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Fuel Mileage: what are my choices.
I have got to ask. I drive a 2003 Discovery as my Daily Driver. It was my wife's and when she changed cars I took it over. It has been a very enjoyable ride which handled the mean streets of Philadelphia quite nicely. My issue is gas mileage. It is a PIG. This week I spent $140. on gas. I am considering making a change to an 30 mile per gallon economy commuter. I would still like some utility. I also would like some cool..... any pelican ideas? My view is to make the move while the discovery still has some value.
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86 Sports Purpose Carrera "O4" |
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I say you're looking at around $15K for your Disco. The bad news is that almost all of the sport-ute's and small trucks out there get around the same milage as your Disco (15-20mpg).
My suggestion: Subaru
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'75 911S 3.0L '75 914 in progress '67 912R-STi '99 LR Disco 2 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: New York, NY USA
Posts: 4,269
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The era of the SUV is closing. Save the cool for the Porsche on weekends. Utility? Have have loaded my 2X lumber and bags of concrete mix into my corolla no problem!
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Capital Region, NY
Posts: 686
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Honda Civic HX (entry level version)? 40 something per gal combined, I think? Not a hybrid. Well built.
87 blk coupe |
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Rogue Valley, Oregon
Posts: 1,736
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The choices are pretty limited when you are talking about utility and 30 mpg. Small wagons probably fit the bill. Cool factor with these cars is low in my opinion. But, if you can adjust your mindset maybe frugal, cost effective, reliable can be interpreted as "cool".
Kia, Suzuki, Scion, Mazda, and others make nice looking, well equipped small wagons that offer some utility for the occasional trip to the lumber yard, or garden center. A small trailer just adds to the utility. Most of these cars are rated at around 30 mpg highway. If it were me, I'd buy an Acura RSX Type S from about 2005 or so. Fun to drive, well built, reasonable utility. Troy
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Troy Past: 1975 911S Silver Anniversary-rebuilt and sublime. Past: 1988 Carrera-backdated with a 3.6 and all the goodies. Present: 2011 GMC 2500HD with the 6.0 & 4x4!, 2004 Toyota Sequoia (wife's) |
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Quote:
Just disappointed in the mileage of both. I like the utility nature w/ Euro flare.
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86 Sports Purpose Carrera "O4" |
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Kantry Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: N.S. Can
Posts: 4,328
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Before we got the Jetta Diesel, (50 mpg
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"I'd much rather signal a virtue than scream a vice." Michael Coren |
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Okayama, Japan
Posts: 1,293
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BMW X3 with diesel twin turbo is coming in Fall 2008
450 lbs of Torque and 30mpg highway sounds nice
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Current Drivers - 2006 BMW 1 Series & MB E320 Wagon (new addition 1998 Mazda Roadster) EX - 1993 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 EX - 1979 Porsche 911SC TARGA EX - 1976 BMW 2002 |
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Kenbridge VA
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+ 1 diesel Jetta.
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Peppy 2011 BMW 335d 1988 Targa 3.4 ![]() 2001 Jetta TDI dead 1982 Chevette Diesel SOLD ![]() |
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That would be perfect for my wife. She has a leased 525xi and wants a X3. She misses the height of the Disco. Jetta and Golfs or Rabbits are on my list. I can't get my mind around the Prius except that it gets impressive mileage @ 60 / gallon!
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Rogue Valley, Oregon
Posts: 1,736
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I have had three water cooled VWs; two Golfs and a Jetta Tdi. The only one that was decent was the '86 Golf. The other two were in the shop 4 to 6 times a year. The Tdi was the worst in that it stranded my wife and me with our three kids on a busy road, on a blind curve. We nearly got hit by multiple RVs until a good Samaritan pulled us to a turnout. The car suffered from multiple glow plug failures, MAF sensor failures (two), wiring harness failures, window lifts, interior fell apart (literally the headliner and other trim bits just fell down). The only good I ca say is it got good mileage (circa 50 mpg) when it was running.
