Ok, so I'm looking to get a decent, new (or new-ish), reliable economiser.

So far, the '05 Civic HX couple seems to be the best bang for the buck, getting 36-44mpg, and it only costs $12.5 grand.

Anything else out there that gets similar mileage for at a similar cost?

The only downside I can think of with the Civic is insurance cost.

 

Geo Metros always get good gas mileage...and you can find some in great shape for several thousand dollars.

 

Get a moped...or a TDI. A TDI is out of your price range, though, and would likely defeat any economic benefit derived from the improved fuel economy.

 

Scion xB. ~13K. 34-35 mpg highway. 31 mpg city. i'm pretty sure the insurance is cheaper than a civic and it can hold a lot more also. plus, they are PIMP! especially that rust orange colored one

 

Well...Toyotas Prius would be the champ but of course the cost is much higher. I say stick with the civic with the IMA and you'll be just fine.

Hey it's a Honduh...it'll run no problem.

 

Dude, don't get a geo metro. I had as a loaner when my WRX was in the shop. It is the epitome of suckage.

It was, without exception, the most unrefined automobile I've ever driven/ridden in.

The noise it made at 65mph was sick. I could hardly hear the radio. It exuded cheapness from every pore.

You don't wanna drive or be seen driving a Geo/Chevy Metro...trust me on this one.

 

Yeah, I think I will go the civic route. My choices are: (all are coupes)

Civic VP: $12,100. ~35mpg (no cruise, no keyless)
Civic HX: $12,400 ~ 40+mpg (no A/C, no keyless).. no air, WTF???
Civic LX: $14,000 ~ 34mpg
LX special $14,500~ 34mpg (adds alum wheels, wing, Cd changer)

Local ford dealer will sell a focus S coupe for 8,999 brand new also, but bare bones.

 

Go with the HX! If you can find a good deal on a used HX on CL, that would be the way to go. Civics are workhorses and can outlast most cars. My hatch, bought for commuting purposes, has 200k miles and is still running strong!

 

Well, I'm finding new HXs are hard to come by, and they don't come with A/C (that's prob why they are hard to find).

Looks like the LX is the best bang for the buck, and it's fully loaded (a/c, cruise, tach, pw,pl, keyless)

 

Just don't do it. Don't get the Civic. It isn't worth the money saved. I drove a Civic for three years, and just recently I had to drive one again for a few days while the WRX was in the shop. Driving that Civic on the highway was an incredibly emasculating and scary experience; every gust of wind whipped it around like a paper bag. It had no power when I needed to pass, and the narrow tires felt like they would lose the road at the slightest twitch of the wheel.

Do the math, you aren't saving yourself much. If you drive 20,000 miles a year at $2.10 a gallon x 34 MPG that is $1,235.29 a year in gas; Driving a car with 24 MPG is only $1,750, a difference of a measly $515 -- I'm willing to bet you pay more than $500 for cell phone service or cable. Get a Toyota Scion TC or a Mazda 3 or a used V6 Accord or ANYTHING with more substance, driveability and street cred than the lowly Civic.

 

Go with a Toyota Corolla. Slightly higher milage than a Civic, very slightly higher up-front cost, but lower insurance and operating costs, and a longer warranty I think. Also less ricer factor, though that's not a huge issue in most places with a bone stock honda. Off-lease and recently built used ones are also great deals.

 

And of course, if you aren't looking for a replacement for your daily driver anyway (to keep miles off of the WRX for example) it's never worth it to buy a new car to save fuel if your current one doesn't totally blow in that department.

 

Well, after web-shopping and test driving a few cars, I decided to get an Accord LX auto Sedan.... totally not what I was aiming for (originally just trying to save $$), but now we have the family car taken care of. If I had gotten a civic, it would have cost mid-$15k-ish, and I got the accord brand new for $17,299 (+t&l). They have awesome deals going on right now!

I can hardly believe the maintenance schedule as well:

Oil changes at every 10k miles, trans fluid, spark plugs, and coolant at >100k miles!!!

Between gas and maintenance, these things sure are miserly!!! A little emasculating, but miserly

 

toyota echo