I need something more fuel efficient as I may be getting a new job a little farther from home than I am now, and I have a 2 year old. I have picked out a few cars to look into and would like your guys/gals input about the models I have chose to look into. Anything I should know about them good and bad, and any experience with them as well. Thanks for any input! Here's the cars I have picked out so far and the year span desired in the $12,000 or less category.

1. Acura TL ('04 or newer)
2. Acura TSX ('04 or newer)
3. Acura RL AWD ('05 or newer)
4. Lexus ISx50 (if found under 12K)
5. Mazda 6 ('06 or newer)

So far those are the cars. Any recommendations would be great too (must be 4 door and have a little power to have fun with at the same time and decent fuel economy)

 

I don't think the is300 are more fuel efficient than the sc's

 

Honestly, I wouldn't pick anything on that list. Just buy a brand new Hyundai and call it a day. They look better than half the crap on the road and will last a decade or more.

 

Really? I thought they got a few more because of the VVT-i and being a smaller engine and weighing less than the SC?

 

I dont know anything about them, or how reliable they are. I havent heard anyone say anything about owning one either lol. I think I'd still rather have something somewhat JDM at least.

 

+1 , Practicality > everything else, when family comes into play.

Your list, to me, does not fall in that category.

Stay off the "luxury" cars, and you'll come out on top in the long run.

4dr Accord, 4cyl, auto/manual. 7.5-8th gen.

my 2 cents.

 

Justifying 12k on a new car to save 1-3mpg?

Also, fuel economy and power doesn't really mix well.. when I think of fuel efficient, it's a prius, honda insight, or a toyota echo..

Other than that, to get something inbetween would be like a honda civic or something similar.

 

I had a 05 TL for a little over a year. My gs430 gets better mpg then it ever thought about getting. Did a 500 mile trip got 23 mpg cruise on and at 75. Did the same trip at 80 without cruise on in the Gs and got almost 27 mpg. Also look into the es cars. I had a 98 es300 and it got amazing gas mileage. My mom had a 03 and it did well too.

 

Word...relaible, 100k warranty and cheap! can beat em. KDM lol...

 

weight is the biggest factor I would say between the two

 

What about buying a B segment car?

 

Take the IS300 off the list if you worry about the fuel economy, I had both auto and manual version of it, and I think they were just as bad as my GS400.

 

Its the main reason toyota/lexus got rid of the JZ inline-6 in the GS/IS/SC300. In both cars the engine returned pretty poor mpg numbers. That engine topped out at around 22-24mpg on the highway with the 5speed. And city stayed in the teens. Not reasonable with the amount of power it was putting out.

Just get a commuter car. I'm with the rest of the replies here, get a newer, efficient model. MPGs have gone up considerably in recent years. Spend the money on a newer car rather than trying to get an older one that was more expensive when new. And unless you're trying to save wear and tear on your SC, you won't save much on the commute with the cars you listed. Get a very efficient model, i'm talking 4 cylinder.

 

2006-2011 Civic Si, it's a good car and good exterior styling too. (well, if you want a little sporty)
Or you really need to get a B segment car if you don't care about hp at all.

 

haha, exactly

Samurai, have you done the math? Including extra insurance, registration, how many years will it take you to make back the 12k?