What car

Author
Discussion

lenandsons

Original Poster:

1,317 posts

240 months

Thursday 28th May 2009
quotequote all
Hi All

Need some guidance here, looking for an inexpensive, light on gas commuter type vehicle. About to start a new job with about an hours commute each way, mostly motorway. Preferably I want something FWD and it must be fun. Would love it to be a Yank brand, but am open to suggestions.

TIA

autoholic

353 posts

218 months

Friday 29th May 2009
quotequote all
The only FWD I can think of is a Dodge Daytona. They have their own following so may be a good idea to Google it?
Of course it all depends on your budget. My daily is a 2.8 V6 Camaro which is worth about 2 grand or less. My mate is selling his 97 Trans Am which has a 6 speed box and a 5.7lt V8 but will do 30mpg easily and is an excellent daily choice.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

197 months

Friday 29th May 2009
quotequote all
Not sure on your budget. Lots of choice depending on how economical and how much. Dodge Neon SRT-4 would be a fun choice but rare in the UK.

However I think the answer is obvious:




Pontiac Fiero (Formula or GR)

Personally I love the clean lines of the Formula or earlier GT's (top pic).

They are mid engined, either 4 or V6. Ok not massively quick, but ok. But they were built and designed for fuel economy. They are also simple and easy to work on.

MID ENGINED!!

Have a galvanized chassis and fibreglass body.

They are also surprisingly cheap to buy.

If you fancy a bit more go a Chevy V8 slots right in (conversion kits available).


Retro, cool, good looking and rare. What more could you want?? biggrin

lenandsons

Original Poster:

1,317 posts

240 months

Friday 29th May 2009
quotequote all
Thanks guys, will defo have a look into the Fiero and the SRT4, hopefully they are fairly easy to source here in Canada. Never heard of the Daytona so will have a look at that as well.


Motown Junk

2,041 posts

224 months

Friday 29th May 2009
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My fave FWD Yank would be an early 70's Eldarado.

HTH hehe

LuS1fer

41,760 posts

252 months

Friday 29th May 2009
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The Daytona is basically a rebadged Mitsubishi.

Matt Harper

6,770 posts

208 months

Friday 29th May 2009
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Can we just clarify that you mean FWD to be FRONT wheel drive and not FOUR wheel drive (better abbreviated to AWD). I'm thinking that in Ontario, you will be wanting 4x4 for the winter - not some rice-burner.

autoholic

353 posts

218 months

Friday 29th May 2009
quotequote all
Mind you there was a reason they stopped making those Fiero's!!!

Captain Cadillac

2,974 posts

194 months

Saturday 30th May 2009
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FIeros are nasty little beasts. If you want to be an authentic Yank and get a small FWD car for commuting, suggest you look at a Corolla or Civic biggrin

Realistically, maybe there's a privately imported Chevy Cobalt or, uumm... truth be told, we dont make very good small cars, remember, in America, people generally drive small cars because they're cheap, not because they generally want to.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

197 months

Saturday 30th May 2009
quotequote all
autoholic said:
Mind you there was a reason they stopped making those Fiero's!!!
let me guess - fire?? Despite it not really being an issue just media hype in the 1st produciton run?

lenandsons

Original Poster:

1,317 posts

240 months

Monday 1st June 2009
quotequote all
Hi Yes looking for Front wheel Drive, I have a Yukon XL for the really nasty weather, so ideally want a small FWD fun car for the daily commute, and as gas prices have just hit 99c/litre here it is starting to make even more sense. Trying to stay away from Japanese type cars as I have driven them before and whilst very very good, I would like something a bit different ( for me )