Anyone Have A Secondary Vehicle?

[MrSeth]

Okay everyone,

I have been thinking about selling a few of my guitars, a computer or two, and save a little to pick up a secondary, more fuel-efficient, car for the summer months here in CO.

I have been looking at a few different Mazda Miata's, a Mitsubishi 2000gt and Eclipse.

What do you drive as your secondary vehicle?

Have you had personal experiences with Mazda and Mitsubishi?


Thanks in advance!

 

[wcjeep]

I would check carcomplaints.com and the NHTSA complaints and listed recalls. This will let you see trends. Don't forget to shop other areas within a day's drive. Prices can vary from market to market.

 

[ToyoT4R]

The 4Runner is my secondary vehicle. My primary is a 2004 VW GTI or a company vehicle (rental). You can pick up a MkIV Golf/GTI fairly cheap now and I've had mine since new it has been rock solid for 13 years. You just have to make sure it wasn't owned by a kid who thrashed it and modded the hell out of it.

 

[Prado]

I had a 2006 Miata as a second vehicle to my 4Runner from about 2010 - 2012. I enjoyed owning it but did not drive it as much as I had anticipated. I know the 2006 and newer Miata's require premium gas, so that will take away most of the saving of better mpg. I don't know about older ones.

 

[Gecko]

I recently bought a 2005 Lexus LS 430 as my "secondary" vehicle, but as time goes on, it's becoming more the DD with my 4Runner driven only on occasion. The LS is so well built that even at 12 years old, it makes my 2016 Limited 4R (with just 8k on it) feel like a rickety old beater. MPG is great too.

 

[MissouriBreaks]

I have a 2009 Pontiac Vibe that has been my primary vehicle since the day I got it in 2009. The FJ Cruiser (now sold) and 4Runner are my weekend and vacation vehicles and the FJ replaced my Harley Davidson Road King (also sold), both in type of use (fun) and frequency of use (not often).

The Vibe averages around 30-33 mpg depending on my driving and does the basic things like haul the dogs, round trip to the commuter rail station, and those frequent work trips to the airport or local work trips.

I thought about selling the Vibe when I bought the FJ, but it was paid for and there was no real reason to sell.

 

[hearno]

My secondary is a 3rd gen that I like more than my 4th which is my primary vehicle.

 

[wadle5]

I know the 2006 and newer Miata's require premium gas, so that will take away most of the saving of better mpg. I don't know about older ones.

It's pretty nominal. On average 10 cents more a gallon for premium equates to an extra $1.27 per tank in a 2006 Miata. Heck double it and you are still paying an extra 3 dollars per fill up for a vehicle that on average gets double the mileage of a 4runner?

I recently bought a 2005 Lexus LS 430 as my "secondary" vehicle, but as time goes on, it's becoming more the DD with my 4Runner driven only on occasion. The LS is so well built that even at 12 years old, it makes my 2016 Limited 4R (with just 8k on it) feel like a rickety old beater. MPG is great too.

I thought those old big body sedans got about the approximate same mileage as a 4runner(high teens), but I do love those things!

OP seeing as you are from Colorado my second car was a 02 Outback 5 speed. Was an absolute blast to drive and still average mid to high 20s. Can pick them up real cheap everywhere else but Colorado! As long as they have basic maintenance they are pretty bullet proof.

 

[Airmapper]

My 4runner is my secondary, although in general I try to use it for the bulk of my running. It gets better gas mileage than my main vehicle.

 

[Gecko]

I thought those old big body sedans got about the approximate same mileage as a 4runner(high teens), but I do love those things!

I think it has a lot to do with how they're driven. On the highway around 70mph, I can get 29-30MPG in the LS. Combined, when I'm driving like a sane person, I get about 22-23 MPG. If I'm driving like a maniac, which I do quite often... 15MPG.

4R can only net about 18MPG on the highway (Limited being full-time 4x4, and on BFG KO2s) and around 15MPG around town.

Honestly, I've been pretty surprised with how fuel efficient the LS is.

 

[WallyT4R]

Just this year a friend sold me her 2001 Subaru Forester manual with 131,000 miles for $1000. I put $1200 into it and now have a $2200 beater that will last at least another 5 years before anything needs done to it. I also have a 2014 Suzuki Vstrom 1000 that I ride as much as possible in the summer. This is my 4Runner preservation plan. :washing:

 

[Trixx]

It's pretty nominal. On average 10 cents more a gallon for premium equates to an extra $1.27 per tank in a 2006 Miata. Heck double it and you are still paying an extra 3 dollars per fill up for a vehicle that on average gets double the mileage of a 4runner?

I don't frequently compare the price of 87 and 93, but just yesterday I happened to notice about a 40 cent price difference between the two. That's $8/tank on a 20 gallon tank.



