Car ideas

[rockin86ranger]

I know i haven't been on here in a long time but i have been looking around the site from time to time. I still have my ranger and dad is driving it to work everyday right now. I am currently driving a 1996 F-150 Eddie Bauer regular cab short bed 2wd with a 4.9 (300) straight six and a five speed.

I love the truck but i really need sometheing better on gas and don't really ever use it as a truck (unless i'm picking up my brother POS honda prelude) and am considering trading/selling for a gas saver. But i want something that is a little sporty; preferably not a four door, that is cheap on insurance and reliable. I really like hatchbacks, convertibles, and some coupes.

So i was wondering if anyone had any good ideas for a vehicle that is worth around $3000 and is sporty, good on gas, cheap on insurance, and cheap to maintain. And will comfortably fit me i am 6' 2" and about 260lbs.

The best car i can think of is a Volkswagon Gti with a Tdi engine and five speed manual. But they are hard to find and i'm not sure if i will fit in one. So please some ideas.

Thanks

 

[Coleosis]

I hate VW...every VW (other than bugs) I have seen had a LOT of electrical problems...and bugs are just ugly....

Unless you just hate japanese cars with a passion, I say you should look into a 240sx. They are cheap, they are sporty, they are 4cyl and they are one of the only RWD japanese cars that I can fit in comfortably and I'm 6'1" 300lbs. Not to mention, if you ever get bored with it...you can swap a turbo sr20det in it to get about 210hp.

 

[darkspork]

The GTI was never available with a TDI engine, the Golf was but it wasn't very sporty.

The newer Ford Escort may fit the bill for you. A friend that was 6' 3" had one (maybe 1998 model) it was big enough for him, he liked the gas mileage, etc. Its not a hatch though (older ones were available has a coupe body with a hatchback).

Honda Civic or Acura Integra, but may be hard to find a lower mileage example with clean title at that price.

The VW GTI as you mentioned. At your price range you are probably looking at MKII or MKIII (current model is MKV).

If you want something you'll fit in and have room to spare Honda Accord Coupe may be a good option

If you don't mind a sedan Ford Taurus SHO would be worth looking at. They're quick, cheap, and sort of roomy.

Saab 900 would be good for gas mileage and sportiness, don't know about ins. Saabs used to be real dependable.

If it were me I'd look into the Escort or Saab 900, but I can fit in nearly any car (5' 6" 140lbs). If I were taller I'd probably look more closely at an Accord.

I'm sure somebody will chime in with better suggestions. I need to get ready for work.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Escort GT?

later,
Dustin

 

[fastpakr]

Ex250.

 

[kunar]

Escort GT?

later,
Dustin

thats right...

 

[Will]

My brother is 6'3" and has a Mazda 3 which he likes a lot. For the price it's about the best sporty little car out there.

 

[Shoeboy]

My 01 PT "Loser" Cruiser has caused me no grief since I bought it, and I get fairly respectable fuel mileage. When I'm driving in north Calgary only (all hills and short trips, under 10km) I get about 500km/tank, and if I'm driving in the south (flat) I get about 550-600km/tank. On the highway, I get about 650-700km/tank. The most it has cost me to fill has been $50 and that was when gas was $1.40/L. I'm not the biggest guy, but I have had a lot of big people in the car and they fit in without problems. My car has the 5 speed and the non-turbo and that has plenty of pep. The back seats fold flat or come out, and the passenger seat folds flat, and the rear hatch cover drops down and makes a nice large storage area if you need to move stuff. I find the car quite roomy, and decent on gas. Plus there is a million of them out there and parts are cheap for them, and the car itself isn't to badly priced. 2001-4 (first gen) are going for about $4000-6000CDN here depending on mileage. I know thats a little more then what you want to spend, but I got mine with every option but heated leather seats, auto, and the sunroof, and the car doesn't feel like its cheap when you sit in it.

Also, VW and Nissan are garbage, whenever we get one into the shop, we all cringe at it, backwards thinking and special tools.

 

[Skeleranger]

I hate VW...every VW (other than bugs) I have seen had a LOT of electrical problems...and bugs are just ugly....

Unless you just hate japanese cars with a passion, I say you should look into a 240sx. They are cheap, they are sporty, they are 4cyl and they are one of the only RWD japanese cars that I can fit in comfortably and I'm 6'1" 300lbs. Not to mention, if you ever get bored with it...you can swap a turbo sr20det in it to get about 210hp.

i side with him, i have recently bought a 240sx, and they are fun as hell the ka24de is a torquey little monster and the seats go way back in my hatch

 

[Coleosis]

Also, VW and Nissan are garbage, whenever we get one into the shop, we all cringe at it, backwards thinking and special tools.

Maybe the new nissans....The nissans Ive owned were older (89-95) and all of them lasted over 180k miles. But I take care of my cars....Alot of people that take their car to a shop dont know how to take care or fix their car....They think an oil change every once in a while will suffice. Thats just what Ive seen.

i side with him, i have recently bought a 240sx, and they are fun as hell the ka24de is a torquey little monster and the seats go way back in my hatch

What year is yours? The only bad thing about 240sx's is you almost have to buy a stock one or you can bet that it has been dogged out.

