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Cool cars with good gas mileage >30mpg

einmusiker

einmusiker

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Apr 26, 2010
3,001
355
Location: Location: Location:
So, I just realized I put on over 30k miles on my murano in a year. at 18.5 mpg with gas prices still rising it's too much. I need to have a fun to drive vehicle though as I just can't drive something boring. What are your thoughts on nice cars with really good gas mileage?
 
Seeing as you're saying gas instead of petrol/diesel i assume you're in america?

I'm in the UK and I have a VW Golf mk4 and I get about 60mpg out of it. Has 160BHP and 288lbs/ft.

Its pretty fun to drive :D

Think you guys call it a "rabbit"?
 
I'm thinking US gas is intentionally made to get you lower milage, my BMW 320D is getting 44MGP here in europe, that same car in the US hardly gets 30MPG..
 
MonkeySee.... said:
Seeing as you're saying gas instead of petrol/diesel i assume you're in america?

I'm in the UK and I have a VW Golf mk4 and I get about 60mpg out of it. Has 160BHP and 288lbs/ft.

Its pretty fun to drive :D

Think you guys call it a "rabbit"?
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mulo said:
I'm thinking US gas is intentionally made to get you lower milage, my BMW 320D is getting 44MGP here in europe, that same car in the US hardly gets 30MPG..
Click to expand...

yep in the US. Doing some research I WISH we could get more diesel powered vehicles. I really like the volvo diesels amazing milage and cool cars
 
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MINI Cooper S. It's a good fit if you don't have alot of passengers.
 
mulo said:
I'm thinking US gas is intentionally made to get you lower milage, my BMW 320D is getting 44MGP here in europe, that same car in the US hardly gets 30MPG..
Click to expand...

Remember US gallons and imperial gallons are different.

1 imperial gallon = 1.2 US gallons

So 44MPG (Imp) = 36MPG (US)

Still a bit off, but closer. European fuel is higher grade than US, which leads to more efficiency.

This is why everyone should use metric! I prefer litres/100km like they use in Europe.
 
I have a cool car that gets good gas mileage!

But I don't think you can buy them in the USA :(

2006 Smart Roadster Brabus:

car1bm.jpg


car5je.jpg


It has a 3 cylinder turbocharged engine that outputs 101bhp. 0-60 is in about 9 seconds. It has some nice toys too, like heated electric seats and an electric roof as well as paddle shifting on the steering wheel.

It is nothing like the smart fortwo that is sold in the USA, despite sharing some components. Driving experience is totally different, and thanks to the auto gearbox and super light steering it feels just like playing a video game - that's why I bought it!

I did the calculations and I have never seen it get less than 38 US mpg. Normally it gets around 41 US mpg.
 
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I have a 2003 Cupra R. 32mpg - if driven very carefully.

210BHP so plenty of power if you want it, and corners like a housefly.

The new models are even more powerful and probably have roughly same mileage if not better (they just look crap).

2049.jpg
 
ucfgrad93 said:
Have you considered driving less, OP? 30,000 miles in a year seems to be quite a lot.
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Not always possible. I do about 20k a year (not as much as the OP but still above average) and I can't drive less. Public transportation in St. Louis is a joke, and I've got to get to work, do errands, and still have a life.

I've found my GTI to be a nice balance between fun and economical. If I drive like a granny, I can easily do 36 MPG. Or I can have a bit of fun and still get low 30s. It takes premium gas which sucks, but it's worth it. I recently completed a 200 mile trip, at about 75 MPH most of the way (Okay, I may have exceeded 80 at one point ;)) with windows and sunroof open (which, according to Mythbusters, is worse for MPG than A/C at highway speeds) and still got 31 MPG. Not too shabby.
 
I upgraded from a gas guzzling Nissan Pathfinder to a 2011 Kia Soul a couple of months ago.

It gets an average of 24 MPG in the city (expected range of 19-29 for most drivers), and 30 MPG on the highway (expected range of 24-36). I do more city driving than highway driving, and I find that my MPG gauge is always in the 24-28 MPG range. I would imagine that my MPGs would increase with more highway driving.

