Fun and fuel-efficient car for under $3500

Hey guys, I've only been able to come up with these cars for a friend of mine who needs a daily driver, but can't think of anything else to add to this. He's looking for something that can get comparable MPG to today's compact and mid-size cars, but also doesn't feel like a piece of E36 M3 econobox. Has to be automatic, and side airbags plus a timing chain would be a bonus. If I can get opinions on how each of these compare to one another, that'd be great:

• 2002-2006 Acura RSX
• 2006-2007 Honda Accord EX
• 2001-2002 Saturn SC2/SL2
• 2008-2011 Ford Focus
• 1992 Accord EX
• 2005-2007 Accord V6 Hybrid
• 2000-2001 Honda Prelude
• 2001-2003 Toyota Corolla/Chevy Prizm
• 2006-2009 Scion TC
• 2005-2006 Scion xB
• 2003-2006 Corolla XRS
• 2003-2006 Matrix XRS

EDIT: Can someone please explain why E36 M3 popped up when I meant to type in s***?

My Volvo?  I wouldn't ask $3500 for it but I'm flexible

I would NOT want a timing chain engine.  What I am seeing in the field is that timing chains are failing in about 100-120k on dealer-maintained cars.  The fine-pitch chains used in modern engines do not cotton to long oil change intervals.  The most painful one in memory was a K24-engined Honda that had its tensioner maxed out at a schosh over 60k, but it was out of warranty by time so the dealer wouldn't help them out.

thunder1335 said:

also doesn't feel like a piece of E36 M3 econobox. 

• ̶2̶0̶0̶2̶-̶2̶0̶0̶6̶ ̶A̶c̶u̶r̶a̶ ̶R̶S̶X̶
• 2006-2007 Honda Accord EX
• 2̶0̶0̶1̶-̶2̶0̶0̶2̶ ̶S̶a̶t̶u̶r̶n̶ ̶S̶C̶2̶/̶S̶L̶2̶
• 2̶0̶0̶8̶-̶2̶0̶1̶1̶ ̶F̶o̶r̶d̶ ̶F̶o̶c̶u̶s̶
• 1̶9̶9̶2̶ ̶A̶c̶c̶o̶r̶d̶ ̶E̶X̶
• 2005-2007 Accord V6 Hybrid
• 2̶0̶0̶0̶-̶2̶0̶0̶1̶ ̶H̶o̶n̶d̶a̶ ̶P̶r̶e̶l̶u̶d̶e̶
• 2̶0̶0̶1̶-̶2̶0̶0̶3̶ ̶T̶o̶y̶o̶t̶a̶ ̶C̶o̶r̶o̶l̶l̶a̶/̶C̶h̶e̶v̶y̶ ̶P̶r̶i̶z̶m̶
• 2̶0̶0̶6̶-̶2̶0̶0̶9̶ ̶S̶c̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶T̶C̶
• 2̶0̶0̶5̶-̶2̶0̶0̶6̶ ̶S̶c̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶x̶B̶
• 2̶0̶0̶3̶-̶2̶0̶0̶6̶ ̶C̶o̶r̶o̶l̶l̶a̶ ̶X̶R̶S̶
• 2̶0̶0̶3̶-̶2̶0̶0̶6̶ ̶M̶a̶t̶r̶i̶x̶ ̶X̶R̶S̶ ̶

I crossed off all of the POS econoboxes for you.

In reply to red_stapler :

lmao what, even the Prelude and RSX? Are they that crappy on the inside?

In reply to thunder1335 :

The RSX barely hides that it is a 7th gen Civic , and the Prelude gets 21mpg combined.

*edit*  Basically anything with a 4 speed automatic is going to feel like a cheap POS in 2017.

I liked my '09 Focus. It did great in winter but did feel smallish, especially compared to the other Focii I've owned through the years. Mine was a coupe, not sure if the sedan would be any better.

The Scion tC was a great car, very comfortable, but I just couldn't get over the horrible throttle lag. Hit the gas... count to three... then go. The interior was great, the sunroof was phenomenal, it didn't feel that "cheap" inside... but the throttle lag ended up being so annoying I traded it in on said '09 Focus.

We like our 04 Mazda3, it's an automatic but it only averages about 25mpg for SWMBO's commute which is a mix of city/highway. Doesn't feel like an econobox to me, handles fairly well and looks sporty.

Knurled said:

My Volvo?  I wouldn't ask $3500 for it but I'm flexible

 

I would NOT want a timing chain engine.  What I am seeing in the field is that timing chains are failing in about 100-120k on dealer-maintained cars.  The fine-pitch chains used in modern engines do not cotton to long oil change intervals.  The most painful one in memory was a K24-engined Honda that had its tensioner maxed out at a schosh over 60k, but it was out of warranty by time so the dealer wouldn't help them out.

Weird, haven't ever heard of anyone having these problems. Do you think now that they're past this stage (60k miles to 120k used examples) there should be no problem?

In reply to red_stapler :

Was hoping that the Prelude got better than that, but not surprising since it's a torquey motor.

I picked out the RSX because of the K20 and 5-speed auto

In reply to TheRX7Project :

That Focus generation is cramped? Guess I'll pass then :(

That's a shame about the tC, the interior was the thing that made it stand out to me - the throttle lag issue doesn't surprise me given that Toyota would do it for MPG reasons.

In reply to untchabl :

     I liked the Mazda3 too, but most examples I'm finding are either overpriced or beat up with salvage titles.

A 2002-2005 Saab 9-5 checks your boxes. Aisin 5a trans, timing chain, no valve adjustments needed, nice inside. I'm partial to the Aero trim level, that will get you the best seats, hp and handling. 

A 2002-2005 Saab 9-5 checks your boxes. Aisin 5a trans, timing chain, no valve adjustments needed, nice inside. I'm partial to the Aero trim level, that will get you the best seats, hp and handling. 

