Suggestions for an economical reliable commuter?

General discussions on all non technical car related topics

Moderator: The Mod Squad

Suggestions for an economical reliable commuter?

Postby 85AW20v » Sun Apr 13, 2008 11:46 pm

The V6 1600 Lancer has been written off after I rear ended someone a few weeks ago - not worth repairing apparently as its done 370,000km. I didn't even break any lights or radiators!! It's still driveable and I'm using it everyday for the 100km round trip to work.

So, what would be a good economical reliable commuter, with a bit of grunt for passing and hillwork as I travel Tpo-Turangi everyday and Tpo-HBay and Tpo-Te Awamutu every couple of weeks. I'm not fussy about make/model and looking to spend $4-5k.
See ya

Simon
85 MR2 20v
User avatar
85AW20v
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 1059
Joined: Fri May 24, 2002 6:18 pm
Location: Taupo, NZ

Postby method » Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:27 am

A ke70

Or any corolla....
PICS UPDATED DAILY
Evo IV - 13.0 @ 167.8 kph Full street trim - SOLD
Boosted 4age Ke30 - Im back and better than ever!
User avatar
method
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 1466
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2004 5:58 pm
Location: West Auckland

Postby strx7 » Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:41 am

4afe powered 100 series or 110 series corolla
Online Car Forums - Where Hui seems to take preference over Do-ey

HDJ81- 112AWKW @ 10psi), FC3S (Tarmac Spec 335rwhp@11psi), 3SGTE stroker - replacement body found.

Motorsport Bay of Plenty - http://www.mbop.org.nz
strx7
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 3707
Joined: Mon May 24, 2004 12:06 am
Location: Tauranga

Postby flygt4 » Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:53 am

toyota glanza

anything 4afe powered.

4age powered corollas are also very good. you'd get a blacktop ae111 for under 5k easy.

we had an old 89 honda civic , 1500cc auto we sold a while ago that was really good, i kept thinking the fuel gauge was broken.

i've found with the price of fuel lately most 2L engines are just a bit thirsty for daily driving, though the extra torque is nice. i'd be loking at 1300cc-1600cc.
User avatar
flygt4
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 3820
Joined: Sat Sep 20, 2003 6:57 pm
Location: Wellington

Postby barryogen » Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:26 am

a civic... hell, one of the guys at work just got a civic type r and it goes like a rocket, and has wicked fuel economy too... pretty much the ideal car.
User avatar
barryogen
2ZZ Guru in training
 
Posts: 2692
Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2005 8:38 am
Location: Dunedin

Postby Crampy » Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:30 am

My Mrs had an old 2L Primera. It was damn good on gas and ran well on 91. They have a good amount of go too when you put your foot down.
They're priced quite well these days and have plenty of room in them, being a meduim sized car and all.

She's got a later model Starlet now, auto 4EFE. It's good on gas, but the auto really holds it back. I'd say if you wanted to go for a smaller engine size, definitely go for a 5 speed.
User avatar
Crampy
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 2227
Joined: Sun Nov 10, 2002 3:20 pm
Location: Hobsonville, Auckland

Postby Crampy » Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:33 am

My Mrs had an old 2L Primera. It was damn good on gas and ran well on 91. They have a good amount of go too when you put your foot down.
They're priced quite well these days and have plenty of room in them, being a meduim sized car and all.

She's got a later model Starlet now, auto 4EFE. It's good on gas, but the auto really holds it back. I'd say if you wanted to go for a smaller engine size, definitely go for a 5 speed.
User avatar
Crampy
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 2227
Joined: Sun Nov 10, 2002 3:20 pm
Location: Hobsonville, Auckland

Postby method » Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:59 am

A carib with a 4age could be a good option?
PICS UPDATED DAILY
Evo IV - 13.0 @ 167.8 kph Full street trim - SOLD
Boosted 4age Ke30 - Im back and better than ever!
User avatar
method
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 1466
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2004 5:58 pm
Location: West Auckland

Postby fuel » Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:02 pm

how was that V6 Lancer on gas? a 4cyl 1500cc or 1600cc Lancer would be real cheap to pick up these days and are more economical and still have a bit of poke.

What damage was received to the Lancer? What are you going to do with it now?
LOUD NOISES!!!
User avatar
fuel
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 1532
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2004 1:59 pm
Location: Brisbane Australia

Postby big-ben-007 » Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:21 pm

Put an injected 2e into an altezza :D
Now: 1956 Dodge Pick-up, 1988 EP71 Starlet
Before: 1985 Ford Telstar, 1989 Mazda 323, 1991 Ford Telstar s/w, 1991 Nissan Pulsar GTI, 1991 R32 Nissan Skyline RB20DE, 1991 AE101 Levin GTZ Superstrut Version


"Oh man, I just shot Marvin in the face" - Vincent Vega
User avatar
big-ben-007
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 229
Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2007 4:38 pm
Location: Plimmeton,Wellington

Postby Mr Revhead » Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:31 pm

ep82 starlet.
4efe and 5 speed.
or 100 series corolla.
toyota should still be making both!
Being the subject of E-whinges since 2004 8)

http://www.centralmotorsport.org.nz/home

Image
User avatar
Mr Revhead
SECURITY!
 
