Top 10 Most Economical New Cars

[nenne]

wow people get real here . no matter what size your car is it's still a "death trap". all cars are putting out extremly harmful pollutents. and if we can get some consumer freindly and enviornment friendly transportation then that statis of death trap decreases. It's one person at a time folks get on the boat or we'll kill the planet, then we wont have to worry about how big the car is we'll be soffocating in our own mess. oh ya by the way Trucker, who do you think is killing the planet faster: you big sturdy cars that wiegh over 2000 lbs, or the economical cars?

[ALINI]

I guess you like to throw money away. but that dosent explain why you are posting in a economical cars blog........ huh? well gas prices are crazy so people will seek a way to save money on gas even if it takes to change from a nice nissan armada to a toyota yaris. plus gas hasnt reached its highest price.... things will only get worst and this is only a ressesion imagine when we reach the DEPRESSION. maybe then you will change your mind. i think its very smart on people to consider smaller cars

[alini]

sorry i dint mention who the reply reffered to........ ms trucker

[Richard]

I'm just glad i bought a Prius 2 years ago. My wife, 10 month old daughter and myself fit just fine in it. and i'm 6'2 260 lbs.

[gh0st]

"think what a loaded 18 wheeler weighing around 80.000lbs could do to one of them"

Umm...what would a 80,000 lb vehicle traveling at 55mph do to another 80,000 lb vehicle??? The notion that 3500 lb of vehicle versus 1800 lb of vehicle is going to make any kind of appreciable difference is laughable it it wasn't so disconcerting to see this kind of "logic" thrown around with the "HAH!" tone.
I can almost smell the brain cells smoldering...

[Lena Shannon]

Get A Clue wrote:

<quoted text>
So, what's your reasoning for that comment?? You sound like an old uneducated woman!
Do you have anything constructive or remotely enlightening to say? Like the fact that todays subcompacts and compact cars are extremely better constructed than yesterdays models and save enormous amounts of fuel which translates to saving money, natural resources and our environment.

Be careful when you want to make a constructive impact, & an influence to society for the benefit of the planet & the rest of us.It's true what you stated, & gas-guzzlers annoy me too.I've always driven compact cars-BECAUSE they're practical & easy on gas.Honestly, the only times I've come close to having an accident, was when trucks or other gas guzzlers drive like they own the road. By all means we're entitled to opinions, I just know we're more effective when we're informative rather than pointing the finger.

[CJane Run]

After 15 years driving a '86 Chev Celebrity wagon and enjoying high gas mileage and very low maintenance costs, I finally went car shopping again. I was very pleased to find that the '01 Saturn SL1 sedan has the things highest one my wish list - great gas mileage, split seats for cargo room, and high safety factor. While my mechanic warns me that I might get more years out of a Toyota or Honda, I think we're all aware that prices on used Toyotas or Hondas have been jacked up severely this year. I might not get 15 years out of the Saturn, but my insurance barely rose at all, and for a seven year-old car it looks nearly new, handles well and runs great. I'm betting that with appropriate maintenance this car will give me my money's worth.

[jimmy carter days]

Trucker wrote:

10 cheep ways to die on highway. All of these vehicles are at, or most likely under 2000lbs. Just think what a full size vehicle could do to one of them on impact. Better yet think what a loaded 18 wheeler weighing around 80.000lbs could do to one of them. Gas is expensive, but is it so bad that a person would put their life on the line in something like this?
Good fuel economy, light weight, maneuverable and easy to park. The way I see most people drive... No I won't say it!
Cheaper is not always better!

Mopeds got popular during the terrible energy crisis of the jimmy carter term. Most gas stations were out of gas and there were hours long lines at others. The average life expectancy of a Moped driver was about six months or one accident, whichever came first.

[Compact Car]

gh0st wrote:

"think what a loaded 18 wheeler weighing around 80.000lbs could do to one of them"
Umm...what would a 80,000 lb vehicle traveling at 55mph do to another 80,000 lb vehicle??? The notion that 3500 lb of vehicle versus 1800 lb of vehicle is going to make any kind of appreciable difference is laughable it it wasn't so disconcerting to see this kind of "logic" thrown around with the "HAH!" tone.
I can almost smell the brain cells smoldering...

