Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Another cheap and fun commuter car thread 1 2

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  March 25, 2011 2:26 p.m. carczar_84 None

  Hi guys,

  I've been searching around on the site and the web for awhile, and I'm still having a hard time making a decision. Here is my dilemma.

  I live in Sacramento, Ca and just started a new job that's about 65miles round trip each day(mostly freeway, but can take back roads). I currently drive a '06 4wd ford ranger, that is killing my wallet. Also, I'm racking the miles up way too fast. I need a commuter car!

  If you had the following criteria what would you do?

  -I'm 6'4" (taller torso, not helping with headroom) -Budget of $2000 for car (leaving me extra for maintenance and improvements -stick shift -something that doesn't put me to sleep on my drive. -a car that would be fun to drive during non-commute times.

  From what I've seen you guys seem to be great at finding the hidden deals and gems, so any help would be great.

  -Thanks -Josh

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  March 25, 2011 2:32 p.m. ClemSparks SuperDork

  I just got into a similar situation...~60 miles round trip for my new job.

  I got a '90 Mazda 323. I actually used to own this car...traded it for a miata...and then traded an escort to get it back after 5 years or so.

  It gets 30+ mpg...and that's driving it like I stole it. it's suprisingly fun. It's that scenario of, "You can drive it at 9 thenths on the street, have fun, and not get into trouble."

  I don't know about the mileage on an Escort GT...but they're supposed to be fun.
  

  I had a regular Escort (aforementioned...traded off to get the 323) and it was reasonable. I was slowly getting it to where the fuel mileage was back up to 30 mpg...the bare minimum of where I thought it should be. It was a 5 speed, 4 door, 1.9l (non-GT) car. I got it cheap ($650) but it was beat (aesthetically and mechanically) and needed some work to get it roadworthy.
  

  I think "psteav" (member here) likes his 90-something Protege (all three cars mentioned so far are iterations of the same).

  Those are the only ones I have experience with...but I wouldn't shy away from another 323. They're ugly, but fun, simple, reliable, etc (watch...mine will quit on the way home now that I said that).

  Clem

  Yeah, well...sometimes even when it IS broken I don't fix it.

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  March 25, 2011 2:41 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

  Because someone has to say it:

  • Miata
  • E30
  • Cherokee

  Well, the latter probably isn't going to be any better on fuel than your Ranger.

  Sanity is vastly overrated.

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  March 25, 2011 2:51 p.m. MadScientistMatt Dork

  When I saw your list of requirements, I also thought 323 / Protege / Escort. Cheap and pretty roomy.

  "Mad Scientist" Matt Cramer

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  March 25, 2011 2:55 p.m. ReverendDexter SuperDork

  Where are you commuting that's 65 miles away from Sac? (I'm over in Santa Rosa).

  Anywho, my immediate thought was 240SX. Quite a few in the area, though I'm sure a lot have questionable DPOs.

  --There is no turd more polished than the Ford Mustang--

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  March 25, 2011 3:29 p.m. Brett_Murphy Reader

  2.0 liter MkIII Golf. I think you could get the seats adjusted in those to fit you properly if you were 7 feet tall. Good on gas, can be made to handle quite well, based on this magazine called "Grassroots Motorsports" that nobody has ever heard of.

  If brute force isn't solving your problem, you're not using enough.

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  March 25, 2011 3:34 p.m. Javelin SuperDork

  Protege, Escort GT, MX-6/Probe, or Miata.

  Michael Pinto - 73 AMC Javelin 360 / GoKart / 86 944 Sport / 01 Grand Prix GT / 06 Mazda5 M5

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  March 25, 2011 3:36 p.m. pres589 Dork

  I'd really like a 1990 to 1993 Mazda 323 as well but they can't be found around here. 318is or the 325e/es cars are also of interest if you want good gas mileage.

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  March 25, 2011 3:41 p.m. 93EXCivic SuperDork

  I would say Civic but you are going to be hard pressed to find one. In my unbiased opinion, Civic> Protege or EGT.

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  March 25, 2011 3:53 p.m. carczar_84 New Reader

  65 miles round trip. I work in dixon now, live in. sacramento.

