I need a used car that gets high 20's to low 30's mpg and is very reliable for around $2,000.00?

Question

I have about $2,000 to spend on a reliable car that will get me from the middle of nebraska to yellowstone wyoming, around a 2,000 mile round trip. And I will need a good gas mileage car to make my trip a little less expensive. Please remember I will be buying from a private owner.

Here are my choices:

1.80's mercedes diesel

2. early 90's toyota corolla or honda civic

3.late 80's nissan maxima

4. Toyota celica

5. Honda prelude

6. nissan 180 or 240 sx

7. ford escort

If you can help me decide which car is better or make a better suggestion with fuel economy and reliability in mind that would be great. Or if you could put a little extra effort and put a estimate cost of the car you recommend that would be even better.

Any help appreciated, thanks

Josh

Answer 1

a nissan sentra from the early 1990's is a good choice and u can get some for real cheap....

www.autotrader.com

Answer 2

Try looking at KelleyBlueBook.com and FeulEconomy.gov

They should be of huge help.

Answer 3

Honda Civic is the best for your trip.  I own the civic 99 and get 35-37 mpg average.   It is very reliable car too.

Answer 4

You can't go wrong with a Honda or Toyota.  They are well built cars that get good gas milage and hold their resale value!  Forget the FORD, they are totally c**p cars!  Diesel is to expensive and repairs on the Mercedes would be unreal!  Have a great trip!

Answer 5

OK, the best car that meets your criteria is the Corolla or Civic.  I had a 1991 Honda with 148,000 and drove it until it had 206,000 when my wife crashed it on me.  That car made solid 32mpg at 80mph.  I loved that car.  Mercedes Diesels will be a lot of work as the injectors with need service and parts are very expensive.  I don't like Nissans, they have electrcials issues,  Preludes are almost always abused, and hence cannot be trusted.  The Nissan 180 or 240 will also be abused, and the ford escort is a pile of junk.  I just gave you an educated run-down on each of those cars, I have over 15 years of experience as a mechanic and auto machinist as well as a hot-rodder and engine builder.  Best of luck

Answer 6

I would say a Honda civic or a Nissan Sentra is your best bet.  You can find early to mid 90's models for that amount.  And they will run for over 200k miles.  My sentra has 130k miles and still runs like a champ and gets 31 mpg.

Dont buy a domestic (american) car.

Check out my blogs about gasmileage

http://getbettermpg.blogspot.com/

http://gasmilage.wordpress.com/

Answer 7

Diesel is going to be too expensive, and a sports car like a 240 is going to suck gas.

Go for the Honda Civic or the Corolla..they tend to be the most reliable and get good gas mileage.