Ideas for a daily driver

4point6 · May 29, 2007

Basically, I need something with better mileage and lower insurance. Going to college next year is going to take more of my money. Recommend me a daily driver car for ~$12k. I've been looking at SVT Foci, but know there have to be other choices out there. Whaddya have?

bakos24 · May 29, 2007

I'm also in the hunt for a DD. Don't plan on getting one until the next few months though so haven't really been looking into too much right now. But I know there are a bunch out there. 12K is prob the price I would be after also.

DBMSTNG · May 29, 2007

4point6 said:
Basically, I need something with better mileage and lower insurance. Going to college next year is going to take more of my money. Recommend me a daily driver car for ~$12k. I've been looking at SVT Foci, but know there have to be other choices out there. Whaddya have?

the SVT Focus makes an excellent daily driver. just make sure you have some all season or snow tires for driving in the snow. i get 22-24mpg all city and 33.5mpg on the highway. you'll be hard pressed to find a car in it's price range that can match it's performance and practicality. my lease is up in august and i'm most likely going to buy it. the closest thing i can find is a Mazda 3.

Kilgore Trout · May 29, 2007

Honda Civic or Toyota Tercel

svtpower · May 29, 2007

or

Nissan Maxima, got an loaded 01 GLE for my wife. Very nice cars and decent horsepower too. The fit and finish puts my Cobra to shame. (not like that takes much but..)

Mustang5L5 · May 29, 2007

My GT is my daily driver. I get bored driving anything else. I know gas is expensive, but i'd rather pay say $500/year more to enjoy my commute than drive some 4-banger econobox

5.0's 4 ever · May 29, 2007

Toyota Corolla
I know its a boring car but they do get very good gas mileage and their reliability is one of the best.

40th GT · May 29, 2007

5.0's 4 ever said:
Toyota Corolla
I know its a boring car but they do get very good gas mileage and their reliability is one of the best.

I second that. Nothing beats a Corolla or a Honda Civic in its economy and reliability.

Superhereaux · May 29, 2007

an SVT Focus is nice (euro spec has heated leather Recaros ) and you can get a nice one for around $12k at the most, i searched for quite a few of them for a dd but decided to hold off until i move back to Texas

only available with a 6spd though so that might be something to consider

my other choices would be a Mazda3, Corolla S, or an 'o5+ Volvo S40 but they're WAY more than $12k even used

javsvt · May 29, 2007

I bought a 2001 Subaru impreza RS 2.5, for less than 12k. It had 45k miles on it, love it, great in the snow.

cookcr · May 29, 2007

My mustang is now my daily driver and my trucks the toy. I was going to get a kia but just couldnt after i test drove one and its 0-60 time of 20 seconds.

01BlkGT · May 30, 2007

Late 90's - early 2000's ES300's and GS300's (don't let the higher mileage ward you off, they routinely go to 200k without major problems, mid 90's - early 2000's 3 & 5 series, or if you are feeling adventurous Audi A4-A6's same years. IMO, you can't get much better than the ES/GS 300's if you want a loaded 4-door car that will be reliable , get decent gas mileage, and will still be worth darn near what you would pay for it after a year(s) of use. Just to give you an example, found my brother's gf's parent's a 1998 ES300 that had 100k miles on it, great condition, just had the 100k miles service done, and that thing has been problem free for 45k miles now and is so much more than any other car they could have gotten in the under $10k price range (they ended up buying it for $7k). Most peeps will saying they are boring rides, and in a sense they are, but for me I'd take a luxurious, older, reliable car over a reliable, cheap, albeit newer car any day of the week.

smokin00GT · May 30, 2007

I've got a 2004 SVT focus with 20,000 miles. My husband drives it beacuse I like driving the big ol' F150. He gets awesome gas milage, and loves the interior. My only complaint is that the rims are a pain to keep clean since the brakes dust like CRAZY! The sterio is cool too. It has a factory 10" sub and 6 disk in dash CD.

Matt's 03 GT · May 30, 2007

01BlkGT said:
Late 90's - early 2000's ES300's and GS300's (don't let the higher mileage ward you off, they routinely go to 200k without major problems, mid 90's - early 2000's 3 & 5 series, or if you are feeling adventurous Audi A4-A6's same years. IMO, you can't get much better than the ES/GS 300's if you want a loaded 4-door car that will be reliable , get decent gas mileage, and will still be worth darn near what you would pay for it after a year(s) of use. Just to give you an example, found my brother's gf's parent's a 1998 ES300 that had 100k miles on it, great condition, just had the 100k miles service done, and that thing has been problem free for 45k miles now and is so much more than any other car they could have gotten in the under $10k price range (they ended up buying it for $7k). Most peeps will saying they are boring rides, and in a sense they are, but for me I'd take a luxurious, older, reliable car over a reliable, cheap, albeit newer car any day of the week.

+1 I just got a 1996 Volvo 850 GLT... heated seats, traction control, seats 7, 20mpg+ for $4,000

My brother had an 1996 E300 Sedan that he paid 6K for drove for 45K miles and sold for 5K with a leaky head gasket. The car is still running and has never had the head off!!!

The cars are well built, but depreciate rapidly at 5+ years old. For 12K you can find a very nice old luxury car that will do everything you need and impress those around you at the same time!!!

Good luck,
Matt

AvalancheSVT · May 30, 2007

Mustang5L5 said:
My GT is my daily driver. I get bored driving anything else. I know gas is expensive, but i'd rather pay say $500/year more to enjoy my commute than drive some 4-banger econobox

yeah, im looking for a 5spd 01-03 Gt right now to replace the danger ranger as a daily driver. might as well have something that's fun to drive while the other car is on jack stands

Mustang5L5 · May 30, 2007

MakotoS13 said:
yeah, im looking for a 5spd 01-03 Gt right now to replace the danger ranger as a daily driver. might as well have something that's fun to drive while the other car is on jack stands

Exactly. I enjoy my 10-mile commute to work simply for the fact that I get to drive my Mustang. My two favorite things about work are my commute to work and the commute home from work.

spitfirees20 · May 30, 2007

The way I see it, you have $12k in gas for the mustang. Enjoy

CENTENNIALSTANG · May 30, 2007

spitfirees20 said:
The way I see it, you have $12k in gas for the mustang. Enjoy

I dont wana put to many miles on my stang

Get a civic !! And put a sticker that says Type DD (daily driver) on the back window. Oh and get a custom sticker thats in the shape of a gas pump.

steveb24 · May 30, 2007

im in the process of looking for an old 4cyl 5 speed s-10 .. they get great gas mileage i hear, plus i love trucks

Superhereaux · May 30, 2007

Matt's 03 GT said:
I just got a 1996 Volvo 850 GLT... heated seats, traction control, seats 7, 20mpg+ for $4,000

non-turbo?

CV boots, spring seats, upper tq mount, right engine mount.
unless your car was babied in it's previous life i can gaurantee you these parts have failed, might want to get them replaced

add a new timing belt, tensioner and pulley to that list and you got yourself a nice, comfy bulletproof ride my friend

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