There was an accident on Atlanta news where a minivan was caught in an accident between two tractor trailors. The minivan was about 2 1/2 feet long after the impact. They couldn't even get the lady out of the vehicle so had to tow her away with the wrecker.

[New Rules]

Why are 16 yr old GEO Metros going for $6K on ebay? Answer: Because of MPG. Honestly, these cars are junk.

Chevy Cavaliers are way cheaper than that. They Get 33MPG and are far superior cars with very little cost to maintain. I just don't understand buyers.

[architect]

excellent quote from Airnos above;
"Best defense against that is good driving -- not a heavy car. I personally prefer the smaller ones because they're far more maneuverable which goes a long way toward *avoiding* wrecks."
This is the European philosophy, which i also subscribe to, driver skill outweighs dumb and big.
Get a small, high quality car, and go attend a "street survial school" or and "Car Control Clinic" and re-learn how to REALLY drive!
(next if i can just get you to save money on a 5 or 6 speed, rather than that mind numbing, gas wasting automatic)
I drive a 91 BMW 318is, last of the "boxy" BMW's.
bought it used, and it had advanced technology when new, so anti lock brakes and airbags and so on.....
purchase price and ALL repairs in the first year set me back about $4,500 TOTAL, AND it gets 35 mpg. and now it has all new suspension, new steering new exhaust, new tires, new brakes new battery......, all for thousands less than even a yaris/scion (also good cars)
over the years the family has had several old "little" bmw's. I was even rear ended hard in a little 325 by a big lexus driven by an 87 year old. I walked away from this, junked the car and bought another one.
now get this, the car weighs, 2,600 pounds,
Thats it.
Been living in chicago and san francisco, where there is serious traffic, and weather, and road rage nuts. Accident Avoidance is the key to survival.
I dont want to be in ANY accident, don't want the hassle with the law, the insurance, the repair shop, and certianly not risk my life.
I have seen SUV roll overs, and how poorly they handle, brake,etc (bmw X5,X3, Infinity FX35, and Porsche Cayanne are the exception)
even if your SUV will protect you against smaller threats, the comments about about loosing to and 18 wheeler are true.
More importantly, even if you are safe, do you want to be the "at fault" party in a crash becasue your SUV has the maneuvablity and stopping ability of a locomotive?
Do you want to be the one who cause the unsafety on the roads, and the cause of someone else hurt or worse?
Finally, How many US soldiers and Iraqi civilians had to die so you could have all the precious oil for that big SUC,
Ohh I forgot to mention, While I have a little BMW, I moved to a home 5 miles from my job, and most days (except rain) i ride my bicycle to work.

[I coulda had a V8]

The most economical car is the one that is left sitting in your driveway...

[LDB]

My husband and I own a 4 door, Ford 1 ton; and extended cab Ford 1/2 ton, and a PT cruiser. Within the next month we will be selling or trading in the 1/2 ton for a Mini, so you can see that we drive both big and small vehicles. I just have something to say about the 'Trucker'. My father drove a truck when I was a child and I learned rather quickly that there ARE many truckers that drive too fast and on too little sleep; however there are also just as many people in cars that do not realize the dangers of trucks, and they (the cars) drive too close, tailgate, or do not respect the fact that they share the road with these 80,000 lb vehicles. I have two small children, and realize that many drivers, in cars or 18-wheelers may not be paying attention or may be tired, so I drive cautiously. Also, many 18-wheelers have governers on them, so they can't drive over a certain speed limit, but I know that many don't. Another thing. A lot of those men and women out there are just trying to make a living in those 'big trucks' and get home safely to their families, and they want you to do the same. I know my dad did.

[TMAN]

What would an 18 wheeler do to any car? I own a fairly large SUV and I have been in accidents. Yes smaller cars are more dangerous, but in a high impact accident with a larger vehichle, any car can be deadly. Also, larger SUVs have a greater tendancy to roll in an accident. Not good reasoning not to buy one...

Trucker wrote:

10 cheep ways to die on highway. All of these vehicles are at, or most likely under 2000lbs. Just think what a full size vehicle could do to one of them on impact. Better yet think what a loaded 18 wheeler weighing around 80.000lbs could do to one of them. Gas is expensive, but is it so bad that a person would put their life on the line in something like this?
Good fuel economy, light weight, maneuverable and easy to park. The way I see most people drive... No I won't say it!
Cheaper is not always better!