Ducati Monster Forum

We are looking at Corollas right now. Was thinking about a Prius but there is a minimum 3 month wait on those. We are looking for new or maybe 1-2 years old.

My only concern with the Corolla is that it is gutless. There is the XLS model with 157 hp, but you really lose fuel efficiency with that- which defeats the purpose of getting a fuel efficient car.

Any suggestions? Walking or riding the bike are not options :)

I've heard people like the chevy aveo. I have no first hand knowledge. Also heard good things about the toyota yaris and honda fit.


I have a VW rabbit....it is not fuel efficient.

if you're just looking at this from a money perspective, read: not a conserve fossil fuels POV, buy used and figure the savings over new into your total cost of ownership.

Score yourself a sweet deal on a new Chevy Cobalt and be done with it.  Their reliabiity is pretty damned good, the 100K mile drive train warranty is nice, and you can get some nice rebates that you won't see on the  Toyota or Honda.

whatever you do get a manual transmission. 

i drive an 03 focus hatchback.  30mpg city if i keep the revs below 2500, plenty of "guts" if i keep them above 3500

My fiance sells Chevys and we were just talking about the new cobalt today.  They come in manual and will tell you how many miles to the gallon you are getting.  He drive one today to Baltimore...about 50 miles and he averaged 40.2 mpg.   www.criswellauto.com  I don't know where you are located...but his name is Dan and he would give you a great deal!! [thumbsup]

04-05 vw golf tdi

45-50 mpg depending on how you drive.

enough juice to go and even tow.

Seems like the Honda Civics were getting in the high 30's too?

What kind of car are you looking for? I have a Honda Fit, which is one of those 5 door hatchbacks. It has, no joke, more useable inside cargo space than anything in its class, is positively dinky given the four doors (read: easy to park and maneuver), and delightfully zippy to drive. Gas milage is excellent, reliably 33+/- in the city, over 40 on the highway.

I'd suggest you check out one of those "what kind of car is right for you" websites, like the one at cars.com. That's where I found the Fit, which actually has proven to be just right for me.  :)

The ford Focus claims 35 mpg and goes for about $17,500. It also has built in hands free bluetooth which is another thing to consider if you live in CA now.

"if you're just looking at this from a money perspective, read: not a conserve fossil fuels POV, buy used and figure the savings over new into your total cost of ownership."

+1

I actually just bought a Chrysler 300 for 5k while not real easy on gas its not that bad either and it has everything. Nice ride.

Mini Cooper.
The non S models get over 30mpg, still have good zip, and have excellent interior room.
I think the base is under $20k.
I don't think you can find a diesel car new for under $20k, or I would suggest that instead.

Nothing new, but plenty of used 03-05 Golfs around in the 12-14k range.  Those engines will last 200-300k miles.

if you HAVE to have something new, check out the 09 Jetta TDI available in August.  Base price is about 20k and is 50 state compliant.

we test drove the Impreza Outback Sport- it claims 170 hp, but I thought it was gutless, maybe I wasnt hard enough on it though... I wanted the WRX, but the wife wants an automatic for commuting purposes.

We test drove the Matrix and Prius. Prius wasnt too bad, and the Matrix would have been good for the MN winters with the all wheel drive model. My wife used to work at the Toyota dealer, so we should get a deal- which is why we are leaning that way. I am open to a used car- just have to find the right one. You have all given me alot of options to consider. Always figured VW was out of our range, but I may check in to that.

Thanks for the info!

-tony

My '06 Mazda 3 was $15k, I get on average 35+ mpg and the car handles way better than a cheap car should.
130,000 miles so far and still going strong.

You will have to wait for a new VW diesel.  None for '08.  The base gas Golf is $15+ and pretty much has all the bells and whistles you need, AC, alarm, the common power stuff, decent stereo, ABS.  You can even get a Jetta for less than $17K.

My understanding was there is a CHANCE that VW's 2008 diesel will be released late, like August.

Which doesn't make sense, until you call up a VW dealer and find they all have 5-10 ppl on wait lists for them.

just a CHANCE tho.  prob 50/50 at thsi point.