VWs have the worst reliability according to Consumer Reports. I recommend that you avoid them until they can fix their issues. Troy
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Troy Past: 1975 911S Silver Anniversary-rebuilt and sublime. Past: 1988 Carrera-backdated with a 3.6 and all the goodies. Present: 2011 GMC 2500HD with the 6.0 & 4x4!, 2004 Toyota Sequoia (wife's) |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: N. Phoenix AZ USA
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Honda Accord is perfect for me as a pickup truck that does not look like a truck. Lasts forever and gets descent mileage as well as you can sell them anytime you are tired of it for 90% what you paid for it.
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2013 Jag XF, 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins (the workhorse), 1992 Jaguar XJ S-3 V-12 VDP (one of only 100 examples made), 1969 Jaguar XJ (been in the family since new), 1985 911 Targa backdated to 1973 RS specs with a 3.6 shoehorned in the back, 1959 Austin Healey Sprite (former SCCA H-Prod), 2010 Jaguar XF (fast touring car), 1995 BMW R1100RSL, 1971 & '72 BMW R75/5 "Toaster," Ural Tourist w/sidecar, 1949 Aeronca Sedan / QB |
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Bug Eating Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: A swamp near you
Posts: 2,068
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Mini Cooper S if the wallet will allow.
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
Posts: 5,467
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When is the Subaru flat-4 turbodiesel supposed to arrive in North America? That is going to be a BIG winner.
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Jake Often wrong, but never in doubt. '81 911 euro SC (bits & pieces) '03 Carrera 4s '97 LX450 / '85 LeCar / '88 Iltis + a whole bunch of boats Last edited by notfarnow; 02-01-2008 at 02:37 PM.. |
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Nice guy eddie
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Quote:
Luke, that LR Discovery is one of the least efficient vehicles ever sold in modern times in terms of dollars spent on fuel+maintainence versus what it returns in performance or cargo volume. Good off-road capabilities, (which 99+% of owners never use), but they burn fuel like a moving van. The Prius is not a great OTR vehicle, (diesel is better and I like roadtrips), but as an around-town or commuter vehicle they are hard to beat, IMO. You will absolutely be driving the opposite of the Discovery, a super-efficient, cool modern technology car w/ TONS of room inside that returns arguably the most cool-factor and performance from a gallon of gas on the road. They've been selling them long enough w/ millions of miles travelled to ascertain their great QC and typical Toyota durability, and factoring in resale it is probably the cheapest new car in the world to own, at least among anything I'd actually drive. ![]()
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Denis "It was either Voltaire or Charlie Sheen who said, 'We are born alone. We live alone. We die alone. And anything in between that can give us the illusion that we're not, we cling to.'" - -- Gabriel byrne |
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Nice guy eddie
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Quote:
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Denis "It was either Voltaire or Charlie Sheen who said, 'We are born alone. We live alone. We die alone. And anything in between that can give us the illusion that we're not, we cling to.'" - -- Gabriel byrne |
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Non Compos Mentis
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Off the grid- Almost
Posts: 9,965
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I just bought a 944S for a race car project. Pretty nice car, with lots of room under the rear hatch. Much better on gas than my full-size truck.
I may use it as a driver for a while before turnong it into a race car. |
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Second hand Subaru WRX wagon or new WRX hatchback
Honda Civic/Fit Mazda 3
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2012 911 Black Edition Cabriolet 2008 Cayman S Grey on Black - flooded, written off 1977 930 Turbo Carrera Black on Red #411 1987 951 Black on Black - sold to make room for the 930 1972 911 2.7 - I regret selling her every single day.... |
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Thanks for the input......
It is hard getting rid of a paid for vehicle...mechanically the Disco has been great and for my family you can not beat the practicality. It was the perfect vacation vehicle. I just do not think gas is going to come down and I am trying to embrace smaller cars. Pruis makes a ton of sense and has 4 doors but it has gotten a bit pricey CooperS tons of cool but also pricey and not long on practicality 944s and 924s very cool great value but what kind of mileage?
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While not a winner in the "utility" category, our 07' A4 2.0T gets around 34~36 around town, and it sure does plow though the snow. All that and I don't have to drive a Honda.
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2021 Model Y 2005 Cayenne Turbo 2012 Panamera 4S 1980 911 SC 1999 996 Cab |
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