92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I'd be highly surprised if it hit 30mpg, honestly.
This. An M3 might get 27-28mpg.
If you could get over the RWD/AWD sentiment, I'd be looking for a really nice Integra/RSX/Celica GT-S.
Can you get 30mpg hwy in a well tuned Subaru RS or early WRX? I've heard rumours...
I'd say Celica GTS because i'm a fanboi.
(And because they're one of the best FWD cars ever made.) 
You want best FWD chassis ever, you're saying MINI Cooper S. R53 version. Stock for stock, I have never driven a better FWD car.
bravenrace wrote: Saaaaay, what kind of mileage does an M3 get???
My g/f would get in the high 20's on the hwy with her '97, driving sedately (70-ish, tops). Around town, low 20's.
Who posted a Mk IV R32?? Are you insane? VR6 + AWD + porky chassis = mpg in low 20's on a good day. Usually in the teens.
To be honest, if I were forced to have one car and really needed something that got high mpg, I'd ditch the RWD requirement and get a '03 or earlier TDi and mod the heck out of it. You could buy and build a pretty nice one with a $10K budget. It'll easily be quick enough to get you into a ton of trouble while getting 40 mpg all day long.
Even a 318 BMW is going to have trouble meeting 30 mpg depending heavily on how you drive it.
Our '03 MCS hasn't gotten 30 mpg in years. Even the '07 Justa-Cooper 'vert struggles to get 35, which is why I complain when I have to use it for DD'ing.
Really? my 05 MCS gets 30 all day long. I found it odd to be honest, being s/c and the fact that I beat it like a rented mule every time I snag the keys.... but it does it.
mndsm wrote: KA24/SR20= motor possibilities in the Nissan 240sx. Checks all the boxes. I know many of them are available already swapped with the SR20DET (the japanese market turbo motor for these)... I've had good luck with MPG out of boosted cars. Though I know the KA24 (the common US market motor, N/A, basically built for a truck) is a decent motor too, and strong. I don't know how well 240's do MPG wise, and the drift tax might get you. When they're clean though, MAN are they good looking.
You could get a REALLY clean S14 for your budget, maybe even one of the rare last year ones with the awesome front end.
They'd probably get 30mpg highway.
Late S14s ("Koukis") look awesome. They have this front end.
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mndsm wrote: Really? my 05 MCS gets 30 all day long. I found it odd to be honest, being s/c and the fact that I beat it like a rented mule every time I snag the keys.... but it does it.
She doesn't do much hwy driving and since she changed jobs a few months ago. She also now has a twisty, <10 mile commute, so mpg has been dismal (~ 20 mpg). As soon as I get the new wagon running, we'll be takign the MCS off the road for some 100K mile mainenence.
In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac:
My '97 never got better than 25 mpg. Add more city and it was closer to 22.
It was a good highway cruiser for the 100k miles I had it. Mine was an automatic.
I was driving in Michigan a lot in those days so that does mean that I was typically north of 75mph. The best thing about this car was the intimidating grill that was good at moving slow traffic out of your lane.
My friend who had a turbo KA24DE S13 240SX claims he was still able to get 30mpg out of it. It's not like him to lie. He can only manage 22mpg from his Legacy GT. It does better highway, but that's not often.
I better would do better with a manual as well.
How about a G35? Anyone know anything about them?
There was a thread about them recently.. I don't have time to search at work. I don't think they'll top 30mpg unless all highway.
When I stipulated 30mpg, I meant for that to be highway, not combined.
I can't think of anything that truly meets all of those requirements.
edit: I was thinking 30 combined. 30 highway only helps.
As a data point, I drove almost 500 highway miles in my 2004 BMW 330i ZHP sedan on Friday. Cruise was set at 75 miles virtually the entire time, relatively hilly terrain (hey...I live in North Florida, not South Florida 
), somewhat windy, running 93 fuel, 80k miles on the car, recent oil change, stock tire sizes (staggered set up), aftermarket CAI, A/C on most of the time.
I reset my onboard computer MPG gauge as I merged onto I-75 to start and didn't touch it again. Averaged 30.1 MPG for those 500 miles. Drove around town all weekend and today. MPG now shows 28.3 as the average.
In reply to dyintorace:
Thanks for the data point. What does ZHP mean?
Opel-Isuzu fast back, 1982, 1.8L turbo diesel,REAR wheel dr, 4 seater, big trunk.
38-42MPG all day long.
id put a picture of mine here,,(but i dont know how)
In reply to ronbros:
taken from your profile.
Sweet! How long have you owned this Opel?
In reply to ronbros:
This does not sound available in the US.
The new mustang v6 non sport pack would work. However, these wont be 10k for a few years.
In reply to singleslammer:
It was for a brief time, a long time ago.
4 door too.
Datsun 510 RWD rear seats and under $10000, no modern amenities :p linky
Other Options: BMW 2002, older Volvo (p1800s, 240)
I think the thread winner may be a mercedes 190 Diesel, comfortable, over 30mpg, and cheap (if you can find one)
And I'm only slightly joking on this one: corvette, rwd, close to 30mpg, no back seats....
mndsm wrote: You want best FWD chassis ever, you're saying MINI Cooper S. R53 version. Stock for stock, I have never driven a better FWD car.
ITR?
'06-'07 Impreza 2.5i? I'd hardly call it stylish, but it ticks all the boxes and might do 28mpg on the highway.
Weld center diff solid and pull front axles for 30+mpg and sideways fun.
VW Passat w/ 4 banger turbo. I had one - it broke a few times but otherwise it was phenomenal on fuel, comfort and drive quality. I'll assume an A4 is the same car. Just buy one of every electronic module under the hood so you can get home.
I'd say 3 series but... my E36 got 27 and my wife's E46 XiT gets 28-29 but you have to really try.
Hmmmm.... I had a 90 IROC that got 31 in 5th at 70mph all day long... what modern amenities did you have in mind? It had power windows, FM and disk brakes .
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