Bang Shift Approved Economy Car?

[Russell]

2011 Ford Mustang V6 - if Economy means 30+ mpg and 300+ hp in RWD.

according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corpora...e_Fuel_Economy the 2011 average has to be 30.2mpg. So that would make the V6 mustang just about average. If I was buying a new "Economy" car I would expect at least 40mph. So I don't consider the new mustang to be an economy car. But I do consider 30+ and 300+ to be great numbers I wish my 89 made those #s

[Whelk]

A really BangShifty approach might be to weld together a small tube buggy with a JY drivetrain. Maybe plastic wrap it for aero. Say 1200 pounds and 2.0 ought to be ok for power and economy.

[Cyclone03]

Anything thats paid for.
Liability only insurance.
25-40mpg.
and as much as you can get staying within the above.

Payments kill mileage
full coverage kills mileage.

[Beagle]

absolutely - highway speed has a huge impact on fuel economy - more so with not so aerodynamic vehicles. New escapes with the 6 speed transmissions get 30mpg all day long at 70, earlier 4 speed versions not so much.

If you get a small pick up in search of mileage - find a cap height cap to put over the bed - not a super tall one - they are the best for aero, a tonneau helps, but a cap is better.

I kind of want a new 4 cylinder Ranger and stick a Focus turbo kit on it - I think it's the same engine.

My Escape is a 5 speed, I'm sure that helps it over the autos... I had this sick dream of converting it to RWD with Ranger parts.

[Beagle]

the biggest issue I have with anything getting 40 mpg is they are all front wheel drive. The Escape I drive half the time is the first and hopefully last FWD car I own. It's weird feeling. The Fiesta looked kinda fun, and I'm considering driving a Focus to see how well the new ones do (40 capable) but still just want a RWD... I have trucks coming out the butt already, but the Ranger is interesting. So are the Colorado LS trucks. The F150 ecoboost has my attention as well, but I'd like something a bit smaller for city parking.

The equations earlier on Price v. Gas savings gets more interesting the higher this stuff gets. At 5.00 a gallon, if you're getting 15 and go to 45 mpg, the gas savings make the car payment if you drive very far at all. My new plan is to leave a truck at every location I would need a truck and go Diesel TDI maybe. Who knows. I change my mind every ten minutes, but I'd still call the Mustang an economy car compared to my '95. lol.

[Darren N.]

Ideas

If I had to buy another car, fuel economy would be the determining factor right AFTER being reasonably fun to drive. I have a hard time sticking to the DD shouldn't be a project rule, lol.

I wouldn't mind any one of these:

1. 2.3 Mustang, manual trans, coupe
2. VW TDI Golf/Jetta
3. VW 1.8 8v Golf
4. 2.3 Ranger, although finding one that hasn't been beat to death in my area is next to impossible
5. Vega or Pinto... but how is it that the sh!tboxes of yesterday have become cool?

There are some really cool oddballs out there, too.

Ranger w/ Mitsu Diesel (1985-1987)

I've seen these come up once in a while, I'd love to have one. FYI, the Ranger's international counterpart is available from 2006-Present with a TD. http://www.ford.co.uk/Cars/Ranger



Dodge Dakota w/ Mitsu 4 cyl

This one is up for $1500 locally. The owner has a Garrett T03 and bunch of other goodies on this 'lil bugger.





Late model TDI swap into a Mk II Golf/Jetta

This one is up for $2000 locally. It has a 2001 TDI engine coupled to a complete Syncro AWD drivetrain. Awesome.



The GM 6.2 Diesel, how bad is it really?

I know they're total slugs but they knock down over 20mpg on the highway in a 1/2 ton truck. Can that 20mpg be improved upon?

[SpiderGearsMan]

civic fail eff honda and toyota

[Russell]

Russell - Why the FWD aversion? Like anything, it all depends on what you're going to DO with it. The Focus is a tough little anvil or a car - they run forever and can be fun to drive depending on which model you get. Remember, the idea is to get you from here to there economically. You have a fleet of interesting, fun cars to drive as the occasion calls for it - so use the Focus for the DD and know you have the cool cars sitting there for you when you want 'em.