 

[darkspork]

My 01 PT "Loser" Cruiser has caused me no grief since I bought it, and I get fairly respectable fuel mileage. When I'm driving in north Calgary only (all hills and short trips, under 10km) I get about 500km/tank, and if I'm driving in the south (flat) I get about 550-600km/tank. On the highway, I get about 650-700km/tank. The most it has cost me to fill has been $50 and that was when gas was $1.40/L. I'm not the biggest guy, but I have had a lot of big people in the car and they fit in without problems. My car has the 5 speed and the non-turbo and that has plenty of pep. The back seats fold flat or come out, and the passenger seat folds flat, and the rear hatch cover drops down and makes a nice large storage area if you need to move stuff. I find the car quite roomy, and decent on gas. Plus there is a million of them out there and parts are cheap for them, and the car itself isn't to badly priced. 2001-4 (first gen) are going for about $4000-6000CDN here depending on mileage. I know thats a little more then what you want to spend, but I got mine with every option but heated leather seats, auto, and the sunroof, and the car doesn't feel like its cheap when you sit in it.

Also, VW and Nissan are garbage, whenever we get one into the shop, we all cringe at it, backwards thinking and special tools.

You must have some upgraded seats, my dad has a PT Cruiser and it was one of the worst cars to have to drive for an extended period of time. The seats are hard and offer little cushioning (2005 model). I didn't think the manual transmission would make a huge difference but the automatic in the PT Cruiser is worthless, best gas mileage any of us managed is 26mpg (also non-turbo), pathetic for driving conditions (long flat highway driving at 65mph with little passing). I averaged about 18-21 mpg. I will agree that you can fit big people in them though, and he's never seen a lick of problems with it. The car has big blind spots, is difficult to park and has the turning radius of a Aerostar. I just don't like it, but to each his/her own.

And on the subject of Nissan, Dad had a Datsun 210 with 400,000 or so miles on it. Damn reliable car. Grandpa had a 280zx with 370,000 miles on it before the odometer broke, still being driven by his sister. Maybe reliability went away with the name change but I hear people say good things about their newer Nissans too.

VW, I'm not going to disagree on. All the "made in Mexico" ones seem to be junk, except maybe the TDIs. But there probably still is no escaping the VW/Audi electronic gremlins. I'd consider giving a German built VW a shot though.

 

[Frank The Tank]

VW Cabrio, convertible 5spd manual.... pretty cool and fun. I'm 6'4 270 and can drive it.... however parts are high (and just doing a "proper" tune-up and brake job is almost a day long venture)

I love Grand Prix's...... just a regular 3.8liter they are fun, safe, and handle great. And cheap to maintain/parts are readily available.

That's just my quick input.

Frank

 

[Hahnsb2]

V8 T-Bird? My dad had a 93 with a HO 5.0 and it did 26MPG freeway and it was an auto, the 5 speed may do a little better.

 

[Shoeboy]

You must have some upgraded seats, my dad has a PT Cruiser and it was one of the worst cars to have to drive for an extended period of time. The seats are hard and offer little cushioning (2005 model). I didn't think the manual transmission would make a huge difference but the automatic in the PT Cruiser is worthless, best gas mileage any of us managed is 26mpg (also non-turbo), pathetic for driving conditions (long flat highway driving at 65mph with little passing). I averaged about 18-21 mpg. I will agree that you can fit big people in them though, and he's never seen a lick of problems with it. The car has big blind spots, is difficult to park and has the turning radius of a Aerostar. I just don't like it, but to each his/her own.

I have had the car to Edmonton a few times, and a few trips to Red Deer, and the seats felt fine for me, but at the end of the month, I am headed to Kamloops, Lillooet, and Prince George, and back, so I hope they stay comfortable for that distance. Then again, I do have some back problems, and they do conform to my body quite well, and support all the right places. I managed 33-35MGP highway when I went to Edmonton, last August, but I will see how it is through the mountains this summer, and hopefully I will not pull what I did to end the Ranger. The blind spots are a problem if you do not have your mirrors set properly, or if you are unfamiliar with the blind spots, it took a little getting used to, but I have never had a problem with them. and parking is a pain since you have the fenders lower then the hood, but again, you get used to it. My biggest complaint, steering sucks, no tight turns in this thing. The only other complaint I can think of is the matt gray bumpers discoloring after a wile. For me, what was in my price range ($6000 and below), it was the best thing I could buy, every option i wanted, and decent on gas (better then my Dakota with its awesome 6.5MPG city). Other complaints is pretty much any engine work. If you are doing anything bigger then the basics, pull the engine and do everything at once.

 

[Frank The Tank]

I have to say that a "DAKOTA" getting 6.5 mpg is pretty damn sad, does not sound like it was running right.

Frank