Consider These Efficient Classic and Used Cars

As we set to roll into 2009, many folks are still relatively unaware that over 100 years ago automotive manufacturers produced both electric and steam-engine cars that utilized little to no gasoline. This was a time similar to right now in that the automobile industry was basically unsure of which direction they wanted to go, steam, gas, or electric. Gas won out because it proved to be the least expensive, but we are suffering because of that choice today.

Green cars are actually nothing new, as some vehicles have naturally held better fuel efficiency than others throughout this past century. Despite what today's vehicle manufacturers might tell you, new is not necessarily better, and you do need to buy new in order to get an efficient vehicle. There are a number of used and classic vehicles with respectable efficiency. Let's take a look at a few examples of these through the past decades...

Early 2000's
2003-plus Toyota Prius
Average MPG: 40-plus
While not a classic quite yet, the Toyota Prius has certainly been around long enough to have proven itself as a capable fuel efficient vehicle. The first of the bunch, the 2003 Toyota Prius was powered by 1.5 liter four-cylinder with an electric motor assist which was capable of a generous 103 horsepower. It has a classy, yet modern design, roomy interior, and has shown to be a relatively reliable vehicle both inside and out. For the money of one of these earlier designs, it is hard to beat the Prius when shopping for an older, used, fuel efficient vehicle.

1990's
1990-plus Geo Metro XFI
Average MPG: 43-plus
I can remember driving a rental version of one of these home for Christmas over the mountain passes of Colorado several years ago from Denver to Grand Junction. While I may have had to stay off to the side of the road to keep from being run down on the hilly areas, I can remember that I made it the entire way on just one 10.6 gallon tank of gasoline. The secret of the Geo's efficiency was its combination of a 1.0 liter 3-cylinder engine matted to a 5-speed manual transmission, a 135 lb aluminum engine, and a total curb weight of just 1600 pounds. In consideration of all this, the 49 horsepower Geo Metro XFI (43 mpg city/51 mpg highway) was a great buy back in the day at just $6000. Heck, it is still a great buy if you can find a well-maintained specimen.

1980's
1986-plus Chevrolet Sprint
Average MPG: 44-plus
Capable of the gas efficiency of today's current Toyota Prius, the Sprint was truly amazing back in the mid-1980's. It featured an electronically-controlled carburetor working on top of a 3-cylinder engine, which managed only 48 horsepower, but was actually not too bad considering the entire vehicles curb weight was only 1,600 pounds. For only a drop of 7 mpg (37/43 mpg highway), a turbo could be added to the set-up and boost the little Sprint's horsepower to 70 mpg, which was good for a 0-60 sprint in no more than 9.5 seconds. Best of all, drivers had the choice of both a two-door and four-door version, with absolutely no detectable change in fuel economy. These sold for around $5,000 back then, and can of course be had for much less than that today!

1970's
1978 Volkswagen Rabbit diesel pickup
Average MPG: 34-plus
While 1978 symbolizes the year that federal emissions standards continued to clamp down on automotive manufacturers, forcing them to produce leaner and less mean vehicles, not many were able to accomplish this quite as eloquently as Volkswagen. Considering the 30-plus age of this vehicle, you can hardly find a pickup truck built today that could stand up to the efficiency of this Rabbit back in its day (as long as you are not planning on towing any heavy loads of course). The Rabbit truck weighed just over a ton, featured a 1.6 liter fuel-injected diesel engine, and offered a reasonable 52 horsepower and even more impressive 72 lb-ft of torque. On its list of green features was a dash light which alerted drivers when to shift in order to maintain the best fuel economy.

Read the next page "How to Further Improve the Efficiency of Your Classic"