[Joe240]

I'm going to be having a 35-40 minute commute in the next month or 2, so I'm currently looking for some suggestions for a fuel efficient car that is still fun to drive. From what I can find, the BMW 230i has the most HP/TQ with mid 30s mpg, but the new civic si coupe/sedan makes decent hp, subpar tq for a turbo motor IMO, but makes upper 30s in mpg. However, I know that HP and TQ numbers are a bad starting point for "fun to drive" criteria, but it's the easiest starting point when just looking on the internet.

What I'm hoping for from this thread is the collective knowledge of everyone on the forums and your personal experience of different models that also get 35+ mpg but are still fun to drive.

Budget is $15k-25k so new and used are on the table. 2 or 3 pedals. gas/diesel/electric/hybrid. If going Hybrid, I know that I'm trading the fun to drive for 40+ mpg which is fine since I'll have the 240 for my fun drives.

Some considerations:
mx5 - new/used
228i
mini hardtop 2 door (3cyl)
civic (regular or si) - new/used

[mkoesel]

E90 335d?

https://www.autotrader.com/car-news/...sed-car-256220

[Joe240]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

E90 335d?

https://www.autotrader.com/car-news/...sed-car-256220

That's a good suggestion thanks. I'll keep an eye out for a decent one when I get to Florida.

[WeekendWarriorz]

Mk7 GTI is the best option imo

[JsL]

E60 M5

[floydarogers]

Toyota FRS/Subaru BRZ

[c1pher]

Golf R/S3
228/230i
Corvette C7
Camaro RS
GS400h

[tdott]

Drive your 240 and save up for a future upgrade.

[Joe240]

Originally Posted by WeekendWarriorz

Mk7 GTI is the best option imo

I've heard a lot of people enjoy the mk7s. Might test drive one when I get back. Thanks

Originally Posted by JsL

E60 M5

Think you're missing the point of fuel efficient. I mean mid 30s mpg, not fuel efficient for a v10

Originally Posted by floydarogers

Toyota FRS/Subaru BRZ

This get less than 30mpg on the highway. At that point I'd just drive my 240

Originally Posted by MGM135is

Golf R/S3
228/230i
Corvette C7
Camaro RS
GS400h

Golf r, s3, camaro rs, gs400h and corvette all get similar or worse mpg than the 240.

228/230 is nice, but trying not to have 2 2ers. Would like to have a different model.

Originally Posted by tdott

Drive your 240 and save up for a future upgrade.

240 already has CAI, OCC, Remus catback, catless DP, jb4. Would like the pure turbo upgrade, but I think I'm going to stay away from that until warranty is up. Easy enough to uninstall the catless DP, intake, OCC, and tune and leave the exhaust should I need any warranty work, turbo wouldn't be as easy.

[David70]

My vote would also be for the GTI but if your main goal is to save gas money you may want to run the numbers to see if getting rid of your new car will really help enough to bother. Assume there will be a big hit on the recently purchased car.

Estimated savings between your car and the GTI (20k miles a year, 70% highway) is $700 a year - https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find...id=37972&#tab1

[c1pher]

Originally Posted by Joe240

I've heard a lot of people enjoy the mk7s. Might test drive one when I get back. Thanks



Think you're missing the point of fuel efficient. I mean mid 30s mpg, not fuel efficient for a v10



This get less than 30mpg on the highway. At that point I'd just drive my 240



Golf r, s3, camaro rs, gs400h and corvette all get similar or worse mpg than the 240.

228/230 is nice, but trying not to have 2 2ers. Would like to have a different model.



240 already has CAI, OCC, Remus catback, catless DP, jb4. Would like the pure turbo upgrade, but I think I'm going to stay away from that until warranty is up. Easy enough to uninstall the catless DP, intake, OCC, and tune and leave the exhaust should I need any warranty work, turbo wouldn't be as easy.

I believe GS400h is 35mpg.

I forgot to mention Fiat Abarth, just buy it used because it depreciates fast. I got 36 mpg consistently and I had a piggyback on it. It was fun to drive despite its quirks.

[dzvero]

Prius C

[Fundguy1]

Spend less but get less mpg so cost is the same. Maybe an ecoboost mustang with 30 mpg for example? Or a wrx or evo? 5 mpg less vs 10k for gas goes a long way. That's 4800 gallons which for a 20k, 30 mpg car means you'd have to drive 850,000 miles to have the same cost. As a 30k car with 35 mpg. Till you hit 850k miles, the 20k car is cheaper.

