Applicance cars that don't completely suck

[Matt Cramer]

So, I've got a commute that is about 100 miles round trip. Not something I'd want to use a thirsty V8 for everyday, and whatever I use for this also had better not break. But, if I'm going to spend over 2 hours in a car a day, I also don't want something uncomfortable or as boring as, say, my wife's Camry. At the very least, it could have decent handling. And I also need plenty of head room as I'm pretty tall. And I've got to have a stick shift - small engine plus automatic is never a good combination in my books.

I'm thinking I may need to replace the BMW 328 I'm using in the next year or so; it's almost to the 200,000 mile mark already. Budget hasn't been set; it may be as low as $4000 or as much as $8000, but not high enough to fit anything new in there. What do BangShifters who need a transportation appliance daily driver go for?

[dieselgeek]

01 Honda CR-V 2wd Automatic. Converter is locked at highway speeds, no different than a manual trans. Gets 29-31mpg and probably isn't slower than your 328. Handling? minimal. To me a better handling car rides rougher. My other DD is a 96 Toyota Camry, can't beat it for comfort. Sounds like neither of these is what you're looking for but they work great for me....

[1badmonkey]

before I opened my shop, I had a 165 mile commute every day. best car of the 5 that I used was my 05 Monte Carlo. I put 18" wheels with a 245-45 tire. rode firm, but ok. handled great on exit/on ramps. the car got 31 mpg running 75-80 and did 36 mpg on actual road trips that hoovered in the 65-70 mph range.

[Barry Donovan]

a 328 going on 200k.

I'd guess even the Honda is spectacular.
You must have a very nice environment.

A little diesel would be interesting.

[stage1scott]

my 96 lincoln towncar has 319,000 miles on it, returns 23-25 at 70-80 mph, is supremely comfy-and-a pita to park. otoh, the entire ford crown vic/mercury gran marquis/towncar lineup 92-97 is just like mine. CHEAP TO BUY AND CHEAP TO KEEP!

[Russell]

Do you have a mileage target? "good mileage" depends on who you ask. I had 100 mile commute for about 5 years then I moved 15 miles closer so now its only 70 miles! DDs over the years. Unless you love both your home and job, could you change one of them?

89 mustang 5.0 5speed 22-23 mpg fun to drive comfortable but I am starting to get old flowmasters are starting to get loud.
88 turbocoupe 2.3T auto. 22-27 mpg auto sucked was always working on that car
84 MB 300D on wvo 20 mpg auto, loose stearing, no A/C smelled bad.
93 Lincoln Mark VIII great car 23 mpg but had to be 89+ or it would knock. That would have been a great car with a 5 speed
89 Supercoupe 5 speed but there was something wrong with the ride control very firm.
03 Mazda P5 30 mpg 5 speed pretty fun to drive, comfortable for me 5' 9" started smoking sold it
99 saturn SL1 5 speed 35-40 mpg not comfortable.

Still have the 5.0 but it has not done DD duty for a while. The only one I miss is the Lincoln I should have swaped a 5 speed in it. Let me know if you find the perfect commuter, whats wrong with the 328 other than the miles?

[Teddyzee]

The early 4.6 Mustangs kinda fit your bill.

[200kss]

before I opened my shop, I had a 165 mile commute every day. best car of the 5 that I used was my 05 Monte Carlo. I put 18" wheels with a 245-45 tire. rode firm, but ok. handled great on exit/on ramps. the car got 31 mpg running 75-80 and did 36 mpg on actual road trips that hoovered in the 65-70 mph range.

Was this car supercharged? N/A 3800? I DD an 05 Grand Prix, base model, no bells or whistles. N/A 3800 with 138k on it now, gets 27mpg in the winter and cracks 30mpg in the summer, 110 mile commute (round trip) and that's at 65-70mph. The seats in this car suck. Previous 3800 powered Lumina had different gearing and got worse mileage.

