In reply to The_Jed:
Good luck making a fox mustang turn and stop like a C5 Z06 for $20k.
In reply to The_Jed:
Good luck making a fox mustang turn and stop like a C5 Z06 for $20k.
Kenny_McCormic wrote: In reply to The_Jed: Good luck making a fox mustang turn and stop like a C5 Z06 for $20k.
Woopsie, I must have missed that part. Just give Maximum Motorsports a call and tell them you'll take one of everything!
belteshazzar wrote: what are you going to do with it?
Daily driver first, autocrosser second. Must fit a hockey bag in the trunk (which really only rules out a Solstice convertible and an MR2), and must have passenger side leg room.
Gotta say, this has indeed helped--I forgot about the Genessis completely. That has been added to the list of cars to test drive.
EDIT: I would also like to be able to take a road trip without having to pack intelligently (which makes a back seat a plus), but it is far from a requirement.
mad_machine wrote: the 318ti is rated at 29.. pretty damn close
True, and it does have a crazy low buy in compared to most of the stuff mentioned.
curtis73 wrote: C5 (non Z06) is pretty consistent at 30+ mpg. I clocked 32 mpg in pretty heavily modified C5 on a 400-mile jaunt. Many C5 and C6 owners report 30+.
The title of the thread says "with the best gas mileage". The C5 and C6 get excellent mileage for what they are, but they are hardly worth recommending in this thread.
And of course, only in bizarro GRM world would someone recommend a Fox Body in a good gas mileage thread. Or a CTSV. Or a GTO.
Using the power search on fueleconomy.gov returns some interesting unicorns...
Chevette Diesel
Isuzu 2wd Diesel Pickup
2wd Toyota "Truck" (mid 1980s)
Nissan Diesel Pickup
2.2 S10 (80s)
Diesel S10/GMC thing (80s, WTF, this exists?)
Nissan Diesel Pickup (80s)
Subaru Justy
Merc 190D
As far as cars that aren't unobtanium mid 80s E36 M3boxes...
Mini Cooper Countryman All4 is rated 25/31, 28 combined. Not bad for an AWD car. MSRP in 2011 was $27k, should be able to find one under 20k now.
Juke AWD is 25/30, 27 combined
I consistently get 28 MPG with my S2000. In 30K miles I am about to replace my 2nd set of rear tires. I do not baby this car.
ProDarwin wrote:mad_machine wrote: the 318ti is rated at 29.. pretty damn closeTrue, and it does have a crazy low buy in compared to most of the stuff mentioned.curtis73 wrote: C5 (non Z06) is pretty consistent at 30+ mpg. I clocked 32 mpg in pretty heavily modified C5 on a 400-mile jaunt. Many C5 and C6 owners report 30+.The title of the thread says "with the best gas mileage". The C5 and C6 get excellent mileage for what they are, but they are hardly worth recommending in this thread. And of course, only in bizarro GRM world would someone recommend a Fox Body in a good gas mileage thread. Or a CTSV. Or a GTO. Using the power search on fueleconomy.gov returns some interesting unicorns... Chevette Diesel Isuzu 2wd Diesel Pickup 2wd Toyota "Truck" (mid 1980s) Nissan Diesel Pickup 2.2 S10 (80s) Diesel S10/GMC thing (80s, WTF, this exists?) Nissan Diesel Pickup (80s) Subaru Justy Merc 190D As far as cars that aren't unobtanium mid 80s E36 M3boxes... Mini Cooper Countryman All4 is rated 25/31, 28 combined. Not bad for an AWD car. MSRP in 2011 was $27k, should be able to find one under 20k now. Juke AWD is 25/30, 27 combined
You're taking it too literally... It has to be a daily driver, so let's rule out the 80's stuff.
mtn wrote: You're taking it too literally... It has to be a daily driver, so let's rule out the 80's stuff.
BLASPHEMY!!!!!!!
