Daily Driver Choices??

[CHRIS.O]

I'll be willing to buy whatever is in that price range that is decent on gas. I don't care about power, my jeep is the slowest thing I've ever owned right now so I am used to it. Wait I take that back, my 79 cutlass with a 260 was the slowest thing I have owned haha. But anyway, I just want decent mileage, up over 20mpg and I wanted a 4 door. Brand really isn't a huge deal but I really don't want some DOHC thing. Thanks for the input people.

 

[onyxxtreme]

can't go wrong with a 4cyl toyota
my wife's has 150k miles (scion XA), never had ANY single mechanical failures ever (we bought it new). All we do is routine maintenance
my mother has a 4ccyl. Camry (2006), about 120k miles, never had any problems either. (she bought it new)
Just swap plugs every 30k miles, change oil 5k, filters, belts, etc when needed.

i'm not a fan of toyotas, but for daily drivers, or vehicles for a wife, can't beat em.
can't say the same about my expedition :x

 

[billyjack]

I'd be looking for a used 4 door GM car with a 3800 engine. The only real issue the later Series 2 ever had was that intake manifold, and most of them have been replaced already. If it somehow escaped the recall or repair, the aftermarket replacement is less than a hundred bucks.

The 3800 from 1988 on up was a great engine. I have had several that have gone well beyond 200k miles, most were running when I sold them after. The GM transmissions in those years are dependable, and no quirks with leaky power steering or other weird problems.

Up north where you are, the 3800 really does well in snow and nasty mud. Its heavy enough to get through the bad winters, powerful enough for whatever you need daily driver wise, parts are cheap and easy to get, and the car is safer in an accident for you and the people inside it than you are in a lightened up beer can import car.

I am usually pushing around 30 mpg or better on the highway too.

My sentiments exactly. I was in the same situation a while ago when I needed an extra household car. I went looking for a GM car with a 3800 and found a cheap Olds Intrigue, similar car to the Regal or Grand Prix. Lotsa low-end torque, great fuel mileage for a 6 cylinder, easy to work on with good availability of reasonably-priced parts. I had to do the intake gaskets and replaced a couple wheel speed sensors, but other than that it was just regular maintenance items. As usual, you just have to check carefully for rust issues underneath.

Bill

 

[axisg]

I'd be looking for a used 4 door GM car with a 3800 engine. The only real issue the later Series 2 ever had was that intake manifold, and most of them have been replaced already. If it somehow escaped the recall or repair, the aftermarket replacement is less than a hundred bucks.

The 3800 from 1988 on up was a great engine. I have had several that have gone well beyond 200k miles, most were running when I sold them after. The GM transmissions in those years are dependable, and no quirks with leaky power steering or other weird problems.

Up north where you are, the 3800 really does well in snow and nasty mud. Its heavy enough to get through the bad winters, powerful enough for whatever you need daily driver wise, parts are cheap and easy to get, and the car is safer in an accident for you and the people inside it than you are in a lightened up beer can import car.

I am usually pushing around 30 mpg or better on the highway too.

My sentiments exactly. I was in the same situation a while ago when I needed an extra household car. I went looking for a GM car with a 3800 and found a cheap Olds Intrigue, similar car to the Regal or Grand Prix. Lotsa low-end torque, great fuel mileage for a 6 cylinder, easy to work on with good availability of reasonably-priced parts. I had to do the intake gaskets and replaced a couple wheel speed sensors, but other than that it was just regular maintenance items. As usual, you just have to check carefully for rust issues underneath.

Bill

x3 on a Wbody. The 3.4 in the Impala is no slouch either and should not be overlooked. Although all the wbodys suffer from a weak transmission. In fact I have had 6 great years out of wifeys '03 Impala and expect it to become my daughters first car 2 years from now. The 5 star crash rating helps with insurance and peace of mind as well.

 

[sbc383rulz]

i hate to be that guy but... i just got a geo metro for $300 that needs about $500 worth of engine work and will consistently get 50 mpg or more, with that kind of mileage you can afford to insure another larger vehicle thst you only use to take the family out.. malibus are sweet also..