[Chassisman]

Actually....our 2007 Ford Focus Wagon(aka the CRAP WAGON) has really blown me away...the thing handles like a road racer....fries tires at the blink of an eye....merges with traffic just as good as our 96 Impala SS did....AND gets 32 MPG running 72 MPH with the cruise set....I've put 9,000 miles on it since Thanksgiving running back and forth to Las Vegas(840 miles round trip)....I'm over 6' tall and weigh 300lbs....has plenty of leg room(matter of fact with seat all the way back its tough to reach the pedals) and comfort....I dont need any stretch breaks and if the wife evacuates the bladder we run straight through non stop on one tank of gas....

[Matt Cramer]

before I opened my shop, I had a 165 mile commute every day. best car of the 5 that I used was my 05 Monte Carlo. I put 18" wheels with a 245-45 tire. rode firm, but ok. handled great on exit/on ramps. the car got 31 mpg running 75-80 and did 36 mpg on actual road trips that hoovered in the 65-70 mph range.

Kind of unexpected for such a big car. Can you get them in stick shift?

The BMW gets about 25 miles to the gallon, a mixture of highway and city driving. It would be nice to bring the number up into the 30s. Hate spending over $400 a month on gasoline.

I like the job, and have been trying to sell the house, but the Atlanta house market is in pretty bad shape. We're upside down on the house, or it would have sold a couple years ago.

[1badmonkey]

its a base model Monte, with the 3400 V6 it got the better mpg with the stock 225-60-16s, but would know down 30-31 every tank.
we had a lumina years ago with the 3100 and it got unreal mpg. always did the math 2 or 3 times. it averaged mid 30's.
i think the Monte dropped to 27-28 when i had the nitto snow tires on it.

a stick shift Monte would be cool, but i havent ever seen one.

I totally feel your pain on the gas money per month. My tire shop is 2 blocks from the house.

[Bamfster]

Huge fan of the GM front drivers .... mid 90's on up.

[1badmonkey]

Do you have a mileage target? "good mileage" depends on who you ask. I had 100 mile commute for about 5 years then I moved 15 miles closer so now its only 70 miles! DDs over the years. Unless you love both your home and job, could you change one of them?

89 mustang 5.0 5speed 22-23 mpg fun to drive comfortable but I am starting to get old flowmasters are starting to get loud.
88 turbocoupe 2.3T auto. 22-27 mpg auto sucked was always working on that car
84 MB 300D on wvo 20 mpg auto, loose stearing, no A/C smelled bad.
93 Lincoln Mark VIII great car 23 mpg but had to be 89+ or it would knock. That would have been a great car with a 5 speed
89 Supercoupe 5 speed but there was something wrong with the ride control very firm.
03 Mazda P5 30 mpg 5 speed pretty fun to drive, comfortable for me 5' 9" started smoking sold it
99 saturn SL1 5 speed 35-40 mpg not comfortable.

Still have the 5.0 but it has not done DD duty for a while. The only one I miss is the Lincoln I should have swaped a 5 speed in it. Let me know if you find the perfect commuter, whats wrong with the 328 other than the miles?

my commuter cars
(i did drive the 49 chevy or my suburban a few times)
1993 escort wagon 5 spd. fart can muffler, K&n filter got 40 plus but wouldnt break 75
2006 Kia Rio 5 5 spd i bet i got 30mpg 1 time the whole time i had this car. ruined the ride with 215-40-17 tires
1999 mercury mystique (pronounced MISTAKE) 24-25 mpg $600 sh!t box. hated this car, but put 48k miles on it.
1993 cutlass 3100 v6 got mid 30's for the 3 months i drove it
2005 Monte Carlo.....

[antmnte]

Find a Grand Prix with 3800 and you will like it. THey usually have a few more options and are well built up to 2006 or 7. Bonneville is good too,you are in a no snow eviorment right? So you should find a clean one. Drive it first make sure the tranny does what its supposed to do or get a clean one with a bad tranny cheap and fix it.

[Cyclone03]

.I dont need any stretch breaks and if the wife evacuates the bladder we run straight through non stop on one tank of gas....

Your wife does that for you while driving? Cool.