OK, so how about we talk about the 30 mpg+ cars:
Smart Fortwo 38 mpg (93 mpg electric)
Subaru Impreza (or wagon) 36 mpg (2014 MSRP $17,995)
Lightly used Scion FR-S (or Subaru BRZ) 34 mpg
Mercedes Benz E-300 32 mpg
Subaru Legacy 32 mpg
Subaru Forester 32 mpg
BMW 335d 36 mpg
Mercedes Benz E320 33 mpg
Toyota MR2 30 mpg (but you ruled that one out)
Suzuki Kizashi 30 mpg
Audi A4 Quattro 30 mpg
Suzuki SX4 30 mpg
Hyundai Genesis 30 mpg
BMW 318 ti 30 mpg
Ford Mustang 31 mpg
Chevy Camaro 30 mpg
Unless you want ot go Smart, looks like a Benz or Bimmer is in your future! 
I was shocked and happy that when I am just cruising down the highway the Hemi in my Charger is getting between 26 and 27 mpg from what I have seen so far. That is of course with the cruise control on and my lead foot not pushing down on the go pedal to make it rumble more.
mtn wrote:belteshazzar wrote: what are you going to do with it?Daily driver first, autocrosser second. Must fit a hockey bag in the trunk (which really only rules out a Solstice convertible and an MR2), and must have passenger side leg room. Gotta say, this has indeed helped--I forgot about the Genessis completely. That has been added to the list of cars to test drive. EDIT: I would also like to be able to take a road trip without having to pack intelligently (which makes a back seat a plus), but it is far from a requirement.
2011+ Mustang V6 is the droid you're looking for. I love my car; its a 2013 V6 6spd manual with no options except the limited slip. It gets a solid 30mpg on the highway, even with the 3.31 gears (2.73's are standard, 3.31's come with the LSD). Straight city mileage is medicore, I get 22-23mpg at best with no highway time if I baby it and high teens if I play with the loud pedal.
A hockey bag will fit no problem, hell I haul kegs with my at least once a week (I'm a liquor salesman). Snow tires make it a good winter car too, of course the stability control helps too. 300hp is fun, torque off the line isn't great but the motor revs out well and really pulls strong from 3500 to redline. The stock HID's are great headlights, and even better if bolt on the GT's grill foglights.
And of course when you're ready to make changes there's a never ending list of available mods. So far my only motor mod is a Roush CAI and it's really surprisingly how much more punch the motor has in the midrange. A tuner, a catback, some suspension work...
Suzuki SX4 AWD do NOT get good mileage, despite what they may be rated at. My neighbour drove one for awhile, and a friend of mine who's an automotive journalist had a tester a few years back. Both said that the fuel economy was not good at all.
Now, to totally crush my own credibility:
How about a 1989-1990 Audi 200 quattro with a chip? The chip is mentioned because apparently these cars love the extra timing.
So, $2000 for the car, and an $18000 slush fund for repairs, though the cars are fundamentally very reliable.
Now, to totally crush my own credibility:
I should just make that my sig line!
Newest Subaru Impreza, 35 mpg highway with AWD/5M.
Of course, the highest-mpg RWD vehicle I know of is a CBR250R.
A CBR10000RR gets 40 on the freeway but just cruising the freeway at 75 mph on one of those is like using a five-bank Aeolian-Skinner organ to play "Three Blind Mice".
2000-2002 Camaro/Firebird w/ 3.8 and a 5-speed
mad_machine wrote:ProDarwin wrote:the 318ti is rated at 29.. pretty damn closeMr_Clutch42 wrote: C5 Z06Lancer007 wrote: How can I be the first to say it: S2000S2000s do not get good gas mileage. Nor does a C5 Z06. Genesis, Mustang, BRZ, Smart, and Mitsu are the only cars in this thread actually rated above 30mpg highway.
One of my favorite miata alternatives along with a MR2.
In Germany you see 318TIs (well they have more 4 cylinder hatchbacks there) all over tracks, they are ridiculously common as almost any regular E36. Here they are almost unheard of.
I would of bought one if JDM imports weren't so cheap.
so what did you decide?
In reply to mad_machine:
It seemed that when a little power was added, they got slightly better though. 
