Suggestions for a daily driver under $4,000

[C.Moser]

With my new job, I'm driving about 90 miles a day now. It's mostly highway, so taking the mustang doesn't kill me too much gas mileage wise but I'm looking to get a daily driver to keep the miles down on the mustang. I have around $4,000 to spend, but the more $ I have left over after buying something, the more $ I will have to put into the mustang :thumbsup:.

What are your suggestions?

 

[Nacho98]

Little Toyota Corolla/Honda Civic.

 

[02GT]

You can find a decent fox for that price.

 

[Javi]

Accord,civic. auto*

 

[C.Moser]

I've been looking at civics and accords and it seems the only ones for under $4k are beat to hell

Thought about getting a fox but I don't think I'm going to go that route. I want to get something cheap that's good on gas and also something that I won't care when its gets the scratchs, dents, marks, ect of a daily driver

 

[JStang98]

4.0 ranger That's what I would go for or any ranger or s10 they get decent gas mileage and and you would have something to haul small stuff with.

 

[coupe5ohh]

v6 mustang

 

[5litrarag]

Early 2000s camry or corolla.

 

[Knuckles@Empire]

buy like a 2k+ Ford Escort my fiance uses one to travel to ASU which is like a 30 or so minute drive for her out here. It gets good as mileage and is not hard to find at all.

 

[Inspector13]

Pretty much any small car would do best but really any vehicle will work. I had a '03 Focus ZX3 5-speed that used to get 36 mpg average city/highway. Hell I had an '99 Silverado Z71 with 31 inch mud tires that used to get 21 mpg average. It's kinda all in how you drive & how well your vehicle is maintained. My '03 Explorer XLT 4x4 4.0 V6 is currently getting 19.7 average with just a CAI and 30 inch all season tires. I think I could get better with some more power. I live in a really hilly area so it ends up downshifting a lot to get up the hills. Also going back to the stock tire size would help too.

 

[C.Moser]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

Probably won't look for a v6 mustang. My research is showing that they get similar gas mileage to a GT or Cobra.

Maybe it's just my area but after looking for a couple weeks now it seems like there is nothing but beat up cars on the market and they all want $4k-$6k when they should be selling for $2k on a good day. Damn gas prices.....

 

[Blind]

hard to beat the value of a focus, especially if you can find a manual focus 4dr wagon, lots of room for shit and mid 30's mpg on the highway, and pretty damn reliable.

 

[cmsismyname]

ford zx2 they can be had very cheap and get pretty good gas mileage

 

[vibrantred5.0]

I want an old impreza after summer.....all wheel drive, reliable, good gas mileage....but they are like 5k for a high mileage one like a 98 rs or somethin

 

[boosted93]

Cant go wrong with a honda! Find a good deal then when your ready to upgrade flip that bitch

 

[MeNmySN95]

Get a 1996 - 1998 MK3 Jetta VR6. I had alot of fun with mine.

 

[ademily87]

4cyl foxbody.

Trust me, youll never care if it gets scratched and still gets almost 30mpg. AAAnnnddd

ITS STILL A MUSTANG!!!

 

[joekd]

I just picked up a 2002 cougar for my daughter for $4K, drove it today, with cruise set on 70+ I was getting 27.5 MPG

 

[C.Moser]

ok found two potential cars........need opinions ASAP

1) 1998 Saturn coupe $1,550, 5-speed, 135k miles, interior is clean exterior is ok with a few scratches here and there. I THINK the sunroof leaks. Owner said it doesn't but it does not sit flush in the roof. Shifts smoothly and as much as hate to admit this, I actually didn't mind driving it

2) 1997 Ford Escort sedan, $1,100, 5-speed 243k miles (mostly highway, owner commuted 100 miles to work each day) new clutch and tune-up, haven't seen it in person yet but looks ok from the pictures

Which one should I go for?

 

[Slykin]

If you ARE going to get one of the two I'd probably go for the Saturn... but I already have a thing against Escorts. So, my opinion doesn't count much at this point I suppose.