I use a 99 v6 Camry as my commuter car. 80-90 miles round trip a day. I bought it 3.5 years ago with 88k miles for about $5k. It has 129k miles on it now. It's never left me stranded but has needed a lot of routine maintenance due to it's age and mileage.. Struts, rotors, battery, timing belt, etc. etc. Either way - if I put $1500 into it a year, I still come out way ahead over anything new. Plus, both the Camry and 4Runner are paid for and insurance is relatively cheap so I come out ahead.

My wife and I actually just did a quick 2600 mile trip last weekend and we took the Camry over putting the miles on the new 4Runner. Our best tank was 29 mpg. We typically get more like 23-25 mpg.

 

[Lester Lugnut]

Find either a Toyota Corolla or Honda Accord in good condition.

Good gas mileage and likely the most reliable/trouble-free/low cost maint. vehicles made.

 

[4Reak Show]

Gas mileage is always the reason... Gotta pay to play.

Supercharged 2nd gen is the secondary vehicle, primary is a 2011 Corolla that gets 33 mpg. Was a 96 Corolla (sold, great little car) and then a 2005 Matrix (also a great car, sold). When we got the wife the 5th gen for her primary I got handed down the 2011 Corolla for the commute.

Cool thing about a beater/commuter primary car is it makes you miss your 4Runner a lot more. Gives you appreciation. Subies are great for AWD, otherwise Yota or Honda if you can find them.

 

[superman3043]

Okay everyone,

I have been thinking about selling a few of my guitars, a computer or two, and save a little to pick up a secondary, more fuel-efficient, car for the summer months here in CO.

I have been looking at a few different Mazda Miata's, a Mitsubishi 2000gt and Eclipse.

What do you drive as your secondary vehicle?

Have you had personal experiences with Mazda and Mitsubishi?


Thanks in advance!

So the trend here seems to be that the 4Runners are the secondary's. Same holds true for me. At 12 years old and over 213K miles currently, I decided last year to relieve her of daily duty and relegate her to casual use. Still drive it once a week minimum. Still runs like the day I bought her and I wouldn't hesitate to drive it to the west coast and back with my family in it today. My current daily is a 2017 Subaru WRX. That was me treating myself since the 4Runner has been paid of since 2008 and has served daily since 2006. I've had the Subaru for over a year now. It's a good car. Fun to drive and great fuel economy.

I don't have any personal experience with Mazda, but they seem to be building really quality automobiles recently. But I'd definitely advise you to steer clear of Mitsubishi products from personal experience. In the late 90's lot's of my friends and family were rolling in them. Everything from 3000GT's, Eclipse Turbos, Gallants, Monteros, Mirages, and Diamontes. Most of them were very problematic and everyone I know that owned one, hasn't bought another since. The big ticket failure items where automatic transmissions and engines. I think a lot of it stemmed from collaborations with Chrysler in those days the same way that Mazda and Ford had a relationship. That's just been my experience. Only Mitsu product I'd even consider touching is an EVO only because of how rare they are now that it's out of production and because they're manual transmission. Hope that helps. Good luck.

 

[wadle5]

Only Mitsu product I'd even consider touching is an EVO only because of how rare they are now that it's out of production and because they're manual transmission. Hope that helps. Good luck.

From a fellow Subaru driver, this makes you a traitor. But really the only thing I would be concerned about with the used Evo's like STi's the previous owner 9 out of 10 times flogged the utter crap out of them with minimal maintenance. But glad to hear you still like your WRX going on a year later!

 

[superman3043]

From a fellow Subaru driver, this makes you a traitor. But really the only thing I would be concerned about with the used Evo's like STi's the previous owner 9 out of 10 times flogged the utter crap out of them with minimal maintenance. But glad to hear you still like your WRX going on a year later!

Haha, I hear ya brother. I'm pretty brand loyal, but I've never been one to shit on other brands. Not the type of guy with that Calvin sticker on the window, pissing on something. I'm a gear head and I appreciate anything well engineered.

But yes, I said I'd "consider" it. Much different than saying I want one. Hell if somebody wanted to give me a German car like an S series Audi or M series Bimmer, I'd roll it. Doesn't mean that's what I'd spend my own money on if it were up to me.

But yeah. The Subaru has been good to me so far. Almost waited a whole year before going stage 1. Now it's on lol.

 

[SSDuck8]

here is mine

 

[FactoryT4R]

stay away from any turbo eclipse. I had a GSX when I was a kid and ended up selling it due to crank problems from the factory.

I'd just try and find a cheap civic SI, they are peppy and drive forever on a tank of gas.... also its a honda, change oil and thats it.

 

[RedSled]

I don't know.