Hypothetical what car thread - pizza delivery?

Because an exceedingly cursory Google search failed to show that Jalopnik covered it as a question of the day... Because a recent thread mentioned it... Because it occurred to my inner child as an interesting question, because my inner child didn't want to pay attention to work either...

So, in the world of fiction, some Deliverator may drive a company purpose-built pizza delivery supercar. In reality, pizza delivery drivers have budgets that tend to preclude anything nice.

So, let's say, for the sake of argument, and in the interest of a modicum of reliability, our real-world pizza-slingin' samurai has a budget of $3000, and needs a car that gets him to nearby classes and\or a day McJob, plus serves his night and weekend pie slinging duty.

What's the best car?

I hate to say it but around these parts the answer is Subaru.

Miata...that's what I use.

vwcorvette wrote: I hate to say it but around these parts the answer is Subaru.

Why would you hate that? Thats silly.

Honda fit!

Something carbon-fiber bodied, so you can avoid being 'pooned by those damn couriers. Might be a stretch on $3k, though.

Real world suggestions include E28 5-series BMW, Saab 900 and Mazda 626.

drove for 6 years total... over the years I used a 86 mr2, 91 geo prizm (rolla), 94 grand am, 89 volvo 745ti, 91 caravan, 91 ford escort, 98 neon ACR, 95 lumina, 83 suburban, '85 tercel... pretty much any car I had at the time... your primary car WILL go down and you'll have to use the 2nd car for a bit... lol.

by far the best was the neon... plenty of power and gearing, good stoppers, plenty of room for about any order...

but in reality the answer is something cheap, decent to good MPG (your mpg directly effects your take home total each night)... I had a friend that delivered in an 80's diesel benz running on WVO that he got for free... smelled like french fries and the up keep was minimal.

I knew a guy years ago who delivered with a Hyundai Scoupe that he pulled the back seats out of.

I used a Geo Metro for a few years while in college. I'd argue it's one of the best choices out there for a delivery car. I only paid $500 for mine and $3,000 would get you either a good Swift GT or the nicest Metro on the market. Pros: It was reliable and cost nearly nothing to maintain. In the two years I owned the car I spent about $100 on tires and $10 on a broken clutch cable and that was it. I averaged 40mpg while doing deliveries. It was spacious enough, small and easy to park, and had a ridiculous tight turning radius so you could U turn on narrow streets easily.

yavuz hit a big thing... turning radius is pretty important... also good rear viability

I always wanted a geo metro... at the stores I worked at metros and neons seemed to be the preferred cars...

That's easy

Round here Chrysler minivans seem to be the ticket.

Chevy Cavalier with a 5 speed and only with a 5 speed. Otherwise you're getting all of the power of a 4 banger and all of the MPG of a V8.

Keep the maintenance done on them and they will never stop. Ever. They will keep running long after you'd hope they would have died already so you could buy another car. It will get so bad, that when the valve cover gasket starts leaking a little, you'll pull that sucker off there and paint it yellow before you put it back on. You'll then put the car up for sale and some crazy high school kid flush with cash from graduating will pop the hood, see the valve cover and buy it.

Just sayin'.

The Vehicle i just bought seems to fit the description; 1996 GMC Safari AWD.

My Dad has done it in an '83 Ram, 88 Accord, 98 Neon, and for a while a rental Metro. The Ram drank all the tips, and that was in '96. The accord was OK. For delivery, the rental Metro almost convinced him to buy one. The neon was good, sporty enough to earn a rep as one of the best delivery drivers in Ithaca.

But in a snowy hilly city a small Subie wagon(imp or fozzy) is king in the winter. just live with the MPG.

Riced-out beater Civics and Accords are popular pizza-boy cars around here, including HBs/wagons. Body damage? They're already rusty and have cracked, unpainted bodykits and "Altezza" taillights, who cares about body damage?!

City gas mileage is paramount in a pizza vehicle, or you're just paying for the "privilege" of delivering other people's pizzas. Probably not many hybrids available for 3k, so the above mentioned Metro or Neon. Anything small, thrifty, and reliable.

Lotus Exige 260S.

The best for delivering pizzas, for under $3000? I'd agree that the Geo Metro would be about the best choice out there. Reliable, fuel efficient, small and lots of cargo room.

Saturn SC. It's my answer to any budget car question.

I joke you not but there is a pizza delivery guy here in my college town that delivers using a 997 Porsche Carrera 4S. There is an Evo X pizza guy as well.

I had a pizza guy deliver to me and fell in love with my 2.5RS Subie and we negotiated its sale during that delivery.

I have always said that a Ford F150 is the best, provided that you put the pizza oven in the bed. The order comes in ,bake it en-route, hot and fresh at the door, less overhead than a brick-and-mortar store.

I used mine for about 18 months. Lots of fun

I have delivered in a VW Superbeetle, Hyundai Excel, and a Hyundai Tiburon. By far the best was the Excel. It had a huge hatch to swallow the party loads, was easy on gas, pretty much maintance free (how much can 175/60/13s cost anyway?), great visibility and had big soft bumpers for the inevitable touch by other cars.