I'm going to be moving to Norfolk in a few months, and along with that comes a likely 20-30 mile daily commute. Trying to choose a daily driver so I won't be racking up miles on the Evo. Here's what I would like:

reliable
uses 87 octane
reasonable gas mileage (24+)
around $5k or less
at least somewhat sporty

The easy answer is a Civic, which may be what I end up with. I was also thinking a Ford Focus hatch, or maybe an Impreza 2.5RS. What do you guys think?

 

i would also consider a 240sx or maybe a trueno......and older integras would be good cars as well!

 

i'm a big fan of crx's but the two seater isn't real practical if you have to drive people around but if thats not a problem you get a ton of cargo space

 

2.5 rs!

 

I don't need any cargo space. All I need is room for me - probably won't ever even need a passenger seat. I'm leaning toward a 2.5RS too if I could find a nice one for around 5k or so - really can't justify spending much more.

 

a guy in my car club in maine is selling his 2.5rs. awsome car. loaded up. you should check out the pix and if you may be interested lemme know. its a 1999, silver. great shape. asking around 6k (dunno miles)

plus my vote for the 2.5rs anyway because it is a suby/awd and fast.

link to pictures
http://www.evo-imports.com/index.php...view_album.php

 

Toyota Corolla or Chevy Prizm (with a Toyota motor). Great gas mileage and nothing runs longer then a Toyota. So maybe they're not that sporty but put the money you save on gas and maintanance into your Evo.

Both are on the Consumer Reports "Good Bets" list:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/c...-worst-406.htm

 

A good E86 is kinda hard to find, and if the owner knows what he has...it usually goes over $5K....2.5 RS is hot, but civic is your best bet for the money and reliability. Maybe a 95 hatch? It's actually a good base to tune from.

 

how about a 97-99 eclipse? That used to be my dd and I got pretty good gas miles and never had any major issues. I recently test drove a 2005 subaru 2.5rs because my girl was looking for a new car with not much money to spend and she needed awd and man I thought that thing was a piece of crap, but maybe thats b/c I just got out of my evo before I drove it but I even thought my eclipse felt way better than that car...

 

the guy who is selling his 2.5rs just bought a wrx..... he says the 2.5 is a little quicker of course till the boost of the wrx kicks in... but he actually liked his 2.5 a little better in the twistys.

 

mitsuozboi - thanks for the pics. That is what I'm looking for I think, although I won't be ready to get something for a few more months. I owned a WRX before the Evo, and have always liked Subarus (I know, blasphemy!)

deanmeon - my wife had a '96 Eclipse when we got married. I couldn't stand it! For some reason, I could never really get comfortable in it. She really liked it though. That is actually what I got rid of to get the WRX .

 

I like the 2.5 rs as well...

 

Geo Metro

 

[QUOTE=hardt45]mitsuozboi - thanks for the pics. That is what I'm looking for I think, although I won't be ready to get something for a few more months. I owned a WRX before the Evo, and have always liked Subarus (I know, blasphemy!)[QUOTE]


he may still have it in a few months... if you dont mind a drive to ME and are still interested in a few months gimme a hollar.

could go with a older 1.8L mirage