In the long term I agree, Wha Who. But for many it’s an immediate problem. There are many top of the line automobiles that I could probably afford but I prefer to remain financially liquid and drive whatever suits my fancy each day from my yard full of derelicts. I would feel very confident that any one of the junkers would get me anywhere in the country that I would want to go and home again in reasonable comfort. Even my S-10 with 190,000 miles. I don’t particularly need to be cheap. But I think it is foolish that many go into debt buying cars they really can’t afford.
realbinky, I can get 50 MPGs from my 745cc Honda Shadow Aero, but I usually get between 45 and 47 MPGs because of added equipment. I can actually get 55 MPGs from my Honda Nighthawk 750, but only if I am real conscientious with the throttle.
How many miles per keg does that thing get?
If you had gotten the manual window cranks, and lived in the South, you wouldn’t have needed those window regulators and mufflers. 
The handle on my Civic’s hood latch broke, but it was in the hands (literally) of a ham-fisted mechanic at the time, so it was fixed on his dime.
Your legs are pretty reliable, unless they get sliced off or both break, Never have to fill them up and almost never need repairs.
All kidding aside, I have an 06 metropolitan that gets 107 mpg and only requires a half quart capacity oil change once a year. It really is the cheapest motorized route. I throw a roll of quarters in there and various spare change throughout the summer and thats all the gas money I will ever need for it.
I also owned a Toyota Paseo, being a 17 year old car maintenance costs were high but insurance and gas was cheap at 45 city mpg.
I now own a Toyota Corolla. I have only had it a couple of months so I can’t say too much but there are great reviews and it has not cost me a cent in maintenance yet.
Exactly right.
In the year 2000, I bought a 1994 Plymouth Colt/Mitsubishi Mirage, 4 cylinder, 5 speed manual with 100K miles for $1000. It needed about $2K worth of work, which I provided, and subsequent oil changes every 3K miles, etc.
Since the GVW is only 2085 pounds, it doesn’t use tires, brakes, clutches, gas, etc. I changed the original clutch at 160K miles and the timing belt/water pump/etc. every 60K miles, since it is an interference engine. My highway gas mileage is around 43 (41-45 depending on the load, wind, hills, air conditioning, etc.). It now has well over 180K miles on it and I expect to put on another 100K miles, unless I win the lottery soon, before it leaves my hands.
Give me a small, LIGHT, manual transmission car every time.
I have a 2007 Corolla, and aside from some oil changes and routine maintenance, the only “repair” has been a flat tire, not the car’s fault. This car is almost boring to own, but will last 20 years without major breakdowns.
If you buy a Japanese small car, buy it new and keep it a long time. Many used ones go for a premium price, and have seen little maintenance.
Since car ownership is made up of depreciation, insurance , gas and maintenance & repairs, a small 4 cylinder car that’s well built and reliable will end up costing the least. Tha would exclude the Smart car ,since it has not proven to be an economy car, just easy to PARK.
The most expensive are poorly engineered luxury cars such as older Cadillacs, Mercedes and Audi models that will cause you to moonlight to pay for the upkeep.
One poster here really likes Ford Crown Victorias. I agree that if you need a large car this vehicle will be the most economical to own.
I bought a 1981 rabbit diesel with 88000 original because the guy thought it needed a new clutch, he had driven it since 1984 and this was 2004, ended up needing some kind of washer to keep the clutch cable from sliding right thru the cluutch arm or whatever. Simple fix, less than a buck at a hardware store, not even ten minutes. Car cost me 400, drove it 20000 miles, no repairs, 33 mpg no matter how I drove (which was pizza delivery) sold it for the same 400. That is a cheap ride.
I loved the concept and design done by the designer.I would certainly purchase one of these if it’s available here.
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My picks are the Nissan Sentra or Toyota Corolla of the early 90’s to the mid 90’s. They need to be 4 cylinder with the manual transmission.
Big Buick That’s Done Depreciating, Senior Owned, 28 - 30 Hwy. MPG, High Reliability, Low Maintenance, Inexpensive Easy To Get New And Used Parts. Safe, Cheap Insurance, Etcetera, Or Get One Of These . . .
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Chevy Cobalt LS, 2007, 23,000 miles, 5 speed manual transmission, single owner, 65 year old female owner, wanting to sell it quickly. No major accidents. Exactly 5K USD cash.
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