Most reliable, cheapest, and newest car that you can think of for under $3k

[TrueWhiteBoy]

Basically I've noticed that I've been commuting from Orange County/SD to Vegas 1.5-2 times a month.

 

These trips are generally 290 miles one way across long empty stretches of very hot or very cold desert, so reliability is definitely the main issue.

 

It seems like a Hyundai Accent might be the best choice, but I was curious if you guys had some recommendations for a highway star.

 

Good gas mileage and taking regular gas are beneficial as well.

[Dntk]

All i remember from my Hyundai is the master cylinder would go out twice a year without notice... just be driving then HEY NO BRAKES, that was at about 90,000miles when it started happening it was an 01, (it was a Tiburon) but yeah, was great on gas mileage!

[rtbrjason]

If you can find a 95 Saturn SL1 with a manual you can get 40mpg highway and they should be available quite cheap. Also unlike other cars of that price range the bodies won't be totally rusted or dented. I've had several SL models in the past and even a tuned up SL2 will get you into the mid 30 mpg territory for highway.

[TrueWhiteBoy]

RTBRJason, good call, I've had 2 SL2's now (a 92 and a 00) and both were good to me, maybe I can find a 2002 version since that was the last year they used that engine. If I can find something in that range with low miles I think that could be a good choice, but I've never owned one past 110,000 miles

 

DnTK, How is Hyundai's warranty support?

[Bolksey85]

+1 on the Saturn. Stupid cheap to find and maintain. I would look for an SL2 just for the slight bump in power. Plus all the plastic is nice for any late night run-ins with animals or small children. I have a friend who thrashed on his and badly when it had, IIRC, 140K+ on it.

[Anrosphynx]

My Sl2 had 215k on it and ran fine when i parted with it.. got mid 30s consistantly.

[BAC5.2]

CRX. /thread.

 

Find an 88 or so, put gas in it, get 45mpg, repeat.

[JesseH]

CRX. /thread.

 

Find an 88 or so, put gas in it, get 45mpg, repeat.

 

I was going to say 92-95 Civic, but we have the same idea. My 93 coupe was incredible. I got 440+ miles on a 11 gallon tank with Thule racks & mountain bikes on the roof.

[sactojesse]

I'd look for a first or second generation Miata w/ AC to rack up the miles. Most Miatas are purchased as third vehicles for a particular household and typically have low miles. That way you could stop putting as many miles on your LGT and learn how to drive stick shift, something you mentioned in that other thread.

[05GT Guru]

CRX. /thread.

 

Find an 88 or so, put gas in it, get 45mpg, repeat.

 

Hondas from those years isnt as reliable as everyone thinks engines hold together well if maintained, but there transmissions are held together by the hair of discarded Japanese children.

[Drift Motion]

i was gonna say 240...but its not THAT reliable vs a civic....so yeah

[ehsnils]

An old mercedes diesel, like the 240D

[rshaw123]

Basically I've noticed that I've been commuting from Orange County/SD to Vegas 1.5-2 times a month.

 

These trips are generally 290 miles one way across long empty stretches of very hot or very cold desert, so reliability is definitely the main issue.

 

It seems like a Hyundai Accent might be the best choice, but I was curious if you guys had some recommendations for a highway star.

 

Good gas mileage and taking regular gas are beneficial as well.

 

Im stuck driving my '02 Hyundai Accent. It gets 36 MPG city 38 MPG highway, hate the car but who can complain when you can go 400 miles on a tank of gas that costs $26 from empty

[Sydtron]

Ford Escorts aren't too bad as well.

[sactojesse]

An old mercedes diesel, like the 240D

W123 series Mercedes diesels are hard to kill for sure, but among the W123s I favor the 82-85 300D turbodiesels over the anemic 77-83 240Ds or non-turbo 77-81 300Ds. The one advantage of the 240D is that you could get it w/ a 4-speed manual in the U.S. whereas all of the 300D sedans, 300CD coupes, and 300TD wagons were only available w/ the 4-speed automatic in the U.S. (You Euros got manual 300D/CD/TD, but we didn't.)

[Bolksey85]

An old mercedes diesel, like the 240D

+1

I work with some Benz diesel people. 1 has 440,000 (W124) and another has probably 280-300K (210 E-class) and each goes strong every day.

[rtbrjason]

CRX. /thread.

 

Find an 88 or so, put gas in it, get 45mpg, repeat.

 

If you can find one that hasn't been abused by an idiot kid. Same for most Civics, Eclipses and 240s of similar age. I always wanted an original Eagle Talon AWD Turbo and was never able to find one that wasn't molested.

 

We sold our first 94sl1 in 2003 with 280k on it and it was still running great and getting mid 30mpg. Replaced it with a 95sl1 5sp that was able to get well into the 40mpgs highway. At the same time I had a 95 SL2 with every bolt on mod available outside of engine internals and it was beat on the whole time I owned it. I sold it for $3k a few years ago with a bit over 180k miles on it. It was still running great and I even saw someone driving it years later.

 

None of these cars had any major breakdowns. I replaced the coolant temp sensors in each as well as pcv valves semi regularly (yearly), cam cover gaskets on each once and did several top engine cleanings in their lives as they're notorious for oil sludge issues if uncared for.

[TrueWhiteBoy]

Nice, what kind of mileage do the old Mercedes get?

 

A Miata would kill 3 birds with one stone (good gas mileage, learn manual, have a car to throw around corners if I go that route later).

I need to make sure I still fit in one.

Are they ok for long distance driving?

[robinlsb]

93-94 Ford Escort:lol:

 

A lawn tractor for the road. You can't kill it.

[sactojesse]

Nice, what kind of mileage do the old Mercedes get?

 

A Miata would kill 3 birds with one stone (good gas mileage, learn manual, have a car to throw around corners if I go that route later).

I need to make sure I still fit in one.

Are they ok for long distance driving?

Regarding the old W123 Mercedes diesels, I used to get 25-30 mpg no matter how I drove my 1983 300D (3-liter, 5-cylinder turbo diesel). Loved that car, but I gave it to a friend to make room for the LGT wagon. It's still going strong today w/ well over 200K miles.

 

Miatas are fine for long distance driving, but there is more road noise than in a hardtop car. I've driven my wife's Miata on several long distance trips of over 500 miles w/ no complaints other than the sun beating down on me for hours. When I get tired of the sun, I just put the top up and turn on the AC.

[rtbrjason]

93-94 Ford Escort:lol:

 

A lawn tractor for the road. You can't kill it.

 

A friend of mine had one of these and there were a few sets of tracks that we'd go over and it would kill the whole car. Everything would just shut down. You had to get out and open and slam the hood once or several times to get it to start back up..

[dmanaenk]

What ever you buy, get AAA with 200mile towing, if it's available in your state.

[GBY]

I had a SL1 or 2 can't remember, got around 40mpg, ended up donating it to charity when I left the USA, still ran great!

[sqc151]

vw deisel.

 

my Passat TDI got 700 miles a tank. i also had a E300 MB that got 600 miles a tank.

the jetta/rabbit get the same mileage, sometimes more pending where u live.

 

i only mention deisel cause its less maint. than a gasser. no plugs, wires and longer oil life span.

[ehsnils]

Nice, what kind of mileage do the old Mercedes get?

 

On a 240D - low enough to save your wallet considering the size of the car. Even though the price of diesel is higher it won't be a horrible cost. Just be prepared to be bored while driving.