[Joe240]

Originally Posted by Fundguy1

Spend less but get less mpg so cost is the same. Maybe an ecoboost mustang with 30 mpg for example? Or a wrx or evo? 5 mpg less vs 10k for gas goes a long way. That's 4800 gallons which for a 20k, 30 mpg car means you'd have to drive 850,000 miles to have the same cost. As a 30k car with 35 mpg. Till you hit 850k miles, the 20k car is cheaper.

This is a good point. Didn't think of it from this perspective. Although an ecoboost mustang might be fun, would hate to become the target of both BMW AND Mustang critics for being a bad driver (blinker delete and hating crowds)

[Joe240]

Originally Posted by dzvero

Prius C

Thought about this as well. Relatively cheap ($10-15k) with lower mileage and gets 40+ mpg.

[Joe240]

Originally Posted by David70

My vote would also be for the GTI but if your main goal is to save gas money you may want to run the numbers to see if getting rid of your new car will really help enough to bother. Assume there will be a big hit on the recently purchased car.

Estimated savings between your car and the GTI (20k miles a year, 70% highway) is $700 a year - https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find...id=37972&#tab1

I'd be keeping the 240. Love the car and have more invested in it than I'd get out of it. Plus it'd depreciate quick if it turned into a 30-40 mile/day daily driver. And besides, I'd pay an extra $700 a year to drive the 240 over the GTI.

[Joe240]

Originally Posted by MGM135is

I believe GS400h is 35mpg.

I forgot to mention Fiat Abarth, just buy it used because it depreciates fast. I got 36 mpg consistently and I had a piggyback on it. It was fun to drive despite its quirks.

Guy I work with has an Abarth 500. Sounds good and is pretty quick. Just heard reliability on them sucks. What quirks did yours have?

[dzvero]

Originally Posted by Joe240

Thought about this as well. Relatively cheap ($10-15k) with lower mileage and gets 40+ mpg.

To be exact it gets ~50 but i was joking

[c1pher]

Originally Posted by Fundguy1

Spend less but get less mpg so cost is the same. Maybe an ecoboost mustang with 30 mpg for example? Or a wrx or evo? 5 mpg less vs 10k for gas goes a long way. That's 4800 gallons which for a 20k, 30 mpg car means you'd have to drive 850,000 miles to have the same cost. As a 30k car with 35 mpg. Till you hit 850k miles, the 20k car is cheaper.

I’ve done this math before too. Very good point.

[c1pher]

Originally Posted by Joe240

Guy I work with has an Abarth 500. Sounds good and is pretty quick. Just heard reliability on them sucks. What quirks did yours have?

I had no reliability issues even with the piggyback and I beat that car like heck. It does call for spark plugs to be changed st 30,000 miles (copper plugs recommended) and if you change oil regularly, you should be fine. I investigated getting better plugs that would last longer but it’s so easy to change the plugs I never went further.

The car is cheap, for $12k used don’t expect the fit and finish of anything close to a BMW. It’s like taking a step back into the 80-90s. The seating position is odd. It’s a 5 speed instead of a six speed unless you get automatic. The shifts are long and rubbery. The stock radio sounds like an old Motorola.

Beyond that, the car is pretty awesome. There’s a good sized trunk and if you put the rear seat down it swallows most everything.

My recommendation would be to get the base manual with fabric seats (clean up easy). They typically have lower miles and sell for less. I think sticker said 34mpg but I only got that if I sat in traffic. I was usually around 36-37mpg. I got a madness 500 piggyback as my only mod. I would still have it as a fun little back up car but ended up trading it for a cargo van I needed. With the piggyback, it made glorious little popping sounds on the overrun. There is no muffler and the exhaust is designed by Akropovic. In stock form, the car has 160hp/170tq. With the piggyback it’s 200-210hp/240tq. You won’t pass an M2 but you will surprise people.

I drove it like 34,000 miles over 18 months, never skipped a beat. It’s a pretty simple design. If it has reliability issues, it’s the owner not taking care of it which is usually the case.

[David70]

Originally Posted by Joe240

I'd be keeping the 240. Love the car and have more invested in it than I'd get out of it. Plus it'd depreciate quick if it turned into a 30-40 mile/day daily driver. And besides, I'd pay an extra $700 a year to drive the 240 over the GTI.

If you end up buying another car figure out the cost to insure, maintain, repair and then the depreciation on it and it is unlikely to make sense to get another car to save money either. Then as you said you spend most of the time in would rather not be in.

[FriskyDingo]

Wouldn't even be considering anything other than a GTI or A3.


Maybe a Civic Si if I could get past the looks.

Everything else is either going to be older/high mileage for the money, less fun to drive, or less practical/driveable on a day-to-day basis.