I have a 2003 1.8T gas 180hp VW GTI. I know it's not under $10k, but maybe you
could get an earlier (150hp) 1.8T Beetle or GTI for that. Power really doesn't
come on until 2000 rpm (150hp cars may be different????), but once you're there
the engine is extremely flexible. You can easily spin the tires off the line
and keep the traction control pretty busy. I don't autocross it, but it is a
fun, comfortable car. Fuel economy? I get 25-26 city, 29-31 highway, about
what the sticker says. Way better than my 3.0 Ranger pickup, slightly better
than my 90 VW Corrado 1.8 G60, but not nearly as good as my 93 Miata.
Rick Hendricks
In a message dated 4/29/2003 6:37:28 AM Eastern Standard Time,
greendot1@comcast.net writes:
>
>
> Here's my baseline from personal experience.
>
> Chevy (aka Suzuki) Turbo Sprint circa 1988 is a really fun AND economical
> daily driver. Boost comes in within 10 ft off the line so you win most
> crosswalk to crosswalk drags and always gets 40+ mpg on 87 octane fuel. (not
> much point getting 40 mpg with a 20% penalty in fuel costs).
>
> These cars are getting REAL hard to find one without rust. I really messed
> up not bidding as high as I should have on the one that Chris Peterson
> looked at for me that sold on ebay.
>
> So, unless you know of one of these for sale, I'm looking at alternatives
> and the closest thing that I'm aware of is a Beetle Turbo diesel. Almost as
> fast and better mileage. Builds boost quickly so it scoots off the line. Not
> interested in cars that don't build boost until after you are well past the
> crosswalk on the other side of the intersection (RX-7 Turbo II comes to mind
> as this type of car, not to mention poor mpg).
>
> So, while shopping for one of these VW's, I keep getting enticed by the gas
> powered Turbo Beetles. So, I need two things. Slap me back to reality
> regarding fuel economy on these cars.
> Second, what other cars fit my criteria that I don't know about? Not
> interested in buying new cars. something under $10k used.
>
> TIA and this should be more interesting than some of the other threads we
> endure here daily. :-)
> Bruce Wentzel
>
.
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