What Ford is the perfect college car

[backroad101]

Are you searching local to your area? What is your time frame?

If it were me, I would think "what might an elderly person drive?" You could find some low cost gems that were only driven to and from the store or church and that's it and be in pretty good shape.

And while an Escort GT would be a nice little car, your insurance might see the GT and jack up your rate. Plus there is a good chance it was beat on. Can get the same car in a 4dr Escort LX-E or Tracer LTS with prob a a lower insurance rate.

If you want to stay with Ford, also look as Mazda. They have shared parts for years.

.

 

[stegomon]

zx2 for sure! get your self an s/r...those are fun

 

[kunar]

and i know the normal escorts get good mileage but the zx2 numbers just seem way low for a car its size, i just cant imagine a tuarus not getting those numbers, but i havent really checked mileage on anything until now.

if you *actively* try to get good mileage in a manual zx2, 40+ is more than possible....

 

[backroad101]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Flor...6185112?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item3cb5167318

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1995...7669984?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item2a0e3f83e0

If you want a GM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1988...5262912?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item5642a47a40

Just some examples

You can go to ebay, just type in Ford, set your price limit and see what comes up. Locally, try autotrader

 

[rockin86ranger]

zx2 for sure! get your self an s/r...those are fun

i almost bought one there was a black one 15 miles from me and when i found out it what i was i wanted it, but it sold before i got the money around, i see it driving around from time to time

if you *actively* try to get good mileage in a manual zx2, 40+ is more than possible....

well unfortunately thats something you dont find around here manual cars, and i understand you can squeeze more out of it but the problem is 60% of the time im running late for class so not really a hypermiler, although if gas keeps going up ill have to start gettin up earlier so i can drive 35mph the whole way there. that was the only thing i liked about my old escort lx, i could drive the hell out of it and still get 33mpg.

and dont think i hot rod my cars i just dont do the speed limit very often and cant stand driving under it so i pass people quite often and im not usually nice about it unless youre close to the speed limit.

 

[8879ford]

yeah, i was goin to say a early 90's ford escort wagon, small, lightweight, good mpg, and still have the space of a wagon to carry your books, beer and babes

 

[8879ford]

also the 5-speed ones add a little fun to it

 

[rockin86ranger]

if i could ever figure out a way to be comfortable in an escort, atleast my 97 was uncomfortable, i would totally get a 5 speed wagon.

im thinking
taurus wagon, theres one on ebay im watching i think it a 1999? that needs a headgaskets, ill have to check price on heads just in case, that i would like if i could get cheap

festiva if once ever comes up within 100miles of me

escort zx2 but only if i can find a 5 speed

maybe a geo metro if my friend ever gets a new car she already told me i got dibs, plus theres one at a pawn shop where i go to school, and my family use to have one pretty fun little cars

maybe a ford tempo, not sure how leg room would be in one but ive heard good things about them, if i could find a diesel i would deffinately get one.

 

[Ranger Dave (B25)]

maybe a ford tempo, not sure how leg room would be in one but ive heard good things about them, if i could find a diesel i would deffinately get one.

Don't. My mom had a '91 Tempo (until she turned left in front of a truck...); I'm 3 inches shorter and 20 lbs lighter than you, and when I would take mom somewhere I didn't so much get into the car as I did 'put it on,' like an ill-fitting coat. Worst ingress and egress of any car I have ever driven - literally had to fold my arms in front of me to BACK INTO the driver's seat. Hated driving that car, no ifs, ands, or buts.

 

[JohnnyO]

Before reading any of the responces, thought of just how nice my Focus wagon was. Lots of room to haul stuff in, five speed and just fun/ecconomical it was to drive. I'm a lot shorter but try them all out. Never a problem with the focus in five years - just had to trade it in for the '05' Mustang.
Dave of the Nord

+1.
I've got one for a company car. Also it goes like stink.

 

[JPRanger03]

I've got a ZTS Focus 5-speed right now and its done a great job getting me through college. I average about low 20's city mpg and just over 30 mpg on the freeway. You should be able to find an older Focus in decent shape for right around 2000 if you look hard enough (I'll be selling mine for $1900 with 140,000 miles and runs great, sorry for the shameless plug). I had an older escort before the Focus that I've got now, and I'm pretty sure I've got more room in the focus and it seems like I'm more comfortable in longer hauls.

But, you'll probably have an easier time finding ZX2's, and those have the same ZETEC motor as the focus I've got. Great little rev happy motors. Good luck with your search.

 

[Ozwynn]

the eagle talon is the same as a mitsu eclipse. thats either a 2.0 or a 2.4. and those things dont like to talk about good daily driving mileage.
i havent heard geo trackers give good mileage either. being a small engine pushing a big body. not to mention they must have slow gearing.
a duratec 2.3 ona 5spd ranger will give u around 20 mpg in highway and 15 in city driving.
high mileage isnt an issue imo. my moms 03 has around 130,xxx and it runs like new. no issues at all.

My 95 Sidekick got 26 mpg hwy with an old tired engine (265,xxx miles) and a worn out automatic. It is currently waiting on a Ranger 4cyl and an m5odr1 or I would sell it to you.

the wife's 99 Lincoln Continental with a 32v DOHC 4.6L intec V8 get 27 hwy if I keep it under 70. they average around 4 grand for a car with 150,xxx miles, buy here pay here lots are full of them. I paid $5500 for her's, but it had a new transmission at 167,892 miles (according to the Oasis report) and it was a one owner.

if you are dead set on a Ford I would get a Focus. If you are considering other things I know where there is a 2000ish Jetta TDI with a 5spd for $2500.





crown vic interceptors are known to get in the high 20s for mileage aswell. I would also consider an early to mid 80s CUCV Blazer (TH-400 instead of a 700r4). I got in the low 20s with it and a 6.2L will burn any old crap you can get in the tank from used motor oil to waste cooking oil, if you have a trucking company nearby you could get your fuel for free because they have to pay to have the used motor oil hauled away.

 

[pontiacfieroguy]

im 6'4" and was about 270 when i had my 02 focus se and i had plenty of room and it was a pretty comfortable ride plus i averaged about 35mpg city and about 42 hwy but i also drive pretty easy. i also have bad credit and got mine for 500 down and 135 per month with around 75k on it. my vote is for the focus. had a tempo and that car absolutly sucks eggs.

 

[Ozwynn]

Nobody has mentioned Saturn. SL1 from 96-02 with a 5spd are known to get mid 40s if you are nice to them

 

[RICO9]

i can't beleive nobody has said Probe!

the criteria
*good gas mileage------------------------CHECK
*lots of leg room-------------------------CHECK
*be reliable------mine had 297,000 on it when i got rid of it---CHECK
*preferably have some sort of aftermarket----CHECK
*stick is a plus----------they come in stick----CHECK
*room for people and things-----roomier than they look----CHECK
*$2000 or less-----------------------CHECK