daily driver...what to get

[crimson850]

I need a daily driver under $30,000 with good fuel economy..problem is there are few cars that I like and I dont think rover makes anything with even decent fuel economy...help me out here guys. Doesnt have to be to expensive or lavish..I just dont want a car like everyone has.

 

[Antichrist]

I'm guessing you can buy a lot of gas for under $30,000. Given the mpg your current vehicles get and the miles you would drive a DD a year, how long would it take you to recoup $25,000 if you get something that gets, say, 40mpg?
Not sure what you mean by "a car like everyone has". I have Land Rovers and an '85 4WD F-250.

 

[t42beal13t]

Good fuel economy? I believe the LR forum is the wrong place for that...

Maybe look for a diesel defender or disco. Twenty + mpg can be had.

 

[JackW]

You can buy a pretty decent used Boxster for under $20,000 - I've found through years of careful experimentation that a combination of Land Rovers and Porsches makes a good mix.

 

[UnfrozenCaveman]

We've had a 2008 VW GTi at the house as our "sensible car" for the past few years...works for me, has 4 doors & a boot for stuff.

 

[1911]

I don't know what they go for now, but three years ago I bought a new VW Jetta TDI for $25,000. Gets 42 mpg around town and 49 on the highway.

 

[DaveNay]

'98 Nissan Sentra.

$2100 and a new set of tires gets me to and from work every day @ 35 MPG.

 

[Howski]

I'd get a new 5.0 Mustang or 335i if you're looking for a car. Both over 20 mpg, which I consider good for a fun car

 

[LR Max]

Check out Hyundai cars. My g/f has an Elantra. Holy smokes. For a small car with four doors (or 2, or station wagon), it is super mighty fine. 25k on the clock with no issues. She drives like a mad person and it gets ~35 mpg all day. Granted, she does a lot of highway driving but still good. You can get this car with a manual if you'd like. Well appointed and overall, mighty fine.

I talked to a guy last night who has a Sonata with the turbo 4 cylinder. He said he is getting 22 mpg in the city and he drives like an idiot (late braking at lights, fast take offs). So far, so good. He loves that car.

The Veloster. Small and spunky. If its just you, your work bag, sammich bag, and gym bag, then this is a fantastic car. Also available with a turbo 4 cylinder so she'll get up and move.

All are basic, fun, reliable, economical, and cheap cars. Personally, I'm heavily considering a Veloster with a manual if I don't pick up an LR3. All of the mentioned vehicles are available within/well within your budget.

 

[EricTyrrell]

LR2 or TDi is probably as good as MPG gets for a LR.

 

[PhyrraM]

Subarus XV Crosstrek looks intriguing. Small and economical enough for a daily driver. Enough options to keep it from feeling like an econobox. Able to fit some gear in the hatch. And, capable of running down dirt/fire roads like a rally car.

 

[ZG]

200/300 Tdi Defender/Disco would do well.

 

[LR Max]

Subarus XV Crosstrek looks intriguing. Small and economical enough for a daily driver. Enough options to keep it from feeling like an econobox. Able to fit some gear in the hatch. And, capable of running down dirt/fire roads like a rally car.

My uncle has one. He loves it. That said, he is a huge Subaru fan.

X2 on a LR2. Great cars. Also the Kia Sorento is an amazing small road-going-only SUV. I drove around last week in a new Subaru Forester. It was just bland. Heavy in the "meh". Not fun. Just existing. Works great if you only care about getting from point A to point B.

 

[tacr2man]

I was going to try and help with a reply but the US seems to get starved of the vehicles that give really good mpg , in the UK a subaru is considered to be heavy on fuel JMHO

 

[LR Max]

I was going to try and help with a reply but the US seems to get starved of the vehicles that give really good mpg , in the UK a subaru is considered to be heavy on fuel JMHO

This is true. That said, we are all lead foot drivers, scoff at anything that doesn't do 0-60 quicker than 10 seconds, and we think small cars are super death traps. We get what we deserve.