I had a Yaris as a rental car. I adored it. Not only was it fun, responsive, easy to PARK, etc., but it got FANTASTic mileage... 33-35mpg?  Very customizeable... and actually had some giddup-and-go! I was pleasantly surprised. I'm waiting a few years until some used ones are on the market and then I plan on buying one... I totally fell in love and my accord simply doesn't measure up.

what might make you sick is this (62 mpg diesel yaris, available today!).  £10,000, for tax, title, fees and road registration out th door, so figure less for American conversion!

62 MPG

(http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l309/ducatiz/DML/toyota_uk.jpg)

^ 62!!???  CEriously?  excuse me while I pick my jaw off the floor and clean up the drool.   wow...  perhaps I should make a (euro) yaris happen sooner than later....   that's about, what, 14500 USD?

I just drove my GF's 2009 Corolla from Atlanta to DC tonight.

My avg MPG was 42.9.

This was going up the big hill on the east coast. No problems passing semis going up the mnt. I avg'ed about 75 - 80mph with the AC one 2 or 3 the whole time. So i'm sure I could squeek a few more mpg's out of it too.

And it was a pretty comfy ride too.

I totally forgot about those.  My brother and his wife have one (4-door hatchback-type-thing,) and not only is it a hoot to drive, but it looks pretty decent as well.  I seem to recall him reporting 30-35mpg.

If that car is selling for 10K pounds...then it would actually be about $20K USD.  Our money sucks right now!!

yes, but that price includes a lot of things like sales tax, and MOT registration, etc, things not included when you buy a car in the states

so figure 18-19k in $

it's true -- over 60 MPG on a car.  it's a turbodiesel and clean.  and they report "mixed" driving, not "city vs highway" so your highway mileage on that car might be closer to 70MPG

see for yourself, try the "build your car" function:

www.toyota.co.uk
www.nissan.co.uk (the "Note" is the same as the "Versa" in the USA.  They also have the super-small Micra which gets like 70 MPG)
www.ford.co.uk (check out the high-mileage diesel RANGER TRUCKS)
www.volvo.co.uk  (look how the S40 has 5 different engines:  gas, diesel, and hybrid versions)

Europeans don't whine about gas prices as much because their typical cars get 50-60 mpg.

my dealer told me diesel jettas--late july early august

diesel rabbits (what I want badly)--don't hold your breath. he said he'd believe it when he saw one show up on the car hauler.


we were supposed to get a diesel tiguan....but no luck

well, here it is.

no 2008 model, but a 2009 model early

The "Loyal" edition is for current owners of TDIs first.

FYI:   EPA has already acknowledged their MPG estimates UNDERestimate diesels by about 20%.

(http://pics.tdiclub.com/data/500/medium/0620081956b_1_.JPG)

Your hotlinked image doesn't work....

works fine here, but i'll reupload it

(http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l309/ducatiz/DML/jetta_loyal_edition.jpg)

Think someone has owned 4 VW's qualifies for the Loyal Edition?   

<------

only if you currently own a deezul

Subarus get very poor fuel economy for a four cylinder. The last one my family had was an 02 Legacy GT sedan with a manual. Typically it was lucky to get 25-30 mpg on the highway (I'm measuring in Canadian MPG which is slightly higher than US). That was a non-turbo model, and yes, they are pretty gutless and agricultural. Some gremlins too.

Corolla XRS is probably one of the most fun econoboxes I've driven. That Yamaha motor is very sweet and it goes nicely with the six speed. I'd happily take the fuel penalty to avoid the other Corolla models (snooooore). The latest one has been totally neutered with the 2.4L and an auto option, I'd avoid it for the last gen model with the high-strung 1.8 and the 6 speed.

Mini is another good choice at the upper end of the scale. They are fun to drive, if you can get past the cheesy interior and lack of rear space.

If you want something big, surprising efficient and cheap, a last generation Acura TL is a good bet. The 3.2TL was rated at nearly 40 mpg (Canadian) on the highway, which is none too shabby for a high revving V6. TL-S is the one to get if you have sporty taste, the regular TL is a bit bland and not all that quick. Some had transmission problems, keep that in mind.