Posts: 24635
Joined: Tue Jan 20, 2004 4:06 pm
Location: Nelson

Postby Nuty|Mike » Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:43 pm

im looking for the same sorta vehicle,

Im trying to decide betweena corolla wagon diesel or a starlet efi manual ep8* .

maybe the diesel wagon could work for you .
05 Mazda Verisa .....for the Family
User avatar
Nuty|Mike
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 1714
Joined: Tue May 28, 2002 12:02 pm
Location: Dunedin

Postby Reaper_2000 » Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:52 pm

a cheap dc2 integra :)

or 4age levin ? u can pick them up for 4k

whoever said a glanza ... lol he said he needs to be able to pass people, and on a hill you just dont have a chance !!
Reaper_2000
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 51
Joined: Fri May 12, 2006 11:45 am

Postby Reaper_2000 » Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:52 pm

a cheap dc2 integra :)

or 4age levin ? u can pick them up for 4k

whoever said a glanza ... lol he said he needs to be able to pass people, and on a hill you just dont have a chance !!
Reaper_2000
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 51
Joined: Fri May 12, 2006 11:45 am

Postby bbq1988 » Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:22 pm

Charade GTti, economy and power to pass people!
Baked, Not Fried.
bbq1988
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 1379
Joined: Tue Jun 06, 2006 10:06 am
Location: Te Kuiti, Land of the wrong white crowd

Postby GTTpower » Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:32 pm

bbq1988 wrote:Charade GTti, economy and power to pass people!


Haha you would say that wouldnt you 8) . There getting hard to find now.
1999 SXE10 Altezza RS200Z
2004 Honda SCV100
Previous: 1993 EP85 Starlet, 1984 KP60 Starlet
Steam/Origin ID: nzEP85
User avatar
GTTpower
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 1160
Joined: Wed May 02, 2007 8:47 am
Location: Hamilton

Postby Adamal » Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:28 pm

You probably won't agree as a matter of principle, but maybe an SW20?

I just picked one up for $2150 and theres nothing wrong with it. It'll fly through a WOF. The 3SGE isn't too bad on gas if you drive it nicely, and its still got a bit of poke when you want it.

But seeing as you're an AW driver, I can assume it'd be your last choice :P Also if you're wanting something with a bit of room then it flys straight out the window.

If you're wanting something with 4 doors, then I reckon a Corona would be a safe bet. You'd even have money left over for gas!

Oh, and I misread the title to say "economical reliable computer". Haha
Motorsport is like sex. You could take it to track and have a long, enjoyable session, or you could take it to the strip and get it over with in less than 20 seconds.
User avatar
Adamal
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 11592
Joined: Sun May 02, 2004 4:01 pm
Location: Waitakere Drift Stage (Ranges)

Postby Mr.Phreak » Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:55 pm

Buy a bike :twisted:
Image
User avatar
Mr.Phreak
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 2700
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 6:10 pm
Location: Gisborne

Postby 85AW20v » Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:56 pm

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm thinking about a NZ new 97 twincam 1600 5 spd Astina that a mate has got, hopefully around $5k. Should be OK on gas and still go when I need it to. Sorry Adamal, need four doors......

I'm getting around 10-11km/l in the Lancer which I think is OK. If I drive it nicely between Taupo and Turangi - not too much passing up the Hatepe or Waitahanui Hills - and no other running round, I'd scrape in the 5 round trips on a tank which is 50 litres. If I hold it in secondwhen passing, I get 135km/hr before the rev cut at 8500rpm which does tend to upset the fuel economy somewhat!!

At the moment I'm waiting on the insurance company to tell me how much they'll sell it to me for but it would have to be deregistered if I did that then revinned etc so it might not be worth it for me. If I don't buy it back, then someone will get a good car that only needs the the bumper mounts sorted and right hand headlight realigned. The bonnet is a bit out of shape right at the front but I didn't even break any lights or radiators in the accident!!

And Phreak - you can pedal me to work on a tandem if you want but I wouldn't be helping:D
See ya

Simon
85 MR2 20v
User avatar
85AW20v
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 1059
Joined: Fri May 24, 2002 6:18 pm
Location: Taupo, NZ

Postby Mr.Phreak » Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:54 pm

:lol: Was more thinking along the lines of this
Image
Image
User avatar
Mr.Phreak
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 2700
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 6:10 pm
Location: Gisborne

Next

Return to General Car Discussion

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 22 guests