Adrian_Thompson wrote: If you can sit on cruise at 80mph a 2011+ V6 Mustang, auto or Manual will easily do it. If you define 80mph as cycling between 75-85mph to average 80 then you're in trouble.
You find me a 2011 Mustang for $4000 and I'll buy two of them, right now, no bullE36 M3. Hell, I'd buy an 05-09 V6 for $4000.
Scion xA might also do the job.
I'm always amazed at how GRM'ers seem to get so much more MPG at MUCH higher speeds out of cars than is claimed by manufacturers/gov't statistics.
Javelin wrote:Adrian_Thompson wrote: If you can sit on cruise at 80mph a 2011+ V6 Mustang, auto or Manual will easily do it. If you define 80mph as cycling between 75-85mph to average 80 then you're in trouble.You find me a 2011 Mustang for $4000 and I'll buy two of them, right now, no bullE36 M3. Hell, I'd buy an 05-09 V6 for $4000.
Ops, didn't read that part
2001-2005 Civic HX would be a good alternative to the hybrid since your requirement is for highway mileage.
+1 more for Saturn SC/SL1 - meets your criteria for half your budget, cheap parts, always gonna be ugly (even clean) so no need to wash, etc, etc. A win/win in my book for an appliance commuter.
Check this out!
Go to www.fueleconomy.gov
They have a search function there for mpg and other data. It works great.
~ Click 'find a car'
~ Click 'power search'
~ Click the last search criteria 'Miles Per Gallon'
I did a search on cars that get over 40mpg highway in model years 2000 - 1984. Some surprising hits were:
~ 1986 Chevrolet Spring - 53 mpg
~ 1989 Geo Metro - 52 mpg
~ 1992 Suzuki Swift - 44 mpg
~ 1985 Sentra - 45 mpg
~ 1985 Ford Escort - 46 mpg
~ 1993 Honda Civic - 41 mpg
~ 1984 Chevrolet Chevette - 41 mpg
z31maniac wrote: I'm always amazed at how GRM'ers seem to get so much more MPG at MUCH higher speeds out of cars than is claimed by manufacturers/gov't statistics.
We get much, MUCH lower ones, too! 
Adrian_Thompson wrote:Javelin wrote:Ops, didn't read that partAdrian_Thompson wrote: If you can sit on cruise at 80mph a 2011+ V6 Mustang, auto or Manual will easily do it. If you define 80mph as cycling between 75-85mph to average 80 then you're in trouble.You find me a 2011 Mustang for $4000 and I'll buy two of them, right now, no bullE36 M3. Hell, I'd buy an 05-09 V6 for $4000.
Dammit! 
I've never checked it that carefully, but my 99 Corolla/Prizm 5 speed knocked out something like 34 driving cross state at 80+ until I hit snowstorm for the last 3rd or so. In as bought condition with worn plugs, a dirty air filter and conventional fluids. I've never got a tank under 30 with that car, and I run it pretty hard, and in the city a lot. Its geared deep enough, even after the tach swap, I sometimes find myself still in 4th on the highway after 20 miles. You can hum along at 90 well under 4k rpm. The Chevy variant has better AC, they're the same otherwise.
In reply to Xceler8x:
That's at 55MPH using ideal conditions. The Civic might be the only one of those to get anywhere near 35MPG at 80MPH. Some of them won't even go 80! (My EXP Escort sure wouldn't).
Javelin wrote:Vigo wrote:You must not have ever owned one. My 96 Camaro did 33MPG highway all stock with wider Z28 wheels/tires. And once again, the prices you pay for cars are either total bullE36 M3, or incompletely reported. 1G Insight's go for $5K-$6K up here, and that's considered "cheap".3.8L/5-Speed 4th Gen F-Body might get you there.Total bullE36 M3. 35mpg? NOPE.
Autotrader lists 7 insights (out of 34 with average price of 7500 but that includes 5-6 13K+ ones) that are less than 5K in the US today. Cheapest are 3 of them between 3400 and 4K. If they really sell for $6K plus in PACNW sounds like I need to start shipping insights around the country for a tidy 2K profit. Run Midwestern insite to PACNW bring back rust free car. I've seen a few insights local for <$3000 needing work.