For something newish, the Acura TSX is very good. 200 hp from a four, good economy, good handling, nice style and interior. The latest one is a bomb though, along with the XRS it's gone the "soft and flobbery" route to appease non-enthusiasts.

Also the Integra with a manual; good fuel economy, good performance, cheap to buy. Just need to dodge the ex-ricer items that have been thrashed within an inch of their life.

Want dirt cheap? Nissan NX2000 gets very good reviews for performance and frugality in a superb handling car, if you don't mind the cutesy looks.

I'm just listing off the most fun choices; if you just want an appliance with wheels there are plenty of whitebread econoboxes around. I prefer to ignore them because you can find lots of economical cars that are fun to drive for not much money.

I just got a used mini for 11k and I like it a lot.  Its the base model, but what it lacks in power it more than makes up in the turns.  I get as angry getting behind someone on a fun road as I would on the bike.  I barely use the highway and average about 28 mpg.  By barely I mean I might get on the highway for 10 miles once or twice a week.  Most of that is city driving.  The newer ones get much better gas mileage than mine.

Geo Metro. -- 1994-96. I think there is a 3 cylinder model that gets 40 mpg. Used, these cars are selling for about $2.5k. Peanuts if you ask me.

yeah, but most are rusted out underneath pretty bad.  caveat emptor.  they were not the best quality in the first place.

The wife is leaning heavily toward the Corolla. She can get a deal on those. She wants an automatic because a stick is a PITA in rush hour traffic. I have decided to accept the fact that it is supposed to be a commuter car with the sole purpose of good gas mileage. So performance has to take a back seat to performance on this decision (no XRS model with manual). Our lease is up on the EX- Earth (X-Terra) in December. I will replace that with something fun and four wheel drive. Of course assuming that gas isnt $8 a gallon by then. I saw an article that gas in Germany is like $9 a gallon!!  :o :o :o [drink]

The TDI Golf from a year or two ago is a pretty neat little car and can be had for just under $20k.

37 city / 44 highway
1.9-liter turbocharged diesel four-cylinder.
184 lb-ft of torque available at only 1,900 rpm

If you are willing to give up a little gas mileage, then I would refer you to NeufUnSix's post.  He listed some good ones.  And I totally agree, if the car is gutless I don't care how good of mileage it gets, life is just too short to drive a gutless little econobox.

what is the better number to look at torque or horse power? Is there an easy way to explain the difference?

the simplest way i've found (for small cars only):

hp = top speed
torque = acceleration

that is way oversimplified, but it works well overall.  torque and hp are interrelated so you don't want a high torque, low hp engine (like some of those huge boat engines)

the main thing you want to look at tho is 0-60 times. the VW TDIs are well designed and do very well.

Good explaintion [thumbsup]

Another way is to take modern turbo diesel out on the interstate and find a really big hill. ( I-70 west of Denver comes to mind )
You will have a huge ;D when you get to the top. That's torque.

+1

The 4-cyl ones have much better engines. A buddy of mine has a hideous green Metro 4-door work beater that is about to dissolve into a pile of rust dust, but that little 4 has almost 200K on it and will be running long after the rest is dead. This with minimal maintenance, I might add.

Suzuki makes great engines (for their cars and jeeps) but for some reason, the bodies are shit. 

Those Metro engines are somethign to behold.

Prizm = toyota
Metro = Suzu
Spectrum/Storm = Isuzu

It was an interesting experiment by GM

This is a VERY true statement.  I have a 2000 Golf GTI, with the 2,8 litre petrol engine, that was shipped from the dealership in Atlanta to the UK.  Took the car in for scheduled servicing, in St. Ives, and the dealership gave me a TDI GT as a loaner car.  Let me tell you, that car was amazing!  It out-accelerated my V6 to 60 and got over 45 mpg while going 80 mph on the motorway.  AND as said before, these motors last a very long time.  I wish I had been exposed to these cars before I bought my GTI, because then I would have gotten the oil burner...

we ended up getting an '09 Matrix S (w/o all-wheel drive). There was one Corolla on the lot and two people were literally arguing over who who be the one to buy it. It is a few mpg less than the Corolla, but worth it. Its a fun little ride (and my wife is happy).

That's the most important! Congrats!  [thumbsup]