SVreX wrote: Unless you want ot go Smart, Then a turbocharged busa engine is needed
FTFY.
Flight Service wrote: so what did you decide?
LOL. Yeah, like I could make a decision that fast.
I have test driven a BRZ yesterday and a Mustang V8 (we were talking about gas mileage, right?) over the weekend. The Mustang was nice, but it just didn't wow me enough to make me think that I'd like the V6 enough. They didn't have any V6's in stock with a manual, and I was in a time pinch so didn't feel like wasting the salesman's time.
The BRZ I still wish had more power. I rung this one out a little more than last time and determined that I could live with it, but something about the delivery of the power was... uninspiring. It needed more punch. But it is definitely still on the list.
I want to drive a C5 and a GTO, even though they don't get good gas mileage (GTO at all, Corvette in the city), because see this thread: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/what-car-would-you-pick-balance-of-mpg-comfort-and/73675/page1/
If I find a clean 318ti, that might be the ticket, but they're all getting long in the tooth. I'm looking for a Soltice to drive, but would only go with the Coupe, and only if it is a stick, and only if a hockey bag fits.
Still need to drive a Genessis as well. And somehow it seems like Porsche Boxster would be a good idea, even though it answers none of my needs.
For that matter, it could be worth waiting to see what the ND Miata and 2015 Mustang have to offer if you have time to wait. They're high on my list to replace my car...
skierd wrote: For that matter, it could be worth waiting to see what the ND Miata and 2015 Mustang have to offer if you have time to wait. They're high on my list to replace my car...
No, I can't wait that long because that would mean waiting until late 2015 for the 2nd year of it (as a general guideline, I won't buy the first model year of a car) and the ND Miata will probably be too small. I'm not looking for a LOT more space, but it needs to be some more space, and I don't see that coming with the Miata. And I have no idea when it will actually come out. Aside from that, I've got a Miata. It is time for something different.
Which V8 Mustang did you drive? I going to make an assumption it wasn't a Coyote car.
But seriously, go drive the 300hp '11+ V6 car.......they are beastly.
Or is this another case of wanting modern V8 power deliver, with I4 fuel mileage, for the price of a 9 year old Camry? You have to make compromises on all the options.
I really think the 11+ V6 Mustang ticks all the boxes. Or you know, don't go drive one before you rule it out. 
How about a B5 S4 six speed for 6-10K and then go stage three for a little more kick..... You're under 15K for a 450 hp supercar with AWD which in real world (read: less than perfect) conditions will be faster than anything else you are likely to encounter.
KyAllroad wrote: How about a B5 S4 six speed for 6-10K and then go stage three for a little more kick..... You're under 15K for a 450 hp supercar with AWD which in real world (read: less than perfect) conditions will be faster than anything else you are likely to encounter.
No Audi's. Or VW's.
z31maniac wrote: Which V8 Mustang did you drive? I going to make an assumption it wasn't a Coyote car. But seriously, go drive the 300hp '11+ V6 car.......they are beastly. Or is this another case of wanting modern V8 power deliver, with I4 fuel mileage, for the price of a 9 year old Camry? You have to make compromises on all the options. I really think the 11+ V6 Mustang ticks all the boxes. Or you know, don't go drive one before you rule it out.
The one that I drove was brand new--not sure if a 13 or a 14, but it was a Coyote. It was FAST--don't get me wrong--but I didn't come out of the car saying "Man, that was great! I need to get one of those!" To be fair, I've only driven 4 cars that have made me say that--Miata (which I have), C5 (which I'm considering), Porsche 911 (a 996, now is not the time), and a S2000--that feeling has since passed for that car.
And obviously I want the V8 power with I4 mileage and for cheap money. I also want a pony that poops unicorns. I realize that I'll have to make compromises, I'm trying to figure out which ones I want to make, and how much compromise for each.
What is really annoying is that Mazda was so close to making the perfect car--all they needed to do was put a V6 in the RX8. And Infiniti was pretty close too, after driving the G25, I thought that it was a great car for me (although maybe too big to autocross), but I want a stickshift.
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