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View Full Version : Name me an 90's American car model reliable/durable/efficient on gas



Old Snake
05-28-2009, 08:48 PM
Looking for a car right now for everyday driving. I just want something that is durable/reliable/efficient on gas/not hard to fix if something happens to it. My budget is $1600 and it should at least serve me 2 years.
Since my budget is on the cheap, so I'm looking into American cars. Any 90's model that fit that description?

alloroc
05-28-2009, 09:29 PM
Escort / Focus.

Ukyo8
05-28-2009, 09:35 PM
cavalier? lol

drtoohotty1
05-28-2009, 09:42 PM
saturn FTW

B20EF
05-28-2009, 09:49 PM
firefly

corsvette
05-28-2009, 09:57 PM
any gm with the 3.8l V6(grand prix,regal,bonneville,impala,olds 88/98)the drivetrains on those cars go forever.

Old Snake
05-28-2009, 10:00 PM
How are Dodge Neons?

JTC180
05-28-2009, 10:19 PM
Originally posted by Old Snake
How are Dodge Neons?

Crap. Go with a Cavalier.

Old Snake
05-28-2009, 10:53 PM
Cavalier or Sunfire?

R!zz0
05-28-2009, 10:58 PM
Originally posted by Old Snake
I just want something that is durable/reliable/efficient on gas

No American car offers that.

bundi
05-28-2009, 11:41 PM
I've been driving my friend's cavalier while she's at school. I think it's a 96 with the 2.2L motor. Very good on gas. Reliability is unknown as I've only been driving it for a few weeks. The ABS seems sketchy though, I'm not used to having it, but it seems to kick in way too early... (stopping on wet pavement it has kicked in on me twice, and I wasn't stopping hard)
Durable? the car weighs like 2600 pounds, it's not like it's falling apart but I mean.. for 1600 bucks you are not going to get anything but an econobox car.

Boosted Gtir
05-29-2009, 12:47 AM
Originally posted by R!zz0


No American car offers that.

:werd:

Glad someone pointed that out.

sxtothe240
05-29-2009, 12:50 AM
Toyota Tercel
cheap/reliable/great on gas.

Bizzareo
05-29-2009, 01:28 AM
Originally posted by R!zz0


No American car offers that.


Are you kidding!? I find my car to be very reliable, fuel efficient and easy to work on! (carbonated motors ftw) Plus all the parts for it are stupid cheap.

Though my car is made in the 80's :/

If your looking for reliable cheap cars, a sunfire may be a good option. An Chevette or Acadian (99% the same car) are a good option. Or a firefily/ geo metro. Also from my parents experience most Saturn's are pretty reliable. And insurance is cheap in them if you dont get collision!

5000Audi
05-29-2009, 01:52 AM
cavalier/sunfire. owned a wack load of them over the years. great cars... good on gas also.. never had one with major problems.. and anything to fix them is cheap since there its a belly button car

s dime
05-29-2009, 05:44 AM
Originally posted by Bizzareo

(carbonated motors ftw)

I love a fizzy motor too!

alloroc
05-29-2009, 07:45 AM
Originally posted by Bizzareo
(carbonated motors ftw)

Just fill it up with Club Soda and you're good to go hey

Masked Bandit
05-29-2009, 07:58 AM
My brother's had a couple of back to back GM 3.1L V6 machines and they've both been bought for under $2000 with over 200,000 km on the clock and he has had VERY little repair work to do. The benefit of buying something like a 4 door Grand Prix is chances are it was owned by a Mom / Grandpa who didn't drive the shit out of it and took decent care of it.

Old Snake
05-29-2009, 08:53 AM
Are auctions any better for finding deals than kijiji/auto trader/beyond/craiglist?

Bizzareo
05-29-2009, 03:02 PM
Originally posted by s dime


I love a fizzy motor too!



Originally posted by alloroc


Just fill it up with Club Soda and you're good to go hey


This is what happens when you decide to post after closing at work. I definitely should not let my browsers spell check do all the work.

:banghead:

lbrowne
05-29-2009, 03:28 PM
Originally posted by R!zz0


No American car offers that.

Always count on an import nut hugger to weigh in on these threads.

The GM cars with the 3.1 drivetrain is tried tested and true, my old man sold his 92 lumina sedan with 422K on the clock. Outside of typical consumables (brakes, struts) He had to change the tranny at 390k because it finally started slipping. That car went through 3 young boys getting their license, so you can imagine what it went through. I'm not basing my recommendation solely on that car, I've just heard from many people that bought them for beaters that they just go and go with minimal maintenance.

Like someone else said, the 3.8 is also rock solid. It's spread across so many GM vehicles you're bound to find one cheap in some platform.

Cavaliers/Sunfires are in the same boat, stupid easy to work on however they can log tons of miles with neglected maintenance. Gas mileage is great, no power, really cheap to buy.