• ̶2̶0̶0̶2̶-̶2̶0̶0̶6̶ ̶A̶c̶u̶r̶a̶ ̶R̶S̶X̶
• 2006-2007 Honda Accord EX
• 2̶0̶0̶1̶-̶2̶0̶0̶2̶ ̶S̶a̶t̶u̶r̶n̶ ̶S̶C̶2̶/̶S̶L̶2̶
• 2̶0̶0̶8̶-̶2̶0̶1̶1̶ ̶F̶o̶r̶d̶ ̶F̶o̶c̶u̶s̶
• 1̶9̶9̶2̶ ̶A̶c̶c̶o̶r̶d̶ ̶E̶X̶
• 2005-2007 Accord V6 Hybrid
• 2̶0̶0̶0̶-̶2̶0̶0̶1̶ ̶H̶o̶n̶d̶a̶ ̶P̶r̶e̶l̶u̶d̶e̶
• 2̶0̶0̶1̶-̶2̶0̶0̶3̶ ̶T̶o̶y̶o̶t̶a̶ ̶C̶o̶r̶o̶l̶l̶a̶/̶C̶h̶e̶v̶y̶ ̶P̶r̶i̶z̶m̶
• 2̶0̶0̶6̶-̶2̶0̶0̶9̶ ̶S̶c̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶T̶C̶
• 2̶0̶0̶5̶-̶2̶0̶0̶6̶ ̶S̶c̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶x̶B̶
• 2̶0̶0̶3̶-̶2̶0̶0̶6̶ ̶C̶o̶r̶o̶l̶l̶a̶ ̶X̶R̶S̶
• 2̶0̶0̶3̶-̶2̶0̶0̶6̶ ̶M̶a̶t̶r̶i̶x̶ ̶X̶R̶S̶ ̶

I crossed off all of the POS econoboxes for you.

Well he also said he would prefer not to have a timing belt so let's go ahead and mark those off too..

I have done a timing belt on an Accord Hybrid. I don't recall it being that bad. Not even close to the most questionable aspect of owning one.. lol. 

In reply to thunder1335 :

Not sure I'd call it "cramped", but it just felt smaller than my '01 and '06. Then again neither of them had sunroofs and both were ZX3's. Rear seat access was a PITA but again it was a 2-door. I'm also a big guy.

Try going to www.Fueleconomy.gov  where you can compare the mpg of various models. 

I had a '00 Ford Focus with the DOHC engine and auto trans. I was disappointed that it only got about 25 mpg in mixed driving. Sure enough, that's all its rated to get.  Poor mpg for such a small car. 

Since it has to be an automatic,  look at a Gen2 Prius ('04-'09)

In reply to John Welsh :

I, uh, did mention "fun" as being a requirement in the title...

Yes, you also contradicted that with automatic.  Then there is the requirement for modern compact mpg. I read that to be 38 mpg Hyw or better.  

As I see it, the Prius excels in the comfort and mpg categories.  I have one and it is an excellent tool for its intended task.  You however see it as poor in the "fun" category.  Is the fun category more important than the comfort and mpg categories? 

A Prius is no less fun than the 2001 Corolla/Prizm with an automatic that you have already sugested.  Since you gave that suggestion, I figured that fun was not a high priority requirement.  

I think if such a car existed, everyone on this board would own one. As it stands...like some others have mentioned there are going to need to be compromises made. MPG is the obvious one - how much does this friend drive?  The gap from 30 to 40 mpg is a lot smaller than the gap from 20 to 30 mpg - as an example, let's say that gas is $2.50 a gallon and average mileage is 15k per year. At 20 mpg, your fuel cost is $1,875 per year. At 30 mpg, it's $1,250. At 40mpg, it's $937.50.  The gaps get bigger the more you drive, but in general going from 30mpg to 40mpg is only worth about half the gap between 20mpg to 30mpg. 

With all that said, I think your initial thought of an RSX isn't a bad one - it's a good balance of being a nice place to be, fun to drive, and decent MPG. If being a nice place to be is more important than MPG, I might also add 2001-2004 Acura 3.2 TL Type S, and the 2000-2003 Maxima/Infiniti I35.  Yes, they only get about 20mpg - but as above, assuming about 15k per year you shouldn't value the extra mpg more than about $600 per year of ownership.

Jag xjr. Keep the extra money for gas and tires.

but for real I'll second the 9-5 aero. Wow are used Saabs a good deal right now, I'll bet you can find a nice 9-5 aero in auto less than a grand. Want a wagon? They exist too. 

also: Miata, Volvo, mr2, mazda6, p71, bmw, mustang, Camaro, etc.

Celica of '00-'04 might fit your criteria.  Corolla like economy with a swoopy body that might fill your "fun" desires even with an automatic.  

As for you question on typing E36 M3, here are your answers. 

Welcome to GRM. Really, glad to have you! 

You discovered the forum filter. S*** is E36 M3, f*** is berkeley, and so forth. 

I will second the automatics in anything you look at in this range will automatically render anything boring. 

Since all these drivetrains suck, it would probably be more satisfying to focus on some other aspect of ownership. Good MPG? Great seats? Great highway cruiser? Ability to haul lumber? 

I agree with the previous posters that the Prius isn't appreciably worse to drive than most of the cars on the list while getting much better mileage. The early ones do feel like crap boxes though, so maybe search for luxury? What's the Infinity version of the Sentra, how does it age? Maybe there is a Lexus that would work? 

lol @ Saturn on that list.  If your price target was $700, then maybe.

Cheap, fun, and economical.

Time to learn how to drive a stick.  That gets rid of the biggest problem on your/his/her list of requirements and makes the car exponentially more fun to drive.