Advice please - economical car for < $3,000

[zerbey]

I had to get rid of my Suburban, was costing me $1,000 a month to run it. Gonna miss the old girl, but she was draining me financially.

I'm looking for a good 5 seater car that'll get me from A-B and be easy to work on (since I'm not particularly good with mechanical stuff). My biggest concern is MPG but obviously I like to speed a little, so I don't want something my Mother-in-law would drive

Any ideas folks?

[radarrob]

2003 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4dr Sedan 1.9L DTI Diesel

I would try and get one of these you can get one at the price your asking.i get 35 mpg highway and 28 city 300 miles to a empty tank.mine is not diesel tho mine is 6 speed runs on 92 gas and can easily get out of it> 400,000 miles on it and still drive strong.

http://www.kcautosource.com/AUTOBUZZ/2003%20VW%20Jetta%20TDI/2003%20Jetta.jpg

[zerbey]

Thanks, definitely considering a diesel car. Drove one when I was still living in England and loved it (actually, the first vehicle I ever drove was a diesel too). Wish they were more common here.

[lugnuts]

2000 4 door civic, what my wife drove ~30-35mpg seats 5 and would be in your price range.

you probably could find a newer one still in your price range.

[zerbey]

Thanks for the replies guys, gave me some ideas. Gonna miss my truck but it'll be nice to have a smaller vehicle again

[TRun]

1996 or newer Suzuki Sidekick or Chevy Tracker 4door. Small suv with 20+ mpg, the 4x4 is awesome in the snow and mud. Make sure you look for the 1.8 engine since the 1.6 in a 4door is underpowered. 5spd would help.

[JDS]

E36 (1992-1998) BMW 3-series. They don't cost anything anymore, they're fun and rewarding to drive, all excellent straight-6 engines but not too big (2.0L-2.8L) so they're not gas hogs. They're 5-seaters, but they're mostly designed to seat 4 people, with the rear center seat for occasional use. How often do you plan to have 5 passengers in the car?

[Solidjake]

Civic. Good on gas and cheap for repairs. Get yourself a good tool kit, ratchet, sockets, wrenches, spark plug tool and a needle torque wrench and you'll be able to fix everything on it.

[DrCoke]

My top picks: 1993-current Civic, 1991-1997 Accord. I owned the 1991 Accord and 1997 Accord and both where bulletproof on the engine and auto trans. Both had +200,000 miles. Also owned 2000 Accord (sold at 170,000 trouble free miles),2002 Accord (+170,000 only changed starter). All Honda are easy and cheap to fix.

[th3 factory freak]

Corolla or Civic if the engine isn't eating oil and the transmission is doing ok.