ThinkRevolution

Let me start by saying that all i'm worried about are gas mileage and reliability. Lighter weight = both.

I did alot of research http://autos.msn.com/research/...c=vip

It seemed to me that the 1993 sedan would get the best gas mileage in automatic form (30-38) due to the weaker engine. I don't care about power at all, so I went with that. Now i'm kind of regretting it, wishing I had the lighter weight hatchbacks and maybe went with a manual for even better mileage (I can drive stick, it was just a laziness factor) so I'm thinking I might get my hands on a hatch and just strip it and use it as a point A to point B car. That being said:

I've done alot of research, and it seems for whatever reason the VX hatch is the lightest in 1992. Subsequent years = more options = heavier. I have no exact weights however. Also, reading on autos.msn it seems the VX comes standard with a 1.5L 70hp engine that somehow gets less MPG then the more powerful engines?

To reiterate: I want MPG, and I want a light car. Power does not matter. Can anyone clear this up with some precise numbers and recommendations for me? I have a feeling msn might be off a bit.

Thanks

The Mista Mike

96-00 Civic HX. 2361 lbs, 46/36 MPG on the 5 spd.

ThinkRevolution

also, what can I look at to improve gas mileage? Obviously reducing weight, but higher gapped plugs? Better ignition wires? Catless? Better flowing exhaust? Intake?

Every car responds differently to certain things, and you guys know the platform better then me.

Edit: I don't have the money for a newer civic. I'm basically looking at spending less then 3k (Which is a big budget for the years i'm looking for from what I understand)

ApolloSpeed

my 94 delsol with b16 (160hp) and my car weighs about 2600 lbs.......

I get very consistent 28 city 35 hwy.


my brother has a 97 Civic LX 1.5L that get 30 city 38 hwy.

silverboost

I picked up a 98 hatch Manual for 3500. Never crashed great condition. 38 MPG highway. So its possible to get a 96-00 for cheap too.

IHateJDM

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ThinkRevolution &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It seemed to me that the 1993 sedan would get the best gas mileage in automatic form (30-38) due to the weaker engine.</TD></TR></TABLE>

the manual version of a car will always get better mileage than the auto. torque converters rob you of power, meaning the engine is working harder to do less.

Also, if an engine is too weak, you'll have to give it more throttle to accelerate the same as a car with a larger motor, and you can burn more gas that way. My H22 sol gets the same milage as it did with the d15 in it (&gt;30).

Boostedtracksol

Yes, I too get 30mpg in my b18c swapped sol fairly modded which isnt bad considering its making about 200 crank horse

2000EM1

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ApolloSpeed &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">my 94 delsol with b16 (160hp) and my car weighs about 2600 lbs.......

I get very consistent 28 city 35 hwy.


my brother has a 97 Civic LX 1.5L that get 30 city 38 hwy.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You must not have to let it warm up in the mornings a lot. I get 23-25 in the winter time, 27-29 in the summer time in my EM1.

Mad Vtack

wow going hardcore on gas savings eh? if you had the money or have i would recomend a hybrid

corrado007

Weight is something to consider for mpg but technology is a huge factor as well. A hybrid is a good idea. Also, the newer the car the better too. My fiancee has a '99 ex coupe and gets 35mpg hwy.

EG2Driver

i hear EG vx. 45 ish mpg?

20civic00

best commuter civic? 2000 hx I got me one of those babies, and I'm gettin around 40 mpg on an 11 gallon tank, and thats average! and I'm not the conseritive driver type, i like to get every lil pony ouf of her. it has CIA,headers,HKS full exhuast,but no cat,(don't have to have one where I live The gears are a lil longer I believe too, for fuel economy. They don't have ac, or horsepower for that matter, but if ur lookin just for a commuter, HX all the way honda build them for it, its the whole lean burn vtec, better fuel and air mixture.

ThinkRevolution

bump.. lightest weight 92-96 civic anyone?

Is it the 92 VX hatch?

das

Yeah gas milage .
I bought a 93 CX 1500 72hp stock every thing ---- It's a blast to drive , cheap to fix, and I average 42 mpg (340 miles @ ~8 gal) .. I'm 6 ft tall and had to put the seat foward a click or two. Cx and Vx are pretty much the same.
Another gas sipper would be the CRX HF (about 45 - 50 mpg .... older and harder to find without 200k + miles on them).
We also have a 96 dx sedan that gets an avg 46 mpg.

The key is stick. You control when the car needs to shift - You control the power. I believe automatics make lazy drivers - more time to use the right hand to fiddle with things that could cause accidents.

It is a shame that todays new HYBREDS get the milage they do --- The Eclipse gets about 66-70 mpg - it is expensive to repair. The new hybreds are all about 0 emissions - screw that !!! France is still using 2 stroke engines in their cars (high mpg - lots of emissions lots of manual shifting taking place too!)
das