new car getting 29 MPG+ that is fast

[IHateMyJob2004]

I'm having day dreams about my next car. I was going to spend very little but I am curious. What is the coolest car can I get for under $30K that gets 29+ highway MPG? Automatic required due to wife. If I can get something in the low $20Ks, I'd do less on the fuel economy thing.

Cool means looks cool and goes fast. 4 seater preferred but not required.

So far I saw the Ford Mustang that gets 31 MPG highway. Don't really love it though. Seems to be way to common in my head.

I like the Dodge Challenger but it is only 27 MPG highway. (This is the model for my definition of cool)

The Chevy Camaro is OK. Styling is slightly off but it does get 310 HP and 29 MPG highway.

VW GTI - No - reason 2 posts down.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

GTI

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

GTI

VW GTI at 31 MPG and $25K. Didn't even think of that. reminds me to much of a college kid type car though. At 35, no. In all honesty, at 25 that is THE car that I wanted. I'll have to pass.

 

[punjabiplaya]

Civic Si (isn't really fast, but eh) I guess if you didn't want a GTI, you probably don't want an Si.

What about a genesis 2.0T?

 

[overst33r]

Stripper Mustang GT?

Auto starts at 30,430 and will be fastest/best sounding/coolets car you can get for that amount of money IMO.

 

[overst33r]

VW GTI at 31 MPG and $25K. Didn't even think of that. reminds me to much of a college kid type car though. At 35, no. In all honesty, at 25 that is THE car that I wanted. I'll have to pass.

Audi A3 is a grown up GTI and starts about 2k more...

Stripper BMW 128i?

None of the these cars are really "fast" but it just depends what you're used to...

 

[zerocool84]

delete

 

[Eli]

Genesis

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Not interested in luxery brands like Audi and BMW.

Sadly, the Camaro is looking to be my best option thus far. (Argghh, 28 MPG highway. Web site says 29 MPG is some spots. Maybe that is manual transmission)

 

[coxmaster]

VW GTI at 31 MPG and $25K. Didn't even think of that. reminds me to much of a college kid type car though. At 35, no. In all honesty, at 25 that is THE car that I wanted. I'll have to pass.

How about a GLI? Just as much power, but in a more grown up package.

 

[TraumaRN]

Well your description is kinda vague, as 'cool' and 'fast' mean different things to different people. And how much leeway on the 29MPG thing? Honestly there is little difference between 27MPG and 30MPG cost saving wise.

Whats 'cool' and 'fast' to me(0-60 in 7.6sec according to CnD.com) is a new 2012 Focus SEL with a DCT in hatchback form with MyFordTouch for about 22K. MPG would be 28city/38highway

But since you didn't like the idea of a GTI not sure if you'll like the idea of the Focus

 

[Dr. Detroit]

2011 Mustang with performance pack

2011 Mustang Performance Package upgrades include:

* A 3.31 rear axle ratio for quicker off-the-line acceleration
* Mustang GT coupe front and rear stabilizer bars
* Mustang GT front struts and rear shocks/springs
* Shelby GT500 rear lower control arm
* Unique 19-inch wheels
* Pirelli performance tires for improved grip
* Mustang GT front and rear brake calipers with Performance Friction pads
* A strut tower brace for increased body rigidity
* Unique electronic stability control calibration with Sport mode for performance driving
* Unique badging

 

[Arkaign]

Not interested in luxery brands like Audi and BMW.

Sadly, the Camaro is looking to be my best option thus far. (Argghh, 28 MPG highway. Web site says 29 MPG is some spots. Maybe that is manual transmission)

V6 Mustang w/Track Pack blows the balls off the Camaro V6 and even trades blows with the V8 Camaros pretty evenly. Who cares if they're common, when they're better?

 

[Malak]

Get the challenger and mod it for better MPG.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Hyundai Sonata Turbo. Very roomy inside (I'm 6' 4" and had plenty of room up front), tons of new features, top safety ratings, 6-speed auto, 0-60 in 6.5s, 22/33 MPG.

 

[Arkaign]

Get the challenger and mod it for better MPG.

Nice comfy car but slowwwwww.

http://www.insideline.com/dodge/challenger/2009/performance-tested-2009-dodge-challenger-se.html

0-60 mph 8.1 seconds
0-75 mph 12.1 seconds
1/4-mile 16.1 seconds at 88.3 mph

I have heard the new 3.6L V6 brings it down into the 7-second range (7.3 was the only test I could find), but that's still 2 seconds (!!!!) slower than the V6 Mustang.

