What econo shitbox commuter car?

[uglymoney]

That last photo reminds me that I want an AWD Element with the manual.

The lady that owned it was super cool. Didn't meet her husband but they knew what they owned. Good looking rig.

[BmillsSkier]

Gotta be a good reason he is not moving closer. Where in N GA? Some of those routes could take 2+ hours each way.

Up by Helen, GA.

The reason? Family.

But really can't beat the Koreans for cheap efficient shitbox commuters.

Or for launching into a frozen lake.

[plugboots]

BTW, just rented a new Fit and drove all over North Carolina and I really found the driver’s seat uncomfortable. I really had to beat the shit out of it to drive fast in the mountains and it almost could do it.

[Skistack]

Just got the wife a 2018 Camry. It drives really nice. Averaging 32 mpg so far.

[XXX-er]

Good points.

100 mile commute per day roughly. Currently commute in a company Tacoma, seats suck. Would possibly end up moving closer but spouse work situation may not allow it. Could be 1.5-2k/yr difference in gas to drive a Prius. Would need to dig deeper on the insurance angle. Truck just sits now.

Ask yerself " do I want to spend 2 hrs a day sitting in this car"

We all made compromises when we had to how much are you willing to make

[Johnny P]

I’m in a similar boat. 140km commute. But only 1 or 2 days a week. My F150 is a gas pig. Although nice to drive. We’ve been talking about a Jetta TDI. For a commuter. 1000km per tank. Seems like good math.

[stuckathuntermtn]

Looked at one awhile back. 200k kind of car? High compression motor seemed like a potential maintenance time bomb.

Are you asking if small Japanese motors last 200,000 miles? Are you new to Planet Earth?

I had the predecessor to the 3 wagon. Fun to drive. Mazdas are great.

[VTeton]

My wife rocked a Yaris for 3 years in grad school. She drove it to hockey practice and the supermarket. Worked fine.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[bigt]

2013-15 Nissan Leaf. Can be had for less than $13k. 70 mile range. Can recharge with level 2 charger in 5 hours. Costs
$30 to charge for a month at 1000 miles of driving. Good in snow. It's heavy and fwd. Just got a 14 with 10k for $11k. Rallying that. Keeping the T100 for hauling boat and wood.

[BCMtnHound]

2013-15 Nissan Leaf. Can be had for less than $13k. 70 mile range. Can recharge with level 2 charger in 5 hours. Costs
$30 to charge for a month at 1000 miles of driving. Good in snow. It's heavy and fwd. Just got a 14 with 10k for $11k. Rallying that. Keeping the T100 for hauling boat and wood.

FKNA. Love to see the cost to 100k. Neighbour with luck/foresight is into bitcoin mining. Has a Tesla Model X. Out of my price range, but his battery had no issue with our last -28C cold spell. Would definitely look into this when the Hyundai moves along.

[AK47bp]

Yea I got a faggy little electric dinker that was cheap and saves me gas cash, 480,000 Kilometers on it, all forrest road.

I get to keep my man card though because I have my F-450 Tundra Titan for hauling steel mills, trees, and dead things I killed with my hands.


[emoji12]

[DBdude]

Focus hatch?

^ is what I would get used. then change the oil at every 5K and flog the shit out of it

changing the oil earlier is great - but make sure you get changed at 5K. especially if you drive it hard

[DBdude]

Just got the wife a 2018 Camry. It drives really nice. Averaging 32 mpg so far.

i rent nissan ultimas when I travel. this is a nice car. it is the nicest full size car in the rental lot.

[365wp]

Jetta S with stick

[DBdude]

^fun

[Bandit Man]

Just bought a 2018 Hyundai Elantra SE (AT) for $13,500 with unlimited power train warranty in December for my oldest. Nice little car so far. Close to 40-MPG on the highway. Wife liked it so much, we went back the next week and bought another one for the next kid who starts driving this year.

[Sirshredalot]

2013-15 Nissan Leaf. Can be had for less than $13k. 70 mile range. Can recharge with level 2 charger in 5 hours. Costs
$30 to charge for a month at 1000 miles of driving. Good in snow. It's heavy and fwd. Just got a 14 with 10k for $11k. Rallying that. Keeping the T100 for hauling boat and wood.

My 2012 doesn't have that kind of real world range with studded snows and unplowed mountain roads. I think I would trust it with a 40 mile roundtrip commute unless I had a place to charge.

One like mine can be had for circa 6 or 7 grand these days, though.

That's a nice deal on the 2014.

[MontuckyFried]

Just bought a 2018 Hyundai Elantra SE (AT) for $13,500 with unlimited power train warranty in December for my oldest. Nice little car so far. Close to 40-MPG on the highway. Wife liked it so much, we went back the next week and bought another one for the next kid who starts driving this year.

Holy moly. $13.5k for a 2018? How'd you score that deal?

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[bigt]

My 2012 doesn't have that kind of real world range with studded snows and unplowed mountain roads. I think I would trust it with a 40 mile roundtrip commute unless I had a place to charge.

One like mine can be had for circa 6 or 7 grand these days, though.

That's a nice deal on the 2014.

Yeah 70 miles might be generous with studs and snow. Maybe 50. But it is fun to drive And more comfortable than the old truck. My poor t100 lost first gear so I have been doing starts in 4low for a while and that not fun.

[Cruiser]

Holy moly. $13.5k for a 2018? How'd you score that deal?

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Was thinking the same thing. That's a hot price for anything brand new with a warranty.

[iceman]

Just bought a 2018 Hyundai Elantra SE (AT) for $13,500...

Holy moly. $13.5k for a 2018? How'd you score that deal?

He's a bandit, duh.

[Sirshredalot]

Yeah 70 miles might be generous with studs and snow. Maybe 50. But it is fun to drive And more comfortable than the old truck. My poor t100 lost first gear so I have been doing starts in 4low for a while and that not fun.

Plus the 2013+ models have the heat pump and some other goodies that help with efficiency.

[MarcusBrody]

We currently have a 2008 Fit for this purpose. I've had it since new and it's transitioned into the commuter car role. I've had almost no problems with it in 125,000 miles. If I were you, I'd go with an older Prius or Fit, with the Focus/Mazda 3 being a third choice depending on how they feel/what you value.

[warthog]

Up by Helen, GA.

The reason? Family.

Is he German? That is one of the weirder places I've been to.
I hope he is driving to Canton, or one of the more northern areas of ATL?
That sounds like a hell commute.

[MontuckyFried]

Personally I'd also recommend the 3. It's been ages, but I had an '04 hatchback with the 2.3L MT I bought new. Logged over 160K and then the guy who bought it from me added at least another 100K before selling it to the next guy. I bet that thing's still kicking around out there. Not the highest MPG of the econo cars, but plenty roomy, I could pack a dresser in the back, and with good sporty tires, I could absolutely FLY around cloverleafs and twisties. Thing wasn't fast, but it really was a hoot to drive hard. Fantastic shifter so get the manual. Had a buddy with the auto and it was way less fun.

Other than the 3, I'd give a hard look at the Fiesta and Focus. I like the Mazda interiors more, though. Seem to be higher quality with lots of soft materials. At 160K+, my 3's interior looked like the car rolled off the showroom floor. Very durable.

If MPG's top of the priority list, I'm kinda kicking around the idea of picking up an old Prius with shot batteries. It's a fairly easy thing to swap the battery packs and the price of the car + battery refurb kit can be pretty cheap. From what I understand, those cars are pretty much bullet proof. Probably helps that the engines themselves effectively have very little use in relation to the miles put on the car.