Same search for Civic Hybrid returns plenty of cars for <$5K nationwide with prices comparable to same year/mileage standard civics. This disregards trim level though.
In reply to nocones:
Only one on AutoTrader within 100 miles, $6000
So yeah, if you can get them for $3000, load up a truck and bring them on over!
Jetta/Golf TDI would be my vote for high mpg, comfortable, highway burner. Might have to go 90s vintage to meet the budget.
Javelin wrote: In reply to Xceler8x: That's at 55MPH using ideal conditions. The Civic might be the only one of those to get anywhere near 35MPG at 80MPH. Some of them won't even go 80! (My EXP Escort sure wouldn't).
That's B.S. man. We all know EXP's were awesome.
Check it out! Rocket powered tail lights!
2014 mazda6. about 37
fidelity101 wrote: 2014 mazda6. about 37
Again, if you can find one for $4,000 I've got cash in hand for you.
In reply to z31maniac:
Some cars get better than their rating at higher speeds than the ratings were originally set for.....
Xceler8x wrote:Javelin wrote: In reply to Xceler8x: That's at 55MPH using ideal conditions. The Civic might be the only one of those to get anywhere near 35MPG at 80MPH. Some of them won't even go 80! (My EXP Escort sure wouldn't).That's B.S. man. We all know EXP's were awesome. Check it out! Rocket powered tail lights!
My '85 EXP has no problem pegging the speedo needle at a super-impressive 85MPH. Of course, it is the 1.6HO model...
It's really hard to beat the VW TDI's for highway driving. It's certainly easy to exceed the EPA rating...
Outlier: C5 corvette, 6-speed, low rolling resistance tires. 
z31maniac wrote: I'm always amazed at how GRM'ers seem to get so much more MPG at MUCH higher speeds out of cars than is claimed by manufacturers/gov't statistics.
You should hang out on the Ford Diesel site. Back when I had my F350, there were guys claiming almost 30mpg average per tank when I was lucky to get 15.
Hell, my 2011 MINI Cooper S has a hard time breaking 26mpg with 85% highway.
yamaha wrote: In reply to z31maniac: Some cars get better than their rating at higher speeds than the ratings were originally set for.....
Yes, well some of the mileage claims people make on this forum make it very hard for me to believe any car gets 20-25% better mpg at 80 than they do at 55-60.
The only car I've ever had get it's rated highway mpg was my 350Z and that was doing 60mph, doing 80 it dropped to around 20......not increased to 30. The '06 Miata does pretty well because my commute is mostly highway and I don't really have to slow down for the off/on-ramps.
But my Speed 3, Mustang GT, and Frontier would not only barely hit their rated mpg at slower than safe speeds, but higher speeds killed it.
I just file this stuff away with the superb deals that no ever sees, etc.
yamaha wrote: In reply to z31maniac: Some cars get better than their rating at higher speeds than the ratings were originally set for.....
Yes, well some of the mileage claims people make on this forum make it very hard for me to believe any car gets 20-25% better mpg at 80 than they do at 55-60.
The only car I've ever had get it's rated highway mpg was my 350Z and that was doing 60mph, doing 80 it dropped to around 20......not increased to 30. The '06 Miata does pretty well because my commute is mostly highway and I don't really have to slow down for the off/on-ramps.
But my Speed 3, Mustang GT, and Frontier would not only barely hit their rated mpg at slower than safe speeds, but higher speeds killed it.
I just file this stuff away with the superb deals that no ever sees, etc.
E36 m3 does better at 80 than at 60- gearing related. I can muster 28 at 80 on a smooth road, but it kicks the ass of the others mentioned in here for "fun to drive" factor. And you can get them for OPs price range.
If you wanted to invest some of the fuel savings up front, a $4500 tdi plus a 5th gear swap and maintenance (fluids and filters, struts and suspension bushings, skidplate, and timing belt mainly) you could probably get 50+ mpg.
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