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Sedans: My Best Choice for Fuel Economy?

51 messages,  Last post on Aug 24, 2006 at 1:03 PM

You are in the Sedans Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Corolla, Toyota ECHO, Honda Civic, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Sedan

Messages Page 3 of 6

#18 of 51 Re: mudlump [bottgers] by mudlump

Sep 30, 2005 (8:33 am)

Replying to: bottgers (Sep 29, 2005 11:25 am)
I agree with you. I love Toyotas, I have a 2005 Sienna and had a 2002 before this one. I only traded my up on my 2002 because I had it for 3 years in Germany running 100 mph consistently and had 65,000 miles on it. (NO problems by the way, routine maintenance only) I wanted a new one to keep forever and I got a really good deal.
I had my first Toyota (corolla) from 1976 to 1987. Great car!
 
And, I agree with you about the Honda, overpriced, no negotiating on price.
 
I don't buy used unless I know the car personally. Bad experiences...
 
I have ordered my Corolla for $1000 under MSRP and I'm happy as a clam..
 
As for the Echo... this page pretty much turned me against it....
 
http://www.edmunds.com/new/research/toyota/echo.html
 
I too keep my cars a long time. I have a 1999 VW Cabrio that has been a total gem and I will keep it forever or until I give it to one of my kids. The Echo just does not sound like a car that would be a keeper for me.

#19 of 51 Re: Looks like finding a replacement econo-box is going to be a tough task [girmann] by mudude26

Nov 12, 2005 (3:49 pm)

Replying to: girmann (Sep 15, 2005 8:58 pm)
As a previous Saturn SL1 owner, I must agree that the gas mileage is very strong in that particular model.
I drove a 2001 sl1 with a manual and often exceeded 36 mpg in city/mixed driving. Highway only would yield approx. 39mpg on regular 87 octane gas.
I did have some reliablity issues with my saturn, including a cracked engine head and many other small issues. Many of those were taken care of under the basic warrarnty.
Overall it is difficult to pick this over a civic even though Iwas able to buy a 18 month old sl for about $7100.
As a commuter I thought, and still believe that the saturn represented a strong value, especially at the gas pump.

#20 of 51 Re: mudlump [bottgers] by claudius753

Nov 13, 2005 (10:56 pm)

Replying to: bottgers (Sep 29, 2005 5:18 am)
My brother-in-law said Toyota decided to discontinue the Echo because of poor sales. They haven't sold like Toyota had hoped, but they may want to reconsider that decision in light of the recent spikes in gas prices.
 
Just a head's up, Toyota hasn't really discontinued the Echo, its just that they decided to use the same name they use elsewhere in the world, Yaris, for the new redesigned model.
 
Also, Honda will have the supposedly $12,000 Fit/Jazz soon.

#21 of 51 so by nippononly

Jan 12, 2006 (7:11 pm)

inquiring minds want to know - what did you buy bottgers? I suspect you bought a Corolla.
 
I recently went on an agonizing search for used Corollas, and came up short. Considering the number they sell each year, there were precious few for sale that were less than about 12 years old. I guess Corolla owners love their cars eh?
 
The couple I came across seemed pricey for what they were, so for a few hundred $$ more, I picked up an '02 Echo. The 40 mpg is a reality, I have got 38 mpg so far in all mixed suburban driving. What Edmunds hated so much about this car, besides the looks and center gauges (which are obvious to the eye as soon as you see the car - you either hate them or you don't) was they thought it was overpriced (I believe it was, a little bit, when new) and the tricky handling at illegally high speeds. Beyond that, it is a really wonderful little car for doing what it is intended to do without feeling as cheap as it is, and owners report that it is extremely reliable, with few to no repairs needed even near six-digit odometer readings.
 
FWIW, I used to have a Saturn SL2, and while it was unacceptably unreliable for me, it did get 35+ mpg in mixed driving, and I know those are inexpensive on the used market, plentiful too.

#22 of 51 Dont Listen To Edmunds About The ECHO by kneisl1

Jan 13, 2006 (7:14 pm)

>As for the ECHO this page (Edmunds review of the ECHO) pretty much turned me against it.< IGNORE what Edmunds has to say about the ECHO. They are the ONLY source I have read that has panned it. Every other writer has nothing but praise for it. There is nothing wrong with its handling. There is nothing wrong with it having 14 inch wheels. Ive had mine for over five years now and its still wonderfull to drive. No problems at all. NOT ONE. I get 40 mpg driving it six miles to work. (in the summer) Its amazing all the things it does so well. You would do better to read the comments of the ECHO owners. Almost no one has anything bad to say about it. It gives me the creeps to have someone post they have discounted the ECHO because of Edmunds article about it. That article is widely recognized as one of if not THE most infamous article written in the last 25 years about a car.

#23 of 51 Re: Looks like finding a replacement econo-box is going to be a tough task by efrantz

Jan 16, 2006 (7:07 pm)

Replying to: bottgers (Sep 05, 2005 8:48 am)
have you thought about the chevy aveo.I recently purchaced one and love it.Start brand new for a little over 9 grand.

#24 of 51 If fuel economy is the only thing you are interest in ... by midnightcowboy

Jan 25, 2006 (9:54 am)

then it is a no-brainer : Get a Prius!
 
It won't be the lowest TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) but that is not the subject of this thread.
 
I couldn't get a Prius because I never learned to drive an automatic
 
A shifting man,
 
MidCow

#25 of 51 want a manual? by nippononly

Jan 25, 2006 (10:35 pm)

get an Echo - I have had mine a couple of weeks and 1000 miles now, and it is averaging 39 mpg around town, A/C often running with the defrost, mixed suburban driving. And with the price differential between it and a Prius, you could buy enough gas to drive a Hummer all the way around the world!
 
Yes, yes, the Echo is gone now, although there are used ones out there for the taking. Or you could wait about three months and get a Yaris, with the same powertrain and estimated by Toyota to make the same fuel economy.

#26 of 51 Re: want a manual? [nippononly] by midnightcowboy

Jan 27, 2006 (7:37 am)

Replying to: nippononly (Jan 25, 2006 10:35 pm)
Nippononly,
 
Echo LOL. I never considered a Echo, even the new restyled ones still look funky. There are all sorts of issues from handling, to display layout, etc ; there is a reason why Toyota is dropping the Echo. A good Toyota choice would be the 5-speed Corolla CE or the snazzy looking S model.
Another choice would be the 5-speed Scion xA or xB.
 
I liked the 2005 Honda Civic Hybrid and though about getting one. But i waited too long the 2006 HCH is CVT only. And perfomance pretty slow.
 
The Hyundai Elantra 5-speed is a choice for some. Hyundai relability has significantly improved recently and it has a fairly low TCO.
 
The 5-speed Honda Insight is the mileage leader and I seriously considered ordering on for $400 over invoice. And the Prius is the highest mileage sedan and has hatchback utility. My wife said the performance would not be enough for Houston traffic for the Insight, Prius or HCHand what about the 2006 Civic Si ? So now I have a Rallye Red Si on order for my commuter car.
 
The title of this thread is very deceptive ?
 
Is is sedan only ? (probably yes)
Is it highest mileage only or should TCO be considered?
(probably yes , even though it goes against title)
 
You know you can get a basic Cobalt or Aveo or Rio really really cheap? But sometimes cheap begets cheap!
 
Then there is new versus used? A good used Corolla or Civic might make the most sense.
 
Cheers,
 
MidCow
 
Aspirations: manual shift, relability, fun (performance, handling), looks, features, TCO

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