Older fuel effecient cars

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Terence1983

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Which older model(late 1990s early 2000s) cars are worth considering. Spares readily available and fairly reliable.

Looking to get me a cheap secondhand car in the next few months, possibly November after Bonus time.

Currently riding a little Yamaha SR 250 bike which gets around 28-32km/l and ive gotten used to the lower fuel bill. I also own an old 1996 Nissan 1400 bakkie but that thing is not suitable for daily use at under 12km/l on a good day. Looking for something around 18-20 or more km/l range.

Cant afford a newer car unfortunately so need to look cheap second hand, preferably less than 35-40k.

Was looking at the older Kia Picanto or Chevy Sparks, maybe even and old Uno, wife drives a Palio 1.2 which has been really reliable but it doesn't quite get the greatest fuel economy, think best was around 15-16km/l mainly highway driving, around 80-90% highway.
 
Opel Corsa Bakkie - 1.7 Diesel? Those should be relatively cheap to buy and have good fuel consumption.
Toyota Tazz should also be fine with your need.
 
Jchan11hk said:
Opel Corsa Bakkie - 1.7 Diesel? Those should be relatively cheap to buy and have good fuel consumption.
Toyota Tazz should also be fine with your need.
Click to expand...
A Toyota Tazz doesn't have good fuel economy.
At OP unfortunately for city driving there isn't really a great car for fuel consumption, my wife has a Spark and she gets 500km on a 35l tank which isn't great. Look I guess it's better then my 600 on 60.
What is the max you can afford?
 
Good luck with that because you are looking for hen's teeth.
That parameters in one car just don't get kicked out everywhere.

I would suggest:
- Clio 2 phase 2 1.2 16v
- Micra 1.5 diesel
- C3 1.4 hdi
 
Lupus said:
A Toyota Tazz doesn't have good fuel economy.
At OP unfortunately for city driving there isn't really a great car for fuel consumption, my wife has a Spark and she gets 500km on a 35l tank which isn't great. Look I guess it's better then my 600 on 60.
What is the max you can afford?
Click to expand...

I drive mainly highway and main roads with very little traffic. I travel from Alberton to Roodepoort daily and its id say 80% highway and 20%main roads and a few stop streets.

I don't want to go over 40k, that is my max.
 
A3@MBB said:
Good luck with that because you are looking for hen's teeth.
That parameters in one car just don't get kicked out everywhere.

I would suggest:
- Clio 2 phase 2 1.2 16v
- Micra 1.5 diesel
- C3 1.4 hdi
Click to expand...
I actually quite like the c3 but maintenance is expensive on them. will look into the micra maybe. And Renault is a no straight off, don't like them at all.
 
Lupus said:
A Toyota Tazz doesn't have good fuel economy.
At OP unfortunately for city driving there isn't really a great car for fuel consumption, my wife has a Spark and she gets 500km on a 35l tank which isn't great. Look I guess it's better then my 600 on 60.
What is the max you can afford?
Click to expand...
True, but it will be reliable and spare should be easy to find.
It is difficult to get a car cheap to buy, spare is easily available, reliable and have good fuel consumption. I could not think of one.:unsure::unsure:
 
The previous gen Fiesta was quite frugal, the 1.4 petrol or the 1,5 diesel (obviously much better fuel economy than the petrol). A friend used to get 20-25 km/l with the diesel, and another friend 15-20 km/l IIRC. Not sure what they go for now.

Edit: I see they start at R50k now, the cheaper ones are the gen before that, not sure how good they are on fuel.
 
Hmmm well, a good condition Corsa is going to give you the same as that trusty old 1400, don't think there is much in the way of fuel efficiency with old cars.
 
Terence1983 said:
I drive mainly highway and main roads with very little traffic. I travel from Alberton to Roodepoort daily and its id say 80% highway and 20%main roads and a few stop streets.

I don't want to go over 40k, that is my max.
Click to expand...
Okay here's the problem, highway driving in smaller motored cars actually increases fuel consumption as trying to keep the car at over 100 works the engine. In that regards a 1.6 could actually be more fuel efficient, but in normal city driving a 1.2 is better.
 
FiestaST said:
Mazda 323 (Midge)!

Super reliable, properly frugal, tons of spares, easy to work on, cheap than a Tazz, insurance is minimal etc
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I had one of those, was running on bubblegum and sticky tape. It is really easy to fix, it's not super economical on fuel though, it's also not really nice to drive. But it's frugal in everything else, I sometimes still miss my old Meteor (Fords version with a boot)
 
A friend had one of these
https://www.olx.co.za/item/mazda-soho-121-very-good-condition-iid-1058823379
He replaced his old Midge with it and it was also reliable and decent on fuel.
Or even a late 90's Ballade?
I also had this as my replacement to my Laser
https://www.gumtree.co.za/a-cars-bakkies/goodwood/1997-opel-astra-1-6ie/1005062390470911084527709
Only issues I had was due to me thinking it was unleaded when it was the ecotec model that was.
The cambelt snapped on this and it was still perfectly fine after replacing it. Though I don't know if parts are scarce or not anymore.
 
@Meelperd how did you get yours to that kind of consumption, that's pretty decent for a 1400.

The Mazda 323 is another option yes, my first car when I started working was a 98 323 Midge. had that car for many years with minimal issues, my wife actually mentioned I should look at the Mazda LOL.

Fair enough mine had a moerse sound install that weighed a ton so it was slightly heavier on fuel but im sure I was getting 15km/l+ with it and that time I wasn't driving as much highway as I do now.

@Lupus im actually driving my father in laws 160ie astra as his using the 1400 for his business. They are not that light on fuel, im getting maybe 14km/l if I drive like a granny and free wheel down hills, its a freaking tank.
 
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