what's a good highway milage car for around $5,000

[vi edit]

I'm looking more for value than reliablity. I know I'm looking at higher milage cars and at that point it's more about previous owner care than name brand.

Don't need a lot of power. Just want something that is comfortable & safe on the highway that pulls over 30MPG.

What's the value leader out there in that price range for a good commuter beater?

 

[swtethan]

civic

 

[imported_Trippin315]

civic

 

[OS]

chevy prizm is rebadged corolla and sells for cheaper 😛

 

[imported_Stewy]

My 1994 Civic VX cost me $4000 in 2002 and is rated at 47/56MPG... In reality, it gets around 49MPG. It has dual air bags, and ~92HP with 97ft/lbs of torque.

It works for me.

 

[FoBoT]

i just checked the MPG of my 1997 Saturn SC-1 manual transmission (139K miles), i am getting 34.7 MPG , my commute is 45 miles one way, 90% highway miles

not sure how it rates for comfort/safety
i think you can get a 2000 or maybe 2001 with about 70K-90K miles for around that price

 

[vi edit]

Focus ZX3 seems like a decent value too. Anyone own one? What is your real world milage?

 

[YetioDoom]

Originally posted by: OS
chevy prizm is rebadged corolla and sells for cheaper 😛

Yup, I say get a prizm.

 

[Unheard]

Geo Metro

 

[aswedc]

A Chevy Prizm or Geo Metro these days is going to be 2,000, max. Don't waste your money paying Japanese premium. Get an early 2000s Saturn or Hyundai.

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: Stewy
My 1994 Civic VX cost me $4000 in 2002 and is rated at 47/56MPG... In reality, it gets around 49MPG. It has dual air bags, and ~92HP with 97ft/lbs of torque.

It works for me.

i believe they had different EPA standards back then but i could be wrong. Motorweek claimed that the pontiac fiero gets 47mpgs...once again i dont know when the ratings were changed...

To the OP, i have a 00 corolla that gets 40 mpgs no problem