I'm looking at multiple cars right now. Unfortunately, the Phoenix market blows. SF has a better market but I can't view the cars if I'm up there. (I don't have a way to go see them)
Looking at NC Miata GT w/ manual and sport package. Prefer PRHT but not a big deal. None here for a decent price in Phoenix. (There's two but they're both $13k+. Too much for my blood. Rather find one for $8-10k.) Also looking for a 2010+ Toyota Prius w/ <80k miles. Preferably CPO. Also hard to find for <$14k. Considering Honda Civic Hybrid but honestly the battery packs on those things fail so often that I'm just not considering it anymore. Pretty much all of the ones being sold have bad batteries and are out of warranty. (They're still asking way too much for them too)
Looking at regular civics, still too expensive. Everyone asks $2k+ over KBB.
Looking at honda accords but they're also expensive and shit MPG.
Overall, I don't really want to buy a car right now unless it's a fun car or ultra practical. That's where the Miata/Prius comes in. Just can't find one locally for a good price. I'll add a trunk cargo rack to the Miata too. Get an extra carry on suitcase there.
I don't do that all the time, and the average is still roughly the same on the trips I take power mode doesn't seem to drastically effect mpg. Granted highway does improve it. Still, lifetime average on one of our priuses is just 38 over 45k miles, and very few of those were driven by me (so slower and more normal Prius driving).
The simple reality is its just too underpowered, so anything more than a walking acceleration (or the need for more energy from HVAC, etc) turns the engine on and mpg goes down to regular car levels.
So if you're now looking at manuals, what's wrong with a Mazdaspeed3?
Mazdaspeed3 is too expensive and gets such low gas mileage.
VW has to be DSG. Miata has to be manual. Prius has to be CPO.
You need a Prius to be CPO but not a VW?
You are insane.
Unsure what to do, ATTG. You're my only hope, save me!
You need a Prius to be CPO but not a VW?
You are insane.
and the VW has to be automatic but the miata has to be manual
CPO on a VW GTI is uncommon from what I've seen. It's also not going to happen in my price bracket. CPO Prius is important because of batteries and all the things shady people try to pass off with them. Look on Craigslist for Prius and Civic Hybrids. Tons of them with shit batteries or something massively faulty. I ain't dealing with that insanity.
I prefer a fast DCT over manual but Miata's don't come with a fast DCT. It's either a slow automatic or a manual. I'll take the manual.
Although, sometimes I want an automatic because convenience and the fact that they exist here in significant quantity... http://jalopnik.com/can-you-still-have-an-awesome-time-in-an-automatic-mazd-1601350276
Mazdaspeed3 is too expensive and gets such low gas mileage.
VW has to be DSG. Miata has to be manual. Prius has to be CPO.
wait why was he looking at prius, a GTI, and now a miata? those are all so far apart it's not even funny.
learn2drive prius.
I got <40mpg when I first got my prius, learned to drive it, now get 40-45 average. 45+mpg would be driving like a bitch the whole tank, 50+ is just unheard of.
I averaged 70mpg when I rented an '09 Prius for two days.
all city < 10mph, never going past ECO zone or what? yeezus.
Actually if you drive around 20mph, you can average around 80-90mpg. 20mph is the ideal speed for highest efficiency. No that 70mpg was a 60-40 mix of highway and city driving. I got 63mpg doing 55mph on the freeway.
Oh yeah I can see that then. You are a far more patient man than I.
Actually if you drive around 20mph, you can average around 80-90mpg. 20mph is the ideal speed for highest efficiency. No that 70mpg was a 60-40 mix of highway and city driving. I got 63mpg doing 55mph on the freeway.
Well the time savings of 65mph vs 55mph for less than 10 miles is so small that one stop light could mean the difference between a little time saved and absolutely zero time saved. If you care about your time, avoid rush hour traffic or unnecessary errands (consolidate them). Otherwise, "tricks" people do like cutting in line on the freeway, driving wrecklessly, etc. are all stupid wastes of time for the most part. It's not usual for me to need to save every single second like when I need to get to the store before it closes or something like that. I mean if the light is yellow, I will punch the accelerator to get through it if I know I can safely get through it but otherwise, I try to drive with the idea of conserving momentum.
Value of your time and safety must be near $0...
Well the time savings of 65mph vs 55mph for less than 10 miles is so small that one stop light could mean the difference between a little time saved and absolutely zero time saved. If you care about your time, avoid rush hour traffic or unnecessary errands (consolidate them). Otherwise, "tricks" people do like cutting in line on the freeway, driving wrecklessly, etc. are all stupid wastes of time for the most part. It's not usual for me to need to save every single second like when I need to get to the store before it closes or something like that. I mean if the light is yellow, I will punch the accelerator to get through it if I know I can safely get through it but otherwise, I try to drive with the idea of conserving momentum.
I have never found wreckless driving to be a waste of time.
Decided I'm getting a Miata. Unfortunately, the opportunity to spend $15k on a car vanished. So, I'm left in the $2-4k range.
I've setup an alert for Miata's that are between 2000 and 6000. It's hard to find any that are actually a good deal as they do sell within 24 hours and shit ones get reposted five times a day. I was going to buy one when I got back from a trip but the one I had eyeballed had sold it by like hour 20 and I was still out of town.
Anyway, things I should look for? I did see a very pretty (but well used) 1993 Miata LTE (red interior! Very S2000, lol!) but the guy was asking $1000-1300 over blue book.
There's another that's a 1997 and has like 50k miles (http://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/5181893562.html). I think it's also a M edition model? I considered checking it out but the guy is asking close to $5k, which is a bit much for me even though it seems to be only 50k miles. He also didn't list any interior photos which is annoying. I need to know what it looks like before I make the 2+ hour drive (each way) to it.