Looking for suggestions on a daily driver

[Nightrage]

I'm getting a pretty hefty tax return, so I think I'll finally have enough to get a daily driver. I live in NY so snow is an issue. Right now, I want something that gets upwards of 28MPG, runs on regular gas, FWD and is (obviously) reliable. So far I have it narrowed down to-

-Hyundai Accent: 28 city/ 36 highway, there's a 2000 Accent in the paper with 48K miles on it for $2,000
-Honda Civic- 32 city/ 38 highway
-Nissan Sentra- 27 city/ 37 highway

I need something cheap. Paying a lot of money for a daily driver defeats my whole purpose of getting one in the first place. I'd prefer something with a manual transmission, but getting an auto wouldn't be the end of the world. Any suggestions? How are Neons? Maybe a late 90's- early 00's model? I appreciate any advice or recommendations. Thanks in advance guys

[Trash man]

civic and sentra not bad chocies, stay away from hyundai. never had a good exprenice with them. look at toyota corrolas also and chevy malibu(same drivetrain, different bodies, like well F-bodies lol)

[DHolmes]

eclipse GSX, cheap fast and good mpg, nightrage seen u like muaythai,and kickboxing im a blackbelt in taekwondo,i love martial arts too i live close to chuck lidel the iceman(UFC) im going to start at his dojo next month

[raroZ28]

civic and sentra not bad chocies, stay away from hyundai. never had a good exprenice with them. look at toyota corrolas also and chevy malibu(same drivetrain, different bodies, like well F-bodies lol)

My friend has one and she had to replace the trans at like 60k. She drives like a granny and it was her grandpa's before she got it. That will cost more money than it will save.

The civic is the obvious best choice.

[Nightrage]

civic and sentra not bad chocies, stay away from hyundai. never had a good experience with them. look at toyota corrolas also and chevy malibu(same drivetrain, different bodies, like well F-bodies lol)

How are Corrolas? I've always felt that Toyotas don't get the gas mileage that similar cars seem to be able to achieve. At least according to what I've read. I'll definitely check into a Malibu though. We have them at work and I love them.

eclipse GSX, cheap fast and good mpg, nightrage seen u like muaythai,and kickboxing im a blackbelt in taekwondo,i love martial arts too i live close to chuck lidel the iceman(UFC) im going to start at his dojo next month

I love the look of the Eclipse, but they go for (usually) no less than $4,500 with high mileage around here. I'm not looking to pay that much for a DD. I've heard things that make me question their reliability as well. I'd take an Eclipse in a heartbeat though.

I definitely love martial arts as well I did 3 months of Muay Thai at a terrible, terrible school. Simply put, they sucked. Put me into a lot of bad habits and didn't do anything for me. Probably did more harm than good. Now I'm at an amazing dojo which teaches kickboxing and ground fighting. I've been there for about 8 months. I actually have my first fight (fingers crossed) coming up in May if I can find an opponent. I always swore I'd never compete, but I was bitten by the competition bug.

What's 'ol Chucky charge to train at his place? Matt Serra's school is a few blocks from my house, but he charges $180 per month. That's rediculous. I'd never pay that. I can't imagine Liddell's place being much cheaper.

[Christopherrr]

The Geo Prizm is the machanical twin to the Toyota Corolla, not the Malibu.

Both are worthwhile choices though...not much the Malibu.

For strict transportation purposes only, I'd get a 91-92 Civic Hatchback. 40+ mpg with the 5 speed is a no brainer.

[Trash man]

ahh thank u for corecting me, but i think a couple years they were the same. but either way if u can get a malibu with the newer eco-tech 2.2L u will be happy. i have an 02 alero and i get bour 27 in the town and have gotten near 40mpg on the highway doing about 70mph. my only complaint? i wish i got my alero witheh 5spd manual

[Dave Vince]

Buy American.

[78formula78]

eclipse GSX, cheap fast and good mpg, nightrage seen u like muaythai,and kickboxing im a blackbelt in taekwondo,i love martial arts too i live close to chuck lidel the iceman(UFC) im going to start at his dojo next month

Well my talon is accually more realiable then my DD right now, but that could because I got a ford... but a DSM can be reliable. You just need to be extremly anal about everything, and well in my opinion that makes it a bad choice for a DD.

[Rhode Island Red]

my DD (94 corsica) cost me $875 2 1/2 years ago

I'd say buy used 3-7 years old (in new england - any older your risking rot and other issues -mine dd was the exception), save the monetary depreciation of a new car, and get a cheap and reliable beater. Save the cash for a rainy day or more car mods. You never expect those random unforeseen large expenses until they happen. There are many cars out there and all manufacturers have their problems, just go with what suits your needs the cheapest.

honda civic - damned reliable
Chevy cobalt - great car!

just see what's around, has been kept in good condition

[Steel2686]

Civic in a 5-speed gets my vote.

They are plentiful, reliable, and the gas mileage is great.

[DHolmes]

What's 'ol Chucky charge to train at his place? Matt Serra's school is a few blocks from my house, but he charges $180 per month. That's rediculous. I'd never pay that. I can't imagine Liddell's place being much cheaper.[/QUOTE] theres actually 3 schools here that chuck owns co owns,theres one in AG that chucks trainer teaches $90 -$110 a month,one in santmaria where u learn from a guy that was taught buy chuck,chuck comes once a week $90 dollars,then one in sanluis were chuck lives but i dont now the detials on that one,180 outragious,i pay $59 at taekwondo but i get a discount cause i teach classes,ive won the ,all valleys open,2 californa gold cups,and the sheriffs cup,and have gotten 2nd and 3rd in many others.competions are cool but u have to wait around all day to fight 4 -5 fights that have 2-3 rounds that are 2 mins each,and pay 50-60 dollares to go, so im getting a little burntout ive been to about 10 , if u learn badhabits its hard to break them,im trying to break a few wright now,later

[Talon04]

Yeah a five speed Civic or you could always get a Geo with an I3 and a five speed.

[DHolmes]

how bout a accord more hp then a civic or a acura integra ,but id go for the DSM

[78formula78]

how bout a accord more hp then a civic or a acura integra ,but id go for the DSM

As a DSM owner and someone who spends all his free time on DSM fourms, Unless its a Non-turbo, you could easily spend thousands doing just maintance. The non-turbo's are gutless as all hell BUT they are reliable. Depending on the year you either get a motor that was built to handle a turbo(but with higher compression), or you get a neon motor. Again a DSM can be a DD but you must have time to care and love the car. Hence why I wouldn't recomend it for a DD.