Gas Miser for the wife

[Dock Boy]

Hello All, I usually don't spend much time in this forum, but I'm looking for some advice. I'm looking for a reliable Gas Miser 4 door car for my wife to commute with. We live on Lake Kabetogama and she works in International Falls, MN 70 mile round trip. The current Chevy Equinox isn't doing it for us on the gas mileage. I have done a few internet searches and the Honda Civic Ex and Toyota Corolla LE kind of popped out at me. Looking to buy used and under $4000.00. Any advice is appreciated. Look forward to reading some response!! Thanks

[leech~~]

Get her a Harley or Gold Wing!

[JONOV]

Those, or a Nissan Sentra, or a good used Contour with a Ztec 4 cylinder, or a Geo Prizm, which was the same as Corollas.

[Jeremy airjer W]

Those, or a Nissan Sentra, or a good used Contour with a Ztec 4 cylinder

I would not recommend either of those.

How about a 2002 Saturn SL2. There are plenty available used, parts a readily available, there easy to service, reliable, and they get 35mpg on the freeway.

[mainbutter]

We've enjoyed our chevy aveo (2002?), no idea what that year goes for but it's been reliable and cheap to maintain.

[brian6715]

I owned a '99 Sentra and a '99 Prism. The Chevy had 150,000 when I got it, the Sentra was after that and had 100,000. The Prism was by far the more reliable car, the only issue was it burned oil (about a quart per 1,000 miles, rather common). The Sentra was the "nicer" vehicle, but it got worse mileage (26 vs 29) and was rather problematic. I wish I never sold the Prism to get the Sentra!

[Dock Boy]

I think we have it narrowed down to these 3. Honda Civic EX, Toyota Corolla LE or the Saturn SL2. By comparing the Saturn looks cheaper to purchase than the other two. Any other comments on these 3? Does one seem to be better on gas than the others. This is strictly a gas thing and reliable. It must have 4 doors and real good on gas. 35-40 per gallon is what we are looking for. Thanks everyone!!

[brian6715]

Being the Corolla and Prism were the same thing (depending on years) I don't think you will see that kind of mileage with it (the best I saw was 30-31 with my Prism). Also, make sure they fixed the oil burning issue in the year you are buying, if you go with the corolla. It got really annoying putting oil in, and if you factor in cost of oil it makes the gas mileage savings go down drastically. I would go with the SL2 if it was me.

[SkunkedAgain]

Haven't driven/owned a Corolla since the late 80s but the Civics are nice cars and you get Honda quality. For a few years recently, I was driving my boss's wife's Civic EX which was about a 2002 or 2003. I liked it a lot for a four door.

I haven't driven the Saturn but a buddy has an early 2000s model that just won't die. I don't think that he's done maintenance on it in years - not his style. If the gas mileage is there then it's likely a good pick.

At this stage I think that you've got three good options. I wouldn't try to narrow it any further. I'd start looking for the best deal on any of these three cars and take the best car. Why limit yourself at this point?

[Jeremy airjer W]

I think we have it narrowed down to these 3. Honda Civic EX, Toyota Corolla LE or the Saturn SL2. !!

Remember the honda and toyota will require timing belts if older models. The toyota and the saturn will likely be oil burners.

[Hookmaster]

What is the cutoff year for timing belts on the Corollas?

[Jeremy airjer W]

I want to say 1997 was the last year for the timing belt?

[gunmunky]

We currently have a 2006 Corolla, 5 speed manual, and I average 42-45 in the summer. We also have a 2005 Subaru Outback with an automatic and I average 30 in the summer. I have nothing but great things to say about the Corolla. uses no oil, rides good for a small car, and have had no issues at all.

[Jeremy airjer W]

If your equinox gets 24mpg ( I assume you had an older one with w v-6) and you bought a newer corolla (let's say a 2006) that gets 40mpg it would take you about 8 to ten years to recover what you paid for the corolla in gas savings.

