what kind of little car would you buy?

[Ranger Dave (B25)]

I just bought a 1990 Jetta since the wife insists on decent mileage and four doors, and that's about the best compromise out there (it's getting 30+ MPG and needs a tune up).

I've had no less than six A2 Jettas, both sedans and coupes. That 1.8 8V is bulletproof, and I've never been able to break the 02A trans in them either on the street or the road course. The most work I've EVER done to one of them is replacing the cam followers on my 87 coupe at 286k. Still got 32 mpg and burned zero oil when I sold it 2 years ago at 308k.

Your '90 has Digifant II engine management, IIRC. Here is a great resource for advice and technical info:

http://members.tripod.com/~fuelie/intro.htm

Do yourself a favor and clean and lube all the ground points you can find in the engine bay, particularly the right-rear corner of the valve cover and the negative battery cable grounding points. Digifant doesn't like dirty grounds, and it will simply refuse to start (the injectors will go to full-on and flood the engine) if the grounds are loose and/or dirty. Also doesn't hurt to add a ground from the engine to the unibody.

Follow this link to get info on buying the ECU chip that solves off-idle lean stumble that Digifant is famous for:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?cmd=print&id=3387923

Remaps the entire fuel curve among other things, and it's half the price that I paid for mine 5 or 6 years ago. It works, and it actually increases fuel economy as long as you stay off the skinny pedal. Takes 20 minutes to install.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

well i have a 1988 ranger lifted and everything its a great truck. im looking for a newer relibable vehicle probably a small car 2003-2009 im not really sure what to get im thinking eather a 2 door cobalt 4cyl 5speed or a tiburon SE 5speed. If you were buying a small car for the MPG what would you buy?
also anyone no what a 2.2L cobalt gets for gas milage compared to a 2.0L tiburon?

My dad and I have a 07 Saturn Ion that gets between 30 and like 36 -37 mpg, and with the right tire could rocket you pretty fast, its the same engine as the cobalt (2.2L ecocrap) plus you can fully load the saturn for only a few thousand more.

 

[Shoeboy]

If MPG was my main concern then then I'd be looking at a Hyundai Accent. My buddy was getting nearly 1200km out of a tank of gas (all highway), and with the 5 speed, it was kind of ballsy (by kind of I mean it felt like you had more power then you really did, but it moved around quite well). He bought his 3 years old with 35000km on it for about $7000, and drive it all highway for its entire life, and buried it when he moved to Vancouver and lost the strength test when a pick-up ran a red light. He had over 300 000km in it (going from Calgary to Vancouver on a weekly basis will do that, and then driving highway to get to work and back will also add them miles up quickly).

For a larger car that gets decent mileage, people start laughing now, the PT Cruiser. I get about 26MPG city driving with a lot of hills involved, and I get about 30-35MPG on the highway. I can seat 5 people (which I need constantly), and I have just as much room with the back seats folded down or removed as I did when my Ranger had the canopy on it, I love having the space. I love that car, but it is a pain in the ass to do engine work to. It does have balls (mine is standard).

Choosing a car for you really depends on ALL your needs. I hate the way the PT Cruiser looks, but it fit everything I needed, and mine is just about fully loaded, and with 150 000km (almost all highway), I payed $5500 for mine, and its a great car, probably the best I've owned.

 

[Chance]

Well for getting a car as small as they come go with a Smart. Some come available with a diesel and get 70mpg highway. Just not sure actually if they can be had in the U.S.

I see them driving around all the time where I live so I'll assume that they are available.

 

[Ozwynn]

not the diesel. not yet

 

[koda6966]

Hatchback Civic. Early 90's probably.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Or for kicks you could get a Honda Monkey? like the moped think in Hot Rod.

But the best mpgs are walking/riding a bike, if you need a real car then 1+ for the TDI "V DUB!" (german engineering... In Da House, Yah!)

 

[truckmanson]

I bought a 93 saturn sl1 with about 160,000miles, it was a 4 door, had air, and ran great, it didn't leak any oil just burned it about 1 qt every 3000 miles, I only paid 500 for it and got about 32 mpg in the city, and about 40 mpg hwy, my cousin now has the car and she has only had to put a new radiator in it, odometer has stopped at about 180000 miles. not sure if it helps but they are really easy to work on, get good mileage, are a dime a dozen, and are much cheaper than a brand new model, I found a 97 a couple years ago for about 1500.

 

[Ozwynn]

yeah I drive by a 2000 SL2 every morning for 1900. its got 123,XXX on it.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

91-96 Escort.

Reliable, tough, cheap, and zippy. The 1.9 is a tough engine and the manual trannies are almost bulletproof, and acheive 40+ for mileage.

later,
Dustin

 

[mhughes165]

99-05 Jetta TDI, 4 doors, gets 50mpg, and is alot of fun, lowest my buddy has ever gotten in his is 42mpg while relentlessly whooping on it to see how low he could get

 

[3literEarl91]

91-94 Toyota Tercel. I had one and it was dead solid reliable, fun to drive(but slow), and got 40 mpg. They also last FOREVER. I got mine with 140xxx on it and when I sold it it had damn near 600xxx. Only thing I ever had to do was put valve stem seals in it. Oh, and do not get the 5 speed, get the 4 speed, trust me.

 

[Mark_88]

I'd recommend a Suzuki...the Vitara 2 door after 99...the new style, or a Chevy Tracker (similar model)...they are good on gas, give you 4WD on the fly if needed, and can also be convertible...

Some say they are a girls car, but not to my face...

 

[Jason]

well i have a 1988 ranger lifted and everything its a great truck. im looking for a newer relibable vehicle probably a small car 2003-2009 im not really sure what to get im thinking eather a 2 door cobalt 4cyl 5speed or a tiburon SE 5speed. If you were buying a small car for the MPG what would you buy?
also anyone no what a 2.2L cobalt gets for gas milage compared to a 2.0L tiburon?

I guess many missed the year range part. Look for Corollas with a manual. Good car, nearly indestructible, and they do quite well on gas. Newer vvt-i engined cars are also peppy enough to keep you interested.

 

[Maverick]

91-96 Escort.

Reliable, tough, cheap, and zippy. The 1.9 is a tough engine and the manual trannies are almost bulletproof, and acheive 40+ for mileage.

later,
Dustin

Besides the fact that the 1.9 likes to drop valve seats.