

Nope, there's only a pass-thru in the middle, the whole thing doesn't fold down unfortunately. FWIW, I get upper 20's MPG highway with my GT and that's with the AFM tuned out.

 

[JJ650]

Another vote for the G8 GT.

I love mine. PLenty of room in the back seat and the trunk isn't too shabby either.
I get 25-27 on the highway (right foot dependent. YMMV) and in town I am right at 17-18mpg.
It gets your 0-60 in 5s flat with decent tires.It's VERY mod friendly. Exhaust, tune and headers if you want to go that route and it's even better.

 

[Bignate603]

Honda anything

Nothing in their lineup fits what the OP wants. Why do you insist on recommending a single brand for every single person even if it has no relation to what they actually want?

 

[the DRIZZLE]

One thing you might want to consider is that the fuel millage on some performance cars varies a lot with how you drive them, more than other cars. My friend had a Mazdaspeed3 that could get 29 on the highway or 14 if you were just flooring it around town. I think the Corvette is another example.

 

[punjabiplaya]

One thing you might want to consider is that the fuel millage on some performance cars varies a lot with how you drive them, more than other cars. My friend had a Mazdaspeed3 that could get 29 on the highway or 14 if you were just flooring it around town. I think the Corvette is another example.

yep, why I was asking about hot hatches. You can fit a ton of stuff in em, still go fast, but still get decent fuel economy.

 

[vi edit]

A GTi is another option I'd suggest. Low 30's on the highway and very comfortable highway cruiser. Sporty and functional. Low to the ground and a hatch for dog hauling utility.

 

[alkemyst]

the dogs ride shotgun and FWD...I have had a 97 GTI VR6 new, and my brother went from a GTI AE to a 997 and then back to 2010 GTI.

They are nice.

 

[exdeath]

Cheap, decent mileage or performance depending on your foot, 4 doors, made to get muddy, etc. Don't see them all that much and they look killer with the hood scoop and rear spoiler delete.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Used VW GTI R32

Seriously - you are in a tough spot with room for 2-dogs, decent mileage, plus fold down seats, RWD and unique.

Used Saab 9-2X

Used Cobalt SS Turbo 4-dr
2nd Gen F150 Lightning & a Canopy

The all new SRT8 is supposed to achieve significantly better mileage as its got cylinder deactivation now.

You'd be better off with two cars.

 

[kornphlake]

I hate Buicks. We got one as a rental a couple years ago and my son got car sick in it because of the floaty ride...I felt kind of quesy myself to tell you the truth.

It's a fat old white man's car.

I completely understand your feelings, like I said I can't get comfortable in hondas. Buying a commuter car is like buying a pair of shoes, you have to try it on to know if it fits, and no car will fit any two people the same.

 

[alkemyst]

Cheap, decent mileage or performance depending on your foot, 4 doors, made to get muddy, etc. Don't see them all that much and they look killer with the hood scoop and rear spoiler delete.

STI would be nice, but the front seats are narrow. hip/shoulder room is 53", still a little better than the 50.6/52" I have now.

One of the appealing things about the Charger is I'd have 56.2/59.3...6" more hip room for the dogs .



The new charger srt8 with it's running on 4 cylinders is impressive, but I don't want a $800 car payment.

 

[ShawnD1]

Cheap, decent mileage or performance depending on your foot, 4 doors, made to get muddy, etc. Don't see them all that much and they look killer with the hood scoop and rear spoiler delete.

They really screwed up the fuel tank in this car. My brother has an sti and it burns a shit load of gas, but the gas tank is only the size of a corolla gas tank. Only goes about 200 miles between fillups

 

[zerocool84]

They really screwed up the fuel tank in this car. My brother has an sti and it burns a shit load of gas, but the gas tank is only the size of a corolla gas tank. Only goes about 200 miles between fillups

People don't but those cars for their MPG or how big their tanks are.

 

[exdeath]

They really screwed up the fuel tank in this car. My brother has an sti and it burns a shit load of gas, but the gas tank is only the size of a corolla gas tank. Only goes about 200 miles between fillups

Might want to get an aftermarket tune. Not uncommon for turbo cars to ship from the factory extremely rich and on the conservative side to protect the engine from detonation in worse case scenarios. I know the Toyota turbo engine from the MR2/Celica with factory calibration will shoot down to 8-9:1 with the slightest bit of load and boost, when you really don't need less than 11.x:1 under max load.

 

[punjabiplaya]

Might want to get an aftermarket tune. Not uncommon for turbo cars to ship from the factory extremely rich and on the conservative side to protect the engine from detonation in worse case scenarios. I know the Toyota turbo engine from the MR2/Celica with factory calibration will shoot down to 8-9:1 with the slightest bit of load and boost, when you really don't need less than 11.x:1 under max load.

yeah, I'm picking up an AP just to lean it out, lol

 

[Imdmn04]

4th gen Acura TL SH-AWD Manual.

It is pretty unique because it is pretty ugly and therefore not a lot of them on the road. But the performance is pretty good for a sport sedan with torque vectoring AWD, especially with the manual. 300+HP to boot, plus all the amenities. Gas mileage is pretty good for its class as well.

 

[satyajitmenon]

What about a 2003 BMW 540iT ?

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u171/faith777_DTH/15102007965.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u171/faith777_DTH/15102007961.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u171/faith777_DTH/15102007973.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u171/faith777_DTH/15102007972.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u171/faith777_DTH/15102007980.jpg

 

[alkemyst]

What about a 2003 BMW 540iT ?

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u171/faith777_DTH/15102007965.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u171/faith777_DTH/15102007961.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u171/faith777_DTH/15102007973.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u171/faith777_DTH/15102007972.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u171/faith777_DTH/15102007980.jpg

A bit older than I am looking for. Something 2007 or newer at least.

MPG is about equal to the SRT8.

 

[JJ650]

So...it sounds like you're getting the SRT8.

 

[ShawnD1]

Might want to get an aftermarket tune. Not uncommon for turbo cars to ship from the factory extremely rich and on the conservative side to protect the engine from detonation in worse case scenarios. I know the Toyota turbo engine from the MR2/Celica with factory calibration will shoot down to 8-9:1 with the slightest bit of load and boost, when you really don't need less than 11.x:1 under max load.

Interesting. I'll be sure to pass this along :thumbsup: