looking for mpg,comfort,space,reliability

Tom

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
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1
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considering used or newcar, like under $5000, but could go for new.

I'm looking for good highway mileage, comfort for big fat guy, sometimes room for 2 grandkids, room to carry stuff, and reliability. In that order.

Secondary stuff- fun to drive, hipness, looks.

Would like opinions about these and others..my opinions given just for discussion..

pt cruiser - unreliable
hhr - ok
kia soul - nver sat in one, expensive new.
scion xb - never sat in one, newer model expensive.
nissan cube - weird
mazda 3 5 door - nice, kinda expensive.
ford focus - seats almost too small
honda fit - nice, but seems compromised for not that good mpg rating.
 

Mide

Golden Member
Mar 27, 2008
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I have a Honda Fit. It is very efficient in terms of space (flat folddown seats) and MPG 34 mixed/38 highway. It is peppy enough during winter but during the summer with the AC on, it's slow as all hell. Insurance is better than the Civic. But yeah everything else in terms of trim and fit and finish are lacking because the car is cheap and plasticy. Be sure not to get taken for a ride by the salespeople. Find a price that you want and do not budge. The car is not worth 18+ for the sport version with an automatic.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,483
8,344
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Did you mean $15,000? Because $5000 isn't going to buy a whole lot.

:)

My Dad owns a Fit, and he's been averaging around 41MPG @ 55 MPH.
 

KIAman

Diamond Member
Mar 7, 2001
3,342
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Did you mean $15,000? Because $5000 isn't going to buy a whole lot.

:)

My Dad owns a Fit, and he's been averaging around 41MPG @ 55 MPH.

Hard to mistype a 1, but easy to misplace a zero. So, maybe he meant under $50,000?

The Fit is a nice subcompact but I'm not sure how the ingress/egress for a bigger guy would be. Considering room for a big guy was your second priority, your only real options for a smallish gas saving car is either one of the boxes (xB, Soul, etc) or a Mazda5.
 

Tom

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
13,293
1
76
No, I meant $5000, as in older used cars. Those are the ones I know the least about. Like an older Honda CRV maybe ?

But I'm also open to newer used cars, or even new cars. Guess I'm looking for cheap, but would consider value too.
 

Tom

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
13,293
1
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Hard to mistype a 1, but easy to misplace a zero. So, maybe he meant under $50,000?

The Fit is a nice subcompact but I'm not sure how the ingress/egress for a bigger guy would be. Considering room for a big guy was your second priority, your only real options for a smallish gas saving car is either one of the boxes (xB, Soul, etc) or a Mazda5.

I fit in a Fit, but the mazda 3 is better. My experience with Civics and Subarus is they have less hip shoulder room than I want.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,483
8,344
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Another suggestion is a Pontiac Vibe. I had a rather...plump...co-worker who loved the seats in hers. When the back seats are down there's decent storage. Reliability is pretty good since it's a Toyota under the sheet metal.

You should be able to find something in the $7000'ish range without a ridiculous number of miles.
 

Fenixgoon

Lifer
Jun 30, 2003
32,117
10,935
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Another suggestion is a Pontiac Vibe. I had a rather...plump...co-worker who loved the seats in hers. When the back seats are down there's decent storage. Reliability is pretty good since it's a Toyota under the sheet metal.

You should be able to find something in the $7000'ish range without a ridiculous number of miles.

the vibe is also identical to the toyota matrix. they are even built together at the same assembly plant.
 

Vetterin

Senior member
Aug 31, 2004
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I'm having a problem placing all the cars you listed and your term "comfort for big fat guy" as being realistic. Also, with the exception of the PT I doubt you will find any of the others even near $5000. Might you want to consider something like a 4 cyl Sonata?
 

CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
31,440
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By his choices, he was looking more at hatchbacks.

Yeah, but the Impala is a GM and it's cheap.... and being a larger car, has a lot of room.

It also gets exceptionally good fuel mileage for its size. Despite having pretty good passing power.