8 to 10k for a newer corolla

Gas savings is about a gallon a day

$4 a gallon x 5 days x 52 weeks = $1,000

In order for your plan to work ( I did the same thing 4 years ago) you need to at least double your mileage and have the vehicle paid for in gas savings in about a year. Otherwise you never break even once you factor in insurance and maintenance.

My personal example.

$1,000 for a Saturn

17mpg vs. 35mpg

$48 per week vs. $24

$1200 per year saved

[Dock Boy]

Hello guys, Thanks for all the help! I'm headed down to the St Cloud area tomorrow to pick up a 2001 Saturn SL2. Very clean looking car. Everything works and is electric inside. New clutch and brakes done less than a year ago. Tires are about 75 percent. 165,000 miles on it. I will have $1500.00 cash and a browning bar 30.06 into it. He wanted $2350.00 outright for the car. Seems to be a fair deal. Thoughts or anything I should look for when I go to pick the car up?? Thanks!

[Jeremy airjer W]

Make sure it is an SL2 (this will have the DOHC 1.9 liter) the 8th letter of the vin should be a 7.

1. Listen to the engine, if you hear a rattle walk away. The timing chain is shot most likely from lack of maintenance or running low on oil.

2. If it has a sunroof, walk away.

3. If it has leather interior, walk away.

4. Take it for a drive - listen and feel. If you hear a howl at about 30mph a wheel bearing is bad. if you hear a knock in the rear over bumps the stab links are frozen. tiny rattles or hollow rattles are not necessarily bad but can be. Steering wheel shake at low speed could indicate a separated tire or bent wheel. shakes at higher speed can be tire balance. if you feel vibration in the seat than there could be a problem with the rear tires/wheels.

5. after the test drive shut it off and wait for about 10 minutes, then restart. If you get an extended crank than the fuel filter is likely bad (the regulator is built into the fuel filter).

6. Look under the car for oil leaks. These are not typically oil leakers, they are oil burners. If you accelerate hard and see a blueish haze out the tail pipe you got an oil burner, not unusual but you will need to keep an eye on the oil level.

7. look at the body lines. All the gaps should be even. uneven gaps usually indicate prior collision damage. Slight variations in paint color and texture can also indicate prior collision damage (paint should be fairly smooth and shiny).

8. Look at the tires. Uneven wear on the inside or outside can indicate loose front end parts or an alignment issues. If the center of the tread is worn out more than the outer tread the tires have been run overinflated.

Some of these are specific to Saturn but good things to check on any used vehicle purchase.

[Dock Boy]

airjer, you sound like you know your stuff!! Here is the add for the vehicle if you would like to look at it. I know it does not have a sunroof. Here is the HSOforum link. http://minneapolis.hsolist.org/ank/cto/3809978879.html

[ChuckN]

airjer:

What about a 1996 Saturn SL1? Not clear on which engine it has...

Or a '99 SL2 with 1.9 DOHC?

[Jeremy airjer W]

SL1 has the 1.9 SOHC

SL2 has the 1.9 DOHC

the SOHC has issues with head porosity. Basically oil would leak through the head into the oil. A new head was the fix. Not to common anymore but back in the day I replaced a few!

[caseymcq]

...

3. If it has leather interior, walk away.

...

Some of these are specific to Saturn but good things to check on any used vehicle purchase.

Is that one specific to the Saturn? If not you've tweaked my curiosity... Care to elaborate?

[Jeremy airjer W]

The leather never has held up well in the saturns.

[Dock Boy]

Air you around?? We bought an 2002 Saturn SL2. My wife was driving it the other day and it died while she was going around a corner. Sometimes it take a while turning over for it to start up. Any ideas? fuel pump maybe? Thanks to anyone that would have an idea!!!

[Dock Boy]

Any body? Thanks

[BoxMN]

FWIW, I had an old Mustang II (Pinto...) that would die at idle when engine was warm, but would always start when engine was cold. Had carb rebuilt and ran like a champ.

[JOHNBIGDOG]

FWIW, Had carb rebuilt and ran like a champ.

What is a carb; and what do they do? I don't think I have seen one.