  The 240sx sounds fun, having a hard time finding a clean one. Same goes for e30 and miata. Plus, dont know if i'd fit very well in either the miata or 240sx. I haven't had tthe chance to sit in either

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  March 25, 2011 4:11 p.m. Capt Slow Dork

  We needed a commuter car for the wive when she got a new job up in burlingame, We live in the hills north of santa cruz (55mi commute). We happened to find a Ford Focus ZX3 for $1500 but it was in pretty poor shape... the PO had had a lot of little collisions with things.

  The car has worked well for us though, and it is surprisingly fun to drive...

  '96 Miata | '06 Mazdaspeed6 | '01 ford focus | '82 Mazda RX-7

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  March 25, 2011 4:25 p.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

  MadScientistMatt wrote: When I saw your list of requirements, I also thought 323 / Protege / Escort. Cheap and pretty roomy.

  +2.

  You can see 30mpg+ out of the EGT if it's in good nick, and a $2000 EGT will be MINTY!

  SCAVENGE THE SEA FLOOR FOR NUTRIENTS

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  March 25, 2011 4:54 p.m. Bobzilla Dork

  Beta swapped accent. That's the solution. Cheap to find, easy to maintain, very economical....it's the perfect solution to the question no one asked.

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  March 25, 2011 4:56 p.m. midknight Reader

  i regularly saw 34 out of the ex wife's 2dr 5 speed Escort LX, and that was with some spirited driving. More recent ex gf had an excort wagon with the 1.9 that was boring but got 37 mpg on 320 mile round trip runs to Jacksonville. Auto and ice cold air to boot.

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  March 25, 2011 5:38 p.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

  ReverendDexter wrote: Anywho, my immediate thought was 240SX. Quite a few in the area, though I'm sure a lot have questionable DPOs.

  I commuted with a '97 240sx for years and about 100k miles. It really was a nice GT type car. Not much in the way of headroom though and when you consider the "drift tax" you will not find a good driver for $2k.
  

  '91 BMW 318is in e30 form could be nice. I find my e30 has good headroom. Also the newer BMW 318ti in e36 form with hatchback is a good size as well.
  A 325is like this will get better than 25mpg and fills the fun part of the equation.
  http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/2286169504.html

  If you can find one in your price range, any Celica is good too.
  Try this one: http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/2272480011.html

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  March 25, 2011 8:07 p.m. amg_rx7 HalfDork

  In that price range, test fit a 323/Protege (fwd Miata). Also check out the used Kia, Hyundai and Suzukis.

  I'd also look at the Ford Focus as it will be roomier but maybe $1-1.5k more than your $2k budget.

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  March 25, 2011 8:10 p.m. mmosbey New Reader

  I'm 6'3" and get the best fit from shirts sized "tall".

  Jetta III is fun.

  Protege5 is over your budget, but really fun and practical, if a little underpowered.

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  March 25, 2011 8:13 p.m. carczar_84 New Reader

  My budget is somewhat flexible, I could probably justify up to 4k, if it means finding something sporty and exciting. To be honest, the mazda 323's and escorts aren't really doing it for me. It has to be something that I am going to want to drive, not feel like I have to.
  

  The e30, 240sx, and miata are already in my head, but without sitting in any of them, its hard to tell if headroom would be sufficient. How much room is there to be has with dropped seats in the 240sx or miata, really?

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  March 25, 2011 8:14 p.m. carczar_84 New Reader

  The jetta or golf sound like fun too, gonna have to start searching CL.

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  March 25, 2011 9:17 p.m. parker New Reader

  DOHC 5sp 1st gen Neon

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  March 25, 2011 9:34 p.m. ansonivan Dork

  Ultimate guilt free beater commuter, do it:

  http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/2285215805.html

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  March 25, 2011 9:37 p.m. PubBurgers Dork

  CRX DX. Fun, roomy, and gets 40mpg highway. I'm about 6'3" and never had a problem fitting in them. Finding a non-rusty example is the hard part.

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  March 26, 2011 1:24 a.m. Travis_K Dork

  Milano? I'd sell mine for less than $2k, and I use it for pretty much what you are looking for.

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  March 26, 2011 2:26 a.m. sanman New Reader

  escort zx2, protege, probe, infiniti g20, you may get an early suzuki aerio for the price, vw gti 8v, any 90's volvo, maxima/I30,

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  March 26, 2011 6:13 a.m. huge-O-chavez SuperDork

  ansonivan wrote: Ultimate guilt free beater commuter, do it: http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/2285215805.html

  thats a great catch.

  I get all my groceries from Sharper Image and Skymall

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