Im lost without the PW thread!!!!

[Ewok]

So I'm spending $475/month on diesel driving my truck as my commuter car back and forth to work. I'm not going to drive the wife's Lincoln and let her drive my truck because she drives almost as much as me...

So I'm looking at buying a used commuter. One I can run into the dirt and not care about it.
I did the math and figured my truck costs me about $0.85/mile to drive NOT including diesel if I calculate tires, oil, maintenance, depreciation, etc. Then add the $475 in diesel - this is not a good scenario...

So I'm looking at either a VW Jetta (TDI even possibly even though diesel is more than gasoline). Or the Scion xB. What other car should I look at?

I would look at a ford focus (manual), honda civic (si, if you can find one in your price range), avoid the cobalt, cruze, and neon/caliber. I have driven all of these and owned a focus before the G35. My 2005 Infiniti G35 has a 300 hp V-6, 6 speed manual, I get 22mpg around town with spirited driving, 27-28 mpg cruising on the hwy at 75-80 mph. According to KBB my G is worth about $14K, for that money you could get a new ford fiesta, those are real nice econo cars, and Ken block helped with the street cred a bit.

I even drove a Toyota prius as a rental when I was house hunting in WA (trying to blend in with the granola). I drove it like a formula 1 car with the kinetic energy recovery system (KERS). I set it for power mode and using the battery it accelerated pretty quickly. Then when coming up on a stop or corner I would lightly hit the brakes which charged the battery. There is a battery meter which told me when the battery was full so I could use full acceleration. The looks on the faces of the locals was priceless, seeing a Prius beat them off the line or passing on the highway, trying NOT to save gas but drive fast. It still got 45 mpg. The new hybrid civic looks cool, I just started reading an article about it in Car and Driver.

[Ewok]

FWIT, One of my friends has an older Jetta (4 cyl) and he hates it. He flies for a major and uses it as his commuter car and claims it's a piece of junk. I have another friend who modified his jet a bit and he LOVES it. I guess the Jetta is what you make of it.

[skyski_tige]

So I'm spending $475/month on diesel driving my truck as my commuter car back and forth to work. I'm not going to drive the wife's Lincoln and let her drive my truck because she drives almost as much as me...

So I'm looking at buying a used commuter. One I can run into the dirt and not care about it.
I did the math and figured my truck costs me about $0.85/mile to drive NOT including diesel if I calculate tires, oil, maintenance, depreciation, etc. Then add the $475 in diesel - this is not a good scenario...

So I'm looking at either a VW Jetta (TDI even possibly even though diesel is more than gasoline). Or the Scion xB. What other car should I look at?

My sister in law has the VW Jetta Diesel and claims to get around 50 mpg.

[skyski_tige]

New one that is...

[Fiveflat]

For every person that hates a Jetta, I know one that loves it. Just like the Tundra vs. Chevy thread so yea, whatever.

I really like the TDI Jetta, I test drove a new one and it was a pretty peppy little car. They claim 45mpg in them but yea if you try, I bet 50 is not out of reach.
Plus the same guys that make performance ECU's for the diesel trucks make them for the Golf/Jetta TDI also

I'm looking at paying cash for a 2005 or so so nothing new. Although there are some nice 0% deals on new cars right now too. I can afford to make a payment and still come out ahead on the deal...

I considered buying my wife the new VW CC - it's a nice looking car. And then taking over her Lincoln LS. But the LS has the V8 and it gets around 19mpg the way I drive it. It has that select shift transmission which makes it pretty fun to drive

[Fiveflat]

I would consider the VW Golf as well...

I hate the looks of the focus (and the lame appointments) Same with the Civic.

[zad0030]

Pinto

[philwsailz]

[Timmy!]

I have a V6 Mustang that I drive 70 miles a day and get ~27mpg highway. It's an '06 that I bought new in '05 and I love it. You can pick them up for about $10k or less now. You get a car that looks cool (I have the Pony Package with 17" wheels, spoiler, fog lights) and you get halfway decent mileage and a tiny bit of performance.

[Ewok]

I would consider the VW Golf as well...

I hate the looks of the focus (and the lame appointments) Same with the Civic.

Don't you live in Pelosiville, I mean California? Don't they issue you guys a Prius, Nissan Leaf or Smart for 2 with your drivers liscence?

[Ewok]

I also like the Fiat 500, 52 hwy, 33 city, sold through Chrysler dealers.

[Ewok]

[Fiveflat]

That Fiat is pretty cool!

I just checked out Ford's website and looked at that new Fiesta... It's not a bad car. I can get one new for not much more than I'm looking at an older car for... if I went with a base model.

[Ewok]

That Fiat is pretty cool!

I just checked out Ford's website and looked at that new Fiesta... It's not a bad car. I can get one new for not much more than I'm looking at an older car for... if I went with a base model.

Yeah, the new Fiesta looks good in person too, much better than the newer Focus. I had the first gen focus and I liked mine better than the current fake chrome Focus. The Fiesta has many good reviews, and Ford didn't need to take out a loan from uncle Sam.

[skyski_tige]

I also like the Fiat 500, 52 hwy, 33 city, sold through Chrysler dealers.

You do know the model does not come with it!