 

[Arkaign]

Hyundai Sonata Turbo. Very roomy inside (I'm 6' 4" and had plenty of room up front), tons of new features, top safety ratings, 6-speed auto, 0-60 in 6.5s, 22/33 MPG.

Hilariously, this is notably faster than the Challenger V6

 

[Malak]

Nice comfy car but slowwwwww.

http://www.insideline.com/dodge/challenger/2009/performance-tested-2009-dodge-challenger-se.html

0-60 mph 8.1 seconds
0-75 mph 12.1 seconds
1/4-mile 16.1 seconds at 88.3 mph

I have heard the new 3.6L V6 brings it down into the 7-second range (7.3 was the only test I could find), but that's still 2 seconds (!!!!) slower than the V6 Mustang.

0-60 is irrelevant. I can think of only a single red light in my city that goes straight onto a freeway. Picking a mustang over a challenger just because of this pointless stat is... pointless. Challenger is a better looking car, and that matters more.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

0-60 is irrelevant. I can think of only a single red light in my city that goes straight onto a freeway. Picking a mustang over a challenger just because of this pointless stat is... pointless. Challenger is a better looking car, and that matters more.

No its not

 

[jlee]

0-60 is irrelevant. I can think of only a single red light in my city that goes straight onto a freeway. Picking a mustang over a challenger just because of this pointless stat is... pointless. Challenger is a better looking car, and that matters more.

LOL, when the criteria includes "that is fast", a car that's slower than my 1998 Corolla was is probably not going to be high on the list. Personally, I like a sub-6s 0-60.

 

[exdeath]

Don't know why everyone insists on a new car all the time $30,000 isn't going to get you much new but can get you 3 times the car used. You can get a 2005 M3 for example that is better in every way than anything you can get new right now for under $30,000.

What do you guys have relatives or friends that are going to give you shit that their car is a 2011 and yours is only a 2006 when you roll up in a 2006 Ferrari? I mean seriously, I don't get it.

Sorry to be in a pissy mood, just tired of all the impossible dreams "I need something that has 400 HP, 0-60 in 3 seconds runs 10s in the 1/4 gets 90 mpg, isn't something everyone else has, and is a 2012, but it can only be $20,000" posts. Not going to happen, ever. Most of the cars people come here asking for don't exist, and the closest 3 matches that do exist the OP has already stated a dislike for in the original post. Take off one constraint and a while world of possibilities opens.

 

[Malak]

Don't know why everyone insists on a new car all the time $30,000 isn't going to get you much new but can get you 3 times the car used. You can get a 2005 M3 for example that is better in every way than anything you can get new right now for under $30,000.

What do you guys have relatives or friends that are going to give you shit that their car is a 2011 and yours is only a 2006 when you roll up in a 2006 Ferrari? I mean seriously, I don't get it.

Sorry to be in a pissy mood, just tired of all the impossible dreams "I need something that has 400 HP, 0-60 in 3 seconds runs 10s in the 1/4 gets 90 mpg, isn't something everyone else has, and is a 2012, but it can only be $20,000" posts. Not going to happen, ever. Most of the cars people come here asking for don't exist. Take off one constraint and a while world of possibilities opens.

"Why not try a used car instead?"

See, that's all you had to say.

 

[exdeath]

The irony is that if there was a car that offered all the impossible combination of things people wanted NEW at that low a price the car would be so popular and common that it would automatically exclude itself out of the list for being too common.

Apologies to OP, not picking on you specifically, just this is like the 10th thread of this kind this week (theads like: want a car that is fast, but also good mileage, but also cheap and uncommon, must be new, but then saying no to the 3 new production cars on the planet that even come close to all the things wanted at the price).

I'm in a pissy mood and not being constructive at all so feel free to ignore me. Must be man period or something.

 

[Arkaign]

Well said exD. In a perfect world, perhaps having a rare or unique car could be a primary criteria, but with a limited budget and focus on reliability and performance being far more important, I'm not sure why so many people care.

There are some cool less-popular cars out there, stuff like Legacy GT, but let's be honest, most of the good performance-oriented stuff is popular because it's good.

 

[caspur]

As far as MPG, the Mustang doesn't get 30 mpg. I've posted about this before. Neither does the Camaro. The EPA ratings are not realistic for the real world. I don't have any 2012 Challengers for testing, but on the 2010 Hemi's I got 14/15mpg. 2011 was a year Chrysler dumped a ton of Chargers (old style 3.5)...maybe eeked out 20mpg. I also managed to break two transmissions at the same time. Those cars didn't even have 2k miles on them.

My choice then, 2012 VW CC.