If you're concerned with working on them - I'm not that far away. You can bring it over any time and we can do struts, half-shaft replacement, etc. as needed. No big deal. They are DIFFERENT, not HARDER, to work on.

Dan

Dan does this offer extend to timing belt replacement? When I put the wife factor in the cost benifit equation a focus starts to come out pretty good. She gave me a hard time about wanting to go get that 87 TC, I could have went and got it (and still may) but I am going to look for a new DD frist to make her happy.

[Barry Donovan]

A really BangShifty approach might be to weld together a small tube buggy with a JY drivetrain. Maybe plastic wrap it for aero. Say 1200 pounds and 2.0 ought to be ok for power and economy.

it exists.. its called j-tin ricers.



how bout a 68 impala with a 250 and a 5 speed.

my 74 chevelle auto with the 250 got 30 all the time...and that was a real steel, more real than todays "science".

I get mad over the mpg too... if to drive 2300 pounds around, it better be in the high 30s local, and 50s highway.. else I relapse to the realm the got raped/beaten/lied to and about..it is just slightly older than me...going on 40.

my chevelle would be turning 37 this year.

ten years younger.. has no clue what I am talking about.

even a 283 as a loaded wrecker truck does better than "econo" today.

lie to me about real power for consumption in this thread, so help me...

[Russell]

i got a zoom zoom today

I got a 2003 mazda protege5 today. For all those that said they don't like the new forum, I disagree (if it works) I took a picture with my smart phone and I'am able to post and up load the picture straight from the phone!

[JOES66FURY]

Economy is relative. My Ram gets 9 and the old Plymouth is somewhere in the 10 to 12 mpg...I would love to have my 06 Grand Marquis back...at 65-70mph it got 29.8mpg and I averaged 19 around town...

[Northeast Rod Run]

I haven't read every page in this thread, but the ones I did look at, I didn't see anyone mention an HHR Panel?

They definitely have potential for lots of mods and they don't have the minivan "too many windows" look to them. You can also buy the SS version and with factory upgrades, you can get 300HP out of it and still knock down 30+ MPG

[Grumpy]

I don't know if it's bangshift approved or not but for my daily driver & tow car I have a 2002 Tracker SUV with a 2.5 V6 with 153,000 miles and it gets 20 mpg around town anyway you want to drive it and 29 mpg on the Highway at 70 mph.

[JRoberts]

I have inherited my wife's 2001 Jetta. It has the 1.8 Turbo. (She bought a new Subaru and I was able to convince her not to trade in the VW) The Jetta gets 30mpg regularly city and/or highway. It is quick and handles great. I have a 4x4 F150 and my old Studebaker pickup neither of which make great commuter vehicles. The '65 Studebaker is now undergoing a rebuild and might not be too bad, but we'll have to wait and see about that. Back to the Jetta -- it is a fun vehicle w/gas mileage that is more than just acceptable. I don't have the fwd phobia that some have. The handling on this thing is really great and I come from a back ground of some sports cars that were meant to, and did, handle the back twisty turny roads with style. The Jetta is equal to most of those older sports cars I have owned. If I were looking to buy a car that had improved mileage and were on a budget, I wold look at a 2001ish VW. Jetta or Golf would make no difference. By now the price of these is down to being quite affordable. I don't how the automatics fair. Ours is a 5 speed and does quite well. I do not see why the Jetta/Golf of this era wouldn't be BangShift approved.

[Beagle]

Scott (DG) brought up the Jetta a while back. I went to the VW dealer the other day to look at diesel golfs for the hell of it. They want a 2500.00 "market demand" BONUS on them? I sure won't be buying a new one.

I'm not sure I'd say I have a phobia against FWD, I just don't care for the feel of the one I have. It's unnerving to have the front right unload in a turn and have the whole thing nose over. I blame the traction control more than the FWD. Lifting abruptly in a corner is a great way to see what was behind you in a rwd car so it's very uncomfortable for me when the computer pulls timing abruptly when the mom buggy starts to spin a tire.