Even with a smaller gas tank than the Pathfinder, I'm finding that I'm filling up less often and spending less on gas.

I think it's a pretty cool car (not my pic):
Black-Kia-Soul.jpg
 
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Yeah, German Diesels are probably the way to go. Going from an SUV down to a Golf or an A4 might be odd at first, but I think you'd enjoy the ride and handling of these cars.

The Golf TDi (on the VW USA site) has a 140bhp/250ftlb engine and says it can get 30mpg urban and 42mpg highway.

SEAT doesn't seem to have a presence in the US :(
 
Another vote for the Golf TDI here. I average between 46 to 51mpg depending on how heavy my foot is. It is NOT a slow car, never has trouble starting - so far all the way to -20F, and plenty of room in the hatch for a full sized washer, dryer or 50 inch plasma...
 
I had an 05 Accord Coupe, V6, 6 spd manual. 28mpg @ 75mph, 33mpg @ 55mph.

Fun car. Kept it for 90k

2006 and I think 2007 they did make a 4 door version with the 6 speed. The key giveway to the car being a 6 spd is the V6 emblem on the back, it is red instead of black. Red=6spd, Black=auto.
 
neiltc13 said:
I have a cool car that gets good gas mileage!

But I don't think you can buy them in the USA :(

2006 Smart Roadster Brabus:

car1bm.jpg


car5je.jpg


ZZ1B04C08E.jpg


It has a 3 cylinder turbocharged engine that outputs 101bhp. 0-60 is in about 9 seconds. It has some nice toys too, like heated electric seats and an electric roof as well as paddle shifting on the steering wheel.

It is nothing like the smart fortwo that is sold in the USA, despite sharing some components. Driving experience is totally different, and thanks to the auto gearbox and super light steering it feels just like playing a video game - that's why I bought it!

I did the calculations and I have never seen it get less than 38 US mpg. Normally it gets around 41 US mpg.
Click to expand...

Drooling all over myself :eek:
 
ucfgrad93 said:
Have you considered driving less, OP? 30,000 miles in a year seems to be quite a lot.
Click to expand...

yg17 said:
Not always possible. I do about 20k a year (not as much as the OP but still above average) and I can't drive less. Public transportation in St. Louis is a joke, and I've got to get to work, do errands, and still have a life.

I've found my GTI to be a nice balance between fun and economical. If I drive like a granny, I can easily do 36 MPG. Or I can have a bit of fun and still get low 30s. It takes premium gas which sucks, but it's worth it. I recently completed a 200 mile trip, at about 75 MPH most of the way (Okay, I may have exceeded 80 at one point ;)) with windows and sunroof open (which, according to Mythbusters, is worse for MPG than A/C at highway speeds) and still got 31 MPG. Not too shabby.
Click to expand...

I have a 190 mile round trip commute 190 days per year. I wish i could drive less but unfortunately not an option currently :eek:
 
einmusiker said:
Drooling all over myself :eek:
Click to expand...

I'd hate to know what would happen if you saw a Lotus Elise! :p

Actually, that could be a good alternative. 1.8l Toyota engine and really light. Unless you keep your foot attached to the floor (which may well happen in those), you'll get >30mpg.

One of my old colleagues had one, commuted about 50miles round trip. Always came in with a smile on his face and never complained about filling up with petrol.
 
I will 2nd the mini cooper. It is fairly roomy in the front seat and I know a tall guy like me fits in really well. Heck of a better than my sentra and I fit in that pretty good as well.

As for the VW golf if you are a 6' 4" guy like me I would say do not get it. It feels really camp in the diver seat and I know I sure as hell do not fit in it. I was considering it for my next car until I sat down and boom did not fit at all.
 
I have a 2010 VW Jetta TDI Sportwagen. 42-50mpg hwy, 38-42mpg in town. Convenience of a small SUV, economy of a turbo diesel car. Love it.
 
Fiat 500. They are not too fast but I've heard they corner well and gas must be good. Plus I think they look great!
 
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