Just a suggestion.... That's all.
 

Strk

Lifer
Nov 23, 2003
10,197
4
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So which is it? $5k or new for around $15k? There's kind of a big price discrepancy. ;)
 

alpineranger

Senior member
Feb 3, 2001
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Second the vibe suggestion, cheap, good fuel economy, lots of space, and reliable. It's a hatchback corolla without the toyota price premium. If you want fun to drive you can get one of the old XRS models with the hot engine. I've driven one before and it was decently exciting. In general, if you're willing to drive a standard transmission you will gain on price, reliability, and economy. Especially in the used market, there is a sizable price difference vs automatics.

I drive a dodge intrepid. They are insanely large, pretty comfortable, get decent fuel economy, and very cheap. They don't have a good reliability record, but I have the 1st year of production of the least reliable powertrain (mine should be the epitome of problems) but have had zero problems in almost 130k miles.
 
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kornphlake

Golden Member
Dec 30, 2003
1,567
9
81

That was my thought as well, it doesn't necessarily satisfy the youthful appearance requirement but it seems ideal in every other regard. From what I've heard they will regularly get 27-28mpg on the highway and can get better than 20mpg around town, that's not too far from most of the compacts, plus you could smoke the tires for a block if you wanted to.
 

Tom

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
13,293
1
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Thanks for the Vibe/Matrix suggestion, I forgot about those.

as far as sedans, I prefer hatchbacks for the versatility, carrying boxes, etc.
Price range is wide because I either want cheap and keep my truck, or trade truck in for something more expensive.
 

chin311

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2003
4,306
3
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i've had a versa since 07', over 50k on it now, no problems...

people always surprised with the interior space & i avg 30mpg or so with mixed driving.
 

SearchMaster

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2002
7,791
114
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That was my thought as well, it doesn't necessarily satisfy the youthful appearance requirement but it seems ideal in every other regard. From what I've heard they will regularly get 27-28mpg on the highway and can get better than 20mpg around town, that's not too far from most of the compacts, plus you could smoke the tires for a block if you wanted to.

Yeah my dad had one and he got about that mileage, I was surprised. Of course he drives like the old man he is. It was fairly reliable except for ignition coils (IIRC). He probably could have bought and installed them himself but he paid a mechanic to do it and it ended up being like $150 each, one per cylinder. A quick search looks like they cost a third of that online.
 

Tom

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
13,293
1
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Thanks for the Malibu Maxx suggestion.

Big sedans like Grand Marquis don't gain me anything. I have a diesel ford duallie crew cab that'll get 20 mpg at 75 mph, getting 5 more mpg isn't worth the trouble. I want an honest 30 mpg or better, at 75 mph in hills of Tennessee.
 

brblx

Diamond Member
Mar 23, 2009
5,499
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vibe is a good suggestion, they're not perfect, but dirt cheap. you can probably get an 04 under 100k for 5 grand or less.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,483
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Thanks for the Malibu Maxx suggestion.

Big sedans like Grand Marquis don't gain me anything. I have a diesel ford duallie crew cab that'll get 20 mpg at 75 mph, getting 5 more mpg isn't worth the trouble. I want an honest 30 mpg or better, at 75 mph in hills of Tennessee.

My wife has a Malibu Maxx. It will do 32MPG @ 55. Drops down to 28-30 @ 70. It's a car with great a great concept, but prone to GM costcutting. Lots of little fit and finish problems, but it's got a solid core. If you are the least bit of an "enthusiast" you'll loathe the electronic steering.

But it has one of the roomiest back seats of any sedan this side of a BMW 7 series and can hold a reasonable amount of stuff given it's size. Great room up front for driver and co-pilot too. And the glass panes above the back seat add real nice touch for the grandkids.
 

zmatt

Member
Nov 5, 2009
152
0
0
the vibe is also identical to the toyota matrix. they are even built together at the same assembly plant.

My cousin owns a Vibe. The interior tries really hard not to be a matrix. some of the choices are just wtf.